At what legth are options limited?

No, there’s no list, there’s too many variables to develop one. As said, though, you can go to the campground links and get an idea. Whether you’re limited or not depends on where you want to travel and camp. But you can expect that as length increases so do the limitations. Rv’s are all compromises between comfort and flexibility in where you can camp and go.

If you visualize mountains and national forest campgrounds the smaller the better. The tradeoff, of course, is space and amenities. If you’ll mainly stay in commercial cg’s with hookups then size is much less important, get as big as you like. The tradeoff there is access to many scenic roads and less developed cg’s. And you’ll have to be more selective about the parking lots and gas stations you select.

When you get near 30’ you’ll have lots of space and amenities and comfort. Sort of like a mobile motel room. The tradeoff is you’ll have limitations on where you can go. Some scenic roads and less developed campgrounds will be off limits. You choice of campsites will be reduced too, and you’ll likely have to make reservations to ensure you can get a site. Just because a cg has big enough sites doesn’t mean someone with a smaller RV hasn’t taken them. I don’t think many people buy a big unit to dry camp either; they’ll want hookups for the most part. Most campgrounds don’t have hookups, e.g., Yellowstone and the Tetons only have one cg each with hookups so many people stay in commercial cg’s outside the park.

I’d say that at that size you’d have severe limitations in national forest campgrounds except for the ones right along the highway and well developed for big rigs. Often it’s not that there’s not a spot you could fit in but that you can’t maneuver the tight roads. You can get into many state parks and there are many you won’t. The same goes for many “scenic” roads. Still many people find the tradeoff acceptable and are perfectly happy with the big rigs.

95% of my camping is in the western mountain states and I like to camp well off the beaten path in the NF’s, and I have a 16’ TT. I can ignore cg length limits, access problems with parking lots, gas stations, etc. And I’m a wanderer so I don’t want schedules or reservations and I can always find a spot to camp. Of course, that’s almost always dry camping.

So to me the flexibility in where I can go far outweighs the added comfort and amenities of a bigger rig. If I were to give up my backcountry camping and try to balance off size with flexibility of access, my limit would probably be about 24’. So you have to weigh the pros and cons yourself and decide what is the best balance for you.

Is there a comprehensive list published somewhere?

No, must be top secret. Please post it if you get one.

Our outback 295RE is similar in length to the one you are looking at. We've had it 3 years, traveled close to 15K miles, camped over 290days in it, mostly in older remote campgrounds. All in the west coast, oregon, Idaho, Mt, CA, utah.

Yes, there are some campgrounds we couldn't get into. I call first if I'm concerned. And in campgrounds that length does limit the number of sites you can fit into.

We just finished a 3 week trip through WA, ID, MT camping in state, FS campgrounds. We were able to get into every one of our first choice campgrounds and find a very nice site. BTW all were older campgrounds with no water/electric to the sites.

if you log onto FS or statewebsites for camgrounds often they will give pad lengths for each site and also some overall limits in the campground. Recreation.gov and reserveamerica.com also usually list pad lengths etc. for sites that can be reserved.

That said, while in a few cases on past trips we had to bag our first campground choice in every case we were able to find a nice alternative campgrounds, parks close enough to our desired destination that it hasn't been an issue.

And that long a trailer is easier to back than you might think. I have more trouble backing my 14' cargo trailer into a spot than the 35' outback.

Gas stations also haven't been an issue for us, even in small towns. yes, there are a few we pass up but hasn't been a problem getting in and out of the majority of them.

One of the biggest issues we've had is getting in parking and getting out of shopping center lots, Wallmart, etc. usually scout them out before pulling in.

Initally we were concerned about being limited in campgrounds, but now after all the traveling we are glad we went with the length and floorplan we liked and just are careful about planning.

And we have never had an issue with a private RV park for our trailer length. Although the number of times we stay in them is pretty small.

And keep in mind that in many cases, the pad length you need for the trailer and TV is much shorter than your overall length. TV usually can be angled some, and often, you can back the trailer till the wheels hit the end of the pad and the trailer is protruding over the pad. Our's is pushing 60' overall, and I can easily keep the truck and trailer on a 50' pad, 45' if it is say 12' wide, and in some cases even a 35' pad if I can hang the trailer tail over the end of the pad. Be careful though, there are places where the end of the pad is a Tree or something else.

And just because a website lists pad lengths at 50' doesn't mean you will fit either. In older campgrounds the roads are often very narrow, and the pad at right angles, and it's impossible to get a 35' TT backed into the site because the road is to narrow. That's when it is frustrating!!! Huge site, no access, off to a smaller site near a curve in the road or a wide spot so I can get backed in!

A 35 foot trailer is quite large and will be very limiting if you prefer the more rustic government campgrounds. Even some commercial campgrounds it will be a challenge with that trailer. If you only go to a few campgrounds that routinely handle that big a trailer, then you will be fine. I owned a 30 foot trailer and found it to be limiting on many occasions. Also, I found that a with a 30 foot trailer I had to be careful pulling into gas stations, restaurants, and rest areas.

mrekim wrote:
We are interested in a Coachman Freedom Express 298REDS Trailer. The total length bumper to hitch is 35' 2". I know some state/national parks have size limitations.

Is there a comprehensive list published somewhere?

Or is there a well known "rule of thumb" for lengths and the ability to stay at various locations?

Before we pull the trigger, I'd like to know how much we are limiting ourselves if we go this route.

Thanks!

No there isn't, simply varies by facility. In the Ocala Nat'l Forest in Florida as an example, two rustic facilities (Alexander Springs/Juniper Springs) the longest site IIRC is 35 ft. and in a Federal campground if the site is paved, you absolutely must keep both the trailer and the TV on the pad, or you will be instructed to park your TV in a parking area near the entrance. OTOH, the Salt Springs Campground is a former RV Park bought by the Feds and made part of the forest. Full hookups, and can accomodate anything from tents to the largest diesel pushers. You just have to check your desired destination when you reserve a site.

I'm not sure if their is a "Comphrensive" list but their might be and hopefulyl someone else can weigh in on that issue. I can tell you that for campgrounds run by the govt: NPS, USFS, BOR or BLM etc... they usually have a website with information that lists maximum trailer lengths based on the campground. You can find that information at Recreation.gov.

Keep in mind that at some public and private campgrounds you will be required to purchase a second camp spot to park your TV if your combined trailer and TV length exceeds a certain ammount. My rig is about 34-35' bumper to hitch and I haven't run into that yet but I mostly boondock on BOR or USFS land that is not part of a campground!