From Ghost Town to Golden Opportunity
As I am sitting here typing this from a very empty campground, I am woefully aware that the Tuesday after a long weekend can feel painfully quiet: vacant RV pads, silent fire-rings, and an echo where yesterday’s laughter was. According to OHI’s 2023 Benchmarking Report, full-hookup sites averaged 68 % occupancy during the season, but the figure dropped steeply mid-week. Those empty sites aren’t just a bad look; they’re wasted retail sales, lost ancillary revenue, and a drag on your average daily rate (ADR). The upside? Travelers’ habits have shifted: remote work, workcamperes, mid-week “workations,” and value-driven trip planning have cracked the door wide open for campgrounds willing to adjust. Below are ten evidence-backed tactics to keep your campground full during the week and turn post-holiday lulls into reliable profit.
1. Extend the Holiday Before Guests Even Arrive
Long-weekend visitors already have vacation momentum on their side; you simply have to nudge them into staying put. Analysis of 412,000 U.S. summer bookings by Lodgify found average length of stay (ALOS) rose 12% between 2023 and 2024, especially for campsites and glamping units. Translation: campers are willing to tack on an extra night if the offer feels friction-free and worthwhile. Encourage that behavior by packaging late Sunday check-outs with early Monday check-ins, or dangling an irresistible “extra-night-on-us” deal via SMS 48 hours before arrival.
Quick wins
- Sunday 5 p.m. check-out + Monday noon check-in at a 25% premium: guests beat traffic and you gain another night’s margin.
- Saturday “stay-longer” text limited to the first ten sites builds urgency and reduces same-day turnover pressure.
2. Price Gap Nights Like a Hotelier—Without Slashing Rates
Discounts don’t have to gut your ADR if you fence them properly. KOA’s “Save 20 % on Mid-Week Stays” promo is available only to Sun–Thu reservations and KOA Rewards members, protecting higher weekend prices while filling shoulder inventory. Likewise, Sun Outdoors’ offers similar midweek discounts and applies 30% off weeknights inside a four-night cart and regularly moves guests from two-night to four-night bookings.
Offer value-adds alongside modest discounts to keep your brand perception strong. Think free bundled Wi-Fi upgrades, golf-cart rentals, or early pool access instead of dollar-off coupons alone.
3. Turn Your Park into a Remote-Work Retreat
Remote and hybrid employees are no longer tied to cubicles; Robert Half reports fully remote job postings jumped from 10% in early 2023 to 15% by Q4 2024. Campgrounds that deliver reliable connectivity and quiet space can capture this new weekday traveler.
Before you post a single promo, audit your Wi-Fi coverage and list realistic speeds. Then craft add-ons that make remote life easy, i.e. shaded picnic-desk setups, printer access in the camp store, or a coffee subscription. Promote these “workcation” amenities in paid media ads and highlight them on your booking engine’s extras page.
Action steps
- Bundle premium bandwidth with a “quiet row.” Guests pay a flat nightly fee for guaranteed speeds and noise limits from 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
- Market a mid-week content series. Blog “How to Zoom From a Yurt” or film a quick reel of your lakeside laptop bar to attract digital nomads.
4. Host Micro-Festivals that Make Tuesday the Main Event
Experience-driven travel is booming; KOA’s 2025 Outdoor Hospitality Report notes guests value unique, shareable moments over simple lodging. A themed Tuesday can be the motivator that keeps families on-site. Position these happenings as package components so the extra night is baked into the reservation.
Examples
- Taco-Truck Tuesday & Stargazing 101—one wristband covers dinner, telescope rentals, and a guided constellation tour.
- Kayak-Clinic Wednesday—your outfitter earns lesson fees while you fill waterfront sites mid-week.
Promote through countdown stories on Instagram and schedule Facebook Events to remind current guests while they’re still checked in.
5. Build Local Partnerships That Shift Traffic to Mid-Week
Guests love exploring—but so do locals. When you team up with area businesses, both sides push demand into traditionally slow days. Negotiate exclusive Tuesday/Wednesday perks and distribute a co-branded digital coupon in your post-booking emails.
| Local Partner | Mid-Week Hook | Mutual Benefit |
| Craft brewery | Free tasting flight on Wednesdays | Brewery fills quiet taproom; you gain another night’s stay |
| Zip-line tour | 15% off Monday slots + free shuttle | Tour moves overflow weekends → weekdays |
| Farm-to-table bistro | “Sunset Supper” Tuesday seating | Restaurant sells prix-fixe meals; campground upsells late check-out |
Track each partner via unique promo codes so you can double down on top performers.
6. Launch a “Holiday Hangover” Offer—Right After Booking
You don’t need to wait until guests arrive to upsell; strike while the excitement is fresh. Embed a one-click Monday-night add-on inside your confirmation email:
Subject: Keep the Campfire Burning, Add Monday Night for 30% Off
Make the offer expire 24 hours before check-in to create urgency. Even a 15% attach rate can translate into thousands of additional mid-week dollars over a season.
7. Gamify Loyalty and Referrals for Weekday Stays
Gen Z and millennials drove 61% of new campers in 2024 and spend nearly twice as much per day as boomers.They’re also ultra-motivated by badges, points, and shareable perks. Double your rewards points for Sun–Wed nights and give members a digital badge for every mid-week stay completed. Layer in a “Bring-a-Friend” voucher, guests receive free firewood when a friend books a weekday trip using their code.
8. Automate Day-of-Departure Remarketing
Your departing guests are your warmest leads for a quick return. Install a gate-sensor trigger or schedule a “Thanks for visiting!” SMS three hours after check-out with a link to your weeknight deal. Upload the same guest list to Meta’s Custom Audiences and serve carousel ads featuring:
- “Remote-Work Cabins” with ergonomic desks
- “Tuesday Lobster Boil” event passes
For Google Ads, Performance Max or Advantage+ campaigns typically convert past guests at two-to-three times the return on ad spend of cold audiences, making them a slam-dunk for filling Tuesday vacancies.
9. Optimize Your Website for Weekday Conversions
Your booking engine must echo the mid-week message or guests won’t bite. Swap the homepage hero from “Book Your Weekend Escape” to “Skip the Crowds—Stay Mon–Thu & Save” the moment a holiday passes. Add a countdown ticker (“6 sites left for next Tuesday”) and feature weekday itineraries like:
- “48-Hour Digital Detox” (Sun-Tue)
- “Lake-View Workcation” (Mon–Thu)
- Internal links from blog posts (e.g., “Things to Do Near [Town] on a Tuesday”) funnel organic traffic straight to your discounted cart.
10. Repurpose Shoulder-Season Content All Year
Search demand for “weekday camping deals” spikes after every three-day weekend. Publish evergreen posts like “5 Reasons to Camp on a Tuesday” and update quarterly with fresh partner events. Google rewards recency, and you stay front-of-mind for bargain hunters.
Leverage that content as a lead magnet: embed a checklist PDF (“Mid-Week Camping Hacks”) behind an email gate. You’ll not only fill the Tuesday gap but also grow a list of value-conscious guests primed for future upsells.
Make Tuesday Your Competitive Edge
Turning a post-holiday ghost town into a vibrant mid-week community takes strategy, tech, and a dash of creativity. From dynamic pricing to remote-work perks, micro-festivals, and data-driven retargeting, you now have ten actionable tactics to keep your campground full during the week in 2025.
Ready to wire the automations, craft irresistible offers, and design killer creative? Martrek Digital has the expertise—and the s’mores—to help. Book a free strategy session today and let’s turn your Tuesdays into a year-round revenue story. 🔥
