problems going to national park grounds?

[happycamperbrat]

I have read that skoolies have problems getting into many park grounds because of the 1960s connotations... But I read something today that says bus conversions OFTEN have problems with camp grounds because of the size. Is this a regional problem? Have you encountered this? Where at?

[bevans6]

I've been in Provincial and State parks and had no problems at all, but my bus is 35'.  One park I stayed at twice had maybe 10% of spots that I could get into and be comfortable in, the rest I would have kind of hung out of.  State parks often have a 35' limit, and no idea how often they really enforce it.  So at 40' you would be right to call ahead and ask the question, or just have a tape measure made up that you stretched....   While I could see questions being asked of a "chicken bus" schoolie, my bus has never been questioned anywhere.

Brian

[cody]

I can't speak for schoolies but I've never had a problem with my 40ft iggle, I normally ask if I can take a ride with the jeep and look at the site they want me to take, mainly checking for overhead branches that might be low but I can usually get into most places.  I've never been turned away from any parks.

[Sean]

Our bus is 39'5" (so we say "39 feet" when asked).

In six years of full-timing we have only had a length problem in perhaps three or four places.

As far as National Parks go, there are only two places we have ever been turned away.  One was the south rim of the Grand Canyon.  They have a firm 30' limit, no exceptions.  There are plenty of spaces that would fit a 40' rig, and, of course, you'll see 30' travel trailers being towed by 20' trucks, for a combined length of 50' or more all over the place.  I have heard rumors that they even take steps to keep longer rigs from coming in after hours and registering with the iron ranger.

There is a concessionaire-operated campground nearby called Trailer Village that can accommodate longer rigs, but it's not at all rustic, is very small, and is often booked solid.

The other place was Acadia National Park in Maine.  They also have height issues.

When we showed up at Organ Pipe Cactus they did not believe we were under 40' and insisted on measuring.  We were, and they let us in.

Grand Canyon north rim has a 35' limit, but the rangers there are more permissive than at the south rim, and they let us hunt for a space where we'd fit.

About the only other place we've had trouble is in California State Parks, where length limits are often 35' or less.  Many of their parks have no spaces that will fit a 40' rig; sometimes we'll find a single space or two that will fit us.

All public campgrounds deliberately understate the length of their spaces.  I think the two main reasons are that they are allowing extra space for tow or towed vehicles, and they are allowing for RVers being terrible at negotiating their rigs through tight quarters.

If you go to our blog you can use the Topic pull-down in the right-hand sidebar to find all the places we've parked by type, such as National Parks, National Forests, State Parks, Municipal Parks, and County Parks.  I think you'll find there are very few parks where you can't park a 40' bus.

FWIW and YMMV.

-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com

[happycamperbrat]

hmmm, most of my parking would actually be in California......... I guess that is more reason to load up on the boondocking equipment....

[Chopper Scott]

I had a problem at a local state park. They never said anything about length but I had a hell of a time getting it into the spot. 50 amp service, all was fine. After being there 2 nights the so called camp ranger tells me I have to pull ahead because I'm not entirely on the gravel with the bus. I also have my pickup and boat. I had backed in far enough to allow me room to park the boat and truck and leave the road open. He said I would have to park my boat and pickup on the road. What an idiot. I did as instructed and basically blocked the road. The next Mr Ranger that came by  told me I was blocking the road and would have to find a way to get everything in my spot. I already had!!! Regardless I drove around and saw most every 5th wheel camper backed in farther than the gravel so I put her back where it originally was. I'll never go back.

[Ed Hackenbruch]

We stopped in the free campground at Canyon De Chelly in early April. We are 35' and tow a Jeep. We were told after we pulled in that they are going to start enforcing a 35' combined length soon. Many of the spots  the bus would not have fit into, and as it was i had to get tight to one side so i could get the jeep in beside the bus, there was no other place to put it. 

[happycamperbrat]

Sean, at the risk of highjacking my own thread........ I have read thru the Odyssey site a lot and often refer to it. Thank you for being so informative with such easy to follow drawings/plans/info. I havent read thru your trips until tonight though. I just want to let you know that I am hoping the best for George

[Sean]

Sean, at the risk of highjacking my own thread........ I have read thru the Odyssey site a lot and often refer to it. Thank you for being so informative with such easy to follow drawings/plans/info. I havent read thru your trips until tonight though. I just want to let you know that I am hoping the best for George

Thank you very much.

hmmm, most of my parking would actually be in California......... I guess that is more reason to load up on the boondocking equipment....

California state parks are "boondocking" anyway -- most of them have no hookups.  That said, you will find that legal places to overnight in California are limited, and sometimes a state park is your best option.  For example, you can not overnight anywhere along the coast highway except in a park, and most of these are state parks.  There are some notable exceptions such as the Rincon Parkway, which is county operated (and one of our favorite stops on the coast).

We've posted map links to all our "secret" boondocking spots around the country, including California, on the blog.  Unfortunately, there is no good way to index them by state, nor do we want to possibly spoil them by making a directory.  Generally we tag these as "dry camping" and I will often use the keyword "stealth" in the post itself.  For example, on-street parking on San Diego's Shelter Island was one of our favorite California locations.

-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com