Serviced RV and tent campground
Run a larger seasonal campground with power and water hookups for RVs, trailers and tents.
- C$250k-1500k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.
What it is
A full campground with marked sites, electrical and water hookups, washrooms or showers, a dump station and an on-site office or camp store. You can build one from a larger piece of land or buy and run an existing campground.
Your first three steps
- Talk to your municipality and provincial regulator about zoning, servicing and licensing before you buy or build
- Visit several local campgrounds in peak season to compare pricing, services and occupancy, and talk to owners
- Build a seasonal budget and cash plan covering the off-season, and get quotes for insurance, power, water and septic work
Who pays
RV and trailer owners, families on weekend and holiday trips, seasonal campers who stay all summer, and tent campers.
How it makes money
Nightly, weekly and full-season site rentals, plus camp store sales, firewood, propane and extras like storage or Wi-Fi.
Skills that help
- Managing guests and bookings
- Property and utilities upkeep
- Budgeting and seasonal planning
Watch out for
- Zoning, environmental and development approvals, which can take months and vary by province and municipality
- Provincial rules for water systems, sewage, washrooms and campground licensing (Quebec has its own classification and language requirements, so check locally)
- Commercial general liability insurance and property cover, plus WCB/WSIB coverage once you hire staff
- A short season: you need cash to cover winter costs, and bad weather or wildfire smoke can hit revenue
- Large upfront costs and ongoing maintenance of utilities, roads and washrooms
Deep research report · Canada
Everything you need to start: serviced RV and tent campground
Researched with live web search for Canada: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start an RV campground in Canada?
Startup costs are typically around $250,000 to $1,500,000 CAD, depending on whether you build on new land or buy an existing campground, and on hookups and facilities. These are estimates, so get detailed quotes.
How much can a serviced campground earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around $6,000 to $30,000, depending on site count, occupancy and services. Plan for at least 30 hours a week. The season is short, so you need cash to cover winter costs.
What approvals should I check before opening a campground in Canada?
Check zoning, environmental and development approvals, which can take months and vary by province and municipality. Also check provincial rules for water, sewage, washrooms and campground licensing, Quebec classification and language requirements, insurance, and WCB/WSIB coverage when hiring.
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