One State Dominates RV Production
Indiana dominates when it comes to the production and manufacture of RVs and travel trailers. And it’s not even close.
At nearly $12 billion in RV shipments in 2017, Indiana bests the number two producer, California, by more than 18 times. Despite a smaller population (6.8 million compared to 39 million in 2022) and a gross domestic product (GDP) that is seven times smaller than California’s, Indiana’s RV production outpaces the Golden State by a significant margin. It is estimated that 85 percent of North America’s RVs are manufactured and built in Indiana.
Perhaps most surprising of all, almost all of Indiana’s RVs are produced in a single county: Elkhart County (population 206,291). This has earned Elkhart the title of RV Capital of the World.
No State Stands Out in Terms of RV Parks and Campgrounds
RV Park Locations Follow Population Trends. Sometimes.
A much more interesting view is revealed when looking at a bivariate map that emphasizes RV park density in both populated and unpopulated counties. In this map, counties with more people and fewer parks (blue) are distinguished from those with many parks and fewer people (green). Counties with high densities of both people and parks are shown in purple. If you’re looking to find a lot of secluded parks in areas with lower populations, Vermont, New York, Michigan, Wisconsin, Washington, and Oregon are great bets.
You’re Never More Than 65 Miles from Another RV Park
The top 10 most remote RV parks are all found in the US west and southwest, most of them in Montana. But even the most remote park might not be as distant from other parks as you might think. At just 64.6 miles (104 kilometers) from its nearest RV park neighbor, Wayside RV Park in Broadus, Montana, is the most remote RV park in the contiguous United States. The median distance between all campgrounds and RV parks is just over 3 miles (4.8 kilometers).
By the Numbers
Here are the top ten most remote RV parks and campgrounds:
| Rank | RV Park or Campground | State | Miles to Next Closest Park |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wayside RV Park | MT | 64.6 |
| 2 | Alley Oop RV Park | TX | 44.8 |
| 3 | Lake Casa Blanca International State Park | TX | 44.5 |
| 4 | Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park | NV | 43.4 |
| 5 | Hook Up Jo's | TX | 42.8 |
| 6 | Hell Creek State Park | MT | 41.9 |
| 7 | High Country RV Park | CO | 41.1 |
| 8 | Ideal Motel & Park | MT | 39.8 |
| 9 | Hilltop Campground | MT | 39.8 |
| 10 | Wagon Wheel Campground | MT | 39.5 |
These maps and analyses are made possible with data provided by CampgroundViews.com. Their interactive map shows the individual parks and campgrounds featured here, as well as those in Alaska and Hawaii.
