How to Run A Successful RV Park or Campground

Owning a campground or RV Park is fun. From hanging outside roasting marshmallow to fishing the day away, it can seem, from a distance, to be nothing but fun. However, it is also hard work. Here are a few tricks and tips we have picked up along the road from not only running our own campgrounds, but also from interacting with hundreds of owners/managers. 

1. Understand the Industry

We will start off the basics for those who are thinking about owning their own campground and RV Park. Make sure you familiarize yourself with the consumer’s point of view. This seems pretty straight forward but many excited new owners forget to do proper research. From staying at a campground as a guest to working one for a few weeks, you need to understand both sides of the isle. 

2. Create A Community

Having celebrations for July 4th and even ice cream socials help create memories for not only long term guests but short term guests as well. Creating a sense of community and even family, creates a atmosphere every one enjoys. One way to foster a sense of community is to offer simple things like hot coffee to people while they checkin or a postcard they can send to someone from your campground. 

3. Learn The Basics

If you are not a little versed in electricity and plumbing, take a class or two. Of course, you can hire someone but that can quickly add up. Knowing some of the basics can save you thousands of dollars and a lot of time. Plus, being able to offer quick solutions to your customers, will only keep them happy. 

4. Cleanliness Is Key

A lot of campground and RV Park customers hear about you through WOM. Therefore, your park needs to have clean facilities. If you do not have clean bathrooms or showers, you will loose customers - it is that simple. 

5. Don’t Make It Hard

Keeping everything as streamlined as possible for easy checkin and checkout can mean the difference between a good and great experience. Checkin is a customers first interaction with you and we are not talking about the day they arrive. Your impression starts when they book. Wether they book online or by phone, making it easy and comfortable is vital. Check out our blog on creating a great first impression HERE and if you do not have a easy to use online booking platform check out Bonfire.

6. Do It Right The Fist Time

If you are going to build, do it right, with the correct permits. What should have just been a $30 permit could end up costing you $300 in fines. If you build it right with the proper paperwork the first time, it will save your money and time down the line. 

7. Marketing For Success

Staying ahead of your competition is key and correct marketing can help. From having a strong Social Media presence to running strategic google ads, it is not impossible to standout from your competition. Click here to download Bonfire’s Free RV Park and Campground Marketing Guide.

8. Adding in Facilities

While marketing can help your campground grow, the addition of facilities such as a playground, a outdoor theatre, and ultimate frisbee courses also make you stand out. Not everything has to cost you money. Lunch and Learn for Campfire Cooking or Guided Hiking Tours can bring in a little extra revenue and a lot of attention. CLICK HERE to read about additional facilities your park could add. https://www.letsbonfire.com/blog/2018/2/13/free-paid-activities-you-could-add-to-your-park

Owning a RV park or campground is hard but rewarding work. We hope these tips help your park or campground have a successful year. 

2017 Campground Revenue Breakdowns and what it means for the Industry.

Total in Revenue: 7 Billion 

Annual Growth Rate: 1.9%

Total Spent on Camping Equipment: 2.8 Billion 

Number of RV Camping Participants: 42 Million 

While there are over 14400 RV Parks and campgrounds across the US, 50 accounts for approximately 25% of the revenue. So how can little guys compete with the larger competitors? It is simple - marketing and things to do. 

A lot of smaller campgrounds are getting cut out by the competition due to lack of marketing. By simply making people who are in the areas within 4-12 hours of you aware of your park’s amenities plus the local ownership, more people will book you over corporately owned places. Download a free Marketing Guide for RV Park and Campground Owners here. 

Campground rentals, sales of amenities and accommodations such as cabins account for 85% of industry revenue, so do not forget to stock up on things like bug spray, firewood, and noodles to sell in the camp store. If you have the money, investing in a few cabins, kayaks or mountain bikes is also a great way to make extra rental income. Learn more about ways to make money each season here.

All in all what these numbers show us is the Campground and RV industry is here to stay but making sure your park succeeds is up to you. Need marketing, website or reservation management help? We got you covered. Just email us at howdy@letsbonfire.com or click here to send us a message. 

From Busy to Successful - RV Park and Campgrounds

Spring is in the air, and with it comes a flood of sun-loving guests to your campground or RV park. You have officially made it out of the slow season (hooray!), and are now preparing for peak business in the coming months. So, how can you ensure that your campground or RV park isn’t just busy, but successful? Here are some ideas that could be helpful for RV park or campground owners and operators:

Be active and stay informed with your local tourism organization. Whether it’s a small Chamber of Commerce, a full-blown Tourist Board, or a more loosely knit group, be a part of it. Your campground or RV park contributes a lot to the tourism industry in your area. Outdoor recreation is beginning to boom this time of year, and the camping/RVing industry is growing substantially year over year. Take full advantage of being a valued tourism partner, and showcase incentives like online booking. If your campground or RV park doesn’t have this feature yet, now is a great time to get on board with Bonfire. Check out how we stack up against our competitors here.

Activities are a must. Whether you’re marketing to long-term guests or those just passing through, the more activities you offer, the more enticing your RV park or campground will be. Activities can be as simple as free pancake breakfasts, to special days for Farmers Markets, Friday beer carts, or an outdoor concert series. The more fun you make available, the more appealing your park will be. Check out our last blog article for more activity ideas.

Work hard to help publicize local events and activities at your park to your clientele. Make sure you keep your past guests up to date with an email newsletter and weekly posts to your social media pages. Your past guests are gold, so offer specials or value-enhanced packages to encourage them to come back and attend events in your community. For instance, Emerald Desert RV Resort in the Coachella Valley, California has special rates and lots of activities centered around both the Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals, including bus transportation to and from the music venue. Potential campers don’t have to buy a ticket to the festivals to be part of the fun at this RV resort, but they make it easy for festival-goers to attend hassle-free. For more ways to effectively market your campground or RV park, check out our marketing-specific blog here.

Interested in learning more about Bonfire? Schedule a demo with our Head Honcho to see for yourself why more parks are turning to Bonfire.

Top Tips for New Campground Owners

Congrats! You have just started, bought or inherited your own campground. We’re sure you are excited, and scared. But worry not. Here, we will outline some top tips for making your new campground thrive from the very beginning. 

1. Iron out your theme. If you are starting a campsite from scratch, it may be best to start off with a campground that is geared towards tent or RV camping. This type of campground requires no cabins and limited buildings. In fact, depending on the guidelines for your area, only a shower and bathroom building may be required. Be sure to check with the US Forest Service for permits, designated areas, and special guidelines that may apply to your campground.

2. Let there be light. Electrical hookups are a must for many campers. You will need to make sure that each site of the campground has an electrical hookup for powering small appliances or for powering RV campers. Hire a professional electrician to make sure that all electrical outlets and connections meet the standard codes and requirements required for campgrounds.

3. Create a place for waste. Dump stations and sewer hookups will need to be in place if you plan on having RV camps or tent camping. Make them accessible, but not noticable if possible. No one really wants to look at your waste setup while they are trying to enjoy the beautiful views of nature.

4. Make it easy to get clean. Build shower houses throughout the campground. Simple shower stalls can be separated by shower curtains or by wood walls, and on the opposite side of the showers, inside of the enclosure, you can have toilets, sinks, and a dry changing area for the campers. This will allow campers who are tent camping to be able to clean, dress, and use the bathroom all in one area before returning to camp.

5. Fire it up. When you start a campground, do not forget the fire pits! Fire pits can be dug easily with stones borders to keep flames and ashes in a concentrated area and grates over the fire pits for cooking. This simple set up will provide campers with a place to stay warm and to cook without having to leave their site. Equip each site or camper with a fire extinguisher and have fire safety sheds nearby for added security.

6. Make your customers comfortable. Keep one cabin or building as a camp office. In the office, offer options like a game room, small breakfast area, fireplace, camping essentials in travel size containers, a food bar, and communication room. Make sure the communication room is equipped with phones and Internet. Some campers are business travelers and may need that emergency email or Internet communication. It will appeal to them to have that convenience readily available without having to leave the site.

7. Make sure to offer wifi. One way to offer free wifi, while also boosting your engagement is to offer free wifi if they check in on Facebook at your park. You will grow your Facebook reach instantly. Click here for more info. 

8. Get organized. With Bonfire software, campground management is super simple with online booked, reservation management, and an integrated payment processing system, giving you more time to enjoy your campground. Check out our free demo here.