The amazing growth of Solo Women Campers

The number of solo women campers is on the rise, across all ages and in motorhomes, trailers, fifth wheels, and even truck campers.

In fact, the top expert we interview in Episode 412 of the RV Podcast says a significant percentage of all the RVers out there are solo women campers.

While no one can cite a firm statistic - estimates range from 12-20% - it is clear that it is a fast-growing segment of the RV market and that these solo women campers are not always single, windowed, or divorced. Many are married but travel alone because their spouse just doesn't like camping.

Our guest is Janine Pettit, who calls herself the Camper-in-Chief of a thriving business built to serve solo women campers that can be found at GirlCamper.com and consists of a blog, a podcast, Facebook Group, YouTube Channel, and a slick, coffee table-sized glossy papered magazine.

You can watch the video version of the podcast by clicking the player below.

If you just want to catch the audio version of the RV Podcast, you can listen on your favorite podcast app or in the player below.

Behind the rise in solo women campers

Here's an edited transcript of our interview with Janine:

Mike:

Well, the Girl Camper herself, Janine Pettit, joins us right now. Hey, it's great to see you again.

Janine:

It's great to see you, too. It always is. Usually, when we bump into each other, we're at a trade show and it's like, "Hey, Mike and Jen. Hey, Girl Camper." Yeah, so thanks for having me.

Jennifer

I can't believe it was 2017 when we last connected.

Mike:

Yeah, 2017.

Jennifer:

You'll have to update us on what's been happening.

Mike:

Yep, so I know a lot of stuff has been happening, including what's on your wall behind you. So why don't you give us a quick update on what all has happened with the Girl Camper?

Janine:

Oh, well, every time I get a little window where I think, okay, the podcast is going well, just take a breather. I'm not very good at breathers, I guess, because the ideas are always percolating. And so I got this idea because people frequently write to me and say, why don't you host events? And the problem with that is I'm here in New Jersey and they're all over the country. But you and I, us, all three of us, we do the same thing.

Inspiring people to get out there!

There are more and more solo women campers out there

Janine:

We inspire people and they want to get out there. And I think it's a little different when you're a solo woman traveler, you require a little more handholding. It's not that we don't possess the ability to do it, when you're doing it alone, which a lot of our women are. You need a little more hand holding. And that's where hosting events is a little more fruitful than it is for couples.

What could go wrong? If you get a flat, someone's going to call and you're going to flag them down. You're together. So I opened up the country and I put out a call for Girl Camper guides all over the country. What women would be willing to help other women in their area get their feet wet, hold their hands,