Campgrounds in Montana are facing a sharp increase in the cost of advertising on blue highway exit signs, a change that could hit smaller parks especially hard. Woodall’s Campground Magazine, citing a report from KTVQ in Billings, said some campground owners saw annual costs jump from about $2,400 to about $4,800.
These are the blue roadside signs that help drivers spot services like campgrounds and RV parks at upcoming exits. Montana Logos, which manages the state’s logo and tourist-oriented directional sign program for the Montana Department of Transportation, says it has handled the program since 2012.
According to KTVQ’s report, Montana transportation officials said the price increase followed a contract renegotiation and reflected costs that had not been raised in years. But for some small and rural campground owners, the jump was steep enough to force a hard look at whether staying on the signs still makes financial sense.
For RVers, the change may not be obvious right away. But over time, fewer campground listings on highway signs could make it a little harder to spot smaller parks while traveling, especially in rural areas where those signs still serve as a useful wayfinding tool, especially for those who still appreciate spontaneously discovering places on the road instead of booking everything in advance.
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