No two campgrounds are alike, each offering unique destinations and one of a kind experiences for unforgettable camping stays. However, there are a select few that are charting new territory and consistently raising the bar for transformative outdoor experiences. The 2024 Spot2Nite Camping Spotlight Awards celebrate these trailblazing campgrounds and RV resorts providing exemplary camping stays through innovative experiential initiatives, a commitment to constant improvement, tactical marketing decisions, and guest retention strategies to drive revenue. These pioneer campgrounds and RV resorts not only deserve recognition, but also serve as a guiding light and source of inspiration for fellow campground owners searching for new ways to elevate the guest experience at their location.
The recipients of the 2024 Spot2Nite Camping Spotlight Award were selected based on several key criteria including booking volume, park profile engagement, property attributes, and customer reviews. Read on for key takeaways from camping award parks and discover new ways to supercharge campground success.
Events and Experiences
At the top of our list for Best All-Ages RV Resorts, Camp Margaritaville RV Resort & Cabana Cabins Auburndale exhibits the perfect combination of ideal location, infinite amenities and activities, and world-class resort accommodations, providing exceptional value for campers year round. Despite these extraordinary booking drivers, Camp Margaritaville Auburndale is not content to stop there. This location is renowned for their live music events, RV rallies, and themed weekends geared towards campers of every age and interest. Their vast variety of planned activities not only provides niche booking opportunities to draw new campers, but also gives campers a reason to return year after year. Camp Margaritaville Auburndale taps into their surrounding area for opportunities to host events on site by incorporating local bands and entertainment and hosting markets featuring small businesses and artisans.
In addition to marketing these events on their website and social media, Camp Margaritaville Auburndale also leverages the “planned activities” tag on Spot2Nite’s marketplace to capture campers filtering search results for arts, crafts, games, and other fun experiences. Whether your campground is sunny Florida, the midwest, or anywhere in between, you can harness the power of events and experiences for guests at your campground and tap into the potential of your local area to drive bookings.
Cost Conscious Camping
Camping industry trends from OHI’s 2023 Generational Camping Report note that 33% of campers state cost of reservation as their top concern when considering a campground. Palm Canyon Hotel & RV Resort, our top pick for Best Spots Under $50 combines the best of affordable camping, scenic location, and themed camping to provide incredible value for the cost. Their unique western theme executed with frontier-style architecture and branding throughout adds an extra element of fun and seamlessly ties into the scenic desert landscapes, setting the resort apart from the competition and making for a memorable and unique stay.
Campgrounds can leverage the unique themes of their geographic location to provide an immersive camping experience, drawing on history, natural wonders and events, and the area’s culture for an enriching layer to outdoor adventures. Palm Canyon further draws on the appeal of the area’s natural setting, utilizing the “dark skies” tag on their Spot2Nite listing to appeal to travelers filtering for extraordinary views of the starry night sky.
Leveraging Your Location
As the top ranking Campground Near National Parks, Outdoorsy Yosemite leverages its scenic views and prime location near Yosemite National Park to drive reservations. Their strategic use of high quality photography on their website and Spot2Nite listing are a testament to the power of photos as a deciding factor for booking.
In addition to utilizing the “near national parks” tag on the Spot2Nite marketplace, Outdoorsy Yosemite also highlights it’s vast array of outdoor activities including boating on Bass Lake and hiking, seamlessly incorporating the allure of Yosemite National Park and experiences campers near that location are most interested in exploring.
Family Friendly
According to camper demographic insights from the 2024 OHI Industry Outlook, 38% of campers are couples with kids and pets. Our top ranking campground for Family-Friendly Camping has every outdoor activity under the sun right in one location for an all-inclusive family camping stay. CERA Sports Park & Campground has been thoughtfully developed to be inclusive of all types of activities for the whole family from sports to high speed go kart thrills, plus extensive activities for younger children. CERA Campground also incorporates their s’mores mascot into their extensive on-site activities to keep their campers engaged and provide for plenty of opportunities for user generated content.
Family-friendly campgrounds with multiple accommodation options increase their potential guest demographics by providing more opportunities for group stays and meetups, which also unlocks new revenue potential. As a sports-themed park, marketing the plethora of activities available on-site is key in reaching their target camper demographic. CERA Campground utilizes several search filters on their Spot2Nite park profile to entice campers to book.
Age 55+ RV Resorts
Age 55+ RV resorts and campgrounds can attract their target camper demographic through thoughtful inclusion of amenities and activities that appeal to outdoor explorers in their golden years. River Vista RV Village sits at the top of the Best Age 55+ RV Resorts for incorporating popular outdoor recreation amenities for seasoned campers such as pickleball and shuffleboard, as well as a full host of activities on-site from dances and happy hours to water aerobics and church services.
Each offering at River Vista serves to considerably appeal to the need for comfort, relaxation, and community in their target camper demographic, and this camping destination harnesses a clear understanding of that cohort to meet and exceed guest expectations. River Vista successfully markets their park on the Spot2Nite marketplace through use of the “55+ community” tag to appear in searches for campers seeking not only a like-minded community, but a serene setting full of their favorite activities for a camping experience perfectly tailored to their preferences.
Key Takeaways
Despite featuring 75 campgrounds across the U.S. and Canada with a wide range of amenities, accommodations, and local area offerings, there are several key features that these camping award winners share. Each award-winning campground on Spot2Nite’s 2024 Camping Spotlight campaign demonstrates a commitment to growth and constant improvement, a deep understanding of their camper demographic, and the marketing savvy to maintain a presence on multiple distribution channels to grow their potential audience for booking.
Explore all the Camping Spotlight Award-Winners for inspiration to improve guest experiences at your campground. Get connected to Spot2Nite’s instant-book campground marketplace through your existing property management system, so your RV, tent, lodging, and glamping sites are served to an audience of over 60 million campers.
