The kids are back in school. For many families—especially those with school-age kids—this means a return to schedules filled with sports, clubs and lots of driving back and forth. For those of us without such hustle and bustle in our lives, we get to enjoy a special time of year…a time when the pace of life slows down, parks clear out, and those of us with a little more “leisure time” get to enjoy some well-deserved peace and quiet.

At least, that’s how it used to be…

Today, the fall season has become more popular than ever with RVers. According to the RV Industry Association (RVIA), 27 million Americans are planning to go RVing this fall. In fact, RVing has surpassed traditional rental properties as a preferred choice for an outdoor getaway. Not surprisingly, much of this is being driven by Millenial and Gen Z campers. According to RVIA, 33% of Millennial leisure travelers express a desire to take an RV trip in the coming year, with 32% even considering purchasing an RV. Gen Z isn’t far behind, emerging as the most active travelers with keen interests in food tourism and music festivals. Clearly, this isn’t your grandpa’s RV industry anymore.

Overall, I think this is a great thing. If we really want to preserve our natural heritage and the outdoor lifestyle we all embrace, it has to be accessible to everyone, especially younger and future generations. On a personal level, I love the active energy that young families bring to the campground (as long as kids and/or pets are cared for appropriately.)

So yes, there may be a few more travel trailers in my favorite camping spot this fall. But I’m not worried. There’s plenty of room in the great outdoors for all of us to  enjoy the awesome-ness of autumn.

Happy Camping,

Bob