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 4,270 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 5-6 workers, and generates about $1-2 million annually.
- The RV park and campground industry consists of about 4,270 firms that operate 4,600 establishments, employ about 23,850 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) and Thousand Trails.
Industry Forecast
RV Parks and Campgrounds Industry Growth
Recent Developments
Oct 5, 2023 - Employment Falls As Wages Rise
- Employment by RV parks and recreational camps fell in July compared to its recent peak a year ago. The highly seasonal employment pattern rebounded sharply as vacationers took to the outdoors in the summers of 2021 and 2022, pushing up employment at RV parks and campgrounds. Average industry wages rose in July compared to last year’s trough. The growing popularity of RVing and camping is driving sales for the US RV parks and campgrounds industry, which is forecast to grow at a 5.72% compounded annual rate from 2022 to 2027, outpacing the growth of the overall economy.
- RV vacations cost much less than other types of vacation travel, even when fuel prices and RV ownership costs are factored in, according to CBRE Hotels Advisory Group. CBRE found an average cost savings of up to 60% for a four-person travel party, while a two-person party saves up to an average of 46%, depending on the type of RV and vacation. For the most common type of RV, the lightweight travel trailer, the average cost per day of the 4-person camping vacation was found to about 48% less than the average daily cost of a comparable 4-person air/hotel vacation and be about 34% less expensive than the average daily cost of comparable 4-person car/hotel combination vacation. CBRE's analysis found that fuel prices would have to rise to nearly $21 per gallon for a class C motorhome vacation to cost more than the least expensive non-RV vacation.
- Traveling workers are an opportunity for some RV parks and campgrounds to fill spots when summer vacationers depart, Woodall’s Campground Magazine reports. RV parks in Kansas are seeing a boost in their business this year thanks to the Keystone pipeline rupture last December and wind turbine and transmission line construction. All 15 sites at Mo’s RV Park at Linn, all 12 sites at Country Acres RV Park in Hanover, and all 14 sites at Rose Garden RV Park in Washington have been filled for a full year now, according to the Washington County News. When traditional housing is in short supply, traveling workers often turn to temporary options including RVs and even campgrounds for shelter.
- An estimated 44 million Americans are planning on going RVing this summer, the RV Industry Association (RVIA) reported in May. US leisure travelers surveyed cited more flexible work schedules, a desire to travel more with kids and family, wanting to travel in comfort, exploring the great outdoors, and traveling with a large group as their top reasons for opting to travel by RV. The survey conducted by Cairn Consulting for RVIA also showed that RVing is a year-round activity with 72 million Americans planning to take an RV trip in the next year and 32% of leisure travelers saying they would like to buy an RV in the next 12 months. Top travel destinations included private campgrounds, national and state parks, lakes, and beaches. Amenities cited by RVers included WiFi, solar charging stations, and outdoor kitchens.
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