35 Foot Max?

We've been 43 and 45 ft and haven't had any issues going where we want to go. There have been very few (count on one hand) parks that couldn't fit us and we just stayed somewhere else in the area.

Really not a big deal. Unless the specific park you want to spend a ton of time has issues fitting you then don't worry about it.

We used public parks almost exclusively during our 16 years of full-timing and had absolutely no issues with our 40' motorhome. There are many options instead of California's state parks which are in a separate class than other states. For instance, we've used every single one of Arizona's state parks with plenty of room. There are very nice national forest campgrounds, county and city parks. We also used national parks such as Yellowstone, Glacier, Grand Teton, etc. and without reservations. We don't need hookups.

toedtoes wrote:
This comes up a lot and there are so many opinions as to whether the couple extra feet in length is a problem or not...My guess is that a campground that limits to 35ft is more likely due to the actual campground (parking pad lengths and/or campground roads) rather than the roads leading into the campground...

agree. the pad might be 35' long but the space may be quite a bit longer. our wheels might be on the pad but there is usually enough space for the rear of the motorhome to fit beyond the rear edge of the pad and for our toad in front.

I tried to get a site at Fishing Bridge in Yellowstone for this summer. I have a Bounder 35E but it is closer to 36'. I was told that if any part extended from the site I would be made to leave. I got a site in West Yellowstone (outside of the park). It is much easier to get a site if you are shorter. In the national Parks I have to make reservations many months (7) in advance to be able to get a site.

This comes up a lot and there are so many opinions as to whether the couple extra feet in length is a problem or not.

In the end, it comes down to your intended usage and comfort zone:

IF most of your stays will be at places without a length restriction OR you are OK with the possibility that, when you do arrive at a length restricted place, you might not fit and will have to go elsewhere - Then go for it.

IF most of your stays will be at places with length restrictions OR you will worry yourself to death every time you decide to try a new place with a restriction less than your actual length (stressing about "will you fit" until you find out you do fit or then stressing because you have to find another place to stay because you don't fit) - Then you're probably better off going with a smaller rig and not enduring all that stress and worry.

Calling those parks where you know you will want to stay and asking them if you would be OK with a 37ft rig will likely help sway you on way or the other. My guess is that a campground that limits to 35ft is more likely due to the actual campground (parking pad lengths and/or campground roads) rather than the roads leading into the campground. Shorter length restrictions are often due to the roads leading into the campground, especially out here in the Sierras.

There are some sites in some state parks that may cause an issue. So take the 35 ft limit with some skepticism.

I've never seen anyone in authority at a state park with a measuring tape. Unless it says "36XL" on the side somewhere, I'd just pretend it's 35'. Probably wouldn't work with a 45' Prevost tho...

Ours is a 36' , 2 slides and we haven't had a problem. It may depend on the area though. If it's an old park, there may not be room. We lean towards Corp of Engineer Parks more so than state parks.

i don't know who does the measuring in the many, maybe most of the state parks we've been in over the past 31-seasons but I can tell you that the length-limits cited in the directories and web sites is often wrong or misleading. our most recent past MH was 35'/dual slides and we never had a problem finding a space other than on holiday weekends...which we tend to avoid anyway. we now have a 39' class A MH and while we don't use public parks as much as we used to those we have used have not presented a problem for us.

that's not to say that all public parks will accommodate us or that even a majority of parks in some area or region won't accommodate but I don't think the problem will be as widespread as you might think.

if you're thinking of using a specific park or parks why not call and speak to a human and ask about lengths?