Kampgrounds of America is celebrating a decade of industry-leading research with the release of its 2024 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report, one of an ongoing, comprehensive series of reports diving into the changing landscape of camping and outdoor hospitality.
According to the report, over the past 10 years, active campers have increased by 68%, adding an additional 21.6 million households. With six out of 10 U.S. households identifying as campers and camping accounting for a third of all leisure trips, Kampgrounds of America Inc.’s in-depth research examines the dramatic growth of outdoor hospitality and camping.
Along with growth in camping comes an influx of new RVers, many of whom will struggle to find appropriate parking for their rigs when not on the road. According to research by Toy Storage Nation, the number of RV/boat storage facilities falls far short of meeting the need. In fact, the math indicates the need for toy storage is five times the current supply.
According to the RV Industry Association, more than 12 million households own an RV, which is a 62% increase over the last two decades. The organization also projects shipments of RV units to increase by 24% over last year’s numbers. Similarly, 15 million 
U.S. households own a boat, with the industry seeing boat sales increasing by 35% over the past five years.
Counterintuitive to expanding ownership of oversized toys, HOAs across the nation continue cracking down on where property owners may park their boats and RVs, typically prohibiting them in driveways and backyards. And, since most of these cherished outdoor rec vehicles are too big to stuff in a garage, it leaves many Americans with a big dilemma: Where can they park their prized items safely and securely?
As is the nature of the beast, and necessity being the mother of invention, the RV and boat storage industry is entering its heyday. Savvy business entrepreneurs have begun turning their interests toward developing facilities to fill the void, banking on what appears to be a sweet future. Same goes for investors, who have noticed the parallels between self-storage and toy storage. As some have deduced, toy storage is where self-storage was 30 years ago, on the cusp of great fortunes ahead.
Those interested in learning more about opportunities in the RV and boat storage industry are invited to register for a Toy Storage Nation Executive Workshop, the only comprehensive, educational program of its kind in the country. TSN’s next workshop is slated for June 7 in St. Louis. Seats are limited. More information.
To read the full KOA Report, click here.
