Forum Discussion

Steve_B_'s avatar
Steve_B_
Explorer
Mar 30, 2014

Size matters

I'm a little tired of being discriminated against because I have a little RV. If I pay the same price as someone with a big rig, or want a premium spot that campground owners seem to want to save for big rigs, why can't I reserve the spot I want? When cg owners see that I have a little one, they just want to head me over to a little spot. I choose to have a small rig but I would like to also choose a premium spot to make my vacation complete. Is there a way around this problem?

54 Replies

  • As campground hosts in both state and national parks, we are aware that this is an issue. It's tough to explain to a 40-foot motorhome owner that someone with a backpacking tent or 16-foot Casita took the last site the big rig could squeeze into. Still, in a first-come, first-served campground, there is little we can do. If someone asks us for site recommendations, we offer size-appropriate suggestions, but the decision is left to the park visitor. If the small rig chooses a big site, it's OK with us (although we may frown when we walk by).
  • Interesting issue for sure. I understand from your point that it shouldn't matter. I don't really think it does. If a spots taken then it's taken. It shouldn't really matter if it's popup or a 40' fiver. However, from my perspective when I hit the campgrounds and there are only a few spots of many that I can back my 34" trailer into and I see one taken by a popup then it does frustrate me sometimes.

    I try to plan by reserving spots that I know I can get my trailer into first. It's simply my fault if I show up and there are no spots available for me. It is still frustrating though to see 10 spots open but too small for my setup and then 2 spots that would work for me but instead being occupied by really small trailers that could have fit into any of the other spots open.

    In the end though a premium spot is that. If the roles were reversed and the best spot (say right on the creek) was open and I made a reservation for it then regardless of what size rig I had I would still be in that spot.

    Thankfully I don't have these issues most of the time because I mostly boondock except for a few times in the State Parks each year.
  • Would you feel any differently if you were in the "little one" section, and right in the middle of the trailers and tent trailers was a 13 foot high 44 foot motorhome with five slides out?
  • Use state parks where you go on Reserve America to book your site.
    Prior to booking, look at the map and pick out the site that you want. If it is available, it is yours

    Jack L

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