We have been looking at class A's...our first RV of any sort, and are totally confused!! We love the livability of over 35', but I have heard that the shorter lengths are better. We are really torn!We plan to be on the road for 6+ months at a time, so we will be practically living in it. The wife cooks a lot, mostly from scratch, so having a decent size kitchen with some counter space is important.We would like to camp inside the national parks. But, if we can't, can we boondock inside the parks somewhat near the park campsite areas? I have no idea how all this works, as we have never camped in national parks.Thanks in advance for your help!

I think that is one of the big myths. Perhaps in earlier years, but not in 2018. We've had no problems with most of the State and Federal campgrounds. An exception are some of the ones along the California coastline but we've not found one elsewhere that we couldn't fit into. One of the things we have found is that many State and Federal WEBSITES are way off as far as size is concerned. For instance, many California State Parks list 31' max size. This, despite the fact that they have 90' sites and wide wide roads. i.e. San Clemente SP lists 31' max RV/Trailer length. Their SMALLEST site is 45'! I can think of several others we've visited with similar results.....Dennis

large RV are at a disadvantage in places like Sequoia, kings canyon, Yosemiteespecially during peak seasonbut most parks have room for RV's in the 32-35ft rangeOur previous MH a DP was 34ft, and we went to Sequoia in Sept after labor dayand had just enough room to back into the sitesBUT we had 'NO TOAD', which requires extra parking spacewe used the park shuttles and our motorcycle

huntdooly wrote:We love the livability of over 35', but I have heard that the shorter lengths are better."Length" = "Better" is purely a function of intended purpose.I have a small Class C that is just under 22 feet bumper to bumper. Due to it's small wheelbase and length as well as it's smaller height and high clearance, there is seldom anywhere I can't go with it. Dips and humps mean little. Switchbacks are a breeze. I have U-turned while other had to back out for a distance. I can use little forest roads or fire roads that twist and turn, have crest and washes without too much difficulty. This enables me to get right up to locations where other only see from their tourist overlooks. I have gone places in National Parks where only truck campers dare venture. I took my RV to a small outcropping "ledge" on AZ State Trust Lands looking down in the distance to all the larger RVs parked in the dirt below. For me this is why I have this RV, to get away and get far away from everyone if I like.Does this mean smaller is better? Absolutely not. I have as many limits in other ways. Space is highly limited. Small also limits the amenities you can have. As for a group inside, it would feel like an elevator. This small RV is far from normal living and you know its compact. And sadly, there are times when your know you're being judged on the size of your RV. So you need to forget size for now and focus on what you want to do, where you want to do, how you want to live in the RV and what must you have to enjoy the experience. Once you have all that figured out, the size will become just a function of your needs. I know may that went from small to bigger and in time, they just adjusted to their new limits.

I've seen oregon parks that I had problems getting into a space with my 25 ft TT. with the oregon parks it's the darned shrubs they have across from the space. I tore on shrub out and broke the bug guard from the truck. Joe the ranger told me that was OK since they were thinking of taking out the shrubs any way

Base your decision on where you think you will spend MOST OF YOUR TIME. If you want to travel all over the country and OCCASIONALLY stay in a National Park, then get the coach that will provide you with the space and comfort you need most frequently.

Best class A lengths for national parks? | Good Sam Community

tropical36
Explorer
Oct 30, 2018
huntdooly wrote:
2gypsies wrote:
Get the size you'd be comfortable living in. You'll find spots to stay.

We full-timed 8 years in a 33' 5th wheel and 8 years in a 40' motorhome. We fit in the same public parks with each.... national parks, state parks, national forest campgrounds, Corp of Engineers, county and city parks.

We've stayed in Glacier at Apgar campground; Yellowstone at Mammoth, Madison and Bridge Bay; Grand Teton at Colter Bay and Gros Ventre; Zion at Watchman; Bryce at North campground; Grand Canyon at Trailer Village in the park; Grand Canyon North Rim in the campground... and the list goes on. We've stayed all along the Oregon coast in the state parks.

No... you won't fit in every park but neither will a 25' or 30'. However, you WILL find a spot nearby. I really believe that those saying you won't fit have never tried. Many like their full hookups. We're just the opposite. We love dry camping or boondocking on public lands.

Yesss! That is what we would like to do!! Dry camping or boondocking.

Do some testing in a Walmart, for a few days.
Least ways, you'll have a big camp store available, for what you might need.
huntdooly
Explorer
Oct 24, 2018
2gypsies wrote:
Get the size you'd be comfortable living in. You'll find spots to stay.

We full-timed 8 years in a 33' 5th wheel and 8 years in a 40' motorhome. We fit in the same public parks with each.... national parks, state parks, national forest campgrounds, Corp of Engineers, county and city parks.

We've stayed in Glacier at Apgar campground; Yellowstone at Mammoth, Madison and Bridge Bay; Grand Teton at Colter Bay and Gros Ventre; Zion at Watchman; Bryce at North campground; Grand Canyon at Trailer Village in the park; Grand Canyon North Rim in the campground... and the list goes on. We've stayed all along the Oregon coast in the state parks.

No... you won't fit in every park but neither will a 25' or 30'. However, you WILL find a spot nearby. I really believe that those saying you won't fit have never tried. Many like their full hookups. We're just the opposite. We love dry camping or boondocking on public lands.

Yesss! That is what we would like to do!! Dry camping or boondocking.
huntdooly
Explorer
Oct 24, 2018
Ivylog wrote:
Huntdooly, what is your budget???

For what? The rig or travel?
huntdooly
Explorer
Oct 24, 2018
TechWriter wrote:
toedtoes wrote:
Since you are going to be living in it for extended periods of time, I would recommend you rent a couple first.

Best advice yet, especially when OP wants a good sized kitchen so his DW can cook from scratch. We full time in a 40-footer and that would be a stretch in our RV.

Anyway, I surveyed all the state and federal parks about 4 years ago and found that on average about half of state and federal campsites are at least 40 feet in length.

- Federal Park Data

- State Park Data

We camped in WI state parks in our first RV (a 34-footer) and then our 40-foot DP for several years. At times it was a challenge for both RVs depending on the campsite. For example, while you may fit into the site, the road getting to it may be atrocious.

Wow!! Thank you so much for those documents!! So very helpful!!! I printed them out.

Finally, prime campgrounds fill up fast so plan ahead.
huntdooly
Explorer
Oct 24, 2018
rr2254545 wrote:
We too love National Parks but found out early on that not many had full hookups which we favor
There are 48 National Parks in the lower 48
8 Have full hookup sites in at least one campground
32 have no campground or no hookups at all
8 have some electric sites with few that also have water

You need to consider what your style of camping will be and pick a MH that fits

Wow!!! Good to know!! We want to do mostly dry camping....boondocking, so that will be no problem.
huntdooly
Explorer
Oct 24, 2018
Gjac wrote:
Judging from your post you want to visit public CG's or dry camping spots rather than private RV parks with full hookups is that correct? If so I would look for something between 32-34 ft that has a fresh water capacity of at least 60 gals preferably 80 gals. Shorter ones 24-30 ft usually have smaller tanks. NP's usually have much smaller sites and are more crowded than the NFS CG's in the same area. There are usually some sites for larger MH's but they are fewer in number.

Yes, that is correct. Thank you for your help! And thanks to everyone else as well, for all of your helpful input!
Ivylog
Explorer III
Oct 21, 2018
Huntdooly, what is your budget???
huntdooly
Explorer
Oct 20, 2018
2gypsies wrote:
Get the size you'd be comfortable living in. You'll find spots to stay.

We full-timed 8 years in a 33' 5th wheel and 8 years in a 40' motorhome. We fit in the same public parks with each.... national parks, state parks, national forest campgrounds, Corp of Engineers, county and city parks.

We've stayed in Glacier at Apgar campground; Yellowstone at Mammoth, Madison and Bridge Bay; Grand Teton at Colter Bay and Gros Ventre; Zion at Watchman; Bryce at North campground; Grand Canyon at Trailer Village in the park; Grand Canyon North Rim in the campground... and the list goes on. We've stayed all along the Oregon coast in the state parks.

No... you won't fit in every park but neither will a 25' or 30'. However, you WILL find a spot nearby. I really believe that those saying you won't fit have never tried. Many like their full hookups. We're just the opposite. We love dry camping or boondocking on public lands.

Thank you! This is very helpful!
Ivylog
Explorer III
Oct 20, 2018
The OP said, “Thank you! 32'-33' sounds like a possibly workable length.”
40-42’ is workable too but the “best” length is 20’ or less as you will fit almost everywhere. Without knowing your budget and what type of camping you are hoping to do... dry or FHU we are just guessing. As RV virgins whatever you buy will just be your first RV, not your last.
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Oct 20, 2018
ItsyRV wrote:

Now, if talking disperse back-country boondocking, in that case, smaller is better as you have access to more places. But if the majority of the time your staying at a campground (with or without services), length is seldom an issue.

We've found many gorgeous boondocking spots for our 40' motorhome - national forest lands and BLM lands. There are also fish access spots.

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