Wondering If This Is Good News.

[traveldawg]

Just came across this bit of news and am trying to figure out if this is good news and the whole issue of finding campgrounds might be easier in the coming year. Although, I've reserved most of the primary places I plan on visiting already.

Campground Market Softens

 

[Hoopy Frood]

I didn't see anything that would indicate RV parks are going to be less crowded.

 

[Soundsailor]

RV parks are mostly income plays. Interest rates likely bottomed in mid 2024 having increased several basis points since then. With inflationary winds picking up, borrowed capital will be more expensive at a time when park consumers have many choices. So it's not surprising that inventories are at a high level and lesser quality parks are hard to sell.

 

[traveldawg]

I didn't see anything that would indicate RV parks are going to be less crowded.

I guess I misinterpreted this....
"...“Most RV parks are down 3% to 5% in occupancy this year. I think that’s the average. We’re just in a different market where people are not as aggressively chasing RV parks as they were.”..."

 

[Hoopy Frood]

I guess I misinterpreted this....
"...“Most RV parks are down 3% to 5% in occupancy this year. I think that’s the average. We’re just in a different market where people are not as aggressively chasing RV parks as they were.”..."

Probably not misinterpreting it, but perhaps relying on it to be accurate.

 

[ajg617]

It's a curious article that mixes occupancy rates with sales of parks and construction of new parks. I assumed "aggressively chasing RV parks" meant purchase of or construction of RV parks and just using the reduction in occupancy as the reason. Confusingly written IMO.

 

[downsc123]

The KOA campground where I made my reservations for memorial day next May cold called my a few days back asking if I wanted to stay for a longer duration and they would discount those days between 30 and 40%. Guess its starting to show.

 

[Hoopy Frood]

It's a curious article that mixes occupancy rates with sales of parks and construction of new parks. I assumed "aggressively chasing RV parks" meant purchase of or construction of RV parks and just using the reduction in occupancy as the reason. Confusingly written IMO.

That was my impression, more talk of buying and selling, acquisitions and divestitures, and not much actual usage numbers, since they seemed to be of lesser import.

 

[Scott'n'Wendy]

Mostly a real estate article more than a camping related article but interesting nonetheless.
As to lower park occupancy....
I know we sure enjoyed RV'ing more pre2020. We would never make reservations. Just drive until we felt like stopping. Looked around for a campground and spent a day or three, more if we wanted, then moved on to some other place we didn't know about. Carefree and stress free. Not so much these last few years. Do more boondocking now because I won't reserve months ahead.

 

[Steven@147]

Its a confusing article, confusingly written, merging campsite occupancy rates with campground property sales and new construction. I always view statistical info like this with a skeptical eye.

But just my seat of the pants observation with occupancy of sites in campgrounds we have visited in the last half of this year, they have been way less than full.

Right now here in Galveston all the 6 campgrounds on the island seem way less occupied than in past years wintering down here but we aren't fully into the Snowbird season yet. We drove through the KOA where we used to stay for the winter, at the west end of the island and it was nearly deserted, shocking really.
A rather large brand new campground that just opened this month right at the west edge of Seawall Blvd only had 4 RVs in it.
More confusing is that the most expensive RV park here in Galveston seems more occupied than any of the others but they do offer yearly leases starting at $7500. Most of the campgrounds here on the island range $750-825 / month or just a nightly rate of $60-80 / night. That might have something to do with low occupancy rates. We'll see what its like come January.

 

[WhittleBurner]

We saw a slight surge of new campgrounds being built in the area (between Sarasota and St Pete) the last 3 years. 2 by the same company not far apart. Some exsisiting parks expanding sites. Right now our park is emptier than we have seen it in some time. We kind of chalked it up to the new management chasing people off (many canccellations of regulars and no shows) but maybe we are wrong and the camping trend is finally winding down as all the covid buyer are finding out it's not a lifestyle for them. This all could affect the building of new parks. It would be SO nice to camp on the fly again without planning every stop

 

[ajg617]

It also could impact maintenance on existing parks if the revenue stream isn't up to par. Will be interesting this next year to see if any trend continues. It will also be interesting to see if there are late openings at state and federal parks.

 

[Rabbit]

Our camping club camps monthly, and visits many mid range private campgrounds on consecutive years. Most are in TN, GA and AL. We have noticed more vacant sites in parks that have been booked solid in the past. We also take our rig to Florida outside the club each winter to an ocean destination that is normally difficult to book because of high demand, that had many vacancies this past season.

 

[dryfly]

More confusing is that the most expensive RV park here in Galveston seems more occupied than any of the others but they do offer yearly leases starting at $7500. Most of the campgrounds here on the island range $750-825 / month or just a nightly rate of $60-80 / night. That might have something to do with low occupancy rates. We'll see what its like come January.

I have this feeling that the new owners of RV's that were purchased during Covid expected campgrounds with all the amenities. They had little interest in state parks or COE campgrounds without full hookups.

This demand brought about the "resort" type campgrounds that we are seeing. I never thought I'd see a campsite fee at $100 to $150 per day, but there are many out there today. As these new campers lose interest and as inflation bites into their income it's understandable we are going to see lower occupancy rates.