RV Parks and Campgrounds NAICS 721211

Jun 18, 2025 - Seasonal Employment and Revenue Drops Before Camping Season

• Employment by RV parks and recreational camps shrank 6.3% in April compared to a year ago, down 59% from its July 2024 peak, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The industry is seasonal and sees a big drop in employment during the quieter winter months when people camp less. Revenue at RV parks and campgrounds rose 2.4% in Q4 compared to a year ago, but dropped 47.9% from Q3, again due to seasonality. The third quarter of the year is the industry’s strongest given that it coincides with the ideal camping conditions of the late summer and early fall. RV and camping industries expect a chaotic year ahead with RV usage and purchases cooling amid poor consumer sentiment. A drop of Canadian tourists to the US due to a trade war is also worrisome, since many of those vacationers are outdoorsy road trippers.
• 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.

• 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.