The Pennsylvania Campground Owners Association is asking campground owners and managers to complete its September 2026 occupancy survey, emphasizing the role of occupancy data in financial planning, pricing decisions and comparisons with other campgrounds.
The association said monthly occupancy percentages can provide campground operators with information needed to make business management decisions, including evaluating site fees and projecting gross income.
September data will contribute to an ongoing record of occupancy levels that operators can use in planning.
Occupancy figures can also be useful when working with local banks, according to the association. Lenders may want to see how a campground’s occupancy compares with other properties across the state.
The association also pointed to occupancy data as a tool for evaluating potential site fee increases. Monthly occupancy percentages can help operators project gross income following a change in current site fees.
Historical occupancy figures can support cash-flow and profit projections by providing a basis for comparing current performance with prior years. Campground operators need prior-year occupancy percentages to project cash flow from site fees and profit expectations accurately.
Year-over-year comparisons can also help identify periods when occupancy is lower, allowing operators to determine when advertising efforts may need greater focus. Reviewing occupancy levels across multiple years can provide additional information about longer-term occupancy trends.
Regional comparisons provide another use for the data. Comparing a campground’s occupancy percentages with average regional occupancy can help operators assess how their properties perform relative to other campgrounds in the area.
The association’s September survey request follows its broader emphasis on collecting occupancy information that campground operators can use for business management. The survey asks Pennsylvania campground owners and managers to contribute their September occupancy figures for comparison and analysis.
“Campground owners/managers are perpetually faced with making business management decisions. The most important data you have available to assist in making many decisions is your occupancy percentage,” the association states in an announcement.
