ADA camping empowers people with disabilities to immerse themselves in nature, partake in outdoor activities, and create cherished memories alongside their friends and families. Addressing accessibility needs at your campground creates a more inclusive camping atmosphere for enhanced guest experiences and fosters customer loyalty with the added benefit of creating a more inclusive and enriching work environment for your staff. By offering ADA accessible camping accommodations and amenities, campground owners can lower the barriers to ADA camping and tap into a significant market segment that is often underserved. Embracing campground accessibility not only broadens the customer base but also enhances the reputation of your campground as an inclusive and welcoming destination and serves to foster priceless word-of-mouth advertising. Marketing efforts highlighting these campground accessibility features can attract campers seeking accessible outdoor experiences and drive campground bookings via ADA campsite offerings. Discover how to optimize your campground for ADA compliance, book more campers through strategic marketing initiatives, and provide inclusive outdoor experiences for all.
What is ADA Camping?
ADA camping encompasses campgrounds and RV parks designed to be accessible in accordance with the Americans With Disabilities Act, a landmark civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life to ensure equal access and opportunities for people with disabilities. The ADA Standards for Accessible Design define specifications for accessible buildings and public areas including entrances, doorways, ramps, corridors, restrooms, signage, and other architectural features to facilitate accessibility and accommodate various disability needs.
ADA compliant campgrounds promote diversity and equality for exceptional guest experiences while simultaneously reducing the likelihood of facing legal consequences for failure to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. In addition to maintaining an ADA compliant campground or RV park with accessible campsites, it is also important to train staff on ADA compliance for recreational activity safety for better customer service and to ensure the comfort and enjoyment of all campers.
Features of an ADA Campground
An ADA accessible campground is thoughtfully designed and maintained to be easily traversed by guests using wheelchairs, empowering them to enjoy all the wonderful features your park provides. Paved and landscaped pathways wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs are essential to accessing individual features of your ADA campground. Buildings and facilities should include ramps for entry and doors wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs, ideally with an automatic opening for each door. Restrooms and shower facilities should be equipped with grab bars, lowered sinks, and accessible toilets. Signage at your ADA RV park or campground should feature high contrast between the background and text of the sign for campers with visual impairments, and ideally feature braille for blind and low vision campers.
Regardless of pet policies, ADA compliant campgrounds must also accommodate service animals for the safety and comfort of campers with disabilities. Account for invisible disabilities such as chronic fatigue through strategic placement of rest areas throughout your park. Ensure that staff is well-versed in established protocols for campground emergencies. Considerations such as an on-site defibrillator could save lives and help put campers at ease knowing that your campground has prioritized accommodations for health emergencies.
In addition to providing ADA compliant navigation and access to park facilities, it’s essential that campers with disabilities can also take part in the many recreational activities your campground has to offer. ADA accessible RV parks and campgrounds can also provide adaptive equipment rentals such as beach wheelchairs, hand cycles, and golf carts that include a wheelchair ramp for campers to easily use to explore and enjoy your campground.
ADA Campsites and Accommodations
ADA accessible RV sites and tent sites should be level and paved with adequate width and clearance to accommodate wheelchair lifts. These sites should also be strategically positioned near wheelchair accessible pathways and accessible restroom, shower, and laundry facilities.
Accessible lodging options such as cabins and ADA glamping tents should include ramps for entry and wide doorways, accessible layouts with plenty of maneuvering space, and lowered amenities such as sinks, kitchen countertops, and beds that are the right height for side transfer from a wheelchair. Bathrooms should include safety features such as grab bars in the shower and by the toilet and non-slip flooring to reduce the risk of falls.
Accessible Activities
Providing accessible campground activities for campers with disabilities promotes inclusivity and equal access to outdoor experiences. Accessible camping activities not only enhance the overall camping experience for individuals with disabilities but also promote diversity, equity, and a sense of belonging to your campground community and fosters customer loyalty.
Planned events and activities at your campground should be set up in accessible locations such as a pavilion with paved ground and accessible picnic tables, or an event center with ramp entry. Empower your staff or dedicated event team to think creatively in developing ways to modify activities to be inclusive of campers with disabilities.
Campgrounds with planned activities are a popular booking motivator for campers with families. 1 in 6 children experience sensory processing challenges (source) such as distress from loud noises or bright lights that can create a barrier to positive camping experiences. Activities that address sensory needs such as building sensory bins and slime crafts are a great way to provide children with soothing activities that promote learning, fun, and engagement so parents can also relax. Providing activities and accommodations that cater to sensory needs is a great way to motivate booking, improve the guest experience, and promote guest retention.
ADA Camping Marketing Strategies
Accessibility is a powerful campground and RV park marketing tool to drive bookings through meeting the needs of all campers. Establish trust with ample photos of your ADA camping accommodations to highlight specific accessibility features such as ramp access, kitchen and bathroom layouts, entryways, safety features, and accessible parking. Include floorplans that outline the dimensions of your ADA camping accommodation on your website and OTA so campers can confirm that your campsite is compatible with their needs.
The booking process sets expectations for the experience campers can anticipate at your campground, and an inaccessible booking experience could cost you reservations. It’s important to optimize your booking process for ADA camping compliance. Optimize your website for ADA compliance and utilize a Park Management System that provides an accessible booking experience to ensure you don’t lose a potential reservation.
Market your ADA compliant campground by highlighting accessibility features your park offers through your website, social media, and email marketing. Make note of awareness days for marketing opportunities such as International Day of Persons with Disabilities and Autism Awareness Month to share your passion for inclusive camping while simultaneously promoting your accessible campground. Boost your park’s reservation potential by connecting with an Online Travel Agency like Spot2Nite where campers can conveniently filter campgrounds by features like ADA accessibility for camping accommodations and dog parks for their service animal to quickly discover and book a campsite that fits their specific needs.
Consider partnering with local disability advocacy groups and organizations to host a camping event or meetup for accessible camping catered to enhancing inclusive outdoor experiences complete with themed events and activities that utilize your ADA compliant campground features. Explore accessible camping activities near your park to recommend to campers and use as an additional campground marketing opportunity such as nearby State and National Parks with accessible trails and recreational activities.
ADA Compliance Checklist
How well does your campground or RV park rank for ADA accessibility? Review this checklist to discover ways to improve accessibility at your campground or RV park and take note of accessible features for additional marketing opportunities.
Campground
- Multiple rest areas throughout (benches, picnic tables)
- Well-landscaped paved pathways
- Accessible parking
- Designated areas for service animal relief
- High contrast signage
- Braille signage
- Ample lighting throughout
- Handrails
RV & Tent Sites
- Adjacent accessible parking
- Well landscaped pathways
- Paved and level ground
- Easy access to trails and walkways
- Proximity to restrooms, showers, and laundry facilities
Lodging
- Ramp entry
- Restroom grab bars
- Lowered amenities
- Accessible parking
- Braille signage
- Ample lighting
Facilities
- Restrooms & showers with ADA safety features
- Ramp entry for all buildings
- Automatic doors for all buildings
- Pools with sloped entry or lift
- Accessible recreation rentals
- Community fire pit with enough space for wheelchairs
- Playground with ramp access and wide pathways
Book More Campers With ADA Camping
Update your Spot2Nite connected park profile by visiting the Operator Dashboard and adding the ADA accessible tag so travelers can quickly find your park when searching for campgrounds via this accessibility filter. Not yet connected with Spot2Nite? Visit our partners page to explore the benefits of marketing your park through the industry-leading marketplace for outdoor accommodations and gain access to a network of over 60 million campers for instant booking.