The Rise of RV Living as Housing Alternative
The American dream of homeownership has shifted dramatically for many families across the country. As housing costs soar and rental markets tighten, an increasing number of people are turning to an unconventional solution: living full-time in recreational vehicles. What was once primarily associated with retirees seeking adventure or weekend camping trips has become a necessary housing strategy for working families priced out of traditional markets.
The Reality of RV Living in High-Cost Areas
Take Andrea, a New Jersey resident who now calls an RV home. Like many others facing impossible housing costs, she’s discovered that RV living isn’t the carefree lifestyle often portrayed in social media. When campground fees climb too high—sometimes reaching $55-$80 per night in New Jersey for sites with basic utilities—families like Andrea’s seek refuge on remote state or federal lands where stays are free but limited in duration.
New Jersey state parks offer more affordable options at $20 for residents ($25 for non-residents), but these primitive sites often lack the amenities necessary for comfortable long-term living. During winter months, the challenges multiply: water gets shut off, access roads may close, and services disappear entirely. Families find themselves washing in rivers, bathing outdoors, and relying on whatever limited infrastructure they can access.
The Housing Crisis Driving the Trend
The numbers tell a stark story. Median rents for one-bedroom apartments in many New Jersey cities now exceed $2,000, while two-bedroom units often surpass $2,500. For families earning under $75,000—which includes many full-time RV dwellers nationwide—these costs are simply insurmountable.
Traditional affordable housing programs offer little relief. Waiting lists stretch for months or years, income thresholds exclude many working families, and available units can’t keep pace with demand. For people like Andrea, owning a home or renting in stable neighborhoods remains financially out of reach.
A National Phenomenon
New Jersey’s experience reflects a broader national trend. Across the United States, more households are choosing—or being forced into—full-time RV living. Many of these families have children and face the same fundamental challenge: being priced out of traditional housing markets while earning too much to qualify for assistance programs.
The financial math is often what drives the decision. While campground fees aren’t insignificant, they frequently cost less than the first month’s rent plus security deposits required for apartment rentals. For families facing immediate housing needs, an RV can provide shelter while they work toward more permanent solutions.
The Hidden Costs and Challenges
However, RV living as a housing solution comes with significant trade-offs that extend far beyond financial considerations:
Daily Life Struggles: Families face constant logistical challenges in spaces designed for temporary use. Limited storage, cramped quarters, and lack of privacy create ongoing stress. Basic activities like cooking, studying, or simply finding personal space become complicated negotiations.
Children’s Stability: Perhaps most concerning is the impact on children like Dante, who lose access to consistent school routines, neighborhood friendships, and the basic comfort of having their own room. Educational continuity becomes difficult when families must frequently relocate.
Safety and Health Concerns: Many RV living situations involve trade-offs between cost and safety. Remote camping areas may be free but lack security, emergency services access, and basic sanitation facilities. Families often face impossible choices between financial sustainability and physical safety.
Legal and Regulatory Hurdles: Municipal zoning laws create another layer of complexity. Many communities don’t permit permanent RV dwelling or impose strict regulations that limit where such living arrangements are feasible. Navigating utility hookups, parking permits, and local ordinances varies dramatically by location.
The Broader Housing Policy Implications
The rise of RV living as a housing necessity, rather than lifestyle choice, highlights critical gaps in America’s housing policy. When working families with children resort to mobile living situations fraught with uncertainty and hardship, it signals a fundamental breakdown in the housing market.
This trend demands serious consideration from policymakers at local, state, and federal levels. Solutions might include:
- Expanding affordable housing programs to serve families in the income gap between poverty-level assistance and market-rate housing
- Developing transitional housing programs that provide stability while families work toward permanent solutions
- Creating regulated RV parks designed for long-term residents with appropriate amenities and services
- Addressing zoning laws that unnecessarily restrict alternative housing options
Finding Humanity in Housing Policy
Behind every RV housing story is a family making difficult choices with limited options. These aren’t people seeking to avoid responsibility or embrace minimalism by choice—they’re working parents trying to provide shelter for their children in an economy where traditional housing has become unattainable.
As housing costs continue to outpace income growth in many regions, the number of families living in RVs, vans, and other mobile accommodations will likely increase. Recognizing this reality—and responding with policies that prioritize human dignity and children’s welfare—represents both a challenge and an opportunity for communities nationwide.
The question isn’t whether RV living will continue as a housing alternative; it’s whether we’ll develop systems to support families who find themselves in these situations, ensuring their children can still access education, healthcare, and the stability necessary for healthy development.
Moving Forward
RV living as a housing solution reveals both the adaptability of American families and the severity of our housing crisis. While some may eventually transition to traditional housing, others may find themselves in mobile living situations indefinitely.
Our response as a society will determine whether these families receive the support they need to maintain dignity, safety, and hope for their children’s futures—or whether they remain invisible casualties of a housing market that has left too many behind.
The names in this article have been changed to protect privacy.
RV Camps in New Jersey
| Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Acorn | Green Creek, NJ |
| Baker’s Acres | Little Egg Harbor, NJ |
| Bass River State Forest | Tuckerton, NJ |
| Belleplain State Forest | Woodbine, NJ |
| Brendan T Byrne State Forest | New Lisbon, NJ |
| Brookville Campground | Barnegat, NJ |
| Buena Vista Camping Park | Buena, NJ |
| Butterfly Camping Resort | Jackson, NJ |
| Cedar Creek Campground | Bayville, NJ |
| Cedar Ridge Campground | Montague, NJ |
| Chestnut Lake | Port Republic, NJ |
| Chips Folly Campground | Egg Harbor City, NJ |
| Crystal Springs Wilderness Lodges & RV Resort | Cream Ridge, NJ |
| Echo Farms | Ocean View, NJ |
| Godfrey Bridge – Wharton State Forest | Chatsworth, NJ |
| Harmony Ridge Campground | Branchville, NJ |
| High Point State Park | Sussex, NJ |
| Indian Rock RV Park | Jackson, NJ |
| Indian Rock RV Resort and Campground | Jackson, NJ |
| Jugtown Mountain Campsites | Asbury, NJ |
| King Nummy Trail Campground | Cape May Court House, NJ |
| KOA Holiday Philadelphia South | Clarksboro, NJ |
| Lake & Shore | Ocean View, NJ |
| Liberty Harbor RV Park | Jersey City, NJ |
| Mays Landing | Mays Landing, NJ |
| Parvin State Park | Pittsgrove, NJ |
| Pine Cone Campgrounds | Freehold, NJ |
| Pine Haven | Cape May Court House, NJ |
| Red Oak Shores | Ocean View, NJ |
| Sea Pines | Swainton, NJ |
| Sea Pirate Campground | West Creek, NJ |
| Shady Pines Campground | Absecon, NJ |
| Stokes State Forest | Branchville, NJ |
| Stokes State Forest – Lake Ocquittunk Area | Branchville, NJ |
| Stokes State Forest – Shotwell Area | Branchville, NJ |
| Stokes State Forest – Steam Mill Area | Branchville, NJ |
| Sun Retreats Long Beach Island | Barnegat, NJ |
| Timberland Lake Campground | Cream Ridge, NJ |
| Tip Tam Camping Resort | Jackson, NJ |
| Union Hill Campgrounds | Egg Harbor City, NJ |
| Wharton State Forest | Hammonton, NJ |
| Whippoorwill Campground | Marmora, NJ |