Do most state parks have a 30-foot length limit?

PegLW wrote:
Our rig is 37 feet plus our truck is 22 feet and we've been able to find plenty of sites in state parks, national rec areas and COEs that are long enough for us BUT we can't always access those sites because the roads are too narrow with no room to negotiate those sites! It's not always the length of the site that's an issue but getting into it!

my experience as well. I've been places with a 60 or 80 ft pad but a single lane road with small trees on the edge and a near 90 degree angle to the pad. Ug.

When I can I look at the site picture AND the roadway online, or call.

Our rig is 37 feet plus our truck is 22 feet and we've been able to find plenty of sites in state parks, national rec areas and COEs that are long enough for us BUT we can't always access those sites because the roads are too narrow with no room to negotiate those sites! It's not always the length of the site that's an issue but getting into it!

California St Parks have max lengths listed. Other states may have the same?
See: https://www.parks.ca.gov/RVlength

Norm

My state park experience is Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Iowa and Michigan. In no place have I encountered an overall rig length limit for the park. Campsite sizes, however, vary a lot, and not all state park campsites are for RVs.

Some of the older state parks in Michigan might have RVs in sites originally developed for tent camping, and large RVs get crowded quite close together, but most have specific campgrounds for modern RVs. Some Oklahoma parks built by the CCC present a similar situation, and the roads into the small-site campgrounds might be difficult for longer RVs to traverse.

In both Texas and Oklahoma, older campgrounds with mostly small back-in sites will often have a few "big rig" RV sites in pullouts parallel to the road through the campground, which tend to be less private.

We've been to many state parks along the east coast (FL, GA, SC, VA, MD & PA) and have never encountered a state park that my 32' Motorhome couldn't fit into. We've been to some that only have a few sites long enough, but they have some.

-Michael

Some of the posts are ignoring the question. He asked about state parks, not national parks or forests.

I would say that's not true. Some do and some may have only a few sites that long but there's no consistency about it. Older state park campgrounds tend to have shorter narrower sites but many are slowly being rebuilt and upgraded so it's just a toss up. We have a 30 foot MH and I don't think, so far, that we've found a state park that won't accommodate although I know of some that have some sites that won't work.

manualman wrote:
A crucial point is being missed here. The first issue in question is not length.

First, you have to decide what kind of camper you are. If you are the sort who would never consider a site without full hookups (Mon Dieu!), then don't worry a whit about length. Pretty much anyplace you'd accept will have a place to fit you.

If, however, you prefer more rugged, primitive and spread out campsites and can tolerate no hookups, length can be a big limiting factor in many places.

The classic example is Yellowstone. Fishing Bridge is a soulless parking lot and yet there is always big demand to get in. I much prefer Canyon Campground sites (it is nice to have a walkable shower house!), but precious few sites will fit anything over 30'. No hookups.

I agree with your assesment. We typically prefer campgrounds that are more campground than hotel. Often that is older more primative sites. Many of these can take almost any length combination, but also many are spots that even getting a casita or scamp into could be a real challenge. IMHO there is NO set rule. Check info on the site beforehand and is my advice, and if in question CALL and they will often give you the info you needed.

We have one very very favorite site in Utah. When I found it, I called because I was concerned about our length 35 ft trailer, 20 ft truck. Host said there are 2 sites you can get into and to get to them you will need to go the wrong way on a 1 way road. When you arrive let us know and we will block the road so you can get to the site. Luckily the sites I need are reservable. When you exit you will go the wrong way to the dump station to make a U turn and we will watch traffic.

I will tell you that older National Forest Campgrounds that were built during the CCC era and are in the forests generally have smaller sites, but they are also dry and without amenities. We just returned from a trip in Oregon and on the state park maps, the length of every site is listed.
Happy travels

manualman wrote:

The classic example is Yellowstone. Fishing Bridge is a soulless parking lot and yet there is always big demand to get in. I much prefer Canyon Campground sites (it is nice to have a walkable shower house!), but precious few sites will fit anything over 30'. No hookups.

With our 40' motorhome we stayed in Mammoth, Madison and Bridge Bay - all without reservations.