I have 7 people in my family. How can I "legally" stay somewhere when the maximum occupancy is 6? :?I've had a camper for several years but I've only gone to the local state parks, in which they don't check the number of people on your campsite. This year we are hitting the open road for the first time. I've been looking around at various RV campgrounds and they all say maximum of 6 people. I am married and have 5 kids, so there's 7 of us total. One of the kids is bringing a friend on one of our planned trips. My camper sleeps 8 comfortably and there's no issue with room.So my question is how am I supposed to camp with more than 6 people? I've read rules in Canada, and they state that the max doesn't matter if its the same family. But I've called several places in the Texas and they are all sticking to the 6 person limit and don't seem to care to turn away a paying customer. The only think I can think of is to hide a kid during registration and lie to them.Any ideas? Seems like a pathetic rule. I know rules usually have good reason, but they become pathetic when they aren't implemented correctly.

Different campgrounds have different policies. Not all places have a maximum of six people per site. I've seen quite a few, at least around here, that cap it at eight persons, sometimes with and sometimes without an exception for larger families.One possibility (that I assume you've tried) is to enquire with the campground if there are exceptions for a single family unit, or if it's possible to pay an extra person fee. Another possibility is to ask about reserving two adjacent sites. You may be able to put a tent up on one of the sites to gain some elbow room at nighttime, too (and of course generally spread out a little more).Sometimes there's no honest alternative to taking one's business elsewhere.

Remember many of the rules are to allow the campground the flexibility of weeding out undesirables. If you contact the campground and explain your situation, offer to send a video or photos of your family or offer to pay extra you may find the management will allow you to stay.

In Virginia State Parks, the rule states "Developed campsites can accommodate six people per site or all members of a household." That means that however many children you have that live within your house are members of that household. If grandma comes to visit, that is another household and she would have to have her own site. This is one of the rules that were explained to us when we first started camp-hosting with VSPs.

Merrykalia wrote:In Virginia State Parks, the rule states "Developed campsites can accommodate six people per site or all members of a household." That rule makes sense, and that's how it should be everywhere. It's just getting frustrating calling all the places in the area we plan to stay and they all say no. So I'm just getting farther and farther away from where we plan to go because of some rule meant to keep partying down to a minimum. So far all of them that I've called I already have to pay per person, but they won't allow over 6. Do places actually check? Would it be worth the risk of just booking it and showing up? Playing dumb if I get caught?

And thanks for the feedback so far! I'm a newbie to this forum and I appreciate the help. A lot of forums these days are full folks who only like to trash on people. So far this one is going good!

RV Camping for family with > 6 | Good Sam Community

Veebyes
Explorer II
Feb 23, 2016
Claim one of them as the family pet.
rekoj71
Explorer
Feb 23, 2016
I wouldn't try the playing dumb method as then you will likely have to move and may not be able to find a spot where you were planning to be. Lots of campgrounds will take more people, but yes many charge a per person fee after 2 people. You will just have to keep looking. I follow a family blog that travels with at least 11. Most of the campgrounds I've been in do have people who are driving around the campground checking on things and you would probably be figured out and then have an awkward situation.
nparker76
Explorer
Feb 23, 2016
And thanks for the feedback so far! I'm a newbie to this forum and I appreciate the help. A lot of forums these days are full folks who only like to trash on people. So far this one is going good!
nparker76
Explorer
Feb 23, 2016
Merrykalia wrote:
In Virginia State Parks, the rule states "Developed campsites can accommodate six people per site or all members of a household."

That rule makes sense, and that's how it should be everywhere. It's just getting frustrating calling all the places in the area we plan to stay and they all say no. So I'm just getting farther and farther away from where we plan to go because of some rule meant to keep partying down to a minimum. So far all of them that I've called I already have to pay per person, but they won't allow over 6. Do places actually check? Would it be worth the risk of just booking it and showing up? Playing dumb if I get caught?
Merrykalia
Explorer
Feb 23, 2016
In Virginia State Parks, the rule states "Developed campsites can accommodate six people per site or all members of a household." That means that however many children you have that live within your house are members of that household. If grandma comes to visit, that is another household and she would have to have her own site.

This is one of the rules that were explained to us when we first started camp-hosting with VSPs.
the_bear_II
Explorer
Feb 23, 2016
Remember many of the rules are to allow the campground the flexibility of weeding out undesirables. If you contact the campground and explain your situation, offer to send a video or photos of your family or offer to pay extra you may find the management will allow you to stay.
DrewE
Explorer II
Feb 23, 2016
Different campgrounds have different policies. Not all places have a maximum of six people per site. I've seen quite a few, at least around here, that cap it at eight persons, sometimes with and sometimes without an exception for larger families.

One possibility (that I assume you've tried) is to enquire with the campground if there are exceptions for a single family unit, or if it's possible to pay an extra person fee. Another possibility is to ask about reserving two adjacent sites. You may be able to put a tent up on one of the sites to gain some elbow room at nighttime, too (and of course generally spread out a little more).

Sometimes there's no honest alternative to taking one's business elsewhere.

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