Holiday Weekend Booking Checklist for Campgrounds, RV Parks & Resorts
Every year, Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day are make-or-break weekends for outdoor hospitality. And, you might have special additional weekends that you promote based on your location, your community, or any onsite festivities that have become favorite pastimes for your guests. Families, couples, and road-trippers often book late, sometimes just days before they arrive. That means your last-minute marketing strategy can be the difference between a sold-out weekend and empty sites. Welcome to your holiday weekend booking checklist from Martrek Digital.
If you’ve ever scrambled in the final week before a holiday weekend, you’re not alone. Many campground and RV park owners think bookings will just “take care of themselves,” but travelers today have more options than ever. Competing resorts, vacation rentals, and hotels are all fighting for those last-minute reservations. Without a plan, you risk leaving revenue on the table.
The good news? A simple, repeatable process is all you need. You don’t have to spend hours on complicated marketing tools or expensive ad campaigns. By focusing on basic email reminders, social posts, your blog (if you have one) and clear website updates, you can stay top of mind for guests who are ready to book. This holiday weekend booking checklist is designed to make the process stress-free, whether you’re preparing for Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day or your own fun weekend stay.
Follow the steps below, then download your free one-page holiday weekend booking checklist to keep handy for every major holiday weekend.
1 Year Out: Business Planning
✅Review the calendar of major holidays and long weekends for the coming year.
✅Decide which weekends will be “all hands on deck” for your marketing push (Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Columbus Day, etc.).
✅Block time on your calendar to start prep at least 1 month out so you’re not caught scrambling.
1 Month Out: Early Prep + Deployment
✅ Update your availability online and make sure your booking engine is working.
✅ Add a homepage banner or pop-up: “Holiday Weekend Spots Are Filling Fast—Book Now.”
✅ Build two quick lists in your email tool: (Need help with this? Contact us)
- Past holiday weekend guests (who booked last year).
- Local/drive-market guests within 3–5 hours’ drive.
✅Deploy your first blog post, email, and social media posts counting down the days to your big weekend to all guests (remember to omit anyone that has already booked for said weekend, if you already have/had reservations open).
2 Weeks Out: Awareness + Urgency
✅ Send your second email to your full list + local drive market and anyone that stayed last year but not yet this year (repeat bookers)
✅ Post once on Facebook or Instagram with a campground photo + booking link.
✅ Remind your local/drive-market list that short weekend trips are still available.
1 Week Out: Last-Minute Push
✅ Send email #3 to anyone not booked yet. Subject: “We still have sites & cabins open for [Holiday Weekend]!”
✅ Add a perk if possible: late checkout, free s’mores kit, or waived pet fee.
✅ Send a follow up email (or separate from main list) to your local list highlighting easy last-minute getaways.
✅ Post another social reminder: “It’s not too late to book your holiday weekend adventure!”
Optional Tactics
Still not as full as you like?
Consider sending 48 or 24 hour reminder emails to YOUR LOCAL LIST ONLY. Emphasize the promotions and/or ask your current guests to share and bring a friend, giving them an incentive (think free firewood, late checkout, etc) if their guests follow through and book with you. If posting on social media, have the call to action be to call the office so you can control bookings and make sure you can accommodate any last minute inquiries.
Post Event
✅ Evaluate, Evaluate, Evaluate!
Even if its just you scribbling down notes somewhere that you will remember, or pulling a few quick booking reports, you want to make sure you understand what worked, what didn’t, and where you netted out so that you can make the right adjustments for next year!
Martrek are experts in evaluating success on marketing campaigns and tactics. If you need help, we’re here!
Why This Works
This approach keeps it easy and repeatable for any major weekend.
That’s it. No fancy tools required, just clear communication and reminders at the right time. And, it makes it super easy for your staff to plan, know the expectations, and automate whenever possible.
Want to make it even easier?
We’ve packaged this into a one-page PDF with checkboxes you can print and follow step-by-step.
? Download the Holiday Weekend Booking Checklist here
With this tool, you’ll always have a quick reference for holiday marketing—no matter the season. Whether you’re prepping for the rush of Memorial Day, looking to fill sites for the 4th of July, or making one last push before Labor Day, this holiday weekend booking checklist keeps your marketing simple, consistent, and effective. Keep it posted in your office, share it with your team, and use it year after year to maximize revenue and avoid last-minute stress.
