• Building an RV park can cost anywhere from $300,000 to well over $3,000,000. The final cost depends on location, size, amenities, permits, and site prep.
• Plan on spending $15,000-$80,000 per developed site, not including purchasing the land itself.
• Ongoing costs (maintenance, staff, utilities) are vital to budget for – setup is just the start.
• Smart planning, research, and cost control can make an RV park profitable much faster.

If you want to build an RV park, the typical construction budget will usually range from $300,000 at the simple end, up to a few million dollars if you want a bigger park with many amenities. A basic park with simple sites costs much less than a destination park with a pool, playground, cafe, dog park, and luxury hookups. Labor, permits, prep, and utilities often cost more than you expect. Today, most investors should plan at least $30,000 per site. Owning the land outright sometimes cuts costs, but not by as much as you think. Every market is different, but if you do not research local requirements and put effort into planning, unexpected costs will sneak up. Getting clear quotes from contractors and understanding several stages of the build can save a huge headache later on.

What goes into the cost of building an RV park?

RV park construction budgets break down into several broad sections. The biggest pieces are:

• Land purchase and preparation
• Permitting and legal fees
• Construction of roads and pads
• Utility installation (electric, water, sewer, sometimes WiFi or cable)
• Buildings and amenities
• Landscaping and signage
• Marketing and business setup costs

Land: Your main starting cost

Sometimes land already zoned for an RV park is available. More often, you will need to buy raw land and get it rezoned. Prices range a lot. A few years ago I met an owner who paid $5,000 per acre for remote farmland, but I have also seen people pay almost $1 million for a promising plot near a popular tourist route. Suburban or coastal land usually costs much more. Always budget for surveyor fees too, which run $1,500-$6,000 per parcel.

Purchasing land is the easiest number to know upfront, but can be the hardest to predict longer term. Property taxes, future access restrictions, or changing local rules will impact your cost of operating.

Site Prep: Clearing, grading, and drainage

No matter what kind of soil or trees you start with, it rarely matches your plans exactly. Clearing brush, grading, leveling, and drainage work can cost $3,000-$10,000 per acre. Wetlands or rocky ground demand special equipment and can double or triple this budget. It sounds minor until you get the first bill for moving truckloads of fill dirt or rerouting a creek.

Permits, fees, and delays

Permitting for an RV park is more complex than many realize. Sewer and water alone will mean applications and probably an environmental impact review. I have seen parks spend from $6,000 up to $150,000 on various required permits, licenses, engineering drawings, and inspections. Getting approvals takes time, which means you’ll be paying loan interest and perhaps property taxes before any real construction starts.

In some counties it can take up to a year and involve multiple public hearings before you get the actual green light to begin construction. Have a backup plan for permitting delays.

How much does it cost to build one RV site?

Let’s break down all the parts of building a single, modern RV site:

These numbers are per site, and do not include overall roads, signage, bathrooms, or shared spaces. Urban and high-end resort parks can hit $80,000 or more per site by the time you add pools, asphalt driveways, or luxury features.

Some RV park owners try to be frugal and skip some extras at first. You can always upgrade sites later, but the basic infrastructure (sewer, electric, proper drainage) will set your minimum spend.

Shared spaces: bathrooms, clubhouses, and more

Almost every new RV park needs at least one restroom and shower building, plus a main office. Some regions require more, depending on how many sites you finish. A sturdy bathhouse is usually $100,000-$300,000. If you want a clubhouse with a kitchen, lounge, or store, the build can reach $500,000. Adding a laundry building is usually another $30,000-$80,000.

Pools, playgrounds, and dog parks help to attract more visitors, but the investment can be high. A small pool with fencing and decking can cost $150,000-$400,000. A basic playground starts around $15,000. Fencing across your entire property might be $30,000 and up. Storage sheds for RVers can be $5,000 or more each. Not everyone adds a dog wash, but it is a popular upgrade (usually under $15,000).

Amenities are what separate a destination park from a just-pass-through place. Paying for them up front is tough, but it can increase bookings for years if you pick the right mix.

Roads and traffic flow

Entrance roads and site access need to support heavy rigs. Gravel is the least expensive surface, but dust and potholes annoy guests. Asphalt roads will run $120,000-$450,000 depending on distance, width, and layout. Concrete can cost even more. Most parks underestimate this part, but it matters for happy reviews.

Think about traffic pattern early in your plan, one-way roads, wide turns, and spots for larger trailers to turn around help avoid accidents and awkward moments for guests. If you are learning as you build, ask local trucking companies for input. Some have experience navigating tricky driveways.

Utility installation: the silent money pit

Electric, sewer, and water are non-negotiable. Calibrating load for all hookups is serious business. Many townships require each site to allow for 30 and 50 amp service, even if small trailers can use less. A new transformer may be needed, which can set you back $40,000 or much more depending on capacity.

On rural land, a well or septic system can keep costs in check, but building to code is essential if you want a license. Town water and sewer will cost monthly, but bring less risk of surprise repairs. Expect around $9,000-$20,000 in utility runs for each site. Sometimes existing power lines have to be moved, which means more expense, or even more serious problems if you do not get it signed off before breaking ground.

WiFi and Cable

Many owners skip this early on, but guests expect at least basic WiFi in most regions. Laying cable or fiber lines can be an expensive choice, but wireless solutions are getting more affordable. Expect at least $6,000 for router repeaters and network gear in a medium park. Heavy tree cover or close hills will make your life harder. A few years back I worked with a park that had to add four extra antennas just to get halfway decent signal to all sites. The upfront investment helps avoid headaches with online reviews later.

What about water management and drainage?

Even with sandy soil, water does not disappear as fast as you hope. Drainage ditches, retention ponds, and engineered stormwater plans are needed for small parks too. Prices jump if your land is low-lying or subject to flooding. $15,000-$100,000 is common for this stage, depending on rainfall and nearby rivers. In my experience, this cost is overlooked by most first-timers, and it only becomes clear once the first big rain comes through.

How location affects your costs

Land in Texas costs much less than land near a ski resort in Colorado. Permitting is faster and simpler in the southeast US than in California or parts of Florida. Labor rates, contractor availability, and even building codes change from one county to the next. A smart move is to contact three or more local park owners and ask about their recent costs. Some will be honest and let you know which surprises stung the most.

Costs can swing even in the same county if demand has spiked or zoning changes recently passed. You might not see these changes coming until you are already invested in the deal, so keep a buffer.

What are recurring costs after opening?

Some people forget that building an RV park is only half the investment. Once your doors open, you are responsible for:

• Utilities (water, electric, propane, waste pumping, etc)
• Insurance (liability, property, workers comp, etc)
• Landscaping and groundskeeping
• General repairs and maintenance
• Staff salaries (office, cleaning, manager, sometimes security)
• Marketing and online ads
• Replacement of amenities and fixtures as they age

I usually estimate $1,500-$3,000 per site per year for ongoing costs when all these are factored in. For example, a medium-sized park (55 sites) will routinely have $90,000-$170,000 in annual expenses, before any debt service. It’s not all profit, especially in the first years.

The most successful RV parks I know budget a small fund every year (say, 5% of revenue) just for unexpected repairs. Something always breaks, even in a brand new park.

How do amenities affect upfront cost and profit?

Amenities can set your park apart, but they change the cost structure substantially. Some guests want only a place to hook up, walk their dog, and sleep. Others expect daily activities, yoga studios, or on-site food. The park down the road might have two pickleball courts and free firewood and still be only half full on weekends. It’s a bit of a guessing game.

I have seen parks add seasonal features, think food trucks, outdoor movie nights, or temporary dog agility courses, at moderate cost, and sometimes these have the biggest effect on guest satisfaction for the dollar spent. In my opinion, permanent pools, upgraded office space, and game rooms are good investments if your traffic comes from vacationers rather than full-timers passing through.

You won’t know for sure which extras increase revenue until after your first season. I once advised a startup that spent $80,000 installing a high-end playground, but the biggest guest reviews talked about the hiking trail maintenance, not the playground.

Can you build an RV park for under $500,000?

If you own land already, have simple tastes, and do much of the work yourself, you can potentially build a small, basic park under $500,000. But you might have to skip luxury hookups, have limited restroom facilities, and choose gravel over paved roads. In areas with expensive land, just getting started will exceed your budget quickly.

Even conservative planners underestimate how much site prep and utility work eat up. Doing everything as DIY as possible, for example, doing your own grading or buying used picnic tables, cuts the bill, but that means longer timelines and probably city inspections along the way.

Realistically, if your budget is under $500,000, think 10-18 sites, basic electric and water hookups, gravel driveways, and one simple office or check-in shed. Anything above that number? Add on-site bathrooms, larger pads, or a dump station, and your cost grows fast.

What mistakes drive costs up?

• Not researching local permits and water/sewer restrictions before buying land
• Assuming flat land is always buildable, watch out for hidden boulders or underground springs
• Ignoring neighbor concerns or NIMBY opposition. This can slow or stop your plans, especially near neighborhoods or lakes.
• Underestimating wet weather or stormwater management needs. Extra drainage can break a tight budget.
• Believing contractors’ first quotes are firm, price inflation or delays are common
• Assuming you can open before all inspections are done. Most counties will not issue permits for partial builds or “soft openings.”

How to budget accurately for your RV park project

Planning your project costs is not as easy as just adding up contractor bills. You need margin for:

• Labor changes (wages or shortages can spike mid-project)
• Material delays or cost increases (concrete and PVC prices swing seasonally)
• Equipment breakdowns or rental overages
• Permit and inspection delays
• Legal fees if disputes arise with local government or neighbors
• Extra surveys if soil or utility locations change mid-build

Talk to multiple recent park owners and ask them what surprised them about their final cost. Some will admit they went 25-40 percent over budget. A small percentage finished on time and under budget, but it’s rare. Consider adding 10-20 percent fudge factor to your estimate just in case. I do think it’s better to plan for everything going a bit slower than you expect, and for at least one item to go sideways.

A big lesson I have learned: Don’t commit all your cash up front without access to a backup loan or line of credit. That safety net (even if you never use it) helps you sleep at night when costs try to get out of hand.

Ways to save money when building an RV park

While you cannot force all costs lower, these tips might help:

• Start small and expand after your first season, once you know what guests really want
• Buy used or discounted equipment – including picnic tables, fire rings, or golf carts for staff
• Partner with local contractors you trust, and consider off-season work to get better rates
• Limit high-maintenance landscaping until cash flow is positive
• Avoid over-building – unused game rooms or pools can be a major drain before you have steady business

Every situation is different. There are creative ways to stretch a budget, like trading hooks-ups for work with skilled guests (think a master carpenter camping for cheap). Not every owner is comfortable with barter, but in practice, I have seen it help on small parks.

Is it worth paying for a feasibility study?

I think it’s smart to have a pro conduct a feasibility study if you are new to the area or running larger sums. These studies (costing $7,000-$25,000) analyze your competition, traffic patterns, demand, and income projections over several years. They also catch nearby regulation shifts you might miss. If you are trying to get a bank loan, it is nearly always required. It is not needed for a single family investing in a 10-site rural spot, but any big plan should include one.

And if the results come back negative, remember, sometimes walking away is much cheaper than pushing through a bad investment.

Summary table: Example cost ranges

Cost figures above are rough averages for the US for 2025, not counting prime vacation towns or unusually difficult sites. Your final price can fall outside these ranges, especially if you own the land already or decide not to add things like pools, restaurants, or large clubhouses.

I think there is no perfect answer or simple checklist for building an RV park. It’s a real project with real risks, some days you learn a lesson the hard way. But it’s also a business with fans who reward creativity and friendly service. Take your time, plan for more expense and time than your gut says, and talk with other owners who have done it. That single conversation can be worth more than hours of internet research.