Our 2024 RV Predictions have some good news and bad for those who love the RV Lifestyle. That's what we talk about this week in Episode 478 of the RV Podcast. Every year, we devote our first podcast of the year to what we think will be the trends and events that most influence the RV Lifestyle in the coming year. You can watch the video version from our RV Lifestyle YouTube Channel by clicking the player below. If you prefer an audio-only podcast, you can hear us through your favorite podcast app or listen now through the player below. Here are our Top 5 2024 RV Predictions 1. Campground Vacancies will be harder to find and more expensive in 2024 The demand for camping shows no signs of easing, and as it has been for the past few years. To get a spot during the height of the season, on holidays, or in popular areas, it is going to take reservations made long in advance. And they will cost more thanks to the growing practice of dynamic pricing that is sweeping the industry. The concept is nothing new. Hotels, airlines, and even restaurants have been doing this for years. Now, campgrounds are.  Dynamic pricing is the strategy of adjusting the nightly camping rates based on demand, preferences, and time.  If most of the spots are booked, the campground’s booking software will increase the price because they know there is strong demand and people will pay. If it is a holiday weekend, up will go the price. And the software can get pretty sophisticated. If most of the 50 amp sites are booked, those remaining will have a hefty price hike. Conversely, I suppose, if the weekend weather forecast is lousy, the software could conceivably lower the prices… though we seldom hear of that happening. But Dynamic Pricing makes campgrounds more money, just as it does in other segments of the hospitality industry.   Campers don’t like it, of course, but for lots and lots of campgrounds, profit takes precedence over people. That’s just the reality of our consumer economy. 2. Boondocking spots will be harder to find in 2024 And that's a direct result of #1 above. Because boondocking becomes the best alternative when commercial and government campground openings are hard to find We’ve sure seen this ourselves and we know from the email we get and campfire conversations we have, you are too. A boondocking spot in a national or state forest that you always had to yourselves, now may be filled when you make your way there. Or you will have neighbors close by. Another big factor for the pressure on boondocking spots is that across the country, dispersed camping areas are being shut down because they have been trashed by inconsiderate campers or, in many places, have become homeless encampments. We have been hearing of this happening with increased frequency. We went to one boondocking spot we knew of in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan a while back only to find access to it chained. A sign out front said the state DNR closed it early for the rest of the season because of litter and trash left behind by irresponsible campers. 3. Private RV Land ownership will rapidly increase in popularity Because of the previous two reasons, a lot of RVers are doing what we did… buy a piece of property and make it our private RV retreat.