A transitory location is a place people are unlikely to live year-round. Transitory locations include campgrounds, RV parks, marinas, hotels, motels, racetracks, circuses, and carnivals. Each transitory location has multiple transitory units, which can be rooms in a lodging facility or spaces where a tent, boat, RV, or other structure may be parked or located.

An occupied transitory unit is considered a housing unit if there is at least one person who usually resides there. If no one is staying at a transitory unit, that transitory unit is considered unoccupied and is not marked as a living quarters. Similarly, a transitory unit is not tabulated as a housing unit if all people staying there report a usual home elsewhere. Anyone who reports a usual home elsewhere should be counted at that home.

Campground

An area set aside primarily for people to camp (e.g., in a tent, cabin, or camping trailer). Campgrounds often charge a fee and sometimes provide modest amenities. This category includes both public campgrounds (e.g., in national, state, or local parks or recreation areas) and private campgrounds (e.g., KOA campgrounds, religious campgrounds, hunting camps, and self-improvement camps).

Recreational Vehicle (RV) Park

An area set aside primarily for people temporarily parking and occupying RVs (also referred to as travel trailers or camping trailers). RV parks rent out spaces (with or without hook-ups for basic utilities) to people parking RVs, typically on a short-term (daily, weekly, or monthly) basis. RVs are often on wheels while people live or stay in them; they are not permanent structures, as they could easily be driven or towed away. This category includes both public and private RV parks.

Marina

A dock or basin where small commercial or private vessels, such as boats or yachts, can be securely moored or parked; some people may make these vessels their primary residence. Marinas may offer supplies, repairs, and other services and amenities. A marina may stand alone or be part of a resort, and it may be owned and operated by a public entity (e.g., municipal facility) or a private company or club (e.g., yacht club).

Hotel or Motel

A lodging facility that some people may use as long-term or permanent housing. In addition to hotels and motels, this category includes hostels, single-room occupancy units, inns, resorts, lodges, and bed-and-breakfast establishments. Units within these lodging facilities may be single rooms, suites, cabins, cabanas, cottages, or bungalows. In addition, organizations such as the YMCA and YWCA may offer lodging, along with other services, at their facilities.

Racetrack

A facility used for racing automobiles, motorcycles, horses, or dogs where traveling workers may reside in temporary quarters, such as tents, buses, or RVs. This category includes both commercial and private racetracks.

Circus or Carnival

A traveling show or amusement enterprise such as a circus, carnival, fair where the performers and workers of which may reside on-site in temporary quarters, such as tents, buses, or RVs.

The Enumeration at Transitory Locations operation consisted of two phases: Transitory Locations Advance Contact and Enumeration at Transitory Locations.

During the Transitory Locations Advance Contact phase, Census Bureau workers prepared for enumeration. Between July 20 and August 7, 2020, area census office staff members called an administrator at each transitory location to indicate that census takers would visit, explained the enumeration process, and collected information about the location. If the area census office staff member was unable to make contact by phone, a staff member visited the location and spoke to the managers or representatives to set up an appointment. The Transitory Locations Advance Contact operation set the stage for a successful count of transitory locations with minimal disruption to occupants.

The Enumeration at Transitory Locations operation occurred after Transitory Locations Advance Contact, from September 3 to September 28, 2020. Census takers visited each transitory location at a scheduled time between September 3 and September 28, 2020, to conduct interviews with individuals in occupied units using a paper questionnaire.