SAN DIEGO — Driveable destinations are the new summer vacation this year during the coronavirus pandemic.
RV sales and rentals have spiked across the nation including San Diego.
The online RV rental site RVshare reports rentals in the San Diego area for the last week, were up 1,700% versus the first week of April.
RV sales are also on the rise.
“Maybe three or four per week and now there are some days we do two to four a day,” said Ron Thorn, General Manager for Holland RV Centers.
Many are first-time buyers with COVID-19 concerns who have changed their summer vacation plans to the open road.
"We don't really want to do the airlines, and we didn't really want to stay in hotels,” said mother Kristen Wray visiting Utah.
The demand is so high dealers said inventory across the state is low.
“That's an actual fact so get them while you can,” said Thorn.
If you can’t shell out $11,000 for a travel trailer or even thousands of dollars more for a motorhome you can rent an RV like you do a home.
Online RV rental site, RVshare, reports rentals in June 2020 in the San Diego area are up 193% compared to June 2019. The majority of travelers are renting Class Cs and travel trailers.
On the site, the average nightly rate in San Diego starts at $85 and goes up to at least $250 per night.
Long-time visitors John and Diane Dizdul have noticed new neighbors near them at Campland on the Bay.
“There have been people that have come in specifically renting the RV because they didn't want to get on a plane,” said Mr. Dizdul
Campland said since the county lifted restrictions they’ve received more inquiries about reservations.
RVshare listed the main destinations on RV’s picked up in San Diego:
Campland on the Bay, CA
Sequoia National Park, CA
Zion National Park, UT, UT
Vail Lake Resort, CA
Silver Strand State Beach, CA
Yellowstone National Park, null
Yosemite National Park, CA
Paradise by the Sea Beach RV Resort, CA
La Jolla Indian Campground, CA