Kenneth C. GibbsWillem W.S. van Hees2014-05-262014-05-261981Reprinted from Journal of Leisure Research, Vol. 13, No.3, 1981http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1802We sampled and analyzed 111 U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Region 6 campgrounds representing experience levels 1 through 5 to estimate facility, operation and maintenance, and opportunity costs for the entire Region. Facility costs were most significant, representing 66 percent of the total cost per site and per recreation visitor-day (RVD). Total annual costs per campground ranged from $800 (experience level 1) to $65,000 (experience level 5) at a 10 percent interest rate. Costs averaged $1.53 per RVD and $886 per site across all experience levels. Cost functions were estimated by multiple linear regression analysis to predict the effect of size (number of sites) and use (RVD) on cost. Functions such as these should help planners better predict average costs of both existing campground facilities and new developments. Once users needs have been determined, managers should be able to use such cost estimates as a basis for more accurate resource-allocation dicisionsenCost analysiscampgroundseconomic analysiscost functionsUSFS campgroundsArticle