Opinion: Canada's wild is calling and RVing is the perfect adventure
These aren't scenes from a postcard or a movie set — they're everyday moments for those who explore Canada by RV.
RVing is more than a way to travel. It's a way of moving through the world — for those who crave freedom and wanderlust, seek a deeper connection with nature and our country, who yearn to slow down and savour the simpler things. It's why 14 per cent of Canadian households own an RV. But these experiences aren't reserved just for RVers — they're for anyone looking for a way to travel that's affordable, enriching and profoundly Canadian.
Lately, something remarkable has been happening. Canadians are turning their gaze inward. Recent reports show a noticeable decline in Canadian travel to the U.S., not merely because of logistics or exchange rates but by choice. Out of quiet defiance.
In fact, a recent study by Abacus Data found nearly half of Canadians who are steering clear of the U.S. are doing so to support Canadian businesses and destinations.
Even within the RV community, we're seeing a shift: more RVers are trading cross-border travel to explore destinations here at home. Snowbirds are cancelling their annual trips south of the border to spend more time travelling across their own country. RVing is reclaiming what it means to truly see this country, not just fly over it.
This isn't just a silver lining of uncertain times. It's something deeper. It's a quiet declaration of who we are as Canadians. We're not just avoiding U.S. travel — we're vowing to embrace what our own backyard has to offer. It's why the federal government introduced the Canada Strong Pass, offering free access to national parks this summer.
Five years ago, summer vacations looked a lot different. Limited to where and how we could travel, a record number of Canadians turned to RVing for the first time. It was a welcome opportunity for Canadians to get a taste of what it has to offer.
Today, we're seeing a similar opportunity in front of us — only this time, driven by choice and not necessity. A chance for Canadians to choose Canada first. A chance to live their wildhood. And I hope many choose RVing again, too — like all of those who embraced the lifestyle over the years and continue to cherish it to this day.
If being patriotic, supporting local businesses and stretching your dollar are top of mind, RVing is a standout option for anyone.
Whether you're tracing the Icefields Parkway, camping on Newfoundland's rocky shores or winding along the Cabot Trail, there's no shortage of great Canadian experiences across the vast and diverse wonderland that is Canada. And along your journey, you'll be supporting local businesses, connecting with our heritage and celebrating the boundless beauty of our country.
As we embrace the official start of summer, now is the perfect time to plan your first (or next) RV trip. Check out gorving.ca for all the resources and trip guides you need to inspire your Canadian summer adventure.
Let's choose the open road this summer. Let's choose Canada. After all, this is our country to discover, and the best way to do that is with the wind in our hair, the wheels on the road and the vast beauty of Canada unfolding before us.
Chris Mahony has been president of Go RVing Canada since 2012.
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