Michigan State University is cooperating with different camping-related organizations to form a RV and Campground Research Partnership (RVCRP). The purpose is to provide campgrounds and other camping-related businesses and organizations with current and reliable information to assist in: (1) identifying and assessing supply and demand trends, (2) assessing performance, e.g., occupancy, sales, (3) understanding camper preferences and behaviors and, (4) estimating the economic impact of camping and campgrounds. Funding to support RVCRP is provided by the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station.

Woodall's/ARVC National Campground Occupancy Survey

RVCRP is currently partnering with Woodall's and the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC) in an On-line Campground Occupancy Survey. The purpose is to provide estimates of occupancy rates for different types of campgrounds and regions of the country. This information will also be used to generate estimates of camper spending. You can connect to Woodall's and ARVC's webpages by clicking on their logos at the bottom of this page.

Campgrounds complete a short weekly on-line survey reporting occupancy on different nights for different types of campsites, camping cabins, and other rental units. Participating campgrounds will have access to a report each week that estimates occupancy rates so they can benchmark their performance against other campgrounds. If enough campgrounds participate we will provide separate analyses for different states, regions and types of campgrounds.

Click here to register for the Woodall's/ARVC Campground National Occupancy Survey.

Annual Campground Economic Survey

The National Foundation of RVing and Camping, the non-profit arm of ARVC, is sponsoring an Annual Campground Economic Survey. This survey has been conducted by the Foundation since 1986 and is now available on-line. The on-line survey collects information on the number and types of campsites and rental units, business operations, revenues and expenses, park store, food and beverage service and the number and types of employees. Campgrounds that complete the survey will receive access to these results. Campgrounds that complete the 2004 survey will be able to retrieve their previous responses from our database and modify them (e.g., additional sites, new services or facilities) for the 2005 survey. This will allow us to monitor trends in campgrounds nation-wide.

Click here to register for the Annual Campground Economic Survey.

Quarterly RV Dealership Survey

Michigan Association of Recreational Vehicles and Campgrounds (MARVAC) is sponsoring a Quarterly Survey of RV Dealerships in Michigan. RV dealerships complete a short, ten-minute on-line quarterly survey that compares performance factors (sales, inventories) in a particular quarter with the previous quarter and the same quarter of the previous year. Reports are made available to dealerships within ten days of the close of each quarterly survey.

Click here to register for the Michigan RV dealerships on-line quarterly survey.

Camper Panel

RVCRP will also be establishing a national on-line camper panel. We are hoping to enlist more that 5,000 campers who will be willing to answer short surveys from time-to-time. These surveys would include: participation rates, trip characteristics, campground preferences and satisfaction, the purchase of camping equipment, and spending on camping trips. We will begin recruiting this panel in May of 2004.