How to Start a Campground Business

Last Updated: October 21, 2021

As tourism is a multi-million dollar business that caters to hundreds of thousands of people each year, knowing how to start a campground business can offer a lucrative business opportunity to entrepreneurs. You can start a simple campground just for tents or a full-scale luxury campground that offers cabins and RV hookups. It's essential to understand, however, that in order to start a successful campground business you'll need a sound business plan, sufficient investment and a good understanding of management principles. Read the steps below to find out how to start a campground business.

Steps

1
Decide what type of campground business you want to start. Popular types of campgrounds are seasonal campsites, tent-only campgrounds, year-round campgrounds, campgrounds for RVs, and campgrounds that target specific audiences like fishing enthusiasts.
2
Draw up a sound business plan for your campground business. In it, analyze the competition and feasibility of a campground at the chosen location, and include a construction and development plan to develop the physical part of your campground business. Also describe your management and marketing plans, as well as projected income and start-up costs.^{[1]
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3
Present your business plan to investors or your bank to obtain the necessary funding.
4
Register your campground business with your city to obtain a business license.
5
Obtain construction and development permits with the appropriate city or state department.^{[2]
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6
Put a team together to construct your campground business.
- Develop the landscaping, paving, electrical wiring for RV hookups, plumbing and a dump station for RVs.
- Construct recreational areas such as swimming pools, picnic areas with tables and fire rings, game rooms, a bathhouse, laundry facilities, and an office.
7
Hire maintenance and service personnel. Make sure they have experience in the tourism industry, are polite and representative of your business, and are reliable.^{[3]
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8
Set the fees for your campground business. Though starting a campground business may require a significant investment, remember to keep your pricing competitive to attract the maximum amount of visitors.
9
Build a website for your campground business. Include information about your campground and the area with photos and suggestions for activities. Also offer an online reservation where guests can book the dates they want to visit. Write to websites and organizations that list campgrounds to have your campground business added to the list with links to your website. This will help you reach a larger market.^{[4]
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10
Advertise your campground business in local, national and international tourism publications.
11
Open your campground business.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I find the state and city regulations that a camp ground must follow?

Community Answer

Start with your city planning board. They should know what department you need to approach (department of economic development, department of environmental services, or multiple departments). The city planning board can give you local ordinances, guidelines and zoning and then point you in the correct direction with the State.
Question

We're on 100 acres. Can I start off with a 'primitive' site (i.e. just a patch of grass with no facilities to speak of) so we can at least start to earn something in the short term?

Community Answer

The main issue is water supply. Most regions have rules to regulate public use of water, so check with your state about this. Usually, if you don't supply drinking water, then you don't need to provide waste removal facilities (septic, town sewer, dump station and the like). If you want to avoid upfront costs, check whether you NEED to provide anything by law, or if you can start just with the basics, like portable toilets. You can always add waste removal and a water supply as the popularity of your campground grows.
Question

Do I need to advise close neighbors of my intentions?

Community Answer

The permit process will include notifying all adjacent property owners, allowing them to comment or challenge your intent.