In a week or two I am headed up north with what I hope will be my last trip to Long Island with my camper, I may drop off my camper at my cousins house and drive over with my truck every few years.One thing I had a problem with on my last trip were a couple beautiful campgrounds that were at the end of roads with low overhanging tree branches. One particular place was perfect, I was right next to a little river stream where a few camper brought along fishing poles and appeared to be doing well. The problem was you had to go thru a small town with narrow streets and a lot of twisty curves, and all the while as I am driving up I kept on worrying over something hooking on to my antenna satellite dish or anything else on my roof. I really loved the site but getting there had me worried I just started back up 3 years ago after taking a 25 year break from camping and was wondering if others have encountered this problem.If things work out I hope to head west to AZ to visit a childhood friend and north to Utah to visit a cousin I haven't seen in a long time.

Problem is that the BEST places to camp, just NEVER have a super highway as an entrance way :) I'll take the difficulties any day to get the out of the way campground. One of my favorites requires a 90 degree turn onto an old railroad bridge and another 90 degree turn on the other side of the river. Wouldn't change a THING about it but on each turn I have only inches to spare.

skipnchar wrote:Problem is that the BEST places to camp, just NEVER have a super highway as an entrance way :) I'll take the difficulties any day to get the out of the way campground. One of my favorites requires a 90 degree turn onto an old railroad bridge and another 90 degree turn on the other side of the river. Wouldn't change a THING about it but on each turn I have only inches to spare.I know what you mean two places had me real worried I would rip something of the top of my camper, and once I got there I loved it and wanted to stay a few days but both places were just and overnight stop on the way to NY or on the way home. On of the places I mentioned had some kind of event going on in the town I passed through and I would have loved to unhooked and spent time walking through the town. One more thing you reminded me of was a real sharp down hill turn probably more than 90 degrees with a narrow bridge only wide enough for one vehicle

We have a couple of favorite spots that we don't frequent much anymore because it's a hassle maneuvering in and around the site. But we keep looking for those little gems - part of our summer pastime around here.

I do not know that publishing a list of difficult to access campgrounds would make sense as we are all driving different sized rigs. We also all have different driving skills and comfort zones.I have met people who would never consider driving off pavement, not even on a well maintained gravel road. I have seen a huge custom fiver and tractor maneuvered into a site that would have been tricky for most drivers.I think though a list of permanent overhead obstacles might be a good idea. Where we live there are two very old railroad overpasses with very low clearance. One is on a curve to boot. A few years ago someone in a rental moving truck peeled the roof back like a can of sardines forgetting they were driving a tall vehicle.

You do know about RV Park Reviews don't you ?Just post your comments there.

Is it worth while listing campgrounds with difficult access.

skipnchar
Explorer
May 01, 2013
Problem is that the BEST places to camp, just NEVER have a super highway as an entrance way :) I'll take the difficulties any day to get the out of the way campground. One of my favorites requires a 90 degree turn onto an old railroad bridge and another 90 degree turn on the other side of the river. Wouldn't change a THING about it but on each turn I have only inches to spare.
silvercorvette
Explorer
May 01, 2013
skipnchar wrote:
Problem is that the BEST places to camp, just NEVER have a super highway as an entrance way :) I'll take the difficulties any day to get the out of the way campground. One of my favorites requires a 90 degree turn onto an old railroad bridge and another 90 degree turn on the other side of the river. Wouldn't change a THING about it but on each turn I have only inches to spare.
I know what you mean two places had me real worried I would rip something of the top of my camper, and once I got there I loved it and wanted to stay a few days but both places were just and overnight stop on the way to NY or on the way home. On of the places I mentioned had some kind of event going on in the town I passed through and I would have loved to unhooked and spent time walking through the town. One more thing you reminded me of was a real sharp down hill turn probably more than 90 degrees with a narrow bridge only wide enough for one vehicle
korbe
Explorer
May 01, 2013
We have a couple of favorite spots that we don't frequent much anymore because it's a hassle maneuvering in and around the site. But we keep looking for those little gems - part of our summer pastime around here.
Tothill
Explorer
May 01, 2013
I do not know that publishing a list of difficult to access campgrounds would make sense as we are all driving different sized rigs. We also all have different driving skills and comfort zones.

I have met people who would never consider driving off pavement, not even on a well maintained gravel road. I have seen a huge custom fiver and tractor maneuvered into a site that would have been tricky for most drivers.

I think though a list of permanent overhead obstacles might be a good idea. Where we live there are two very old railroad overpasses with very low clearance. One is on a curve to boot. A few years ago someone in a rental moving truck peeled the roof back like a can of sardines forgetting they were driving a tall vehicle.
gmctoyman
Explorer
May 01, 2013
You do know about RV Park Reviews don't you ?

Just post your comments there.
2gypsies1
Explorer III
May 01, 2013
As full-timers for 16 years with a 40' motorhome, our first choice is always a public park - national park, national forest, Corps of Engr., state parks, county parks, city parks and boondocking on BLM land. That said, we do our homework, reading all we can from web sites and reviews and blogs I follow of those driving a long motorhome who like our type of campsites. If they can get in we know we can. Once we get a 'feel' for it being o.k., we go. Sometimes we'll disconnect the Jeep from the motorhome and drive the Jeep into the campground to scout out any obstacles. It works for us and we always seem to find a space. I can't even count on one hand not being able to get into the campground once we've driven there. It can be done!
JN_B
Explorer
May 01, 2013
Tothill wrote:
I do not know that publishing a list of difficult to access campgrounds would make sense as we are all driving different sized rigs. We also all have different driving skills and comfort zones.

What he said.. Define difficult..I've squeezed my rig into some very tight spots w/o breaking a sweat (or a scratch).

On another note, I don't think a list would do anyone any good. Not to mention the liability if you were wrong (or god forbid didn't have something on the list).
silvercorvette
Explorer
May 01, 2013
JN_B wrote:
Tothill wrote:
I do not know that publishing a list of difficult to access campgrounds would make sense as we are all driving different sized rigs. We also all have different driving skills and comfort zones.

What he said.. Define difficult..I've squeezed my rig into some very tight spots w/o breaking a sweat (or a scratch).

On another note, I don't think a list would do anyone any good. Not to mention the liability if you were wrong (or god forbid didn't have something on the list).

The tight turns worried me a little bit, but my main concern were low overhanging obstacles such as tree branches, in some cases I had to drive on the left side of the road in order to avoid having the satellite dish, TV antenna or the A/c ripped off the roof. You may be the worlds best driver but if your height is 12 feet and there is something along the route that is only 11 1/2 feet high you are going to arrive at the camp grounds with a few less things on your roof than when you started off.
pnichols
Explorer II
May 02, 2013
I hear ya on getting frustrated with having to sometimes pass up beautiful campgrounds because of rig size - and I have a small RV (even though it's still 11'3" tall) and STILL have to pass some up.

That's why - if we were a few years younger so comfort could be compromised a bit - we'd have one of these to get us into just about any campsite:

(These are no longer made, though.)

Back to the OP's question .... YES, it is worthwhile listing campgrounds with difficult access if there's a reward in store for the lucky RV'ers who can get to them. In other words, there may be some real jewel campgrounds out there - IF and ONLY IF you have the right kind of RV - so why not know where they are and what the access considerations are just in case your rig can get to them without safety or damage issues.
silvercorvette
Explorer
May 02, 2013
pnichols wrote:
I hear ya on getting frustrated with having to sometimes pass up beautiful campgrounds because of rig size - and I have a small (even though 11'3" tall) RV and STILL have to pass some up.

That's why - if we were a few years younger so comfort could be compromised a bit - we'd have one of these to get us into just about any campsite:

(These are no longer made, though.)

I have measured yet but I think I just got taller.

I traded my 2006 jayco for a 2009 Alumascape. I am only 6' tall and could not stand up in the Jayco bedroom, it was not a big deal when I first got it but it got tiring after a while. I can stand in this bedroom with inches to spare so I am sure it will have an effect on my bridge clearances. The first thing I do when I change campers is measure the clearance then I use a label maker to post the label on my rear view mirror