How Campgrounds Can Increase Bookings with Better Web Design

When I built the website for Pine Ridge Campground, we focused on three things: showing what makes the campground special, making it easy to see what's happening, and removing friction from the reservation process. The results speak for themselves.

What Guests Look For Online

Before booking, potential guests want to answer several questions:

• What's the vibe? Family-friendly? Party atmosphere? Quiet and peaceful?
• What amenities do you have? Pool? Fishing? Playground? Full hookups?
• What's happening this weekend? Events, themed weekends, activities
• How do I book? And how much does it cost?
• What do other campers say? Reviews and testimonials

Your website needs to answer all of these within seconds of landing.

Event Calendars That Actually Work

Many campgrounds host themed weekends, holiday events, and activities throughout the season. A static list of events isn't enough—you need a dynamic calendar.

What to Include

• Event name and date
• Brief description
• Photos from previous years (if available)
• Whether it's included in site fees or extra
• Link to book for that specific weekend

Calendar Features That Help

• Month navigation (guests plan ahead)
• Category filtering (kids activities, adult events, live music)
• Mobile-friendly display
• Easy updates for staff (no coding required)

For Pine Ridge, we integrated with Airtable so the staff could update events from a simple spreadsheet-like interface, and the website updated automatically.

Showcasing Amenities

Amenities are often the deciding factor for families choosing between campgrounds. Don't bury them in a bullet list—showcase them.

Effective Amenity Presentation

• Dedicated pages for major amenities: Pool, clubhouse, fishing pond each deserve their own page with multiple photos
• Icons and quick scanning: Visual icons next to amenities help guests scan quickly
• Photos over descriptions: Show, don't just tell
• Address common questions: Pool hours, fishing rules, playground age ranges

Amenity Categories

Organize amenities into logical groups:

• Site amenities (hookups, wifi, fire pits)
• Recreation (pool, playground, trails)
• Facilities (bathhouse, laundry, camp store)
• Nearby attractions (within 30-minute drive)

Optimizing the Booking Flow

Every extra click between "I want to book" and "Reservation complete" costs you bookings. Streamline the process.

Book Now Button

A prominent "Book Now" or "Check Availability" button should be visible on every page—header, hero section, and throughout the content.

Reduce Form Fields

Only ask for what you absolutely need. Name, dates, site type, contact info. Everything else can come after the booking.

Show Availability Clearly

If you use a reservation system, integrate it so guests can see availability before filling out forms.

Mobile Booking

Many people book camping trips from their phones. If your booking process doesn't work perfectly on mobile, you're losing reservations.

Photography That Converts

Great photos are the difference between a guest booking and clicking away. Invest in quality imagery.

Must-Have Photos

• Aerial/drone shot (if possible—shows the full property)
• Sites with rigs in them (empty sites look uninviting)
• Happy families using amenities
• Evening/campfire ambiance shots
• Seasonal photos (fall colors, summer pool action)

Photo Tips

• Hire a photographer for one good day of shooting
• Golden hour (sunset/sunrise) makes everything look better
• Include people—empty campgrounds feel lonely
• Update photos seasonally

Seasonal Considerations

Campground websites need to adapt to the season:

Pre-Season (Winter/Early Spring)

• Highlight early booking discounts
• Showcase upcoming season's event schedule
• Seasonal applications for long-term campers

Peak Season (Summer)

• This week's events prominently displayed
• Last-minute availability calendar
• Photos of current activities

Shoulder Season (Fall)

• Fall foliage photos
• Halloween and harvest events
• Off-peak pricing

Off-Season

• Winter storage information (if offered)
• Next season reservations open
• Newsletter signup for updates

Technical Essentials

Beyond design, campground websites need:

• Fast loading: Large photos need to be optimized
• Mobile responsiveness: Perfect on phones
• Local SEO: "Campgrounds near [nearby city]" should find you
• Google Maps integration: Directions from anywhere
• Contact options: Phone (click-to-call) and email at minimum

Getting Started

If your campground website is outdated, hard to update, or not driving bookings, it's time for an upgrade.

Modern campground websites should be easy for your staff to update (events, photos, pricing) while providing an excellent experience for guests on any device.

Interested in discussing a website for your campground or RV park? Check out the Pine Ridge Campground case study or reach out to discuss your project.