The outdoor hospitality sector has quietly become one of the most durable corners of small business ownership in America, and the latest campground and RV park financing statistics tell a compelling story for owners, buyers, and investors. Demand for campsites and RV hookups has held near record levels for several consecutive years, industry revenue continues to climb, and lenders have responded with more loan products tailored to campground acquisitions, expansions, and refinances than ever before. Whether you already operate a park or are evaluating your first purchase, understanding the numbers behind this industry is the fastest way to make a smart financing decision.
This report gathers the most important campground and RV park statistics for 2026, explains what they mean for your borrowing power, and walks through the financing options owners actually use to buy, build, and grow outdoor hospitality properties. Every figure is drawn from credible public sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau, the Small Business Administration, and major industry research groups, so you can plan with confidence.
In This Article
The campground and RV park industry sits at the intersection of real estate, hospitality, and small business. Industry analysts estimate that campgrounds and RV parks in the United States generate roughly $8 billion to $9 billion in annual revenue, spread across more than 11,000 privately operated parks and thousands of additional public and membership-based properties. The U.S. Census Bureau tracks RV parks and campgrounds under its County Business Patterns program, which has documented steady growth in both establishments and employment over the past decade.
Demand-side indicators are just as strong. Kampgrounds of America, which publishes the most widely cited annual camping report in the industry, has reported that more than 50 million American households went camping in recent years, with camping consistently accounting for roughly a third of all leisure trips. The RV Industry Association estimates that more than 11 million U.S. households now own an RV, and wholesale RV shipments have run in the hundreds of thousands of units annually even in softer economic years.
Key Stat: According to KOA's annual research, camping participation reached record levels after 2020 and has stayed elevated, with tens of millions of households camping each year and a growing share identifying as year-round or frequent campers.
What makes this industry especially attractive to lenders is its revenue diversity. A typical RV park earns income from nightly and monthly site fees, cabin or glamping rentals, camp store sales, propane and laundry, storage, and seasonal events. That mix of recurring and ancillary revenue produces cash flow that is easier to underwrite than a single-stream business, which is one reason campground financing approvals have become more common among both banks and non-bank lenders.
For a deeper look at loan structures built specifically for this property type, see our complete guide to campground business loans, which covers qualification requirements and application strategy in detail.
Before you approach a lender, it helps to know the benchmarks they will use to evaluate your park. The following statistics frame the market as it stands heading into 2026:
Pro Tip: Lenders underwriting a campground purchase will almost always ask for three years of seller financials, a site-by-site occupancy history, and a realistic pro forma. Parks with documented occupancy above 60% and diversified revenue routinely command better terms.
These numbers matter because they anchor the conversation with any lender. A buyer who can speak fluently about market size, occupancy benchmarks, and per-site development economics signals lower risk, and lower risk translates directly into better rates and faster approvals.
Financing a campground or RV park is fundamentally different from financing a standard retail or service business. Lenders evaluate the real estate, the business income, and the operator's experience as a package, and each of the statistics above feeds into that underwriting picture.
Industry revenue growth tells the lender the market is not shrinking. Occupancy benchmarks give the underwriter a yardstick for your park's performance. Per-site development costs determine how much capital an expansion project truly requires. And down payment norms shape how much cash you need to bring to the table before a loan can close.
Camping industry statistics also reveal a shift in customer behavior that strengthens loan applications: campers are staying longer, booking earlier, and spending more per trip on premium sites and amenities. Parks that add full hookups, glamping units, or modern bathhouses routinely report revenue per site well above older, rustic properties. Lenders have noticed, and many now view amenity upgrades as value-adding uses of loan proceeds rather than speculative spending.
Owners exploring RV-specific properties should also review our RV park business loans guide, which breaks down how underwriters treat monthly site rentals versus transient nightly income.
Thinking About Buying a Campground or RV Park?
Get a fast, no-obligation funding review from the #1 business lender in the U.S. Apply online in minutes.
Apply Now →Most campground and RV park loans follow a predictable sequence, whether you are buying an existing park, refinancing, or funding an expansion. Understanding each step helps you prepare the right documents and avoid the delays that stall outdoor hospitality deals.
Step 1: Define the project. Lenders need to know exactly what the money will do. A purchase loan, a refinance, a 20-site expansion, and a glamping tent installation are four different risk profiles with four different documentation requirements.
Step 2: Assemble the financials. For acquisitions, expect to provide two to three years of the seller's profit and loss statements, tax returns, and occupancy records. For expansions on parks you already own, your own operating history plus a project budget and contractor bids take center stage.
Step 3: Match the loan product to the project. Real estate-heavy purchases often fit SBA 7(a) or 504 structures. Equipment and site improvements may be better served by equipment financing or a term loan. Seasonal working capital gaps are typically solved with a business line of credit.
Step 4: Underwriting and appraisal. Commercial appraisals on campgrounds take longer than residential ones, often three to six weeks, because appraisers must analyze both the land and the business income. Build this timeline into your purchase agreement.
Step 5: Close and fund. SBA-backed deals commonly close in 45 to 90 days. Non-bank term loans and lines of credit can fund in days to weeks, which is why many buyers use faster capital for time-sensitive pieces of a larger project.
By the Numbers
Campground and RV Park Financing - Key Statistics for 2026
$8B+
Estimated annual U.S. campground and RV park industry revenue
11M+
U.S. households that own at least one RV, per RVIA research
50M+
American households that go camping each year, per KOA reporting
10-25%
Typical down payment range for campground and RV park loans
No single loan product covers every campground need, so most successful owners combine two or more structures over the life of their business. Here are the financing types used most often in this industry.
The SBA 7(a) program is the workhorse of campground acquisitions. Loan amounts run up to $5 million, terms on real estate can extend to 25 years, and down payments often land between 10% and 15%. The SBA's 7(a) loan program allows proceeds to cover the property purchase, working capital, and even equipment in a single package, which suits park acquisitions where the buyer needs operating cash from day one.
For owners purchasing land and buildings with plans to hold long term, the SBA 504 loan program pairs a bank first mortgage with a below-market, fixed-rate second lien from a Certified Development Company. The structure pushes down payments as low as 10% and is especially effective for parks with significant real estate value and major improvement plans.
Banks and credit unions write conventional commercial mortgages on campgrounds with strong occupancy history and experienced operators. Expect 20% to 25% down, 5 to 10 year terms with longer amortizations, and faster closings than SBA when the borrower profile is strong.
Golf carts, mowing equipment, laundry machines, camp store fixtures, and even glamping tents can be financed separately through equipment financing, preserving your cash and credit lines for operations. Terms typically match the useful life of the equipment, and the equipment itself serves as collateral.
Seasonality defines the campground business, and a business line of credit smooths the gap between slow winters and peak summers. Draw what you need for payroll, utilities, and inventory in the off-season, then pay the balance down when occupancy peaks.
Short-term working capital loans fund marketing pushes, staffing ramps, and pre-season repairs. They carry shorter terms than real estate debt but fund quickly, which matters when a spring opening date is fixed on the calendar.
The table below summarizes how the most common structures stack up for a typical park acquisition or expansion.
| Feature | SBA 7(a) | SBA 504 | Conventional Mortgage | Line of Credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Acquisitions with working capital | Real estate and major improvements | Strong borrowers buying stabilized parks | Seasonal cash flow gaps |
| Typical amount | Up to $5 million | Up to $5.5 million on SBA portion | Varies by property value | $25,000 to $500,000+ |
| Down payment | 10% to 15% | As low as 10% | 20% to 25% | None (revolving) |
| Typical term | Up to 25 years on real estate | 20 to 25 years | 5 to 10 year terms, 20 to 25 year amortization | 12 to 24 months, renewable |
| Funding speed | 45 to 90 days | 60 to 90 days | 30 to 60 days | As fast as a few days |
Many owners layer these products. A common pattern pairs an SBA 7(a) acquisition loan with an equipment financing facility for site upgrades and a line of credit for the first two off-seasons. Structuring capital this way keeps each dollar of debt matched to the asset or expense it funds.
This corner of commercial lending serves a surprisingly wide range of borrowers. First-time buyers with hospitality or property management experience routinely qualify for SBA-backed acquisitions, particularly when the target park has clean books and documented occupancy. Existing owners expanding from one park to a second or third location find that lenders view a proven track record as the strongest possible qualification.
Investors who buy underperforming parks and reposition them with better amenities, dynamic pricing, and online booking systems are another growing borrower group. Their business plans lean heavily on the industry statistics covered earlier: if comparable parks achieve 65% occupancy and a target property sits at 40%, the upside case writes itself.
Finally, owners approaching retirement often refinance to pull equity out for a sale-ready renovation, or to restructure debt before listing. Because campground values are driven by net operating income, even modest revenue improvements can meaningfully raise an appraised value.
Pro Tip: If your park's books mix personal and business expenses, clean them up at least one full season before applying. Underwriters discount income they cannot verify, and messy books are the single most common reason campground loan offers come in lower than expected.
Crestmont Capital has funded thousands of small businesses across hospitality, recreation, and real estate-backed industries, and campground and RV park financing is a natural fit for that expertise. Our team structures SBA loans for acquisitions, commercial real estate financing for stabilized properties, and fast working capital for the seasonal realities of outdoor hospitality.
What owners notice first is speed. Traditional bank processes can stall for months while a seller's patience wears thin. Crestmont's application takes minutes online, and our advisors work directly with you to match the right loan structure to your project, whether that is a full acquisition package, an expansion facility, or a bridge to SBA closing.
We also understand the seasonal rhythm of the business. Repayment structures can be aligned with peak revenue months, and our advisors can coordinate multiple facilities, like pairing an acquisition loan with equipment financing for site upgrades, so your capital stack works as one plan instead of competing obligations.
Ready to Fund Your Campground Project?
Join the thousands of business owners who trust Crestmont Capital for fast, flexible financing.
Apply Now →Scenario 1: Buying an existing 60-site RV park. A couple with hospitality management experience found a 60-site park in Texas listed at $1.8 million, with three years of records showing 62% average occupancy. An SBA 7(a) loan covered 85% of the purchase price plus $100,000 in working capital, and the park's documented cash flow supported the debt service from day one.
Scenario 2: Adding 25 full-hookup sites. A family-owned campground in the Midwest had a two-year waiting list every summer. The owners financed a 25-site expansion at roughly $22,000 per site using a combination of a term loan and equipment financing for pedestals and utility infrastructure. The new sites paid back the project cost in under four seasons.
Scenario 3: Repositioning a dated resort campground. An investor purchased a 120-site Florida property at a discount because occupancy lagged the market at 45%. A commercial real estate loan funded the acquisition, while a separate working capital facility covered new bathhouses, a camp store renovation, and a modern online booking system. Within two years occupancy reached the mid-60s, in line with the market benchmarks discussed above.
Scenario 4: Bridging seasonal cash flow. A mountain-region campground earns 80% of its annual revenue between May and October. A business line of credit covers winter payroll, insurance, and loan payments, then gets paid down each summer. The owners have reused the same facility for six consecutive years without reapplying.
Industry analysts estimate U.S. campground and RV park revenue at roughly $8 billion to $9 billion annually, generated by more than 11,000 privately operated parks. Demand indicators remain strong, with over 50 million households camping each year according to KOA research.
Industry research and U.S. Census Bureau establishment data together point to more than 11,000 privately owned campground and RV park businesses, plus thousands of public, state, and membership-based properties. The private business count has grown steadily over the past decade.
Well-run RV parks commonly report average annual occupancy between 55% and 70%. Seasonal parks in vacation destinations often sell out peak months far in advance, while year-round parks in mild climates can sustain high occupancy across all four seasons.
Most existing parks trade between $500,000 and $5 million, depending on site count, amenities, occupancy history, and location. Value is typically calculated as a multiple of net operating income, so parks with clean books and strong occupancy command premium pricing.
New full-hookup RV sites typically cost $15,000 to $40,000 each to develop, depending on utility runs, terrain, roads, and amenity buildings. A 50-site ground-up project therefore commonly requires $1 million to $2 million or more in total development capital, excluding land.
Most SBA and conventional lenders look for personal credit scores of 680 or higher, though strong park cash flow and larger down payments can offset a thinner credit file. Non-bank lenders are often more flexible on credit when the underlying real estate and revenue are strong.
Yes. The SBA 7(a) program is one of the most common ways to finance a campground purchase, allowing up to $5 million with down payments around 10% to 15%. The SBA 504 program works well when the deal is primarily real estate with major improvements planned.
Down payments generally range from 10% to 25% of the purchase price. SBA-backed structures sit at the low end of that range, while conventional commercial mortgages usually require 20% or more, especially for buyers without direct industry experience.
SBA loans typically close in 45 to 90 days, partly because commercial appraisals on campgrounds take several weeks. Conventional commercial mortgages often close in 30 to 60 days, while non-bank term loans, equipment financing, and lines of credit can fund in days to weeks.
Yes. Lenders who understand outdoor hospitality routinely underwrite seasonal parks by annualizing peak-season revenue. Strong summer occupancy with clean records is usually sufficient, and many owners pair acquisition debt with a line of credit to manage off-season expenses.
Underwriters review two to three years of financial statements, occupancy history, site mix and rates, the condition of utilities and amenities, local competition, and the borrower's experience. A commercial appraisal analyzing both the land value and business income is standard for acquisition loans.
Industry fundamentals remain favorable: RV ownership exceeds 11 million households, camping participation is near record highs, and supply of quality parks is constrained in many markets. As with any investment, returns depend on purchase price, management quality, and capital structure.
Yes. Lenders regularly fund site additions, utility upgrades, bathhouses, and glamping units, especially when existing occupancy demonstrates unmet demand. Projects with contractor bids, permits in progress, and a realistic revenue pro forma receive the strongest consideration.
The loan products are largely the same; the difference is in underwriting emphasis. RV parks with monthly tenants and full hookups are evaluated partly on recurring site income, while campgrounds weighted toward nightly tent or cabin stays are underwritten more like hospitality businesses with nightly rate and occupancy metrics.
Pricing tracks the broader commercial lending market. SBA-backed loans usually carry the most competitive rates for qualified borrowers, conventional bank mortgages price near standard commercial real estate levels, and faster non-bank products price higher in exchange for speed and flexibility.
Turn These Numbers Into Your Next Investment
The campground market rewards prepared buyers. Get pre-qualified today and move fast when the right park hits the market.
Apply Now →The campground and RV park financing statistics for 2026 describe an industry with durable demand, constrained supply, and multiple proven paths to capital. Revenue in the billions, more than 11 million RV-owning households, and camping participation near record levels all support the case for well-structured park acquisitions and expansions.
The owners who succeed in this market share one habit: they know their numbers before they talk to a lender. With the benchmarks in this report and a financing partner who understands outdoor hospitality, you can move from research to closing with confidence. When you are ready to put these campground and RV park financing statistics to work, Crestmont Capital is ready to help you fund the next chapter of your business.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general educational purposes only and is not financial, legal, or tax advice. Funding terms, qualifications, and product availability may vary and are subject to change without notice. Crestmont Capital does not guarantee approval, rates, or specific outcomes. For personalized information about your business funding options, contact our team directly.