Small cabin site with 4 to 8 cabins
Run a small cluster of camping cabins, with a bathhouse and fire pits, rented by the night in peak season.
- $80k-300k
- Part-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in the US, not guarantees.
Official data
2,967 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.0% in a year
NAICS 721214 “Recreational and vacation camps (except campgrounds)”. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023.
What it is
A small campground-style site with several simple cabins, shared bathrooms or a bathhouse, parking and common areas like fire rings. You manage bookings, cleaning between stays, supplies and grounds upkeep, with part-time help in busy months.
Your first three steps
- Meet your county planning office early to ask about campground, lodging and septic requirements, and about site plan approval
- Write a simple budget covering land, cabin builds, bathhouse, utilities and insurance, and compare nearby cabin and campground rates
- Form an LLC, get an EIN, and talk to a local lender or small business development center about financing
Who pays
Families, friend groups, hikers and anglers staying near a park, lake, trail or small town, plus groups booking several cabins at once.
How it makes money
Nightly cabin rates, with extras like firewood, linens, pet fees and group bookings. Summer and holiday weekends carry most of the income.
Skills that help
- Running a small operation and managing staff
- Customer service and booking management
- Maintenance, building and grounds upkeep
Watch out for
- Campground or lodging licenses, health department rules for bathrooms and water, and fire code inspections may all apply, so check each with your county and state
- Zoning and land use approval can take months and may rule out some sites
- Commercial general liability and property insurance, and workers' compensation once you hire
- Sales and lodging taxes, and ADA accessibility requirements for some units
- Strong seasonality, plus storm, flood or wildfire exposure depending on your region
Deep research report · US
Everything you need to start: small cabin site with 4 to 8 cabins
Researched with live web search for United States: 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 a small cabin campground?
Startup costs are typically around $80,000 to $300,000, depending on the number of cabins, your site and the bathhouse and common areas you build. These are estimates, so get quotes before you commit.
How much can a small cabin site earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around $5,000 to $20,000, depending on how many cabins you have, your nightly rates and how full you are. The business is strongly seasonal, so plan for quieter months.
What licenses and approvals might a cabin site need?
Check campground or lodging licenses, health department rules for bathrooms and water, and fire code inspections with your county and state. Also check zoning and land use approval, insurance, sales and lodging taxes, and ADA accessibility for some units.
Other ways to run this business
Similar hospitality ideas
Standing-room cocktail bar
Open a compact bar with no table service where locals stand, chat and order drinks and light snacks at the counter.
- $75k-300k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small counter-service fast food restaurant
Open a small shop serving a short menu of quick, low-cost meals for eating in, taking away or pickup.
- $60k-300k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Neighborhood wine bar
Open a small, cozy bar serving wine by the glass and light snacks to locals after work and on weekends.
- $60k-300k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small live music club
Run a small room with a stage where local and touring bands play for paying crowds who also buy drinks.
- $100k-300k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Neighborhood dart bar with beer and wine
Open a small, friendly bar with a few dartboards, local beer and wine, and simple snacks.
- $75k-250k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Your own salsa bar and dance floor
Open a small bar with a dance floor, live Latin nights and drinks, building a regular crowd of dancers.
- $80k-350k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Photo: lensworx_ on Pixabay