Campgrounds across Eastern Iowa are seeing a surge in long-term stays as workers arrive from out of state to help build data centers in the region.
According to KCRG, some campgrounds that once served mostly weekend campers are now becoming temporary homes for construction and utility workers tied to data center projects. The shift is creating new demand for RV sites and making it harder for some longtime campers to find a spot.
One worker, Josh Burt, told KCRG he has been staying at Pleasant Creek Campground in Palo while helping build infrastructure for the QTS project in Cedar Rapids.
For him, camping was a more affordable option than staying in a hotel.
“They range from 100 to 500 dollars a night. And these aren’t five star hotels,” Burt told KCRG.
Pleasant Creek Campground costs $26 per night, according to the report.
Watch the KCRG newscast.
Campgrounds Are Staying Full Much Longer
The demand is not limited to one campground.
KCRG reported that Stephanie Chrisman, who manages Unhitched Sleepy Hollow and Lazy Acres RV parks in Eastern Iowa, said her parks are nearly full.
“We’re practically 100 percent full,” Chrisman told the station.
She said the parks used to be only about 20% to 30% full during the winter. Now, they are nearly full year-round.
That is a major change for campgrounds that once had slower seasons. Instead of clearing out after summer or fall weekends, some parks are now getting daily calls from workers looking for a place to stay.
Chrisman told KCRG she currently has a waiting list of about 20 people.
Long-Term Workers Are Changing Campground Availability
The demand is creating a tough situation for regular campers who are used to booking sites during the summer.
“There’s a lot of campers that are used to having spots over the summer and they’re having trouble getting in,” Chrisman told KCRG.
Some workers are only staying for a few weeks. Others may stay much longer.
The Amana RV Park & Event Center also told KCRG it has seen the most long-term camping it has ever experienced this year because of data center construction.
The park said it receives multiple calls each day from people looking for a place to stay, with callers saying hotels and other campgrounds are full.
Why Workers Are Turning To Campgrounds
For workers traveling into the area, RV parks can offer a lower-cost alternative to hotels, especially for extended jobs.
Burt told KCRG he works 10- to 12-hour shifts. After work, the campground gives him a quieter place to stay away from the congestion around job sites.
“It’s a quiet campground, I enjoy it,” he told the station.
For some RVers, though, the trend may mean more competition for campsites in areas seeing major construction projects. Data center development can bring large numbers of temporary workers into a region, and campgrounds may become one of the few affordable lodging options available.
What This Means For Campers
Campers traveling through Eastern Iowa may need to plan farther ahead than usual, especially near Cedar Rapids, Palo, Amana, Fairfax, and other areas tied to major data center construction.
Popular campgrounds may have fewer short-term openings if many sites are being used for long-term stays.
The situation also shows how RV parks are increasingly serving more than vacationers. In some areas, they are becoming part of the temporary housing market for workers tied to major infrastructure and construction projects.
For campers, that could mean calling ahead, booking earlier, and having backup options when traveling through areas with large construction projects underway.
Source: KCRG
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