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 4,200 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
Sales can be highly seasonal, depending on market-specific dynamics and weather conditions.
Dependence On RV Ownership
RV ownership trends can affect sales for the RV park industry.
Industry size & Structure
The average RV park and campground company operates out of a single location, employs 12-13 workers, and generates about $1-2 million annually.
- The RV park and campground industry consists of about 4,200 firms that operate 4,500 establishments, employ about 55,000 workers and generate about $7 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) and Thousand Trails.
Industry Forecast
RV Parks and Campgrounds Industry Growth
Recent Developments
Mar 4, 2023 - Law Would Protect Campgrounds From Liability
- Legislation introduced in Florida would shield private campgrounds in the state from liability claims, Woodall’s Campground Magazine reported in March. Senate Bill 1054 and House Bill 1323 would shift the burden of responsibility to campers rather than the grounds on which they recreate, offering “civil liability protection for private campground owners and specified employees of private campgrounds for injury, death, or property damage resulting from the inherent risk of camping.” Insects, “unpredictable terrain,” tree stumps, mud, weather, and other such potential hazards would not be considered the responsibility of the campground, given that a reasonable person would presume those risks are part of the natural world. Similarly, the campground operator would be held harmless if a patron was injured or killed on-site, unless that operator intentionally committed the act or demonstrated “willful or wanton disregard” for the safety of the victim.
- The Wilderness Lakes campground and RV resort in Menifee, California in February debuted its new RV storage facility, which uses solar power to supplement the campground’s energy use, according to Camper Report. The project features more than 3,500 solar panels on the roof of an RV storage area beneath which RVers park their vehicles. The 1,469 kilowatt solar system is expected to generate about 2.4 million kilowatt hours of renewable energy annually. The solar project is part of campground owner Thousand Trails’ ongoing effort to increase renewable energy use and will generate enough electricity to account for about half of the campground’s energy use, which includes providing power to RVs, campsites, and campground amenities. The huge Wilderness Lakes campground has more than 500 campsites. Moreover, as more people shift their focus toward electric vehicles, they need campgrounds that can offer places to recharge.
- A recent survey of US leisure travelers found that 37% -- or 67 million people -- plan on taking an RV trip this year, the RV Industry Association (RVIA) reported in January. The top reasons given for traveling by RV are exploring the outdoors and having additional flexibility through remote work or school. While spending time outdoors remains a top reason for RVing, the number of respondents who cited flexibility in work has increased by 12% in the past year. Finances are another primary reason for people’s plans to take an RV trip. RV vacations, on average, cost 50% less than comparable hotel and plane ride trips and a third less than hotel and car trips, according to RVIA, making RVing an attractive option for people looking to combine freedom to travel with controlling travel expenses.
- About 7-in-10 campgrounds (69%) are planning some type of site, accommodation, and/or amenity improvement to their parks, according to a Campground Owner & Manager Survey. The inaugural survey conducted by Woodall’s Campground Magazine and sponsored by the RV Industry Association (RVIA) identified site development as most important across all types of campgrounds as a way to accommodate the volume and needs of campers. Other key findings included the fact that parks need help with marketing and better access to financing to make improvements. A third of parks overall, including about half of smaller parks, say that having the capital for improvements is the primary resource they need for 2023. Operational needs identified included emergency preparedness resources, text messaging services for guests, employee training, and marketing help. Camper education for new campers and staffing shortages were among other concerns.
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