To support campground operators and increase bookings, Campspot, a leading reservation platform, initiated a year-long campaign centered around the 2024 total solar eclipse.
Campspot’s campaign aimed to educate campground owners about the potential windfall from the eclipse and similar astronomical events. The company reported an 81% increase in bookings that included April 8, the date of the eclipse, compared with the previous year. Furthermore, reservations on the same Monday from the previous year skyrocketed by 347%.
Campgrounds across the board, regardless of their proximity to the eclipse’s path of totality, benefited from the campaign. Data from Campspot showed that nearly 10% more parks logged reservations in 2024 over the previous year, suggesting a widespread interest among campers and a strategic expansion of operational seasons by some parks.
Erin Stender, CMO of Campspot, highlighted the company’s strategy, stating, “We knew that campgrounds were ideally suited to help give eclipse seekers an incredible, front-row experience. We were very intentional about helping parks understand the opportunity, equipping them with resources to leverage the event, and then promoting the eclipse to campers across the country.
To support this initiative, Campspot developed and distributed a variety of educational materials targeted at campground owners and operators. These included a series of webinars and a specialized guide for leveraging celestial events to draw visitors. Additionally, a printable kid’s kit with eclipse-related activities was made available to enhance the on-site experience during the event week.
Stender emphasized the long-term prospects of astrotourism, stating, “Astrotourism presents an ongoing opportunity for parks that they can promote year-round.” She suggested that campgrounds include a calendar of sky-related events, such as full moons, meteor showers, asteroid events, and planetary events, to continually attract astronomy enthusiasts.
The successful integration of astrotourism into campground offerings not only provides a unique selling point but also aligns with broader trends in experiential travel, where tourists seek unique and immersive experiences. By hosting celestial events, campgrounds can differentiate themselves in a competitive market and create memorable experiences that encourage repeat visits.
Campgrounds and RV parks are uniquely positioned to benefit from this trend, offering wide-open spaces away from city lights, which are ideal for stargazing.
For campground and outdoor hospitality operators, embracing astrotourism can mean more than just capitalizing on rare events like solar eclipses. It represents a sustainable approach to attract a diverse clientele, enhancing the appeal of outdoor destinations and ensuring a steady stream of visitors motivated by a range of astronomical events.
As Campspot has demonstrated, with the right marketing strategies and educational support, campgrounds can transform their sites into sought-after destinations for both novice stargazers and avid astronomers, ensuring their place in the astrotourism market.