How much should I charge for my campsite?

Deciding how much to charge your customers is an essential factor in any business – you want to find that sweet spot that allows you to make a profit without putting your prices out of customers’ reach.

If you're a campsite or outdoor accommodation owner/manager, there are several factors to take into account when deciding on your pricing structure – location, facilities and seasonal trends will all play a part.

Although Pitchup is unable to give exact figures for how much you should charge for your campsite, in this article we’ll take a look at some of the aspects you should consider when setting your campsite prices.

Location

The location of your campsite is one of the main factors that will influence your prices. Sites in very popular, or very exclusive, locations can justify higher prices than those in areas with fewer visitors and/or a very large supply of campsites. 

‘Location’ covers a lot of different aspects, including your immediate surroundings and what's nearby. For example, an extra ‘wow factor’ applies if your site is right by the coast or immersed in the spectacular scenery of a well-known national park. 

Similarly, guests are often tempted to pay a premium for proximity to attractions and amenities, whether it's a famous monument or theme park or something practical like a nearby motorway or a pub within walking distance.

To get a feel for prices in your location, have a look at what your competitors are charging. The easiest way to do this is to search for your postcode on Pitchup.com and filter by similar styles of site.

Accommodation type

Next up is the accommodation you're offering – here the biggest difference is between sites that just offer land, with customers bringing all their own equipment, and those where guests stay in accommodation provided by the site.

Within those categories, there are certain variables to take into account. For example, gravel/hardstanding motorhome pitches will be more expensive than those in an open field, and individually styled shepherd’s huts, yurts or log cabins pricier than static caravans. At the top end are unique accommodations like hand-crafted huts, geodesic domes and treehouses.

As a rough guide, around the UK in 2023, Pitchup’s average price for tent pitches tends to hover at about £20-30 per night, with glamping units averaging around £100-120 (prices for two adults).

Amenities and unique features

The amenities you offer on site will play a big part in your price point – simply put, the more facilities you have, the more you’ll be able to charge (up to a point). Good bathroom facilities are top of the list here – however incredible your location, you’ll never be able to charge all that much for a very basic pitch with no toilets/showers, or just a portable toilet.

After that, every little extra adds a bit more justification for a higher price – costs will rise for a campsite with a play area, a small shop or a pop-up bar, and more again for top-end facilities like a swimming pool, restaurant or hot tubs. As for individual pitches, an electrical connection usually adds around £10 to the price per night.

Don't forget those things that make your site unique, too – sea views, farm tours or organised activities will all increase the desirability of your site. 

Seasonal pricing

It's no secret that travel prices fluctuate throughout the year, with higher prices being asked at times of peak demand. For camping and caravan holidays, peak times are typically in the summer months, school holidays and bank holiday weekends. These are bookended by ‘shoulder season’ periods, where you may like to drop your prices to encourage a better spread of visitors.

Similarly, as demand is higher at weekends, it’s accepted practice that prices will be slightly lower during the week. For a detailed look at how prices fluctuate for your location and accommodation options, use the various filters on this dashboard to find the average prices currently charged by sites listed on Pitchup.

However you decide to structure your pricing through the season, if you’re listing your campsite with Pitchup you’ll need to make sure your prices are fair to customers, with no extra fees added.

Because the accommodation is less susceptible to the weather, the glamping season can run for longer, or indeed all year round – around 30% of properties listed on Pitchup are open all year.

Low-season offers can be a great way to attract more bookings, but it's worth taking into account any increased costs you may incur (such as providing extra heating or electricity for a cabin – these can in fact push prices up for some accommodation types). Listing any offers on the Pitchup special offers page will increase your visibility and may attract extra bookings.

A snapshot of average prices per night for selected locations around the UK in 2023

Accommodation type	Location	£(GBP)  LS	SS	PS w/e	PS w/d
Non-electric tent pitch	Cornwall	23.33	23.76	27.34	26.88
Non-electric tent pitch	Norfolk	21	22.25	23.76	23.59
Electric motorhome pitch	Pembrokeshire	31.41	32.76	38.38	37.51
Electric motorhome pitch	Cumbria	36.54	33.71	35.70	34.78
Glamping	Highlands	131.60	102.19	129.24	121.97
Glamping	Dorset	98.06	91.56	98.05	96.67