Buying Land for an RV Park

Thinking about building an RV park or campground?

If you answered yes, great! You just might be in the right place for a bit of advice and tips on buying land for an RV park. Whether you own land already, or you’re redeveloping an existing property or you’re searching for that perfect piece of dirt, there are many factors you will want to consider in your search because developing land for RV parks come with some unique challenges.

Buying land for an RV Park

Choosing and buying land for an RV park development is more than just buying the land and getting started. First, location should be a top priority. Depending on the type of park you want to build, you may be looking for something close to a tourist destination, something along the highway or perhaps even something “away from it all.” Regardless of your ambitions, do your research! You don’t want to find out about any limitations or zoning restrictions after the purchase. Here is a quick rundown of things to consider when looking for a location:

• Utilities such as water, electric and sewer are already in place at the property
• The land has no zoning or building restrictions, or restrictions are limited
• Easy access and direct route to the property
• Type of park you want to build

Keep in mind, this is a very short list and there is so much more to consider when simply choosing a location.

Even when you find that perfect place to put an RV park, you might figure out that utilities are nowhere near the property and you’re going to have to pay for them to be brought to the property. You may not even have access to certain utilities such as water or sewer. This means you may have to put in a large on site sewer system, or septic system, and even drill a well to provide water to the park. Utilities are typically a large part of the development expense and they can certainly come with city and zoning restrictions. Keep in mind that any restrictions could keep you from building, or at least cost you much more than you plan for.

You might even find that dream location, but you should consider the route any RVs or people pulling travel trailers will have to take in order to get there. Big rigs need big roads! There are many RV parks that are off the beaten path, but these usually cater to monthly tenants who live and work in the area with an over-nighter few and far between. There are some cases where you may be forced to look on the outskirts of a particular area due to any zoning or building restrictions. Lastly, consider the type of visitor or guests you will have at your park. Are you looking for full-time “monthlies” to live at the park year round, or are you looking to get people who are just passing through? There are many different types of travelers and you might even have a location that suits all of them. Type of Land to Purchase  All RVers want trees and shade and perfect weather! So do a lot RV park owners. But, the reality is… there is a reason most property developments, including RV parks, are flattened or cleared completely of all trees, shrubs, grass, etc. It is just plain easier to start with a clean slate. This gives you the ability to get all of your utilities underground and your layout mapped out.

Trenching through a grove of trees and then building RV pads around them is no easy task. Let’s say you do keep the trees, or want to maintain a certain aesthetic. You’ll then have to get rid of anything you have cleared and then spend more time and money getting around everything you have left in place.

There is so much more to buying land and building an RV park than I can write about in this first quick post. Stay tuned for more!