<ARTICLE>                     5
<CIK>                         0000733775
<NAME>                        CRUISE AMERICA, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                                 1,000
<CURRENCY>                                       1
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              APR-30-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                 MAY-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                                   APR-30-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                          1
<CASH>                                               2,341
<SECURITIES>                                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                        4,056
<ALLOWANCES>                                             0
<INVENTORY>                                         11,752
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                    19,038
<PP&E>                                              96,520
<DEPRECIATION>                                      22,492
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                      95,695
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                               22,576
<BONDS>                                                  0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                                57
<OTHER-SE>                                          23,405
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                        95,695
<SALES>                                             43,569
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                    87,888
<CGS>                                               39,074
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                       58,353
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    20,897
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   7,279
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                      1,359
<INCOME-TAX>                                           353
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  1,006
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                         1,006
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         0.17
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         0.17