What every campground owner needs to know (before your guests accidentally become international fugitives)
If you're a campground owner, you’re probably already juggling a million things—like septic schedules, seasonal staffing, and figuring out which RV site is haunted (it’s always the one near the pine trees, let’s be honest).
But here’s a curveball from the border: starting January 2024, your friendly Canadian guests who want to stay longer than 30 days now have a few extra steps to take to keep their visits legally legit.
Now, before you panic and start Googling “Do I need to become a part-time immigration officer?” — take a deep breath. You don’t. Your job isn’t to file paperwork or verify passports. But if you want to keep providing that warm, smooth check-in experience that brings snowbirds back year after year, a little awareness goes a long way.
That’s where we come in.
At Campground Accounting, we’re not just your average number crunchers—we’re RV-loving, campground-experienced advisors who help owners like you breathe life into your business without getting buried in operations overwhelm. We’re here to give you a heads-up on the new rules, along with three super simple action steps to help your guests stay on track and your campground stay stress-free.
As of January 2024, any Canadian traveler staying in the U.S. for more than 30 days will need to:
Sounds like a lot? Don’t worry—compliance is entirely on the traveler, not on you as the campground owner. But if you care about keeping guests informed, organized, and delighted (we know you do), a heads-up goes a long way.
Don’t wait until check-in to spring this surprise. Be proactive.
Update your booking confirmation emails and reservation documents to include a friendly paragraph that lets guests know about the new 30-day rule and points them toward official U.S. immigration websites.
A simple message like, “Hey Canadian friends! There’s a new travel rule starting in 2024 if you plan to stay longer than 30 days—here’s what you need to know…” will do wonders for setting expectations and keeping things smooth.
No need to make your front desk staff immigration experts, but they should be able to confidently say:
“If you’re staying over 30 days, you’ll need to register with U.S. immigration online. Here’s the link.”
A quick internal FAQ or a cheat sheet behind the desk is a low-effort, high-impact way to keep your team—and your guests—on the same page.
Got long-term Canadian guests rolling in? Prepare a quick printable or digital info packet that includes:
You’ll save your staff from answering repeat questions, and your guests will feel like you’ve got their back. Win-win.
The good news? These regulations are designed to be straightforward for legitimate travelers. And remember: you’re not the one responsible for enforcement—just for awareness.
That said, campground owners who stay informed build trust, prevent headaches, and keep guests coming back year after year.
And if you’re the kind of owner who doesn’t just want to stay compliant, but wants to grow your campground business with clarity and confidence—well, that’s where Campground Accounting comes in.
You didn’t invest in your campground to be buried under forms, overwhelmed by new rules, or caught off guard when laws change. You did it to create something meaningful—for yourself, your guests, and maybe even the next generation.
Let Campground Accounting help you press play on your bigger ideas while we keep Uncle Sam off your back and your books in check.
Breathe life into campground ownership.
Let’s take the guesswork out of growth and the stress out of staying informed.
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Campground Accounting — because there’s more to life than business, and more to taxes than being on time.
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Donna Bordeaux, CPA with Campground Accounting
Creativity and CPAs don’t generally go together. Most people think of CPAs as nerdy accountants who can’t talk with people. Well, it’s time to break that stereotype. Lively, friendly, and knowledgeable can be a part of your relationship with your CPA, as demonstrated by Donna and Chad Bordeaux. They have over 50 years of combined experience as entrepreneurial CPAs. They’ve owned businesses and helped business owners exceed their wildest dreams. They have been able to help businesses earn many times more profit than the average business in the same industry and are passionate about helping industries that help families build great memories.