The Ultimate RV Park and Campground Business Plan: A Guide and Template

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” So said Benjamin Franklin and a million bumper stickers ever since. He wasn’t specifically talking about campgrounds, RV parks, or the outdoor hospitality industry, of course. But he was stating a universal truth: Thorough planning will set you up for success.

If you’re thinking of starting a campground or RV park there’s a whole range of things to consider, from layout and design, to zoning and regulations. Think about it all at once, and it can seem overwhelming. That’s where creating a proper RV park or campground business plan comes in—and Hipcamp is here to help.

This campground business plan template will encourage you to think strategically through all of the possibilities and decisions that you’ll need to make as a campground owner. By structuring your plans, you’ll be able to see exactly what’s required to get a successful camping business off the ground. Let’s get started.

How to create a campground business plan

• What is a campground business plan?
• Why is a campground business plan important?
• How to write an RV and campground business plan
  • Executive summary
  • Business description
  • Camping industry analysis
  • Organizational structure
  • Products and services
  • Marketing strategy
  • Financial plan

What is a campground business plan?

A campground or RV park business plan is a detailed document outlining your strategy and covering everything from a simple executive summary to a financial plan. In writing a business plan for your campground, you’ll clarify your goals, analyze your target market, create a funding plan, map out growth, and outline a marketing strategy.

Why is a campground business plan important?

For entrepreneurs seeking funding, a solid business plan is essential to convince investors that your campground will be a success. Your business plan is the cornerstone of your investment pitch. And even if you don’t require external funding, creating a business plan is a good way to ensure you think strategically about your business structure and have confidence in the viability of your campground.

How to write an RV and campground business plan (step-by-step guide):

Step 1: Executive summary

In the executive summary section of your plan, provide an overview of your campground, RV park, or glamping business. This should include the name, location, type of campground, number of sites, and any other services or experiences you plan to provide.

Step 2: Business description

For this section of your RV park or campground business plan, give an overview of your campground. Include the following sections with short descriptions (a few paragraphs) of your offerings and choices.

Campground type and offerings

• What type of campground is your business (i.e. glamping, private campground, RV resort, designated boondocking)?
• What amenities will be offered (i.e. hookups, experiences, dining, parking, concrete pads, activities, toilets, etc.)? 
• Will you be open year-round or seasonally?

Location and size

• Where is your campground located? 
• How many campsites are in your campground? 
• Is there room for more sites, or would you need to acquire more land to expand? 
• Why did you choose this location? 
• What permits and approvals are required? 
• Do you need a business license? If yes, how will you obtain it?

Hip tip: Be sure to check local laws at the city, county, and state levels of your campground location and include this information in your business plan.

Target audience

• What is their typical camping setup? (i.e. tent, RV, pop-up)
• Who do they camp with?
• How old are they?
• How much disposable income do they have?
• Do they camp year-round or part-time?
• What activities do they like to do on a camping trip?
• What amenities, activities, and services do they expect at a campground?

Value proposition

• What makes your campground unique?
• What is your competitive advantage over other campgrounds in the area? 
• Can you offer something niche?
• What experiences can you offer that other campgrounds don’t?

Branding, mission statement, and vision

• Why are you starting a campground?
• What values do you want your business to reflect? 
• What types of customers do you want your business to attract?
• How did you pick your campground or RV park name?
• Will you trademark the name?

Finances

• How are you covering your startup costs?
• Where will you get continued funding (if needed)?
• What type of business will you file taxes as?
• What do you need to do to set up your business type?
• How will you accept bookings?
• What platform(s) will you list your campground on? (Hipcamp, etc.)
• What’s your pricing strategy? (Think about nightly rate(s), seasonal pricing, and long-term discounts.)
• What insurance do you need?
• What regulations apply to your business?
• Do you have any forward-looking financial forecasts?

Timeline: Launch and growth

• When will your campground open?
• What is the timeline/roadmap to get there? 
• What milestones do you want to hit?
• Will you have a soft opening? 
• How will you grow your campground in the first year?
• How will you grow your campground in the next 5 years?

Step 3: Camping industry analysis

Provide a basic overview of the campground industry and include current market trends—the Outdoor Industry Association, among other organizations, publishes reports that might be helpful. Here is its 2024 Outdoor Participation Trends Report. RV park owners, in particular, should also check out the RV Industry Association’s reports for a look at the RVing and RV park industry.

Use this data to outline the increased demand for camping and the current supply landscape, as well as spikes in trends like glamping and ecotourism.

The second part of this section should include competitive analysis. Consider putting this section into a table so you can easily compare competing campground offerings and target customer demographics. 

For your campground business plan, pick a handful of campgrounds that attract the same type of camper you’re looking to target. Focus on these direct nearby competitors, but consider including indirect competitors too—campgrounds targeting the same camper type but in different locations.

Hip tip: Some business owners hire a third-party source to conduct market analysis on their behalf to provide a more comprehensive and unbiased view.

Step 4: Organizational structure

Define the key personnel in your campground’s operation, then make an organizational chart in this section of your business plan. Outline the key responsibilities for each position. 

What will you, as the owner, be responsible for handling? Who is on the management team and what are their responsibilities? Outline who will manage things like marketing tasks, as well as customer service, human resources, taxes/accounting, payroll, staffing, and website/booking management.

Here are just some positions you might find at a campground:

• Owner/CEO: Responsible for the overall business
• Campground/resort manager: Responsible for day-to-day management
• Marketing specialist: Responsible for marketing efforts (i.e. email, social media, advertising, PR, website)
• Human resources: Responsible for payroll, staffing, and employee engagement
• Activity coordinator or camp attendant: Responsible for organizing on-site activities and events
• Receptionist/front office: Responsible for checking in guests and alleviating any customer issues
• Housekeeping (depending on the type of property): Responsible for room and lodging cleanliness
• Maintenance director/team: Responsible for grounds maintenance
• Camp hosts: Responsible for making guests feel welcome during their stay—often a seasonal/long-term camper that works in exchange for a free stay
• Naturalists/activity guides: Responsible for guiding on-site group activities like hikes
• Restaurant manager/staff (if applicable): Responsible for any on-site food/beverage facilities

While most campgrounds don’t have all of these positions, depending on your size, location, and campground type, different responsibilities may warrant individual roles. Running a small business with a small team makes it all the more important to have a good operations plan from the outset. As the campground owner, it’s your job to outline clear responsibilities and set boundaries for each role.

In your campground business plan, you’ll also want to note any national, state, and local labor laws and restrictions to follow, including but not limited to benefits, overtime pay, tips, shift breaks, and unemployment insurance tax. Regulations vary based on employment status, so decide what positions will be part-time or full-time.

Step 5: Products and services

In this section of your campground business plan, you’ll want to get into more detail about the accommodations and amenities you mentioned up above in Step 2. Your offered products and services will vary depending on the size, location, and campground type. 

Here’s a brief overview of potential campground types:

• RV resort: Typically a higher-end facility with RV campsites that are easy to access and have lots of convenient amenities (i.e. a bathhouse, sewer hookups, etc.)
• Campground: Can accommodate tent campers or RVers—or offer both types of sites, typically with potable water and electric hookups at the minimum
• Designated dispersed camping: Designated but open campsites (typically immersed in nature) with no hookups and minimal amenities for campers who instead bring in their own supplies and resources
• Glamping: A new wave of camping defined as sleeping in a structure or luxury tent; the level of amenities varies, but glampers typically don’t bring supplies with them

As you determine your offerings, here are a few questions to ask yourself for this section of your campground business plan: Will you offer hookups? Wifi? Will your campground feature a bathhouse and showers? What about hot water or a camp store? How will campers access the campsites? How will waste get disposed of?

Most RVers will want hookups, at least for water and electricity. Many tent campers will also appreciate access to electricity and potable water as well. To decide what you’ll offer, calculate the associated installation costs, maintenance costs, and the return on investment.

Aside from tent and RV campers, if you’re creating a glamping site, define what type of accommodations you’ll offer—cabins, A-frames, safari tents, bell tents, geodomes, etc.). This category of camping varies greatly and ranges from budget to high-end, so make sure your offerings are clear.

And while most people camp to spend time in nature, some campers prefer to have on-site food options. We’ve seen some creative ways to offer food at a campground, from food trucks to meal prep kits to full restaurants. If you’ll be serving food in any capacity, be sure to look at local operational laws and regulations.

Hip tip: Hipcamp lets campground owners offer “Extras” such as guided tours, equipment rentals, firewood, or event hosting. These add-ons can be purchased in addition to your nightly rate, making it easy for you to upsell.

Step 6: Marketing strategy

In this section of your campground business roadmap, you’ll want to describe how you’ll attract campers both online and offline as part of a larger comprehensive marketing plan.

Booking platforms

Listing your campground on a booking platform helps give you immediate access to campers in your area. Hipcamp is the most visited campground booking app and website in the world, so it’s usually the best place to start. Will you list your campground on other booking platforms too? Keep in mind that using fewer platforms is usually better, since it allows you to build lots of positive reviews in one place, which helps build momentum and visibility on that platform.

Digital presence

Consider using distribution channels like search engines (i.e. create a website), social media, press releases, email, and more to build an audience online. Pick which channels you’ll use, how you’ll set them up, and how you’ll utilize them in the short- and long-term.

Third-party campground booking platforms, like Hipcamp, have expert marketing teams and tools, often featuring listings in emails, app notifications, on their website, and on social media channels. This can increase your campground’s exposure with little to no effort on your part.

Reviews

Make sure you include ways to earn reviews in your campground business plan. Camper reviews are extremely important for credibility and increasing bookings. Consider marketing campaigns and tactics to encourage your campers to leave you positive feedback online and spread the word about what you offer.

Hip tip: For an in-depth look at how to market your campground, check out Hipcamp’s Guide to Campground Marketing.

Step 7: Financial plan

Here you’ll need to detail your startup costs (think land acquisition, permitting, equipment, construction, etc.). Include operational expenses (i.e. payroll, supplies, utilities, lease, web hosting fees, etc.), projected revenue numbers with key assumptions, cash flow, liabilities, and a break-even analysis. You could include the financial projections for your campground in graph form to show expected year-over-year growth. Also, explain how you will determine pricing and if you’ll adjust rates based on the site type, amenities offered, and time of year.

If applicable, discuss your potential funding options, whether it be investors, getting a bank loan, and/or crowdfunding. When pitching, you’ll want to have your financial projects in a solid position, understand your startup costs, and be able to explain the market demand to justify your ask.

A thorough business plan provides you with the right foundations for clear business goals and a successful campground launch. Follow this template as the first step in confidently launching your new RV park or campground.

Once you’re up and running, Hipcamp provides marketing tools like professional photography to attract new and repeat campers, support resources for Hosts, and ways to minimize risk through insurance and other offerings. 

More resources for your RV park or campground business plan:

• A Guide to Successful Hipcamp Hosting, as told by Hipcamp Hosts
• 4 Easy Tips for Taking Beautiful Photos of Your Land
• Winterize Your Campground: How to Market Your Hipcamp Property for Winter
• How to Manage Your Hipcamp Property Remotely
• Host Webinar Series: Tips, Tricks, and Tech
• The 5 Most Desirable Campsite Amenities That Campers Will Pay More For
• Do I Need a Permit or Other Government Permission to Host Campers?
• How to Set Up Your Property for Safe Campfires
• 15 Activity Ideas to Attract Campers
• 6 Steps for a Smooth Check-In Process to Ensure Your Campsite Gets Great Reviews