RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Campgrounds Revenue Benchmarks
The average rv (recreational vehicle) parks and campgrounds business in the United States generates $595K in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 4,511 rv (recreational vehicle) parks and campgrounds businesses in the U.S., employing 24,216 workers with an average profit margin of 5.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $30K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a RV Business Actually Do?
Businesses providing overnight sites for RVs, tents, and cabins. Range from national chains (KOA) to independent parks. Often paired with amenities like pools, playgrounds, and rec halls.
Who buys: RV travelers, campers, roadtrippers.
Average Revenue
$595K
per year
Profit Margin
5.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$111K
per year
Total Businesses
4,511
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$30K
small business avg
Labor Cost
32.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$30K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
1.4
firms per 100K people
How Much Do RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Campgrounds Charge?
RV parks and campgrounds price by night with occupancy the swing factor.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Basic RV site | $35–65/night |
Full-hookup site | $50–90/night |
Premium / waterfront site | $75–150/night |
Tent site | $25–45/night |
Cabin rental | $85–250/night |
Weekly rate | 5x nightly (~30% discount) |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete rv business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a rv (recreational vehicle) parks and campgrounds business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the rv (recreational vehicle) parks and campgrounds industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Food & beverage costs | $35 | $206K | Ingredients, food, beverages, disposables — the raw cost of what's served. |
Wages & benefits | $32 | $190K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $13 | $75K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $3 | $19K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $13 | $75K | Utilities, cleaning, licenses, credit-card processing, kitchen equipment depreciation, insurance. |
Net profit | $5 | $30K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
10%
openings/year
Closure Rate
8.81%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+5.24%
annual
Businesses Closed
467
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a RV Business?
Startup Cost
$100K – $500K
Break-Even
121 months
5-Year Survival Rate
40.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a rv (recreational vehicle) parks and campgrounds business do?
- Businesses providing overnight sites for RVs, tents, and cabins. Range from national chains (KOA) to independent parks. Often paired with amenities like pools, playgrounds, and rec halls. RV travelers, campers, roadtrippers.
- How much do rv (recreational vehicle) parks and campgrounds charge?
- RV parks and campgrounds price by night with occupancy the swing factor. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average rv (recreational vehicle) parks and campgrounds make per year?
- The average rv (recreational vehicle) parks and campgrounds business generates $595K in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $30K per year at a 5.0% profit margin.
- How many rv (recreational vehicle) parks and campgrounds businesses are there in the US?
- There are 4,511 rv (recreational vehicle) parks and campgrounds businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 24,216 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a rv (recreational vehicle) parks and campgrounds business?
- Startup costs for a rv (recreational vehicle) parks and campgrounds business typically range from $100K to $500K, with a 5-year survival rate of 40.0%.
- What is the average salary in the rv (recreational vehicle) parks and campgrounds industry?
- The average employee in the rv (recreational vehicle) parks and campgrounds industry earns $30K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The rv (recreational vehicle) parks and campgrounds industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 5.2% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (10.0% entry vs 8.8% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 63% of rv (recreational vehicle) parks and campgrounds businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 467 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the rv (recreational vehicle) parks and campgrounds industry earns $30,011/year. This is below the national average of ~$65K — typical for this sector. With 5,529 establishments employing 37,200 people, the typical business has about 7 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The rv (recreational vehicle) parks and campgrounds industry has grown 17% since 2000 (from 5,023 to 5,859 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Campgrounds revenue with other industries: