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
Jun 5, 2024 - Employment and Wages Rising
- Employment by RV parks and recreational camps grew by 15.4% in March compared to a year ago, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment by the industry is highly cyclical and has been rising, peaking in July of 2023, as more people take to the road in RVs or opt to stay in outdoor campgrounds. Average wages for employees at RV parks and recreational camps rose 4.7% in March year over year to $19.89 per hour, a quarter shy of their peak in December, BLS data show.
- RV parks and campgrounds that have struggled to hire enough staff during recent peak summer seasons can expect relief from the expansion of the H-2B visa pool. President Biden in March signed into law the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 2882), which authorizes the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to increase the number of H-2B temporary nonagricultural workers if it determines that “the needs of US businesses cannot be satisfied during fiscal year 2024 with US workers who are willing, qualified, and able to perform temporary nonagricultural labor.” Upon making that determination, DHS can approve an expansion of the H-2B visa pool by nearly 65,000 visas. These extra visas will be crucial to filling seasonal jobs in the leisure and hospitality industry – especially those in remote vacation destinations.
- Capitalizing on the growing popularity of “glamping,” RV-rental platform Outdoorsy is looking to invest more than $700 million into the ballooning business, Jeff Cavins, CEO of Outdoorsy, told Business Insider in March. Outdoorsy, which is growing its portfolio of luxury tent-camping sites, opened its third location in the Texas Hill Country in March where rates start at $350 per night. Outdoorsy plans to open as many as 17 more glamping locations in the next three years, the company told Business Insider. Interest in the glamping niche of the campground industry has increased in recent years. In its North American Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report 2023, Kampgrounds of America (aka KOA) called the glamping industry an "aggressive growth segment," with four in 10 campers expressing interest in glamping that year. Camp Margaritaville RV Resort and other luxury RV park operators are also growing their glamping accommodations.
- A bill that would improve access to recreation on federal public lands and waters and expand outdoor recreation opportunities was passed by the House of Representatives with bipartisan support in April, the RV Industry Association (RVIA) reports. The Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act is a companion bill to similar legislation passed in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee last year, America’s Outdoor Recreation Act (AORA). The House bill (H.R. 6492) would modernize permit streamlining to ease burdens on outfitters and guides and improve access to outdoor experiences; improve access to recreation on public lands and waters; ensure access to green spaces in underserved communities; develop, improve, and complete long-range trails; and invest in rural economic development. The legislation is supported by the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, which promotes the $1 trillion outdoor recreation industry.
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