Economic and Environmental Benefits of Hipcamp Properties | 2022

Hipcamp is an online company that offers unique outdoor stays via website and mobile app. Visitors can discover and book tent camping, RV parks, cabins, treehouses, and glamping—everywhere from national parks to blueberry farms—all run by private landowners. Hipcamp partnered with Earth Economics to assess the economic impact of Hipcamp properties in Nevada County, California and the environmental benefits of Hipcamp properties within six counties in California, Colorado, and Utah. The result—big gains for the local economy, including an average $886,000 in annual spending for Nevada County, California, and anywhere from $17 million to $1 billion in environmental benefits each year across various counties.

Economic Impact of Hipcamp Properties

How Camping on Private Land Benefits the Local Economy | Nevada County, California

Local landowners in Nevada County partner with Hipcamp to offer their properties for camping and other outdoor experiences, drawing visitors (Hipcampers) from outside the region, who then stimulate the local economy with tourism dollars. Between 2020 and 2022, Hipcampers added an average $886,000 in annual spending, resulting in 8 full- and part-time jobs in Nevada County. The average wage of jobs supported by Hipcamp visitors to the county was $30,383. Beyond the spending occurring in the community, Hipcamp enables hosts to generate income from natural areas of their properties—the average host in Nevada County took home $8,000 in annual supplemental income.

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Environmental Benefits of Hipcamp Properties

Land Conservation Through Camping on Private Land

Local landowners partner with Hipcamp to make their properties available for camping and other outdoor experiences in natural grasslands, rangelands, forests, farms, pastures, and more. These properties include a wide range of landscapes—from cattle ranches and working vineyards to family-owned preserves and apple orchards. The hundreds of thousands of acres currently listed on Hipcamp provide multiple benefits to communities, such as cleaning the air and water and providing habitat for wildlife. Earth Economics assessed the value of environmental benefits of Hipcamp properties within various counties in California, Colorado, and Utah, finding significant value—anywhere from $17 million to $1 billion in environmental benefits each year.

Ecosystems produce goods and services we depend on everyday - from clean water and air, to thriving fisheries, protection from storms, beautiful views, and recreational opportunities. Identifying the economic value of these goods and services can highlight the importance of natural capital to our communities. Explore the factsheets below for more information.

Economic and Environmental Benefits of Hipcamp Properties