camping policy at national parks

Just to muddy the issue a tad...

My buddy and I each have Class C's, 24' and 27'. We once stayed in the same site at Sharp Creek {just below the Mogollon Rim}, with permission from the hosts. I had a reservation for another site but his site was huge with a large pull through that enabled us to park the two C's at a 90 degree angle without even coming close to encroaching on the access road. We each paid a fee and by my moving into his site free'd up my old site for another camper.

Upon arrival we simple, politely asked and were accommodated and we had a great 3 day stay. This CG is in the Tonto national Forrest.

:C

I have no dogs in this fight, but reading that (with 120F outside, I can't go for a walk) it looks to me that in several situations the rules overcome common sense.
Good luck with that attitude.

Reddog1 wrote:
I have had a similar experience. Camp ground was full, my buddy and I easily had room to park end to end in one space without sticking out of the space. I ask if we could pay for two spaces, although we only needed the one. The answer was no. A different time, we had the same experience at a privately owned Campground.

Did you ask why paying for two spaces while using one was not acceptable? Paying for two spaces seems like a win-win. What could possibly be the issue?

Interesting topic. I can see both sides of the issue but most places clearly say one "camping unit" per site.

The problem is there are plenty of gray areas, such as:

1. A TC pulling a cargo trailer containing a bunk or maybe more.
2. A pickup with canopy with a foam pad, pulling a TT.
3. 2 sedans with 2 tents set up.

For whatever reason, all 3 are likely considered 1 camping unit despite being ever so similar to a TC pulling a TT or 2 TC's.

Arguably #3 is the highest impact to the facilities with 2 tents, outdoor cooking, etc. but that isn't what they charge for. If they are really charging for the space, why should it matter what type of equipment occupies the space?

It seems to me like the fairest solution should allow whatever vehicles you can fit in the spot, while also remaining under the limit on number of people per spot. I'm even ok with charging for each vehicle since more vehicles = more traffic on the camp roads. When you also consider how full campgrounds are these days, why not allow for more people to enjoy, provided the site maximum occupancy is met?

The two RV / vehicle rule is usually the same at most campgrounds, I know I have run up against this before. When I had my Tcer I bought a tent trailer as not all the family would be able to sleep in the TCer........ you guessed it "Sorry only one RV per site". BUT if you showed up with a 42' Class A towing a crew cab long box pick-up you could take any single site EVEN if you could not fit everything in it.

Sorry a sore point :-) :-)

No way I would think that is alright. Every time I make a reservation the rules are available via a clicky. And I have read them.

Too bad you had a problem I bet you were disappointed.
It always pays to read the fine print or call for clarification.
Jesseannie

jimh425 wrote:

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?

You may be right depending on who the people are. But, you aren't paying an impact fee, you're paying a use fee and that fee is typically based on each RV unit. As along as every camper pays their appropriate use fee, nobody has reason to complain.

:):)

I have had a similar experience. Camp ground was full, my buddy and I easily had room to park end to end in one space without sticking out of the space. I ask if we could pay for two spaces, although we only needed the one. The answer was no. A different time, we had the same experience at a privately owned Campground.

My experience is typically one RV per site.

Would it be acceptable in your mind to put two Class B's or C's (or A's for that matter) in one site if it fit?

If I were to ever do something along those lines, I would certainly have asked first, rather than expect it to be okay, since it was only 'two vehicles'.

Mike