If Hipcamp created a listing for your campground and you’re not managing the listing directly, there are two types of deposits to consider:
✅ 1. Booking Deposits (e.g. partial payment up front)
No need to worry—if your system requires campers to pay a portion of the total cost at the time of booking and the rest upon arrival, Hipcamp will handle this for you.
We’ll use our secure payment method to pay for the full booking when we make the reservation, including any split deposit requirements. You’ll receive payment as usual through your existing system.
💳 2. Security Deposits (e.g. refundable damage deposits paid on arrival)
If you normally charge an additional security or damage deposit at check-in, you’ll need to collect this from the camper directly—just like you would with any walk-in or online guest.
This is similar to how you might charge for:
- Firewood or ice
- Camp store purchases
- Gear rentals
- Extra vehicle passes
Since this payment happens during the stay (and outside of the booking itself), Hipcamp does not collect or process security deposits on your behalf.
We recommend:
- Letting campers know at check-in that a security deposit will be taken
- Clearly communicating any refund conditions, either in person or with signage
🔧 Want more tools to manage camper payments?
If you'd like to set your own payment policies, sync with your reservation software, and manage bookings directly, verify your listing to unlock the full Host dashboard.