Accessibility is not a compliance chore—it is a way to fill sites you are currently turning away by accident. Roughly one in four U.S. adults lives with a disability, and a much larger share travels with someone who does. When a wheelchair user, an older couple, or a family with a stroller cannot find clear answers about your ramps, paths, and accessible sites, they book the park down the road that does post that information. Fixing this is a mix of modest physical upgrades and far cheaper communication work.
Key takeaways
- Accessible parks reach a larger, more loyal market—disabled guests, aging RVers, and the families who travel with them.
- The ADA applies to campgrounds; the 2010 Standards set specific rules for accessible sites, routes, and restrooms.
- Prioritize firm, level routes connecting sites, restrooms, and amenities—loose gravel undoes everything else.
- Half the win is information: publish exact accessibility details so guests can book with confidence.
Know what the ADA actually requires
Campgrounds are public accommodations, so the ADA applies—but the rules are more specific than "add a ramp." The 2010 ADA Standards scale required accessible sites to the size of your park: roughly the first 25 sites need at least 2 accessible, growing from there. Accessible RV and tent sites need firm, stable, slip-resistant surfaces, level parking, and a clear connecting route to amenities.
- Provide the right number of accessible sites for your total count, and spread them across site types (full hookup, pull-through) rather than dumping them all in one corner.
- Keep accessible sites near accessible restrooms and the office, not at the far end of the loop.
- If you are unsure, a one-time ADA site assessment from a specialist is cheaper than a complaint or a lost ADA lawsuit.
Fix the routes before the amenities
The single most common failure point is the surface between the parking spot and everything else. A beautiful accessible restroom is useless if a guest cannot roll to it across loose pea gravel or a rutted grass path. Connecting routes do the heavy lifting, so spend there first.
- Use firm, stable surfaces on accessible routes—packed crushed stone fines, compacted decomposed granite, concrete, or paved asphalt rather than loose gravel or sand.
- Keep routes at least 36 inches wide, with running slopes no steeper than 1:20 where possible and cross-slopes under 1:48.
- Walk the route after every heavy rain—washouts, exposed roots, and tree-root heaves are the things that quietly make a "compliant" path unusable.
Make restrooms, pools, and shared spaces usable
Once routes are solid, the high-impact amenities are restrooms and the gathering spots guests actually use. These do not have to be expensive; small adjustments to existing facilities often satisfy the standard.
- Designate at least one wheelchair-accessible restroom and shower with grab bars, a 32-inch clear door opening, a roll-under sink, and a turning space.
- If you have a pool, add a fixed or portable ADA-compliant pool lift; keep beach wheelchairs on hand for waterfront or trail access.
- Include a few accessible picnic tables (extended tops with knee clearance) and firm, level seating at the camp store, fire pit, and pavilion.
Tell guests what you have—online
This is the cheapest, highest-return step and the one most parks skip. A guest who needs accessible facilities will not gamble on a vague listing; specifics are what convert the booking. Your website is where that decision happens, so it has to load the information clearly and be usable by people relying on screen readers.
- Publish a dedicated accessibility page with exact details: number of accessible sites, surface types, route widths, restroom features, and pool lift availability.
- Let guests filter or request an accessible site directly in your online booking flow instead of forcing a phone call.
- Make the site itself accessible—descriptive alt text on photos, proper heading order, readable color contrast, and keyboard navigation—so it works for screen-reader users.
Frequently asked questions
Does the ADA actually apply to my privately owned campground?
Yes. Privately owned campgrounds and RV parks are considered places of public accommodation under Title III of the ADA, so the accessibility requirements apply regardless of size. The number of accessible sites and facilities you must provide scales with the size of your park, but no park is exempt simply for being small or family-run.
How many accessible RV sites do I need?
It depends on your total site count under the 2010 ADA Standards. As a rough guide, parks with up to 25 sites generally need at least 2 accessible sites, scaling up from there. The safest approach is a professional ADA assessment, which gives you an exact number for your layout and flags any route or restroom gaps at the same time.
What is the most affordable accessibility upgrade with the biggest payoff?
Clear online information. Documenting your existing accessible features on a dedicated, screen-reader-friendly web page and surfacing them in your booking flow costs little and immediately captures bookings you were losing to uncertainty. On the physical side, firming up the connecting routes between parking, restrooms, and amenities usually delivers the most usability per dollar.
If your physical sites are accessible but your website does not say so, you are leaving bookings on the table. Outdoor Web Solutions builds accessible, easy-to-book campground websites with screen-reader-friendly design, clear accessibility pages, and online reservations—so every guest who can stay with you can find and book a site without a phone call.
