RV Parks and Campgrounds
Industry Profile Report
Dive Deep into the industry with a 25+ page industry report (pdf format) including the following chapters
Industry Overview Current Conditions, Industry Structure, How Firms Operate, Industry Trends, Credit Underwriting & Risks, and Industry Forecast.
Call Preparation Call Prep Questions, Industry Terms, and Weblinks.
Financial Insights Working Capital, Capital Financing, Business Valuation, and Financial Benchmarks.
Industry Profile Excerpts
Industry Overview
The 4,500 RV parks and campgrounds in the US provide sites to accommodate campers and camping equipment, including tents and trailers. Major revenue categories include fees for RV and tent sites and room or unit accommodations. Other sources of revenue include meals, snacks, and beverages; membership fees and dues; other rental fees; and groceries.
Seasonality
Business can be highly seasonal, depending on market-specific dynamics and weather conditions.
Dependence On RV Ownership
RV ownership trends can affect demand for stays in RV parks.
Industry size & Structure
The average RV park and campground company operates out of a single location, employs 4-5 workers, and generates about $1-2 million annually.
- The RV park and campground industry consists of about 4,500 firms that operate 4,900 establishments, employ about 24,000 workers and generate about $7.9 billion annually.
- The industry is fragmented; the top 50 companies account for 27% of industry revenue.
- The industry includes chains, franchises, and independent operators.
- Commercial parks and campgrounds are privately-owned. Public facilities are owned by government entities, such as the National Park Service and USDA National Forest Services.
- Large companies include KOA (Kampgrounds of America), Thousand Trails, and Jellystone Park.
Industry Forecast
RV Parks and Campgrounds Industry Growth
Recent Developments
Apr 10, 2025 - RV Usage Trends A Mixed Bag
- The campground and outdoor recreation market is increasingly driven by RV usage, according to Kampgrounds of America’s (KOA) annual report on the industry. About 10 million US households used an RV in 2024, with 75% of those being RV owners (a bump of 200K RVs since 2019). It’s a slight course correction from a post-pandemic high in 2022 when about 15 million households used RVs. KOA expects increases in RV rentals to be marginal this year, due to broad-based concerns from consumers about the economy. Since the start of 2025, people interested in renting an RV fell 14%. Reasons cited for a reluctance from potential camping consumers to rent an RV are the cost (44%) and a lack of knowledge about how to operate an RV (38%). There is also an emerging generational gap with Gen X and Millennials more likely to rent an RV than Boomers and Gen Z.
- Employment by RV parks and recreational camps shrank 6.7% in November compared to a year ago, down 62% from its 2024 peak in July, according to the latest US Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The industry typically sees a big drop in employment ahead of the quieter winter season. Meanwhile, average industry wages rose 3.3% year over year in November to $20.44 per hour, BLS data shows. Revenue at RV parks and campgrounds rose 9% in the third quarter compared to a year ago, according to the Census Bureau. The third fiscal quarter of the year is the industry’s strongest given that it coincides with the ideal camping weather conditions of the late summer and early fall.
- More than 50 campgrounds and RV parks were among the victims of Hurricane Helene in September, according to the Outdoor Hospitality Industry (OHI), which has established a Disaster Relief Fund to help businesses damaged by the storm. According to OHI, the organization has heard from more than 50 parks in Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida that have been impacted, with RV parks suffering the most severe damage. Mountain Stream RV Park in Marion, N.C., announced on its Facebook page that the park had been totally destroyed. OHI cited at least four cases where the campground is completely gone, noting that for some, it will take extensive rebuilding over multiple months to recover. OHI’s chief strategy officer, David Basler, said the number of RV parks and campgrounds affected is likely higher because power outages are preventing businesses from getting in touch.
- The 10 most scenic RV resorts in the US according to RVC Outdoor Destinations’ latest list published in July include Yosemite RV Resort, Coarsegold, California; Garden of the Gods RV Resort, Colorado Springs; Catherine’s Landing, Hot Springs, Arkansas; Sandusky RV Resort, Sandusky, Ohio; Live Oak Landing, Freeport, Florida; Pigeon Forge Landing RV Resort, Sevierville, Tennessee; Lake Raystown Resort, Pennsylvania; Gulf Shores RV Resort, Alabama; Pine Mountain RV Resort, Georgia; and Medina Highpoint Resort, Medina, Texas. All ten resorts offer Wi-Fi (some for free) and the usual RV park amenities.
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