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Updated July 30, 2025
RV park rates have skyrocketed in recent years — but why? The answer boils down to one major factor: demand. More people than ever are embracing the RV lifestyle, and the supply of campsites hasn’t kept up. With limited availability and rising operational costs, RV park rates have climbed significantly.
If you’ve been RVing for a while, you’ve probably noticed that aside from fuel, campground fees are one of the biggest expenses. And over the past five years, prices have gone up across the board. Below, we’ll break down why campground rates are rising, compare current prices to those in 2019, and give you practical tips for saving money on campsites.
What’s the Average Cost of Private Campgrounds in 2025?
Private RV parks, which typically include full hookups (electric, water, sewer), range from $45 to $80 per night, depending on location, amenities, and season. Luxury RV resorts — like Disney’s Fort Wilderness — charge anywhere from $125 to $225 per night.
Many families choose parks with kid-friendly extras like pools, cable, mini-golf, or lake access, which can bump up prices.
📊 Price Comparison: Private Campgrounds (2019 vs. 2024)
| Campground | Location | 2019 Price | 2024 Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wekiva Falls RV Resort | Orlando, FL | $50–$60/night | $70–$80/night |
| Hadley’s Point Campground | Bar Harbor, ME | $46–$50/night | $48–$70/night |
| Giant Redwoods RV | Meyers Flat, CA | $45–$55/night | $70–$85/night |
| Loons Point RV Park | Cedarville, MI | $32–$41/night | $40–$48/night |
| Hillbilly Campground | Maggie Valley, NC | $30–$36/night | $45–$50/night |
| Sun Rocks RV Park | Prineville, OR | $28–$33/night | $45/night |
Weekly or monthly stays usually offer discounts, but the average nightly rate for private parks in 2025 now sits around $50–$80 before taxes.
What About Public Campgrounds?
Public campgrounds—like those in state or national parks—are often more affordable, though they typically have fewer amenities. They may only offer dry camping or partial hookups, though some do have full hookups.
📊 Price Comparison: Public Campgrounds (2019 vs. 2024)
| Campground | Location | 2019 Price | 2024 Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morefield Campground | Mesa Verde NP, CO | $45/night | $45/night |
| North Rim Campground | Grand Canyon NP, AZ | $18/night | $18/night |
| Nolin Lake State Park | Mammoth Cave, KY | $29/night | $36/night |
| Tomoka State Park | Ormond Beach, FL | $28/night | $31/night |
| California State Parks | Various, CA | $35/night | $35/night |
| Lake Park Campground | Lewisville, TX | $17/night | $20/night |
Public campgrounds may not have increased as drastically in price, but availability can be limited, and reservations are often booked months in advance.
Why Are RV Campground Prices Rising?
Many factors contribute to rising RV park fees, including:
- Higher operational costs (labor, utilities, insurance)
- Increased demand with limited campsite availability
- Expensive amenities (WiFi, pools, cable TV)
- Repairs from natural disasters
- Infrastructure upgrades (roads, bathhouses, hookups)
Key Operating Expenses for RV Parks:
- Maintenance and landscaping
- Sewer and water systems
- Security services
- Trash and recycling removal
- Park employee wages
- Liability insurance
- Utilities (electricity, solar panels)
- Playground and restroom upkeep
- Emergency preparedness
- Activity programming and event staffing
Whether public or private, campgrounds must cover rising costs to maintain safety, cleanliness, and guest satisfaction.
How to Save Money on RV Campsites
Despite rising rates, there are several ways to save:
✅ Discounts Available:
- Senior Discounts – Many state and federal parks offer reduced rates for those 62+.
- Military Discounts – Active-duty personnel and veterans often receive 10–25% off.
- Volunteer Programs – Become a camp host and get a free campsite in exchange for light duties (camphost.org).
✅ RV Membership Clubs:
There are many annual RV discount clubs that pay for themselves quickly:
- Passport America
- Escapees RV Club
- Good Sam Club
- Harvest Hosts / Boondockers Welcome
- Thousand Trails
For more info, read our article on [The 6 Best RV Campground Memberships].
✅ Federal Passes:
- Senior Lifetime Access Pass – $80 one-time fee at age 62; 50% off federal campsites.
- America the Beautiful Pass – Free for active military; includes park entry and some camping discounts.
- Free Access Pass – For disabled veterans.
Visit nps.gov or recreation.gov to apply.
Is There a Campsite Shortage?
In short — yes. While there are now 15,466 campgrounds in the U.S. (up 1.2% from 2022–2023), they’re not enough to meet the growing demand.
In our RV Camping for Newbies Private Facebook group, we hear complaints daily about reservation shortages. Booking in advance is now essential — especially for popular destinations.
We recommend securing 70% of your camping reservations by December 31st for the following year.
Some RVers love spontaneity, but the truth is that many popular campgrounds book up months ahead — especially national parks. If you’re determined to visit a specific spot, plan ahead.
Pro Tip:
Always Google “RV campgrounds near [location]” and call around if your first choice is full. Most RVers find a backup site with a little persistence.
Final Thoughts
RVing remains one of the most flexible, family-friendly, and adventurous ways to travel. But with demand at an all-time high, campsite prices continue to rise.
The good news? You can still find affordable options if you plan ahead, join the right RV clubs, and take advantage of senior or military discounts.
Whether you’re a full-time traveler or a weekend warrior, there’s a campsite out there that fits your budget and lifestyle. So stay prepared, stay flexible, and keep livin’ the RV dream!
Learn More:
– When Do Campgrounds Open and Close For The Season?
– CampersCard Review: Campground Discounts and Perks
– Everything You Need to Know About KOA Campgrounds
– RV Campgrounds vs Boondocking: Pros and Cons
– 10 Reasons to Avoid RV Campgrounds
To check out all of our articles, please visit our Blog Archive!
Mike Scarpignato – Bio
Mike Scarpignato created RVBlogger.com over five years ago in 2018 to share all we have learned about RV camping.
Mike is an avid outdoorsman with decades of experience tent camping and traveling in his 2008 Gulf Stream Conquest Class C RV and 2021 Thor Challenger Class A motorhome.
We attend RV Shows and visit RV dealerships all across the country to tour and review drivable motorhomes and towable trailers to provide the best evaluations of these RVs in our blog articles and YouTube videos.
We are 3/4-time RVers who created RVBlogger.com to provide helpful information about all kinds of RVs and related products, gear, camping memberships, tips, hacks and advice.
We found in our experience that making reservations at Recreation.gov has been nothing short of exasperating, and that was over a month in advance. Those campgrounds using this avenue seem to have no phone contact to even ask questions that would be necessary to know before booking. So the idea of calling several campgrounds in a shorter notice situation and hoping to actually obtain one under these types of conditions could be negligible at best. Maybe others have had a better outcome than we have.
I think you’re a bit off on average prices since the Pandemic set in, at least on CA coast.
Example, Mission Bay Park in San Diego, not upscale at all, $105.00 standard spot, and that’s if you can find an open spot for more than 1 day at any coastal parks private or state.
Mid state is the same Morro Bay, Pismo all booked out till Fall.
My wife and I are fairly new to RVing, we have stayed at both State Parks and private parks. We’ve noticed State Parks are cleaner and less expensive price wise. Availability at State Parks are greater than Private Parks.
2020 – will be our first time we are going traveling longer distances, viewing many historical site’s.
Plan on doing a Light ? tour.
State Parks are clean and less expensive but they sometimes don’t have any hookups. However, they usually have a dump station and fresh water and that works for us.
We stay in State Parks quite a bit too. I love the idea of taking a Lighthouse Tour! Please keep us posted and email us and send pics. You can use our contact page and it goes right to our email.
Safe Travels!
Mike and Susan
Thanks for the article. I am in Canada and would like to know if Canadians can get discounts in the US if they are seniors. Thanks.
Hi Linda,
Great Question…
In State Parks or US National Parks, you will need to be a US Citizen to receive the senior discounts. Private RV Campgrounds make their own rules so just ask and I bet you get the discount more often than not.
Thanks for reading the article!
Mike
Do you know if any of the above discounts are only for American citizens, or is open to the Canadian’s camping in the US as well?
Do you know of any good sites for Canadian’s camping in the US?