National Park Camping

jfkbunkie wrote:
My family is a big fan of visiting National Parks, and we are considering the purchase of a Class A MH. We strongly prefer to camp within the parks rather than at commercial RV campgrounds, and are accustomed to coping with the reduced amenities this implies. Can anyone comment on the feasibility of staying on-site at most national parks in a Class A rig with a toad?

We've been in a 40' Class A for 9 years now, we have never been denied a space in any National park, some times we must unhook the tow'ed and park it off spot.
No we haven't been to all parks, we are still working on that, but generally there are no full hookups, and the space may be tight.

now that we have gone computer and cell phone we call ahead see what is available.

we go early in the year may usually, later during the "Season" will be different.

I like public CGs that do not take reservations...be it NP, SP, USFS because I can almost always find a site big enough even when the max is listed as 30’ max. Do not show up Friday as there will be a 25’ rig in a site big enough for 45’ BUT on Monday you can take your pick. I made the mistake of starting at 36’ because of posts on here...went to 40’ and 42 for 14 years and recently 45’. Buy more MH than you think you need...ONE TIME.

On the eastern side of the country, the NPS Midway Campground in the Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida has all big rig friendly paved sites with 50 amp electric, with water and a dump station available. The Salt Springs Reacreation Area campground in the Ocala National Forest has mostly full hookup big rig friendly paved sites. In North Carolina, the Lake Powhatan Recreation Area campground in the Pisgah National Forest has big rig friendly paved full hookup sites on the Lakeside Loop. And most COE campgrounds have at least electric on their sites.

This is where we have stayed in our 40 foot class A motorhome at the National Parks we have visited. The list is alphabetical by State and includes the Month & Year we were there.

• Teklanika (in park), Denali RV Park, Denali Rainbow Village Jul-09 Denali National Park and Preserve Alaska
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  Seward Resort (Mil) Jun-09 Kenai Fjords National Park Alaska
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  Kanab RV Corral, Kanab, UT Sep-08 Grand Canyon National Park - north rim Arizona
• 
  GC Trailer Village (in park) Mar-11 Grand Canyon National Park - south rim Arizona
• 
  Crystal Forest Gift Shop - Free Boondock - South entrance Apr-13 Petrified Forest National Park Arizona
• 
  Davis Monthan, Tucson, AZ (mil) Dec-10 Saguaro National Park - East & West Arizona
• 
  Catherine's Landing Dec-12 Hot Springs National Park Arkansas
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  Twenty Nine Palms Resort Oct-08 Joshua Tree National Park California
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  Country Manor Mobile Home, Visalia, CA May-11 Kings Canyon National Park California
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  Manzanita (in park) Jul-11 Lassen Volcanic National Park California
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  Golden Bear RV, Klamath, CA Jun-11 Redwood National and State Parks California
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  Country Manor Mobile Home, Visalia, CA May-11 Sequoia National Park California
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  Escapees - Park of the Sierras, Coarsegold, CA May-11 Yosemite National Park California
• 
  Saddle West Casino, Pahrump, NV (east) & Boulder Creek RV, Lone Pine, CA (west) Apr-11 Death Valley National Park California, Nevada
• 
  Great Sand Dunes Oasis Jun-15 Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Colorado
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  Mesa Verde RV Resort May-15 Mesa Verde National Park Colorado
• 
  Bridge Bay (in park); Fishing Bridge (in park); Grizzly Bear, West Yellowstone Aug-07 Yellowstone National Park Idaho, Montana, Wyoming
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  Singing Hills, Cave City, KY Apr-08 Mammoth Cave National Park Kentucky
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  St Mary's (inside) & Johnsons (outside) Jun-13 Glacier National Park (part of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park) Montana/Alberta
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  Whispering Elms RV, Baker, NV Jul-11 Great Basin National Park Nevada
• 
  Carlsbad RV Park May-15 Carlsbad Caverns National Park New Mexico
• 
  Red Trail (South) & Juniper Campground (north-in park) Aug-07 Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Dakota
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  Cedar Pass Campground (in park) Jun-10 Badlands National Park South Dakota
• 
  Guadalupe NP - Pine Springs (in park) May-15 Guadalupe Mountains National Park Texas
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  Moab Valley RV, Moab, UT Jul-11 Arches National Park Utah
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  Ruby's Inn Sep-08 Bryce Canyon National Park Utah
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  Moab Valley RV, Moab, UT Jul-11 Canyonlands National Park Utah
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  Thousand Lakes RV Park May-15 Capitol Reef National Park Utah
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  Kanab RV Corral, Kanab, UT & Watchman (in park) Sep-08 Zion National Park Utah
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  Escapees - Evergreen - Chimacum, WA Jul-11 Olympic National Park Washington
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  Colter Bay RV Park, GTNP, MT Jun-13 Grand Teton National Park Wyoming
• 
  

Camping without hookups is easy...fun. Once you get used to doing without it becomes second nature. Have you considered a solar system to make your generator use very limited?

jfkbunkie wrote:
My family is a big fan of visiting National Parks, and we are considering the purchase of a Class A MH. We strongly prefer to camp within the parks rather than at commercial RV campgrounds, and are accustomed to coping with the reduced amenities this implies. Can anyone comment on the feasibility of staying on-site at most national parks in a Class A rig with a toad?

we used to all the time first in a 26' class A with no toad and then in a 35' class A pulling a jeep. some camping areas would have electric, some not. a very small number of the state parks we used might have a fresh water source serving 6-8 campsites (and campers with long enough hoses to reach). none had sewer connections. so, yes, it's very feasible.

There are many national parks and many many more facilities operated by the NPS. The feasibility of staying in them can vary a great deal. Some national parks have no road access at all.

For parks with developed campgrounds, a class A with a toad is hardly any less feasible than a trailer of the same general size. You often need to be prepared to dry camp. The biggest challenge is whether there are sites (and access roads) that can accommodate the RV, and that varies a good deal with how big the RV is. A 45' class A will be a lot more restrictive than a 30' or 35' one.

Towards the smaller end of the scale, my gut feeling is that there are suitably large spaces at most of the parks. I haven't done anything at all like a proper survey. So far, I have not generally had trouble finding sufficiently large sites with my 32' motorhome in national and state parks. That does not in any way mean that there are many sites I would not fit or fit comfortably in, only that I haven't usually had trouble finding and getting one the other sites.

i have never had hookups, when in a National park, forest, or monument

generator hours usually limited

but we have a class A & motorcycle on carrier (no toad) and have been to Sequoia , kings canyon, Mammoth caves Ky,

i too prefer inside the Park, but not always possible

You have to keep in mind most National and State Campgrounds have been around since the 40's and 50's or longer. They were designed back when most people were tent camping and RVs were the Canned Ham type travel trailers which usually were under 20 feet in length. The roads and campsites were built to accommodate this era of campers. The parking spots at the campsites may accommodate much larger RVs but the twists, turns and trees of the roads in the campground may not.

What we have found is at some campgrounds there will be sites accessible by larger RVS but it is hit and miss whether these sites are available and if the staff will allow you to enter with a larger than maximum length RV. We've actually have had rangers escort us the wrong way on the roads in order to get into a spot that would accommodate our 38ft 5th wheel. Of course this will only happen on slow days when the campground is lightly occupied.

Most of the time, instead of trying to find a National or State Campground that is big rig friendly, we choose to stay in private RV Parks located near the National/State park. We drive in daily to see the sights and then come back to our RV with full hookups and all the amenities the RV park has to offer. In our opinion-It makes for a less stressful experience.

Let me take a crack at this - first thing you need to do is take a hard look at parks you want to, or are considering visiting and see what the limitations are on size. Also, how many locations the NP has for class A type vehicles and hookups. Example - Yellowstone only has one CG with hookups and space to really handle large class A's and that is at Fishing Bridge. Most NF campgrounds restrict size to 29', max, but you will always see bigger units crammed in tight spaces. Most NP's have dry camping sites available, but again, size becomes the listing factor. Same goes for RMNP - you just really have to research what your options are. If you really require a large Class A, then you are really going to be limited, I think, in most NP's. This is one of the reasons we opted for a Class C Sprinter pulling a Jeep JK. No issue wherever we go space wise for size.