RV Travel for seniors booms during covid crisis

With the corovirus pandemic still in full swing, retirees Bob and Edy Wenner (shown above) are grateful for the chance to travel this summer in their own recreational vehicle, or RV. 

“I don’t believe we’re any more exposed out here traveling around (in our RV) because we’re just seeing the sights and really not in contact with a lot of people,” Bob said. “I’m not a doctor, but generally speaking, I don’t think we’re any more exposed out here than we’d be at home.”

RV’s a popular choice for senior travelers

RV travel is hot this summer, thanks in large measure to the COVID-19 crisis. With senior adults unable to take cruises or bus tours, and with many travelers squeamish about flying or staying in motels, RVs have emerged as the ideal way to travel. 

Based on industry sources, retirees like Bob and Edy, who are from Maumelle, Arkansas, have plenty of company on the road this summer. Outdoorsy, a popular online RV rental service, says RV bookings by Baby Boomers were up 114 percent in June over the same month a year ago. Bookings were up 90 percent in May. 

“People above the age of 55 are looking to travel, but do so safely and in a situation where they can control the cleanliness of their environment and not have to worry about interacting with high numbers of people — as you would in an airport or hotel,” said Outdoorsy co-founder Jen Young. “With an RV, you’re essentially taking your home on wheels with you. In a self-contained vehicle, you’re able to control your environment – from the food you cook to the cleanliness of your accommodations. Traveling via RV naturally provides people with the ability to travel away from crowds and camp in a location where fresh air and open space are your two closest companions — a welcome reprieve after months spent in confinement.”

A tough year for travel

One of the true joys of being retired is the freedom to travel, and seniors typically do so with gusto. This year, however, has been tough on those of us with wander lust. That is, unless we own or rent an RV.

“We’ve seen senior/boomer travelers renting for a number of reasons this season – from wanting to visit national parks to traveling across the country to visit family to celebrating milestones like anniversaries and Father’s Day to wanting to try out a vehicle before purchasing one themselves to just wanting to escape the house for a little while,” Young said.

“We’ve seen anecdotally that some of our senior renters are opting for an RV trip because they don’t feel comfortable getting on a plane or visiting an airport where they’d be in close proximity to other travelers,” Young added. “And we’ve also seen that people are worried that the travel environment may change before their trip, so they’re looking for a flexible option like RVing.”

RV sales booming

Not only are more RVs being rented this summer, but RV sales are also booming.

“Business is absolutely nuts right now, as far as busy. The RV side (of our business) is hitting levels that are unprecedented,” said Mark Hanner, owner of the Hanner RV Supercenter in Baird, Texas, one of the state’s top-20 RV dealers.

Hanner attributes much of that increase in business to the COVID crisis.

“They (RV travelers) can stay in their own beds, keep their own mess, stay in their own kitchen. They can go to the state park, they can go to the fishing hole, or they can stay wherever, and they don’t have any worries. They aren’t in anybody else’s mess and they don’t have to worry about anyone breathing on them.”

Hanner said his sales team has heard from many grandparents who are buying RVs so they can spend more time with the grandchildren.

“Over the last couple of months, we’re seeing grandparents who are saying ‘we’re not going to stay in a motel, but we want to travel. We want to go see our grandkids and take our grandkids.’ So they are buying a lot of the less expensive RVs, what we call bunk houses, with a bedroom in the front or in the back, a kitchen in the middle, and then what you call a bunk house where you can sleep several, you know, you can stack kids in there like corkwood.”

 RV parks popular with all ages, including grandparents

Lori Rumer, division vice president in Florida for Sun RV Resorts, said business is brisk at their parks and and they are also seeing grandparents traveling with grandchildren.

“We are seeing parents and grandparents traveling together with children, and we are seeing some grandparents traveling with their grandchildren to give mom and dad a break … taking the grandkids on a little excursion, a little adventure over the summer.”

Rumer oversees 50 Sun RV Resorts in Florida. The company owns 146 RV resorts nationwide. While RV resorts were growing in popularity before, the coronavirus pandemic has accelerated that growth.

“They (RVers) can control their environment,” Rumer said. “That’s what seniors, and even families, are looking for right now. The safety of being able to commute in a confined space that they control. They are happy once they get to our resorts because they can see that the bathrooms are clean and the good practices we have in place in our offices. We practice social distancing and we ask everyone who comes into our offices to wear a face mask.”

John and Peggy Day relax in their RV at Abilene (Texas) State Park.

Advice for first-time RV buyers

If you are in the market to purchase an RV right now, especially if it is your first one, retiree Bob Wenner said to do your research throughly and shop around. This is his second RV to own, and Bob said he’s still learning, even with a good friend who’s a more experienced RVer to guide him.

“It helps to have a neighbor or friend or family member who can kind of show you the ropes,” Bob said.

Mark Hanner said it pays to look at as many brands and models as possible before buying. He also said it’s important to have a a dealer that will provide good servicing after the sale.

“You’re selling a house that is a rolling earthquake, at 75 mph going down the highway. Things shake, rattle loose, and happen,” Hanner said.

When it comes time for his own vacation this summer, Hanner, who is a grandparent, is traveling by RV.

“We’re trying to plan another grandkid trip in July, and it will be pulling an RV and going toward Kentucky to go see Noah’s Ark.”

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Related stories from This Retirement Life:

“The Sojourners: Seniors combining RV travel with faith and service to others”

“How to stay healthy and engaged As a senior adult during the coronavirus pandemic”

“How seniors are using covid-19 downtime productively”

“Seniors using COVID downtime to serve others, relax, and reflect”

“Coronavirus and volatile stock markets: How retirees can cope during the pandemic”