We just got totally denied at Lodgepole campground in sequoia national park. Drove all the way from San Diego with our friends whom I just talked into getting a Six Pac camper.Booked site 56 six months ago, which lists as an RV nonelectric, max number of vehicles 2. I told our friends to join us....One would think this would be okay right?Especially when we have done this the last 2 years at yosemiteThe ranger came around and said we were only allowed to have 1 RV in the site and they would have to move. Does anyone know what the rules actually are? I can't find anything and I guess I should call from now on. Are they different at each park? It seems people are thrown off by truck campers, and don't know how to react to them. I tried to argue but they would not budge.They also stated we were blocking egress which I was confused.Has anyone else experienced this?

Every NP campground I have been in has one RV per campsite. Sometimes parking for an additional vehicle is available. Often separate group sites are available.

Sorry. From your picture you seem to be blocking the road particularly for larger vehicles/RVs. I've always understood the NPS rule to be one RV plus a TV or toad. You have two RVs. This isn't new and goes also to a quality experience for all campers.

Lwiddis wrote:Sorry. From your picture you seem to be blocking the road particularly for larger vehicles/RVs.Maybe, but it could have been blocked with only one RV.I can't see anything at their site either. I haven't tried it at a NP. When I pulled a trailer to Yellowstone, we had two spots. At Potholes State Park on the way back, I knew the space was long, and they didn't care at all on checkin. My backup was to get another spot if required since I knew they had availability.Post what you find out.

I can def see them saying no to 2 RV's in 1 spot. Not sure on blocking anything. Sometimes rangers have a bad day also. I ran in to one in Great Sand Dunes NP once. WORST ranger ever.............it happens, but not very often, in my opinion

When we hosted at a National Forest campground, the policy was one RV per site. A second vehicle could be parked on the site if it fit completely. Otherwise, the second vehicle had to be parked in overflow parking (for which there was also a fee).Rob

camping policy at national parks | Good Sam Community

111 Replies

jimh406
Explorer III
Jun 19, 2017
NRALIFR wrote:
Everyone who uses the campground needs to pay their fair share, not half of your share.

I don't know the answer, but two pickups with TCs and one person each probably has less impact than a 45 fiver or Class A with 8 people. Who's paying their fair share when you compare the two?
toedtoes
Explorer III
Jun 19, 2017
The standard is one RV per site - RV meaning "class B, C, or A, trailer, 5er, TC.

I camp at NF and COE campgrounds and only 1 has taken issue with my friend parking in my site with her Toyota chinook. It ends up "at the discretion" of the ranger/camphost - be prepared to have to get another site upon arrival.

One thing I've noticed is that they are more likely to let you do it if there are minimal people (no more than 2 per rig) and minimal attention getting (staying quiet, etc.).
JimK-NY
Explorer II
Jun 19, 2017
Second Chance wrote:
When we hosted at a National Forest campground, the policy was one RV per site. A second vehicle could be parked on the site if it fit completely. Otherwise, the second vehicle had to be parked in overflow parking (for which there was also a fee).

Rob

Those were the rules I had to enforce when I was a campground host. There was also a limitation on the number of campers and tents in one site, but I cannot remember that rule.
NRALIFR
Explorer
Jun 19, 2017
No, I wouldn't think it would be OK to park two RV's on one spot. In any campground.

The two-vehicle rule does not mean two RV's. If the "vehicle" is an RV, it needs its own spot, and needs to pay its own fee.

And, you weren't totally denied. You were only half-denied.

Everyone who uses the campground needs to pay their fair share, not half of your share.

Sorry if that sounds harsh, it really isn't intended to be.

:):)
Second_Chance
Explorer II
Jun 19, 2017
When we hosted at a National Forest campground, the policy was one RV per site. A second vehicle could be parked on the site if it fit completely. Otherwise, the second vehicle had to be parked in overflow parking (for which there was also a fee).

Rob
zb39
Explorer
Jun 19, 2017
I can def see them saying no to 2 RV's in 1 spot. Not sure on blocking anything. Sometimes rangers have a bad day also. I ran in to one in Great Sand Dunes NP once. WORST ranger ever.............it happens, but not very often, in my opinion
jimh406
Explorer III
Jun 19, 2017
Lwiddis wrote:
Sorry. From your picture you seem to be blocking the road particularly for larger vehicles/RVs.

Maybe, but it could have been blocked with only one RV.

I can't see anything at their site either. I haven't tried it at a NP. When I pulled a trailer to Yellowstone, we had two spots.

At Potholes State Park on the way back, I knew the space was long, and they didn't care at all on checkin. My backup was to get another spot if required since I knew they had availability.

Post what you find out.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Jun 19, 2017
Sorry. From your picture you seem to be blocking the road particularly for larger vehicles/RVs. I've always understood the NPS rule to be one RV plus a TV or toad. You have two RVs. This isn't new and goes also to a quality experience for all campers.
JimK-NY
Explorer II
Jun 19, 2017
Every NP campground I have been in has one RV per campsite. Sometimes parking for an additional vehicle is available. Often separate group sites are available.

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