How to make DIY camp signs for under $20

We’re officially impressed—on-site signage is the easiest, most effective way to ensure your Hipcampers have a smooth check-in, so you’re well on your way to being an all-star Host. A few simple signs go a long way in making Hipcampers feel comfortable and happy, which means better ratings for you.

In under one minute, we walk through how to create 2 different signs: a stencil sign and duct tape sign. We recommend using these same techniques to create simple parking signs (the letter “P” should work just fine.)

Here are the top 3 signs we recommend adding to your land:

1. Where to park
2. Where to find the site
3. Where to find the bathroom

Go the extra mile by adding signs for your land’s boundaries, drinking water, trailheads and other amenities. We’ve got all kinds of sign inspiration here.

In this post, we’ll go over two quick and easy ways to create beautiful signage for your land: the first requires a spray-paint stencil and the second requires reflective duct tape. Be sure to share pictures of your signs with us when you’re done!

What you’ll need ✂️

You might have most of this on-hand already, but a quick trip to the craft store won’t set you back more than $20. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Sign material (anything you’ve got lying around—piece of wood, slab of scrap metal, etc.)
• Reflective duct tape
• Poster board
• Bright-colored spray paint
• Exacto knife

Option 1: DIY Stencil Sign

Step 1. Download your Hipcamp logo stencil

If you’re going with the spray-paint stencil, you might want to use one of these Hipcamp tents as your stencil. We’ve provided a few stencil sizes for you, depending on the size of your sign.

Click on the size you’d like. It’ll open a new window with the file, where you can click the tiny printer icon in the top right to download and print.

Step 2. Print stencil and cut out from poster board.

Step 3: Secure the stencil to sign material.

Step 4: Spray paint multiple coats using stencil until opaque.

Make sure to hold spray paint roughly 12 inches from the surface to prevent paint dripping. Give the paint a few minutes of time to dry between spraying.

Step 5: Remove the stencil from the sign and voila!

Option 2: DIY Reflective Tape Sign

Step 1. Cut two 4-inch strips of tape

Tip: If you have 2″ duct tape, we recommend cutting the width in half, as seen in the video tutorial.

Step 2: Place tape in the form of a tent on the sign.

Reference the video for the best positioning!

Have you made DIY camp signs for your Hipcamp? Share them by adding photos of your signage to your listing or share tips on our Facebook, and make sure to tag @hipcamp!