The annual spring show has strong sales and large crowds.

CADILLAC -- It's that time of year when people start gearing up for camping season.  The annual RV show and sale at the Civic Center in Cadillac provides those eager campers with a chance to check out new makes and models and even camping equipment.

"We've had a long winter this year.  We've had snow on the ground for an awful long time and it's the perfect time for people to get out and get started in this activity," says participating RV dealer, Dave Jensen.

Jensen says despite the economy, RV sales are looking up.

"Sales have been good and it's very positive and local banks are here lending and they have real good interest rates on them so everything's real positive for the outlook on our industry....It's a really good outlook on our sales figures for this show," says Jensen.

Jensen says one of the main factors keeping people in the camping spirit could be lower gas prices this year.  Either way he says the RV show is bringing out large crowds.

"I think for one thing, the price of gasoline stabilized a little bit and that seems to really help promote the tourism business because people can go a little further....We usually have attendance anywhere in the thousand to 15 hundred people and we're right on par for that this year," says Jensen.

Jensen says another factor could be tighter budgets for summer travelers.  He says because campers are looking to stay closer to home this summer, instead of spending more on out of state vacations," says Jensen.

"We're in a great part of Michigan.  This is a beautiful place of the state and we see people traveling two to three hours to get to our destination and it's good for all the businesses and doesn't really cost them a lot of money to do that," says Jensen.

A less costly vacation that Jensen says will ultimately help the local economy and the camping business as a whole.

"I'm sure every little bit is going to help," says Jensen.

The RV show started Friday and went to Sunday at 5 p.m.