Only you can answer that question. Depending on your space and availability to handle guests, you could offer full on “glamping” packages down to bare-bones accommodations; for example, a mowed yard with space for folks to flop down in their tents for the night.

The average primitive campsite is 12 x 30 feet for parking, and 20 x 20 feet for the camp pad. This offers enough space for a tent, vehicle, table, and fire pit or grill.

Give your guests plenty of room in between sites. Camping can be a little noisy, and tent walls are very thin. Be sure to situate camp pads well away from roads, walking trails, game runs, creeks, and any other potentially disturbing edifices. A dry area next to a creek or stream may look lovely, but a flash flood can turn things muddy in an instant.

Look for areas that offer easy walking to and from parking areas with accessibility to any amenities and facilities you are offering. Place your bathrooms (if you’re offering them) in an easy to see and reach location.

Clearly mark your entrances and exits! Rope off or mark with clear signs areas that are not open to guests.

This depends on what you can do. If you can rent toilets or even showers to offer, your guests will certainly appreciate that! If you don’t offer these amenities, be sure to communicate that clearly. The more attractive and interesting you can make your site, the more interest you will have. Consider hosting activities like hay rides, treasure hunts, obstacle courses, etc.

You may consider offering a small camp store for sundries and dry groceries. Matches, emergency ponchos, s’mores kits, eclipse glasses, etc.

Most folks who camp appreciate a campfire. Protect your property and trees from firewood pirates by offering precut bundles of firewood. Be clear about your fire policy and if guests are allowed to salvage wood from the ground for fires. If you allow people to cut wood from standing trees, have a clear liability policy stated. (Most campgrounds do not allow this).

Let your guests know where a fire is allowed and your policy for fire attendance. Most campgrounds ask for fires to only be built in established fire rings and prohibit building new rings. Be clear that an extinguished fire means it is out: no smoke, no heat, and that the ashes have been saturated with water and spread. Clear the area around fire rings from small debris and highly flammable dried grasses, twigs, and tree dander.

Again, this depends on what you can offer. Here’s what the internet says about camping and pricing at Indiana State Parks:

‍Sunday-Wednesday
‍Full Hook-up: $30
Electric: $23
Non-electric: $16
Primitive: $12
‍
‍Weekend Rate
‍Full Hook-up: $44
Electric: $33
Non-electric: $22
Primitive: $12
‍
Eclipse tourists will expect to pay slightly higher rates but will also appreciate not being price gouged. You may want to encourage your guests to stay overnight on Monday, April 8th, to help mitigate traffic concerns after the eclipse on Monday afternoon. You could offer a premium rate for Saturday and Sunday nights and a discounted rate for those that chose to stay Monday night. Most places that offer accommodations during major events have a three night stay minimum requirement to ease calendar woes and to guarantee their bookings.

Additionally, consider what your refund and cancellation policy will be. The eclipse is a weather dependent event; some eclipse tourists will book multiple accommodations within a three hour radius and travel to the one with the best weather outcomes and cancel their other reservations. This is one driving factor behind why lodging prices spike so wildly during an eclipse.

If you live within the city, RVs and campers are not allowed to park in the street. They must be in a driveway, lot or yard.

Most RVs and campers can “boondock” (also known as dry camping) for two or three days before they need to empty their sewage tanks and resupply their water.

There are currently four dump stations in Knox County. You can find them here.

If you are able to accommodate larger rigs, be sure to advertise that. Additionally, you may want to offer some of the following amenities:

Highlight anything unique or interesting about your site. Whether that is a beautiful creek or waterfall, easy access to our historical sites and features, be sure to tell the story of your location and let people know what you have to offer.

You can fill out our lodging registration form here.

‍Once you have paid the fee and been inspected, we will add you to our eclipse website. Additionally, you can share it on HipCamp (it’s like AirBnB but for camping) and Airbnb. Research other sites to see where you can share it. There are also many eclipse Facebook discussion groups that you can share to as well.

Still have questions? Give us a call at (812) 316-6262 or email at director@vincenneseclipse.com.