Hipcamp brings campers & new income to working farms

Hipcamp is a popular app for discovering and booking unique outdoor stays including tent camping, RV parks, cabins, treehouses and glamping. They partner with landowners in all 50 states, Canada, Australia and the UK. Hipcamp likes to call their service camping-based tourism.

According to Cassandra Prenn-Vasilakis, the lead manager of government and community at Hipcamp, more than half of the landowners they work with are welcoming campers to working lands like farms, wineries and orchards.

Hipcamp’s internal data and industry-wide data show that agritourism, food tourism and rural tourism are in the top 10 experiences campers are seeking.

“There really is demand for these experiences. And it’s not just a trend. This is driving real economic impact for individual landowners and economic growth in rural communities,” said Prenn-Vasilakis. And it can be as simple as having a flat spot where someone can pitch a tent or park an RV.

Landowners can sign up with Hipcamp for free as hosts on either Hipcamp’s mobile app or website. They create a profile for their property with photos, and campers can search by location and then book their stay on the mobile app or website. Hosts control their own pricing and availability, hosting for as many days as they want. Hipcamp provides calendar management tools, including calendar syncing with any other booking platforms a landowner might utilize.

In return for the use of their platform and services, Hipcamp takes a 15% commission which covers secure payment processing and credit card fees. They also help the landowner collect any appropriate taxes and offer $1 million of liability insurance per occurrence, $10,000 property protection and 24/7 host support.

Hipcamp expects hosts to clearly set and communicate expectations with guests. In their listing, hosts should define where guests can and cannot go on the property, including any areas that are off‑limits to guests or their children. They should also decide and state whether pets are allowed.

Hipcamp asks that hosts provide some sort of restroom that is compliant with local laws. Additionally, Hipcamp expects that hosts understand and adhere to any and all regulations that may apply to hosting activities such as fire safety, waste management and setback requirements.

“It is important that you’re doing this research and making sure you understand what is required for your specific situation. And the regulations that are related to your hosting activities tend to include state, county and municipal rules, and they can really vary depending on where you live,” said Prenn-Vasilakis.

She also recommended communicating with neighbors before the first campers show up. She encouraged hosts to think through who might be impacted by hosting campers. For example, if a landowner is on a shared road, neighbors might be worried about the increased traffic or how the speed limit will be communicated.

“Talk to them in advance. Make yourself available for their feedback and let them know that they can call you if they have any issues or any concerns. Neighbor complaints really are the biggest barrier to hosting successfully,” said Prenn-Vasilakis.

Once landowners get their first few bookings, they often begin to add amenities such as tent platforms, yurts or cabins. Hipcampers report they love having a potable water source and the ability to have a campfire. Pet-friendly campsites are very popular. Campers also love signage – they want everything to be clearly marked, so there is no confusion about where to find something like water or the bathroom facility.

Hipcampers are also looking for authentic farm experiences and access to local food. The app offers an “extras” tool which allows campers to purchase items before they arrive on the property – anything from firewood to a breakfast basket. Farm tours or other types of experiences are in demand. Prenn-Vasilakis shared a story of a farm that offers a successful beginner beekeeping class to campers for an additional fee.

Through internal surveys, Hipcamp has learned that campers spend, on average, $400 each on patronizing local farm stands. “We’ve seen communities that might be off the beaten path for tourism start to become destinations in and of themselves because of the camping and agritourism experiences people are providing,” Prenn-Vasilakis said.

“Hosting overnight guests can really be a boon for your farm business. It can connect new customers with your products. It can create lifetime customer loyalty.”

Hipcamp offers support with everything from marketing to insurance to one-on-one coaching, and they have a team available around the clock to help with anything from calendar management to creating a discount code or deciding how much to charge for a site.

by Sonja Heyck-Merlin