Campground Vending Machines: Ice, Firewood and Drinks for RV Parks

Campground vending machines earn money for a short, busy season, and they earn it when the camp store is closed. Guests arrive tired on Friday night, realize they forgot ice or a lighter, and the nearest store is twenty miles away. The verdict: a campground with a few dozen sites and a decent season is a good fit, and the one condition that decides it is how many months the gates are actually open.

Part of our complete guide: how to find vending machine locations.

Is a campground a good vending location?

For the right park, yes. People who camp or park an RV spend several days in one place, and they consume the same things every day: ice, cold drinks, snacks, firewood and small supplies. They are also captive. If they forgot something, the choice is a long drive or your machine.

The risk is the season. A park in the north may be open from May through September. Revenue stacks up on holiday weekends and near zero in the shoulder months. A park in a warm state can run all year. Ask the owner for last year's open dates and busiest weekends, and compare that with what the machine costs.

Also remember that you are placing a machine a long way from your route. Visit once a week in season, not twice a day, and plan your restocking around the holiday weekends.

Campgrounds in VendBuddy's own data

Campgrounds are an almost untouched search. Since April 2026, 3 campground searches were run in Lead Finder by 2 operators across 2 ZIP codes (VendBuddy Lead Finder data, as of 2026-10-04), out of 2,014 searches overall.

The cache shows how the two types differ. VendBuddy has scored 6 campgrounds, with a median of 385 Google reviews and an average rating of 3.97, and 21 RV parks, with a median of 80 reviews and an average of 3.34. Campgrounds draw more reviews because they draw more families and weekend trips. RV parks draw long stays and fewer reviews, and they often have lower ratings.

Lead Finder starts this family at its default base score of 55, and looks for an owner, general manager or manager. At a small campground, the owner and the camp host are often on site and you can talk to them directly.

How a campground runs and what competes

Check-in is the busiest hour, usually Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. Guests stay two to seven nights. Weekend sales follow check-in, and holiday weekends spike. Mornings sell coffee and ice. Evenings sell firewood and cold drinks.

Many campgrounds have a camp store or a front office that sells bagged ice, firewood, drinks, snacks and propane. The store closes at 5 or 8 p.m. A machine outside, near the entrance or by the bathhouse, sells after hours. That is your pitch: you do not compete with the store, you cover the gap.

State parks and national forests work differently. Those concessions go through a procurement or permit process, which is covered in our post on park vending machines. Private campgrounds and RV parks are much easier.

Weather is a design problem. A machine outside has to handle rain, sun and cold, and it has to run on shore power or a dedicated circuit. Ask the owner where a 120-volt line already runs. Read can you put a vending machine anywhere for permission basics.

Think about the order of your visits. Fill the machine on Thursday so it is full when Friday check-in starts, and stop again on Monday to clear what the holiday weekend left behind. Ask the host to text you if ice runs out on a big weekend. A host who has your number and likes the numbers will mention you to other park owners, and in a small camping region that word of mouth is how a second and third campground come along.

What to stock in a campground machine

Ice and firewood come first. Beyond that, think about what a family forgets:

• Bagged ice. Every cooler runs out by day two. See ice vending machine locations for site needs.
• Bundled firewood. A locked cage or a vending kiosk, depending on local rules. Many states restrict moving firewood to stop pests, so buy it locally.
• Cold drinks and water. Cans and bottles in an outdoor-rated cooler.
• S'more kits and marshmallows. A seasonal hit with kids, if the machine can hold them.
• Lighters, matches and fire starters. Small, cheap and easy to forget.
• Bug spray and sunscreen. A small row near the bathhouse.
• Chips and jerky. A basic snack row for late arrivals.

Pick one or two products to start. A combination of ice and a drink machine keeps the lot from looking like a store.

Who signs at a campground, and what to say

The owner decides at a private park. At a larger park, ask for the manager. Go in on a weekday morning, before check-in. Here is a two-sentence opener in your own voice:

"I place machines for ice, drinks and camp basics, and I'd like to put one by your bathhouse for guests who arrive after the store closes. I stock it, repair it and pay you a share of what it sells."

The objection: "My store sells that." The answer is hours. The store closes, the machine does not, and the owner earns rent on sales he or she was never going to make. If the owner worries about looks, offer a color wrap or a simple wood enclosure.

Commission across the industry runs from 5% to 20% of gross sales, with 8% to 12% typical for small accounts (see vending machine commission rates). A seasonal flat fee is also common. On the walk-in, check for a power outlet, a spot visible from the entrance, a pad away from standing water and the distance from your route. Then run the numbers in the vending ROI calculator using only the open months.

How to find campgrounds and RV parks near you

Find campgrounds and RV parks near you in Lead Finder lists parks near your ZIP with the best contact on file and a score.

Two free alternatives. Search Google Maps for "campground near [your city]" and "RV park near [your city]", then read the reviews for mentions of the store and the bathhouse. Or do a drive-by test on a Saturday afternoon in season. Count the rigs and the tents, and check whether the camp store is open.

Lead Finder adds the best contact on file, a score and a radius search, so you can plan one trip that covers several parks. See how to find vending locations for the wider method.

A single campground with a good Friday can prove the idea. Find campgrounds and RV parks near you in Lead Finder and call before the season starts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are campgrounds good vending machine locations?

Yes for parks with a decent season and enough sites. Guests stay for days and often forget ice, drinks or firewood. The deciding factor is how many months the park is open, so ask for last year's open dates and busiest weekends before you sign.

What sells best in a campground vending machine?

Bagged ice, bundled firewood and cold drinks sell best, followed by snacks, lighters, fire starters, s'more kits and bug spray. Stock small, cheap items people forgot to pack. Check state firewood rules before you buy.

How much commission does a campground expect?

Most vending locations take 5% to 20% of gross sales, and small accounts usually sign for 8% to 12%. Campground owners also like a flat seasonal fee. Agree the terms in writing, including open dates and who pays for power.

Can I put a vending machine in a state park campground?

Usually not directly. State and national parks use concession or permit processes with set requirements. Private campgrounds and RV parks are easier because the owner decides. Start there, and read the park vending machines guide for the public side.

General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules change, so check the official source. Revenue and income figures are examples, not promises. See our terms.