Campgrounds & RV Parks in the US: Market Size, Businesses & Forecast 2026

The Campgrounds and RV Parks industry in the United States comprises establishments primarily engaged in operating sites to accommodate campers, tents, and recreational vehicles. Following an extended post-pandemic surge in outdoor recreation, the market is experiencing a transition toward stabilization and operational maturity as demand curves normalize. Total system revenues for major industry networks like Kampgrounds of America reflected this settling trend, reaching approximately $494 million in 2025 (RVBusiness). This shifting macroeconomic environment is increasingly characterized by corporate consolidation and institutional real estate investment despite a flattening top-line traject

Industry snapshot

Key public data points

Historical & forecast

Get in touch and our analysts will be happy to help with custom market sizing, deeper segmentation, supplier detail or a bespoke study built for you.

What does the Campgrounds & RV Parks in the US industry cover?

This industry is defined under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) and encompasses businesses that provide short-term lodging or site rentals for outdoor enthusiasts. Covered establishments include recreational vehicle parks, travel trailer campsites, tenting campgrounds, and certain types of wilderness camps or themed vacation retreats. These operations regularly provide guests with access to dedicated infrastructure and lifestyle amenities such as utility hookups, washrooms, laundry facilities, playgrounds, and localized retail shops.

• •Classified officially under NAICS code 721211 for RV Parks and Campgrounds.
• •Excludes land leasing for mobile home parks, which falls under NAICS 531190.
• •Includes both rustic tenting sites and highly developed luxury resorts featuring full sewage, water, and electrical hookups.

Who operates in the industry and how is it structured?

The industry features a hybrid structure divided between a vast ecosystem of small, independently owned local campgrounds and a powerful tier of corporate consolidators and franchise networks. Publicly traded Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and institutional private equity firms have acquired significant portfolios over the past decade, shifting the market toward professionalized property management. Operators optimize occupancy rates through seasonal tiers, long-term annual site leases, and transient short-term travel bookings.

• •Small business size standards are defined by the Small Business Administration at $10.0 million in average annual receipts for NAICS 721211.
• •Large institutional networks rely heavily on annual site rentals to secure stable recurring base rental income.
• •Third-party hospitality management companies actively manage properties on behalf of institutional funds.

What drives demand in the industry?

Demand for campground and RV park services is heavily driven by broader shifts in domestic leisure travel preferences, outdoor recreation participation rates, and demographic changes. Public lands demand has expanded notably, with the Center for Western Priorities tracking an estimated 39% increase in peak-season reservable campsite occupancy on public lands between 2014 and 2020. Fluctuations in consumer discretionary income, hybrid work flexibility, and fuel costs dictate the length and frequency of regional road trips.

• •National park proximity strongly correlates with higher consumer camping frequency.
• •Short stays of 1 to 3 nights represent a dominant segment of trip lengths due to localized travel.
• •Peak occupancy rates regularly spike toward 100% during summer months and holiday weekends.

Who are the notable companies in the industry?

The competitive landscape features dominant brand networks alongside prominent real estate investment entities that aggressively expand via acquisitions. Major players leverage centralized reservation software and loyalty clubs to sustain direct guest bookings and reduce dependency on online travel agencies. Competition centers around location quality, proximity to natural attractions, internet connectivity, and resort-style amenities.

• •Sun Communities Inc. (operating Sun Outdoors) managed a sprawling multi-billion dollar North American real property footprint in 2024.
• •Equity LifeStyle Properties Inc. generated total revenues of $1.56 billion in FY2024 across its extensive portfolio.
• •Kampgrounds of America Inc. operates as the country's most visible franchise network, recording $494 million in total system revenue in 2025.
• •Blue Water Development Corp. acts as a major third-party hospitality manager specializing in institutional campground assets.

What are the recent trends and outlook?

Following the historic pandemic-era travel boom, the industry is transitioning into a mature phase characterized by flattening top-line revenue trajectories. Transient vacation revenues have soft-landed, pushing operators to implement dynamic, AI-powered pricing models and expand higher-margin glamping units. Forward growth is projected to stabilize into modest single-digit adjustments as consumer spending behavior normalizes back toward traditional hospitality alternatives.

• •Transient real property revenues experienced slight single-digit contractions for major operators heading into 2025.
• •Digital booking applications and online travel platforms now process a primary share of reservation modes.
• •Operators are increasing annual site rental rates to offset rising property operating expenses and localized labor inflation.

How is the industry regulated?

Campground operators must comply with a complex grid of local zoning, environmental protections, and public health infrastructure mandates. Municipal ordinances govern land use permissions, density thresholds, and waste management safety for commercial properties. Furthermore, public sector parks are subject to federal and state budgeting parameters, fee structures, and strict booking cancellation policies managed via public portals.

• •Establishments must maintain critical utility compliance covering high-volume water, electricity, and sewage hookups.
• •Federal public lands bookings are largely centralized under the government's official Recreation.gov system.
• •Local environmental regulations strictly monitor campsite proximity to natural water sources and wildlife habitats.

Government, statistical and trade sources used for this Claight analysis.

• U.S. Census Bureau North American Industry Classification System 2022 ·
• Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. Form 10-K 2024 ·
• Sun Communities, Inc. Form 10-K 2024 ·
• Center for Western Priorities Public Lands Analysis 2022 ·
• U.S. Small Business Administration Table of Size Standards 2023