COVID-19 restrictions were causing some campground owners to fear that 2020 would be their worst year. Many camp owners were worried that 2020 would be their worst year due to COVID-19 restrictions. However, many people found refuge in the trees and enjoyed the fresh air. As the 2021 season kicks off, even though travel restrictions are less restrictive and vaccines are more readily available, camp reservations don’t seem to slow down, a report said.
According to the North American Camping Report by Kampgrounds of America, 86.1 million households went camping in 2020. This is an increase of 82.3 million households who went camping in 2019. In 2019, there were 82.3 million. From 4 percent of all campers in 2019 to 21 percent last year, the number of first-time campers has risen dramatically.
People went camping more often than ever in 2020 due to a lack of travel options, and the need to get away from the comforts of their homes. From 18.9 million to 22.7 million in 2019, the number of households that have stayed at least three times has risen.
Just as campground owners were getting ready for summer 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Once the shutdown hit, Jeremy Sprince, executive director of the NH Campground Owners’ Association, spent a lot of time working with the state to clarify the differences between a campground and other hospitality options, the report said.
In the report, Sprince spent most of his time last year communicating changes to his members and working alongside the Governor’s Economic Re-Opening Task Force. He says, “Our owners have always placed safety first and our campsites are large enough to meet the personal space requirements.”
Transient campers are those who only come for a weekend and cannot secure reservations because of restrictions. Seasonal campers who usually stay for the entire summer have to put off major investments. An RV costs between $20,000 and $300,000. Annual campsite rentals can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000. Seasonal site owners consider their campsite their summer home.
Gradually, restrictions were eased and campgrounds were adjusted. Sprince states that many group activities, such as crafts and games, were not allowed and that a lot of entertainment had to be canceled. Activities like mini-golf or small boat rentals were possible with regular cleaning.
Sprince states that although some adjustments were needed, most owners achieved 85 to 90% of normal operation by year’s end, the report said.
Then came the flurry. The KOA report shows that 48.2 million households in the United States camped at least once in 2020. This includes 10.1 Million households who camped for the very first time (7.7M due to COVID-19).
To confirm the boom in camping, the 120 members of the NH Campground Owners Association did not need a report.
Some people say it is difficult to get time to call back, only to be told that many sites have already been booked for the season.
According to the KOA report, the Northeast region saw the greatest benefit from the need for open space. It has seen an 11% increase in camping since 2015. This is the highest jump in North America.
“Camping has seen a boom in the last six years. Sprince says that some of our owners have told me reservations are better than last year, with some areas up to 20% ahead. It is a great time to own a campground.
In 2020, there was uncertainty due to a variety of travel restrictions. These varied from one state to the next and even month to month. Some restrictions are still in place, but the number of national and regional visitors is expected to rise, and international travel could be resumed by the fall.
One of NH’s largest campgrounds, Danforth Bay Camping & RV Resort in Freedom, has more than 300 sites. According to Dianne Battles, General Manager, reservations and visits have increased year-over-year. This is partly due to the lack of snow and early spring.
We have witnessed a surge in new RV owners. It was evident that this trend began to emerge during the 2020 season. Based on my observations, I believe that it will continue into 2021. “In addition to the new campers, we also have many returning customers who book multiple extended stays throughout the season.” Battle said that with fewer restrictions, she expects to see regular campers return this season.
The Silva family owns and operates Cold Springs RV and Cold Springs Camp Resort in Weare, which have both benefited from the RV sales and camping booms. The 400-site campground is managed by Todd and Michele Silva. They are getting more bookings early and people looking for longer stays, the report said.
Michele Silva says that many of the last year’s newcomers returned to visit. She notes that people return often because remote work and homeschooling offer greater freedom to travel. She says, “I think [with] many of the children being homeschooled they could remain for longer stays so it was not the busiest fall.” “Also, there weren’t many sports happening which would have interfered with camping but it wasn’t as much last fall.”
Michele explains that Cold Springs has made some changes, including offering outdoor movies and bingo tables for those who are socially distant.
Memorial Day may be the official start of summer, but in the camping industry, it is often when people make reservations for next year. People are already booking for 2022. Michele Silva says that people will book ahead as soon as the doors are opened, especially for holiday weeks.
Also included in the report are the new owners of the 81-site Ashuelot River Campground in Swanzey, brothers Rick and Greg Smith and Greg’s wife Pam, are also looking forward to a busy season. Rick Smith says that the learning curve was steep because they were first-time owners. “There were several weekends that were sold out when we took over in March. We have a waiting list for certain dates and reservations continue to come in at a steady rate since then. It is looking strong.
Smith stated that they have been following the NH “Safer At Home” guidelines and made any necessary changes at the park. He says that it is helpful to have clear, business-specific guidelines from the state that are updated often. We have posted a COVID-19 message to our Facebook page so that guests know what they can expect when they arrive. We have also included the same reminders in our check-in packets and posted signs. Protective screens were also installed. While we know that it is important to be diligent, it is less restrictive than last year.
According to COVID-19 state guidelines, campgrounds must practice social distancing and use masks.
At Mascoma Lake Campground in Lebanon, owners Leo and Nadine Goyette are celebrating their 8th season, and Leo Goyette says they have made many improvements to the 102-site campground to handle increased demand, including converting some tent sites to RV sites, the report said.
Goyette states that the whole industry is just starting to take off. The campgrounds are experiencing record-breaking sales of campers. It fills up quickly because it is a small campground.
He said they are currently on the rail trail but still want to be able to accommodate hikers or bikers traveling light with tents.
We have seen an increase in travel nurses due to our proximity to Dartmouth–Hitchcock. Goyette says that we are working to accommodate them but have to turn away many. “Another distinctive feature of ours is that we have 26 docks for boats, so people can enjoy the benefits of owning a boat here at a fraction of what it costs to live on a lake.”
Darlene Godbout, who owns and operates the Lincoln-Woodstock KOA in Lincoln with her husband Rob, says reservations are well ahead of 2020. We didn’t know what 2020 would bring, but it was the most wonderful summer we have ever experienced. It looks even better this year.
She believes people find comfort outdoors and that there is plenty of space between the 135 campsites. The staff is cleaning the bathrooms more frequently and providing hand sanitizer at main locations. The activities have been modified. She says, “We do firetruck rides and other group activities, but they are fewer than in the past. But, there are so many things that they can self-entertain. Mini-golf, a playground, and a fishing lake.
Godbout said they have witnessed a significant increase in RV owners and first-timers. People bought new campers but didn’t know what to do once they got there. She says that although dealers go through every detail, no one remembers it all because you’re so excited. It’s all a learning curve, from the parking and setting up to the water, sewer, and tanks.
KOA also noted that 34% of first-time campers felt it was a great escape from noise and crowds, while 33% thought it was safer to travel because COVID-19 made it easier. Around 15% cited the possibility to work remotely or home-school children.
Over half of Boomers, millennials, and Gen Xers surveyed intend to increase camping trips in 2021. Additionally, 64 percent of couples with kids are interested in camping more. More than 2.5 million households now own an RV. Despite the severe supply chain problems caused by the pandemic, there are still many models available in NH.
Every dealer in the nation is experiencing a demand that is unprecedented.” “It’s been nonstop from last year,” Scott Silva, Cold Springs RV. “People just want to get outside.” He is a member of the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association and has to access to national data which confirms that all recreational sectors including boats, bikes, and pools are thriving. He said that it is not uncommon for RV owners to upgrade and that trade-ins typically make up 45 percent.
In the report, Silva states that there are many first-time buyers, so the trade-in market has dropped to 10%. Current owners either sell in private sales or keep their units. “We call reps every week trying to grab everything that is available. We advise people to order early and buy now. It may not be on the ground yet, but it will soon.”
Silva states that more people are applying for jobs this year. Silva says that people are moving in from other areas of the hospitality industry, such as food service.
Mascoma Lake Campground in Lebanon is a location that is both devoid of affordable housing and lacking workers. This allows the Goyettes to offer mostly temporary sites. We are about 10% transient, and 90% seasonal, which makes it easier for staffing. Goyette says it is much easier to have only 30-40 campers check-in on Friday nights, the report said.