Wish You Were Here!
by Kristi Keenan
The RV world has come a long way from the days of Formica countertops and yellow plastic seats. The typical RV owner has changed considerably, too. Retirees are no longer the only age group looking to see the country in style. RV travel has become a way of life for many adventure-seekers looking to explore new places without giving up the comforts of home, and South Carolinians are no exception. According to a 2001 report by SCPRT on South Carolina RV trends, approximately one out of three South Carolina families with incomes of $35,000 and above enjoy camping. Young families find RV travel a convenient way to see the sights and have “family time” along the way, making the 35-54 age group a big chunk of the national RV sales market. Even the once-dreaded Generation X-ers are realizing just how compatible their active lifestyle is with RV camping and travel.
Since buyers vary in needs and means, the RV market is ripe with choices, featuring everything from high-end motorcoaches to fifth-wheel towables. Type A motorhomes (about $57,000 - $1,400,000 according to www.frommers.com) are the big daddies of the road, offering up to 45 feet of length, parquet floors, leather upholstery and marble bathrooms. The slightly more maneuverable type C mini-motorhome ($48,000 - $139,000) is a bit smaller and easier to park while keeping the home-away-from-home feel. The type B van camper ($42,000 - $73,000) is the smallest, but it does boast better gas mileage. Towables (up to about $65,000) come in a variety of options as well, perfect for the camper who wants to drive his own truck or SUV to the campsite.
Not ready to buy? No problem, as the RV rental business grew by 34 percent in 2004, according to the U.S. Census of Retail Trade and the RV Rental Association (RVRA). In South Carolina, places like Pendleton’s Tiger Town RV & Marina Center or Myrtle Beach’s All Seasons RV Rental offer rental opportunities. Many RV renters find they spend far less money on their vacations renting an RV than they would renting a hotel room.
According to RVIA.org, about 7.2 million RVs are on America’s roads and, according to the U.S. Travel Data Center, about 1 million visitors camp in South Carolina each year, spending over $82 million. Luckily, South Carolina is dotted with RV campgrounds from the mountains to the coast, offering a variety of scenery for the RV vacation. If you are looking for small town camping fun, Jolly Acres Camp and Storage in St. George, Lake Marion Resort and Marina in Santee, Big Water Lake Club in Summerton, Big Cypress Lake RV Park Campground in Conway, Rocks Pond in Eutawville and Ashley Lodge in Harleyville all offer secluded getaways. If the bigger cities beckon you, the ever popular Ocean Lakes Family Campground in Myrtle Beach is sure to please with its newly-renovated “camptown center” complete with free purified water, a laundromat and store. They even have Kamp Starfish for the kids. Also in Myrtle Beach is the oceanfront PirateLand Family Campground, which features an enormous waterpark on the property, complete with a 500+ foot lazy river.
South Carolina also boasts nearly 50 state parks, many of which are RV friendly. Want to tow your boat along as well? No problem! State parks and many RV campgrounds alike offer spots for boating and fishing on the property or are located near one of South Carolina’s many lakes. Finding a place to park your RV this summer is not a problem, but choosing among all the many options just might be.
© 2007 South Carolina Magazine. To read more articles in South Carolina Magazine, click here
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