RV and Camping Industry Statistics in Canada

Canada is a vast country with many beautiful and interesting areas to explore and one of the great ways to do this is with an RV and camping. In the past decade, the RV and camping industry in Canada has experienced growth despite the restrictions placed by the recent COVID-19 pandemic. 

This article explores what the RV and camping industry looks like in Canada through statistics. You will find details on the industry’s revenues, employment figures, and Canadians’ views on the RV and camping life. 

RV and Camping Industry Statistics for Canadians

• The RV Industry is expected to see 3.8% growth in 2024. 
• The RV sector contributes around $2 billion in annual taxes. 
• The RV industry expects around 350,000 shipments by the end of 2024. 
• Just over 70% of Canadian RVs are exported. 
• Over 2 million households in Canada own an RV. 
• Canada has over 1,100 RV dealers. 
• Canadians made over 4 million overnight camping trips in 2022. 
• 1/3 Canadians say they have been camping their whole life. 
• Over 50% of Canadians choose a campground because of its good atmosphere. 
• 90% of campers leave the campsite to take part in other activities. 
• Canadian households earning a median household income are the most likely campers. 
• 77% of all camping and RV trips are to camping grounds. 

The Economic Impact of RV Industry

The camping and RV parks have experienced growth in Canada in recent years apart from 2020 when the industry revenue fell by 34.5%. However, the industry has recovered well from the pandemic and it is predicted to experience 3.8% growth in 2024 according to Ibis World. 

According to the Canadian Camping and RV Association, the RV industry adds $16.2 billion to Canada’s GDP and contributes $7.6 billion in tax revenue. In addition, the industry contributes approximately $9.2 billion in labour income and employs approximately 141,000 people. These statistics show the importance of the industry to the Canadian economy and job market. 

The Canadian Camping and RV Association also reports that the camping sector generated approximately 83,600 jobs in Canada and added $9.8 billion to the Canadian economy in 2022. The sector’s labour income was $5.5 billion. 

Campgrounds and RV Parks Market Size in Canada

Since 2013, the market size of the campgrounds and RV parks sector has increased every year other than the expected fall due to COVID-19 restrictions in 2020. According to Statista, the market size was US$1.7 billion in 2013 and by 2019 had reached US$2.45 billion. 

When the pandemic stopped people from travelling, the market size fell sharply and totalled just US$0.65 billion in 2020. It has been quick to recover, jumping back up to US$1.45 billion in 2021 and US$2.3 billion in 2022. 

RV Sales And Manufacturing in Canada

In 2019, the RV industry’s revenue was $4 billion with an average annual growth rate of 2.7% between 2014 and 2019. The RV industry contributed $1.9 billion in taxes and had $470 million in manufacturing sales. Before the pandemic, the industry experienced several years of sales growth and within an 8-year period, up to 2017, the industry grew more than 200%. 

In 2018, the RV manufacturing sector employed approximately 5,400 full-time workers and generated $88.7 million in tax revenue. In addition, the RV retail and service sector employed around 10,300 full-time workers and generated $149.3 million in tax revenue. 

RV Shipments Are Expected to Reach 350,000 Units in 2024

According to the RV Industry Association, the wholesale shipments of RVs are expected to reach 350,000 units in 2024. The estimate is between 334,700 and 365,500 units with the lower estimate representing an 8.8% increase and the higher an 18.8% increase compared to the 313,200 units in 2023. 

The RV sales reached a record high of $621 million in 2022, growing 21.6% since the previous year. It was the second year of growth since the pandemic with sales increasing by 29.4% between 2020 and 2021 and totalling $510 million. The sales in 2022 were more than double compared to 2013 when sales totalled $287 million. 

RV Exports and Imports

In 2022, around 71% of Canadian-manufactured RVs were exported and the manufacturing exports totalled $441 million. The four biggest exporting regions accounted for 95% of all exports: Manitoba 25%, Saskatchewan 24%, Quebec 24%, and Ontario 22%. 

During the same year, the manufacturing imports totalled a little over $3 billion. Ontario accounted for 54% ($1.6 billion) of all imports. Next were Saskatchewan with 16% ($483 million) and British Columbia with 15% ($469 million). Other Canadian regions account for 6% or less of manufacturing imports. 

RV Ownership in Canada

According to the RV Dealers Association of Canada, 2.1 million households in Canada own an RV. That is approximately 14% of all Canadian households. This is around 3% increase compared to 2019. In 2022, Canadian households who own an RV made 6.3 million RV trips. In addition, another 1.3 million RV trips were made with rented vehicles, totalling 7.7 million RV trips in 2022. 

RV Dealers And Rentals in Canada

In December 2023, Canada had 1,128 RV dealers across the country many of which also sell replacement parts and accessories and offer repair services. In addition to the dealers, there were 1,753 RV rental and leasing companies in Canada. 

Over Four Million Households Went Camping in 2022

In 2022, 4.4 million households in Canada took at least one camping trip lasting at least one night. In total, there were 93.3 million person overnight camping trips in 2022. These trips resulted in approximately $9.8 billion in spending. 

A Third of Canadians Are Lifelong Campers

According to a survey by the Canadian Recreational Vehicle Association, 33% of Canadians are lifelong campers. They were taken camping as children and have continued to camp as adults. The same survey found that 5% of Canadians had their first experience of camping in 2020, while half of camping households planned to take longer camping trips. 

Atmosphere Is the Most Important Factor When Choosing a Campground

In Canada, there are 2,920 RV parks and campgrounds to choose from. When Canadians go camping, they choose where to camp based on a range of factors. The most important factor is atmosphere with 56% of Canadians having chosen a campground because it has a good atmosphere. 

The next most important factors were the quality of the campsite (44%) and location (22%). Other important factors included the facilities and availability of Wi-Fi (both 12%), while 7% looked for camping grounds that were pet-friendly. 

Hiking Is the Most Popular Activity Among Canadian Campers

Canadian campers enjoy a range of activities when they go camping with approximately 90% of campers leaving the camping ground to take part in other activities. Hiking is the most popular activity with 60% of campers enjoying hiking when on a camping holiday. 50% enjoy fishing and 37% sightseeing. Canoeing and kayaking (30%) and biking (28%) are also popular activities. 

Demographics of Camping Households

The most likely income group to go camping in North America is households earning between $40,000 and $60,000. This income group represents 20% of all camping households. The next most likely groups are households earning $60,000 – $80,000 and $80,000 – $100,000, representing 18% and 17% of all camping households, respectively. 

The least likely households to go camping are those earning over $150,000. This income group represents just 5% of all camping households. The next least likely income group is households with an income below $30,000. They represent 10% of campers. 

Camping Preferences of Canadian Campers

The most popular camping locations among Canadian campers are national, state, and provincial campgrounds, which represent 40% of all camping trips. The second most popular camping grounds are privately owned with 25% of campers having stayed in private campsites. Another 20% have camped on other privately owned lands. 

While 77% of all RV trips are to campgrounds, not all Canadian campers stay in managed areas. Around 8% have camped in a wilderness area, 5% have camped in municipal campgrounds, and 2% have camped in roadside areas and parking lots. The main reasons for not camping in official campgrounds include cost and the desire to camp somewhere wilder and/or remote. 

While there are some variations between types of campers (for example, between single campers and families), the most popular type of RV is a motorhome, followed by travel trailers and fifth-wheel trailers. 

RV Expenditures for Owners

While the purchase of an RV accounts for the largest proportion of RV owners’ expenditures, there are other costs owners need to be prepared for. These expenses include expenses such as storing your RV when not in use, insurance for your RV, and equipment. 

The biggest expense, not including fuel and other travel-related costs, is insurance, which accounts for 36% of expenses on average. Maintenance costs account for 28% of the expenses, equipment and accessories for 23%, and storage for 13%. 

Living the Van Life

There are many people who share their van life on social media such as Instagram and YouTube. These are people who have switched to a full-time RV life and in North America, there are around half a million RV owners whose RV is their primary residence. While this can be great, you need to consider the costs involved before you make the switch.

According to the Canadian Recreational Vehicle Association, if you are living in your RV full-time and travelling, your monthly expenses are likely to be around $2,170 and your yearly expenses around $26,000. They recommend that anyone wishing to make the switch save up approximately $39,000 before starting. 

Conclusion

The camping and RV industry has experienced steady growth in Canada and has recovered well from the COVID years. Over two million Canadian households own a camper van and over four million went on a camping trip that lasted at least one night in 20222. The industry is expected to continue growing, with almost 4% growth predicted for 2024. 

It is likely that the industry will continue growing beyond 2024 alongside a growing interest in domestic travel, outdoor activities, and exploring nature. In addition, advancements in RV technology and increasing number of camping options, ranging from lightweight equipment to glamping options, can be expected to increase interest in the industry even further.