Winnebago ho!
RVs are going from boomer retirement wagons to the darlings of the data center boom.
At an RV park near Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 70 Amazon packages were delivered, but they weren't destined for tourists or visitors attending an antique show. Instead, the packages were for workers assembling data centers in the area. The park typically hosts 60 long-term campers, but now, Google and QTS have brought hundreds of data center employees from as far as Oregon and Washington. Some bring their families, and many are homeschooling them.
This influx of long-term tenants has helped the park mitigate a decline in RV tourists due to rising gas prices. Without these workers, the park would have faced significant challenges. Data center workers, often on extended assignments, see RVs as a cost-effective housing solution that allows them to extend their housing allowance, reduce commuting costs, and bring their families.
The trend is benefiting the RV industry, which had suffered a 13.7% decline in US wholesale shipments through September 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Dealerships are targeting ads at data center workers near construction sites, and some are offering RV-buying calculators to help workers compare the cost of RVs versus hotel stays while they search for their next job.
Smaller, cheaper travel trailers are particularly popular among data center workers, with monthly payments often under $400. Some buyers have limited credit histories, making loans harder to secure but potentially more affordable. The cost of a smaller trailer paired with a campsite can be around $1,000 per month before additional expenses.
While larger fifth-wheel RVs command higher prices, they are typically acquired by coworkers looking for bunkhouse models or families relocating with their jobs. Campgrounds catering to tourists are increasingly filled with data center workers, who demand maintenance and services they're not accustomed to handling. Some camps have had to increase rates to cover property taxes and maintenance costs, while others offer incentives like calculators comparing hotel stays to RV ownership.
Written by urgent.news from Business Insider's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
