RV park and campground loans come from four main places: SBA 7(a) and 504 loans, USDA Business and Industry guaranteed loans for parks in rural areas, conventional bank loans, and seller financing when you buy an existing park. The deciding questions for most lenders are whether the park runs as a hospitality business with short stays or as long-term rentals, how seasonal the cash flow is, and what the land and utilities are worth.
RV parks and campgrounds sit under our hotel business loans guide because they are lodging businesses. This page covers buying, building and expanding a park: the programs and their published limits, the SBA eligibility question park buyers need to settle early, seasonal working capital and what lenders ask for.
Financing options for RV parks and campgrounds
Figures checked on September 21, 2026, against the program pages listed under Sources.
| Option | Published limit | Longest term | Fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| SBA 7(a) | $5 million per loan | 25 years for real estate; 10 years for equipment or working capital | Buying an operating park, including the business, land, equipment and working capital |
| SBA 504 | $5.5 million per loan | 10, 20 or 25 years | Land, buildings, construction and long-life equipment |
| USDA Business and Industry (B&I) | No maximum stated on the program page | Up to 40 years | Parks in areas outside cities of more than 50,000 people |
| SBA CAPLines (seasonal) | Ask the lender | Ask the lender | Seasonal increases in inventory, receivables or labor |
| Bank loan | Set by the lender | Set by the lender | Established parks with strong records and a larger down payment |
| Seller financing | Negotiated | Negotiated | Closing a gap between the price and the senior loan |
Rates depend on the lender, the program and your finances, so we have not listed a rate range. Compare offers by APR (the yearly cost of the loan including interest and most fees) and ask each lender for a written list of its fees.
Hospitality or rental? The SBA eligibility question
SBA rules exclude “passive businesses owned by developers and landlords that do not actively use or occupy the assets acquired or improved with the loan proceeds” (13 CFR 120.110). The 504 program also cannot be used for “speculation or investment in rental real estate” (SBA 504).
That is why the guest mix matters. A park that books nightly and weekly stays, runs a store and manages reservations looks like an operating lodging business. A park where most sites are rented to long-term residents can look more like rental real estate. How the lender classifies the park decides whether SBA financing is available, so before you make an offer, give the lender the rent roll with the length of each stay and ask how it will classify the park.
The USDA B&I program has a similar line: its list of ineligible uses includes “owner-occupied and rental housing” (USDA Rural Development).
SBA 7(a) and 504 for buying or building a park
The 7(a) program goes up to $5 million and covers real estate, machinery and equipment, furniture and fixtures, working capital and “changes of ownership (complete or partial).” SBA sets maximum maturities of 25 years for real estate and 10 years for equipment. For a park purchase, that lets one loan cover the land, the operating business and items such as golf carts or maintenance equipment.
The 504 program funds “the purchase, construction or renovation of existing buildings or land,” up to $5.5 million, with terms of 10, 20 or 25 years. It suits building a new park or adding sites, bathhouses and utility hookups to an existing one. It “cannot be used for” working capital or inventory. Since July 4, 2026, borrowers can combine 7(a) and 504 loans for up to $10 million. Our 7(a) vs 504 guide compares the two.
Rule change on October 1, 2026. The SBA’s updated rulebook for 7(a) and 504 lenders, SOP 50 10 8.1, was published on August 14, 2026 and takes effect on October 1, 2026. If you are buying a park and your loan is in process around that date, ask the lender in writing which version applies and what equity injection it will require.
USDA B&I for rural parks
For a campground in a rural area, the USDA Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan program is worth asking about. It guarantees lender loans in “rural areas not in a city or town with a population of more than 50,000 inhabitants.” Its eligible uses include business acquisitions that “maintain business operations and create or save jobs,” the purchase and development of land and buildings for commercial properties, and machinery and equipment.
- Guarantee to the lender. 85% for applications under $5,000,000; 80% at $5,000,000 or more.
- Term. “The loan term will not exceed 40 years.”
- Rates. Negotiated between the lender and borrower; fixed or variable.
- Fees. An initial guarantee fee of 3% of the guaranteed amount and an annual retention fee of 0.55% of the guaranteed portion of the outstanding balance.
- Not covered. Lines of credit are on the program’s ineligible list, so seasonal working capital needs a separate facility.
Seasonal cash flow and working capital
If your park earns most of its revenue in a few months but carries fixed costs all year, two SBA tools address the gap. CAPLines “finances the seasonal increases of accounts receivable and inventory — or in some cases associated increased labor costs,” and can be revolving or non-revolving. SBA Express allows revolving lines of credit of up to 10 years, with a $500,000 maximum.
Outside the SBA, a conventional business line of credit is the usual way to cover the off-season. Our guide to lines of credit for seasonal cash flow gaps explains how to size one.
What lenders look for
- Several years of results. The SBA’s guide to buying a business lists financial statements, tax returns, contracts and leases among the documents to review. For a park, add monthly revenue by site type and a rent roll showing length of stay.
- The land and infrastructure. Water, sewer or septic, electrical service to each site, roads and flood exposure all affect value. The SBA guide flags zoning, permits and environmental concerns when real property is part of a purchase.
- Your experience. Hospitality, campground or property management experience, or a plan to hire a manager.
- Your equity and credit. SBA borrowers must “have reasonable owner equity to invest.” Owners usually sign a personal guarantee.
- For new parks: a feasibility case. Lenders will want projected occupancy and rates, backed by local demand, plus permits and a construction budget. The SBA 504 program asks for “a feasible business plan.”
Pitfalls to watch
- Buying a park full of long-term residents with an SBA plan. Check eligibility with the lender before you sign a purchase agreement.
- Underbudgeting utilities. Aging septic, water or electrical systems can cost more than cosmetic upgrades. Get them inspected and put the repairs in the loan request.
- Ignoring the off-season. A loan payment that is easy in July can be hard in February. Line up working capital before you close.
- Relying on seller-reported cash. Lenders underwrite what the tax returns and bank deposits show.
RV park and campground loan FAQs
Can I get an SBA loan for an RV park?
Often, yes, if the park runs as an active hospitality business. SBA rules exclude passive businesses that don’t actively use the assets, so a park that mainly rents long-term sites may not qualify. Share the rent roll with the lender early.
Can I finance building a new campground?
Yes. The SBA 504 program funds construction of buildings and land improvements, and USDA B&I covers land and building development in rural areas. Expect lenders to ask for a feasibility case, permits and a construction budget, and to look harder at a startup than at an operating park.
Is there a USDA loan for campgrounds?
The USDA Business and Industry program guarantees lender loans for businesses in areas outside cities of more than 50,000 people, with terms of up to 40 years. Campgrounds are not on its ineligible list, but rental housing is. You apply through a participating lender.
How do I cover expenses in the off-season?
A line of credit, drawn in the slow months and repaid in the busy ones, is the usual answer. SBA CAPLines and SBA Express lines are options, as are conventional lines from banks and online lenders.
Next step
If you are looking at a park, start with three years of financial statements and tax returns, a rent roll showing length of stay, and a list of the utility systems and their age. Our hotel business loans page explains how SMB Compass helps you compare offers from the lenders we work with. Related: hotel acquisition loans and motel loans.
Sources
- eCFR: 13 CFR 120.110, ineligible businesses
- SBA: 504 loans
- USDA Rural Development: Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan
- SBA: 7(a) loans
- SBA: 7(a) terms, conditions and eligibility
- SBA: Small businesses now eligible for $10 million in SBA financing
- SBA Information Notice 5000-880695: Issuance of SOP 50 10 8.1
- SBA: Types of 7(a) loans
- SBA: Buy an existing business or franchise
About this page. Written by Ezra Cabrera, Content Team Lead at SMB Compass. Figures were checked against the primary sources listed above on September 21, 2026; lenders change their terms, so confirm current terms before you apply, and let us know if you spot a figure that has changed. SMB Compass is a business financing broker: we don’t lend our own money, and we are paid by the lenders we place loans with. This page is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice.