Camping World
American retailer specializing in recreational vehicles, RV parts, service, camping supplies, and outdoor merchandise.
Last updated August 21, 2026
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Overview
Camping World is an American recreational-vehicle and outdoor-retail company operating dealerships, parts stores, service centers, digital commerce channels, and related consumer brands. Its core business is the sale of new and used recreational vehicles, supported by financing, maintenance, repair, replacement parts, accessories, and camping supplies. The company serves RV owners at multiple stages of ownership, from first-time buyers and families seeking towable or motorized vehicles to established users needing storage, maintenance, upgrades, or replacement equipment. The business began in 1966 when David Garvin opened a small camping-supply store at Beech Bend Park near Bowling Green, Kentucky. The park promoted itself as having a very large campground, and visitors wanted a convenient source for camping goods. Garvin financed the original store with a loan and gradually built a substantial customer mailing list. That customer database later supported the development of a mail-order operation, which became an important growth engine and helped the company reach customers beyond its original location. In 1997, Garvin sold Camping World to the Affinity Group, now associated with Good Sam Enterprises. The company subsequently expanded from a camping-supply retailer into a broader RV ecosystem. Its activities came to include dealership operations, parts and accessories, service, online and telephone ordering, and relationships with RV clubs and media properties. The Camping World RV Sales network grew substantially after the company entered dealership retail in the 2000s, eventually reaching more than 200 locations across dozens of U.S. states according to the cited reference material. The business also operates RVs.com and has claimed to be the world's largest supplier of RV parts and supplies. Camping World became a public company in October 2016 through an initial public offering that raised $251 million. The company was associated with Marcus Lemonis and private-equity firm Crestview Partners, with Lemonis retaining substantial control through affiliated holding entities at the time of the offering. Public-company operations have combined organic dealership expansion with acquisitions and brand extensions. In 2017, Camping World expanded into hunting, fishing, and outdoor merchandise through the acquisition of Gander Mountain and related brands including Gander Outdoors and Overton's. It also acquired The House, an outdoor-goods retailer. The brand has used sports sponsorship as a national-awareness and customer-acquisition strategy. Its partnerships have included naming rights for Camping World Stadium in Orlando and sponsorship of the associated college-football kickoff event. It has also sponsored Major League Baseball's League Championship Series, NASCAR's truck series, the National Hot Rod Association's professional drag-racing series, and the Professional Bull Riders Team Series. These relationships have been particularly concentrated in motorsports and other audiences with strong recreational, travel, vehicle, and outdoor affinities. Camping World's principal market remains the United States. Its current business identity is that of a specialized, nationally scaled RV retailer rather than a general department store: dealerships and service locations are paired with e-commerce, parts distribution, outdoor merchandise, media, sponsorship, and customer-community activities. The company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker CWH. The cited reference material states that Matthew Wagner was announced as the successor to Marcus Lemonis as chief executive effective January 1, 2026, with Lemonis expected to become a special adviser after retiring from the CEO role; that future transition should be verified against a current corporate filing or company announcement.
History
Camping World traces its origin to 1966, when David Garvin opened a small camping-supply shop at Beech Bend Park outside Bowling Green, Kentucky. The campground attracted visitors who needed tents, supplies, and other outdoor goods, creating a natural retail opportunity. Garvin borrowed money to establish the store and developed a customer mailing list over time. The list became strategically important when Camping World added mail-order sales, allowing the company to serve campers beyond the original park location. The company was sold by Garvin to the Affinity Group in 1997. Affinity Group was later known as Good Sam Enterprises, linking Camping World's retail activities with a wider portfolio of RV-related membership, publishing, and community businesses. During the following period, Camping World broadened its role from a camping-supplies merchant into an RV-focused platform combining vehicle sales, parts, service, accessories, and remote ordering. A major operational step occurred in the 2000s, when Camping World developed a dedicated RV dealership business. The company opened a Camping World RV Sales location in Indiana in 2007, at a site formerly associated with Stout's RV. It subsequently expanded the dealership network to more than 200 locations across 44 U.S. states according to the referenced material. The company also maintained a parts and accessories business and operated online channels, including RVs.com. An earlier Freedom Roads brand distributed RVs through a network of independent dealers. In 2005, Garvin proposed a large mixed-use development near Franklin, Kentucky, called Garvin's. The planned project was described as combining elements of an amusement destination, Camping World, and Bass Pro Shops. It was to include a large Camping World store, extensive RV service capacity, an exhibition and trade-show facility, campground space, and a camping museum. The project did not proceed, in part because of the recession, and much of the proposed land was sold at auction in 2011. Camping World became publicly traded in October 2016. Its IPO raised $251 million through the sale of 11.4 million shares at $22 per share. Marcus Lemonis was associated with the company as a co-owner alongside Crestview Partners and was expected to retain substantial control through affiliated entities. Public ownership supported the company's continued expansion and provided a formal capital-markets profile for a business that had grown from a single campground store into a national dealership and specialty-retail network. The company expanded beyond traditional RV merchandise in 2017. It acquired Gander Mountain, gaining the Gander Outdoors and Overton's brands and entering more deeply into hunting, fishing, and general outdoor products. Camping World also acquired The House, another outdoor retailer. These transactions broadened the company's merchandise exposure, although RV sales, parts, and service remained the central business identity. Marketing and sponsorship became another important part of the company's national strategy. Camping World obtained naming rights to Camping World Stadium in Orlando in 2016 and sponsored the stadium's college-football kickoff event. The venue's bowl game used the Camping World Bowl name from 2017 through 2019. The company became the inaugural title sponsor of Major League Baseball's League Championship Series in 2017, with that relationship continuing through 2022. In motorsports, Camping World sponsored drivers and teams before taking title sponsorship of NASCAR's truck series in 2009. The series was temporarily rebranded around Gander Outdoors and Gander RV & Outdoors before returning to the Camping World Truck Series name in 2021. Camping World's racing portfolio expanded to the NHRA professional drag-racing series in 2020 and to the Superstar Racing Experience in 2021. In the same period, the company used a promotional funding challenge to support NASCAR teams that lacked sponsors. A proposed partnership with Lordstown Motors, announced in 2020, would have made Camping World a service provider and potentially a sales channel for the Lordstown Endurance electric pickup, but the parties ended the arrangement in 2021. The referenced material reports a planned leadership transition in which President Matthew Wagner would succeed Marcus Lemonis as CEO on January 1, 2026, with Lemonis becoming a special adviser. Because that date is future-dated in the supplied reference, the completed transition and current executive status require confirmation from a current company filing or official announcement.
- 2025
Announced CEO succession
[1]The supplied reference reports that Matthew Wagner would succeed Marcus Lemonis as CEO on January 1, 2026.
- 2021
Camping World Truck Series name returns
[1]After two seasons using Gander-related branding, NASCAR's truck series returned to the Camping World Truck Series name.
- 2020
NHRA title sponsorship begins
[1]Camping World became title sponsor of the NHRA professional drag-racing series.
- 2017
Gander Mountain acquisition
[1]The company acquired Gander Mountain and expanded its outdoor merchandise portfolio through Gander Outdoors and Overton's.
- 2016
Initial public offering
[1]Camping World raised $251 million in an IPO and began trading publicly under the ticker CWH.
- 2007
Dedicated RV dealership expansion begins
[1]Camping World opened an RV Sales dealership in Indiana, helping establish the later national dealership network.
- 1997
Sale to Affinity Group
[1]Founder David Garvin sold Camping World to the Affinity Group, later associated with Good Sam Enterprises.
- 1966
Camping World opens at Beech Bend Park
[1]David Garvin opened the original camping-supply store at Beech Bend Park near Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Products and positioning
A large U.S. specialty retailer and service network for recreational vehicles, camping, and outdoor recreation.
Recreational vehicles
New RVs
Camping World sells new motorized and towable recreational vehicles through its dealership network. The offering is supported by financing-related assistance, accessories, service, and other ownership services, positioning the company as a purchase-to-ownership retail platform rather than solely a vehicle showroom.
Recreational vehicles
Used RVs
Used recreational vehicles are a major part of the company's dealership proposition. The inventory gives customers an alternative to new vehicles and connects vehicle sales with inspection, maintenance, repair, parts, and upgrade needs.
RV supplies
RV parts and accessories
Camping World offers replacement parts, maintenance components, interior and exterior accessories, towing equipment, and other supplies for recreational vehicles. The company sells through physical stores, dealerships, telephone ordering, and online channels.
Automotive and recreational-vehicle services
RV service
Its service business supports inspections, repairs, maintenance, and ownership-related work for recreational vehicles. The service network helps generate recurring customer contact after the initial vehicle sale and complements parts and accessory sales.
Outdoor retail
Camping and outdoor merchandise
The broader merchandise assortment includes camping supplies and outdoor recreation goods. Through the Gander and Overton's businesses, the company also expanded into hunting, fishing, and related outdoor categories.
Marketing campaigns
- 2023Professional Bull Riders Team Series sponsorship
United States
Camping World became presenting sponsor of the Professional Bull Riders' Team Series.
Outcome. The supplied reference states that the sponsorship lasted through 2025.
- 2021Unsponsored NASCAR team challenge
United States
Camping World offered payments to unsponsored teams that adopted the company's vehicle branding, with additional incentives tied to top-ten, top-five, and winning finishes.
Outcome. Multiple drivers and owners accepted the offer, and related support later involved other affiliated brands.
- 2021Camping World SRX Series sponsorship
United States
Camping World became title sponsor of the Superstar Racing Experience, branding the competition as the Camping World SRX Series.
Outcome. The partnership was connected with support for the Plating Change charity.
- 2017Major League Baseball League Championship Series sponsorship
United States
Camping World became the inaugural title sponsor of Major League Baseball's League Championship Series.
Outcome. The sponsorship continued through 2022.
- 2016Camping World Stadium naming-rights program
United States
Camping World acquired naming rights to Orlando's stadium, extending the brand into college football and large-scale sports visibility.
Outcome. The venue operated under the Camping World Stadium name, and the company also sponsored the associated kickoff event.
- 2009NASCAR Truck Series sponsorship
United States
Camping World became title sponsor of NASCAR's truck series, aligning the retailer with vehicle enthusiasts and motorsports audiences.
Outcome. The series carried Camping World branding through 2022, with an intervening Gander-related naming period.
Brand decisions
2021
Support program for unsponsored racing teamsStrategyBackground
A NASCAR champion's truck was reported to have little sponsorship during the opening races of the season, prompting a promotional response from Marcus Lemonis.
Action taken
Camping World offered graduated payments for teams displaying its branding, with bonuses linked to finishing position.
Aftermath
Several teams participated, and the campaign was extended in later races with involvement from related brands.
Promotional payment schedule. (2021)
2020
Proposed Lordstown Motors service and sales partnershipStrategyBackground
Camping World explored a role in supporting and potentially distributing an electric pickup truck through its service-center network.
Action taken
The companies announced that Camping World would provide service and maintenance for the Lordstown Endurance and might market or sell it at selected centers.
Aftermath
The proposed arrangement was terminated by the companies in 2021.
2017
Acquire Gander Mountain and The HouseM&ABackground
Camping World sought to broaden its business beyond RV dealerships and supplies into hunting, fishing, and wider outdoor retail.
Action taken
The company acquired Gander Mountain, including the Gander Outdoors and Overton's brands, and also acquired The House.
Aftermath
The transactions expanded the company's outdoor-merchandise portfolio and brand footprint.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Reported
Camping World acquires an RV dealership in Vermont[3]
Camping World Holdings acquired an RV dealership in St. Albans City, Vermont, for an undisclosed sum.
Camping World announces agreement to acquire Hilltop RV[4]
Camping World announced that an agreement had been signed to acquire Hilltop RV Superstore, with dealerships in Ishpeming and Escanaba; the acquisition was anticipated to close in May.
Reported
Camping World announces acquisition of Flagg RV locations[5]
Camping World Holdings announced its acquisition of Flagg RV locations in Uxbridge and West Boylston, Massachusetts, along with land in Griswold, Connecticut. The acquisition was expected to close in April.
Reported
Lordstown Motors and Camping World announce partnership[6]
Lordstown Motors and Camping World announced a partnership that includes Camping World servicing Lordstown's Endurance pickup. The companies also said they were working together on electrifying recreational vehicles.
Sources6 sources
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