How to Price Your Hipcamp Campsite Listing to Ensure Maximum Earnings

You’re probably well-aware of how Hipcamp partners with landowners like you (who become Hipcamp Hosts) to connect your property with folks who are looking for places to stay, camp, and enjoy the outdoors. All you need to get started is a flat spot where someone can pitch a tent or park an RV.

If you want to get extra fancy and earn even more money, you can offer a glamping structure such as a yurt, tiny cabin, A-frame for them to stay in.

Whether you’re new to hosting on your land or list on multiple platforms, choosing the right pricing strategy for your Hipcamp campsite, glampsite or RV listing may feel daunting. Pricing has a huge impact on the number of bookings you get, but how do you know what to charge and when?

We’re here to help! Read on for an explanation of the pricing tools available on your Hipcamp Host Dashboard, strategies for pricing, and tips from Hosts themselves on how to set the right price.

I’m new to hosting

1. Price relative to other sites in your area

In your Host Dashboard, we provide a suggested price range based on other Hipcamps in your area. You should also consider location, amenities, accommodation type, and unique features. It can also be helpful to search your area on hipcamp.com and see how similar site types price. Learn more on how much to charge for your listing.

2. Price low to start off

We recommend starting at a modest price to get your first bookings and reviews. You can always raise your price through the Host dashboard in the future.

“Check out other Hipcamps, private and federal and state campgrounds near you to get an idea what the going rate for your area is. Start out on the low side to get customers and reviews then if you are steadily booked you can raise your price. Remember you are offering something unique so don’t price too low.” – Ditte Frederiksen McNeil, Private RV site Maple Shade Farm

I want to explore advanced pricing tools

1. Price high for in-demand weekends and holidays

Using pricing control, you can charge a higher nightly rate for specific holidays and weekends where you know more people will be coming to town. Capture that extra demand by raising your prices on those days! See how to set specific nightly prices here.

2. Price lower for shoulder season

Using pricing control, we recommend lowering your price per night for shoulder seasons. Instead of closing your listing, keep your calendar open and offer a lower price.

“It will be important to take note of seasonal reasons for rate adjustments. This may be college sports programs in season, fall colors, wine tour season, or just ideal camping weather that has come along.” – Mitch Pearce, Whisper Creek Glamping

I host professionally

1. Price the same across platforms

If you’re listing on multiple platforms, it’s best practice to price the same on each. We understand that pricing structure and fees are slightly different on each platform, but we recommend getting as close as possible to the same total price.

2. Take advantage of Hipcamp’s revenue management tools

→ Weeknight discount
To drive weeknight bookings, you can offer a discounted price on your listing for Monday through Thursday. Here are steps to add a weeknight discount.

→ Pricing control for specific nights
You can also set your pricing to a specific amount for any day(s) of the year. This can be useful if there is a special event happening nearby such as a music festival or chili cook off, or a high demand holiday like Memorial Day Weekend, that you may want to raise your prices for. You can also lower your prices if you want to offer your listings at a discount in the shoulder season. Here are steps to change your listing price for specific nights.

Some popular weekends you might consider raising prices for:

• • Martin Luther King Jr. Day
  • Presidents’ Day
  • Memorial Day
  • Fourth of July
  • Labor Day Weekend
  • Indiginous Peoples Day
  • Thanksgiving
  • New Years Eve

→ Cleaning fee
If you’re listing a structure that requires a professional cleaning service between bookings, you can charge a one-time cleaning fee for your listing. Here’s how to add a cleaning fee to your listing. Cleaning fees can only be applied to listings with provided accommodations (i.e. cabin, yurt, tiny house, etc.).

Still have questions about how to manage pricing? Reach out to your Market Manager!

How to start earning extra money hosting campers on your land

Want to earn extra income to help pay for property taxes, home expenses, and future dream projects? Learn more about becoming a Hipcamp Host. (Use the promo code JOURNAL and get an extra $100 when you host your first Hipcamp guest.)