Is Rivers & Rockies replacing the state campground associations?

No. The Colorado Campground & Lodging Owners Association and the South Dakota Campground Owners Association each chose to operate under the coalition to preserve their programs. Both continue with their own boards, determine their own state legislative positions, and keep their consumer marketing, while Rivers & Rockies provides administrative support and negotiates benefits for the larger combined membership.

Why does the membership year run October through September?

The association says that cycle fits the work cycle of outdoor lodging businesses and of the association itself, which handles legislative sessions, education, and networking during the camping off season. Professional services members run on a July to June year instead.

What happened to the member portal?

The board decided not to renew the contract and closed the member site in June 2026 after too few members had adopted it. As of June 2026 other tools were being implemented in its place.

Associations

Rivers & Rockies Outdoor Lodging Coalition

Rivers & Rockies Outdoor Lodging Coalition is a member association for the people who own, operate, or supply outdoor lodging businesses: campgrounds, RV parks, RV resorts, glamping sites, cabins, and on-site rental RVs. Membership is open to operations of any size, to professional services businesses that sell into the industry, and to prospective owners who do not yet own a park.

Members get advocacy that starts at the community level and runs to the national level, education on management, operations, and industry trends, networking with other operators and with suppliers, a sample document library and industry data, and cost-savings programs covering movie and music licenses, insurance, propane, fuel, background checks, credit card processing, payment collections, waste and recycling, shipping, office and housekeeping supplies, and more.

The coalition was built in 2024 on top of two state associations, each with a history the site describes as 55 years. The boards of the Colorado Campground & Lodging Owners Association and the South Dakota Campground Owners Association chose to operate under it; both continue, keep their own boards, set their own state legislative positions, and keep their CampColorado and CampInSouthDakota consumer marketing, while Rivers & Rockies provides administrative support and opens membership to surrounding states. It describes itself as partnered or connected with the American Glamping Association, CampLife, C.A.M.P., RVLife, Leave No Trace, the Glamping Show America, and the RV Industry Association.

Dues are not published. The membership year runs October through September for lodging businesses and prospective proprietors, and July through June for professional services members. The member portal was closed in June 2026 and other tools are being put in place, and the association asks to be reached by phone, voicemail, or text on 605-999-4947 while its web form is being fixed.

Best for

Campground, RV park, and glamping owners in Colorado, South Dakota, and neighboring states who want legislative advocacy and group buying programs. Out-of-territory operators may join but should ask what applies.

What they do

State and national legislative advocacy
Group cost-savings and vendor programs
Operator education and best-practice training
Peer networking for owners and suppliers
Sample document library and industry data
Administrative support for state associations
Consumer camping marketing through member state associations

Details

Attribute	Value
Founded	2024
Ownership	Nonprofit

What stands out

Formed in 2024 on the foundation of two state campground associations the site describes as 55 years old.
The Colorado and South Dakota campground associations operate under it while keeping their own boards and consumer marketing.
Connected to the American Glamping Association, C.A.M.P., the RV Industry Association, and Leave No Trace.
Membership year runs October through September for lodging businesses and July through June for supplier members.

Common questions

Is Rivers & Rockies replacing the state campground associations?: No. The Colorado Campground & Lodging Owners Association and the South Dakota Campground Owners Association each chose to operate under the coalition to preserve their programs. Both continue with their own boards, determine their own state legislative positions, and keep their consumer marketing, while Rivers & Rockies provides administrative support and negotiates benefits for the larger combined membership.
Why does the membership year run October through September?: The association says that cycle fits the work cycle of outdoor lodging businesses and of the association itself, which handles legislative sessions, education, and networking during the camping off season. Professional services members run on a July to June year instead.
What happened to the member portal?: The board decided not to renew the contract and closed the member site in June 2026 after too few members had adopted it. As of June 2026 other tools were being implemented in its place.