On our road trip one of our destinations is glacier National Park. Because we were so late in planning this trip, we are staying outside of the park at a nearby KOA. Not our first choice but for our needs on this trip, KOA will suffice. So that said, one of the major features of Glacier is the drive over the sun road. Reading up it looks like there is a 21ft length restriction in place. My truck is just under this but with the camper I exceed the length by a couple of feet. We considered just renting a van for the one day we are in the park just to make it easy for us. However a two day rental will be close to $300. It seems a bit of a waste to drop that much coin when I already have the truck. So, being that we are staying at a KOA, does anyone have any experience dropping the camper at these places? Is there a policy against it or will it be just dependent on each location?

Call the office and ask. Even when campground has such restrictions in the rules, when you ask nicely and they will see you keep your camper nice, very often then bend the rules. I've been camping with my 1972 conversion at campgrounds with "no older than 10 years" rules. I've been driving 32' motorhomes into parks with "no over 25' advised" I park my 40' conversion at campground with 30' limits. Rules are often written to avoid potential where drivers with no skills, or "full-timers" will like to test them to full extend.

Call and ask. I drove Going to the Sun years ago in my TC, don’t remember any length limit then and had no issues.

When you go on the going to the sun road pull both of your mirrors in, and really watch the other drivers coming at you.

Are you sure your drw is less than 21 and 8 ft wide? I have no idea what they’d do if you were found to be over, but the point is the road is very tight, so you may have problems navigating parking at lookouts etc with a large vehicle.Vehicles, and vehicle combinations, longer than 21 feet (including bumpers) or wider than 8 feet (including mirrors), are prohibited between Avalanche Campground and the Rising Sun picnic area parking.Consider renting a normal car at Kalispell Airport.

If you don't mind being at someone else's schedule, you can take the Red Bus tour, can't tell you about the price, you can look it up on Glacier's website.

Dropping Camper at KOA campground? | Good Sam Community

imjustdave
Explorer
Jun 25, 2020
K Mac wrote:
I know we're a different animal, but I've never read in a brochure or camp ground rules that unloading isn't allowed.

I was thinking the same thing... are you concerned with dropping the camper off or driving the sun road?

truck camper, 5th wheel, travel trailer, boat, Even RV with a toad. at some point you leave something at the camp site.

Sun road took my 2006 Dodge DRW long bed on it, It's barley under but for the most part no issues. I did have 1 person who was in a hurry and hit my mirror, I actually stopped as they approached and a slight bump on the mirror just enough to touch. Otherwise Enjoyed it a lot

Go have fun and enjoy.
JTLance
Explorer
Jun 24, 2020
Why is there always an azz-hat that suggests rules are for other people.
K_Mac
Explorer
Jun 24, 2020
I know we're a different animal, but I've never read in a brochure or camp ground rules that unloading isn't allowed.
srschang
Nomad
Jun 24, 2020
We did Going To The Sun road last September. We stayed at Glacier Peaks Campground in Columbia Falls (highly recommended). Although there are many curves, and the 21 foot length is a concern, the overhanging rocks make the 10' height limit a must! We rented a car for the day near the airport for the drive through the park.

We entered the park just as it was beginning to get light. Didn't have to pay as the gates weren't staffed yet. It was great for a bit, very little traffic. But within a half hour, it was bumper to bumper. Forget stopping to take pictures, any pull off was full of cars. The pictures we have were taken by my wife holding her camera out the window as we drove past. We stopped at Logan Pass, about 7:30 am as I remember. There were a few parking spots left. We hiked the Hidden Lake Trail, which was beautiful, passing hundreds of our best friends on the way back out. The buses had arrived. When we got back to our car, the parking lot was full, and many, many cars were circling the lot waiting for someone to leave. This was 9 or 9:30am.

I don't remember much of the rest of the drive as my focus was on all the traffic and idiots pulling in and out and blocking traffic waiting for a parking spot.

As you can gather, it wasn't a very good experience. Was it beautiful? Absolutely. Did I get to enjoy the drive? No way. Glad we checked the box, won't happen again.

The popular US National Parks need to do something different. Lottery system?
I'd hate it, but I don't know if there's any other solution. We had a similar experience at Yellowstone and Grand Teton on the same trip. Getting to be way to many of us Boomers on the road anymore.
deltabravo
Nomad
Jun 24, 2020
adamis wrote:
So, being that we are staying at a KOA, does anyone have any experience dropping the camper at these places? Is there a policy against it or will it be just dependent on each location?

Call and ask them,

Or just do it when you arrive.
ryoung
Explorer
Jun 23, 2020
You are comparing the guys who make a living out of measurements.
Its been confirmed lot of times that no Highway Patrol carries tape measure.
Lot of boats are 10' wide and towed without "oversize" signs.
Good number of RV rigs come to California having more than allowable 65', yet nobody got a ticket for it.

It's just that some stupid people disobey the law and don't get caught.

It should not be an encouragement for others to do it. Warped mentality.

ryoung
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Jun 22, 2020
You are comparing the guys who make a living out of measurements.
Its been confirmed lot of times that no Highway Patrol carries tape measure.
Lot of boats are 10' wide and towed without "oversize" signs.
Good number of RV rigs come to California having more than allowable 65', yet nobody got a ticket for it.
JimK-NY
Explorer II
Jun 22, 2020
Geo*Boy wrote:
time2roll wrote:
Nobody is out with a tape to verify every vehicle. Although parking might be extra tight at the visitor center about midway over. You could take the TC and not worry a bit. JMHO

However I recommend one of the bus tours. Will pick you up right at the campground and all can enjoy the scenery together as the driver talks about the local history. I highly recommend this and should be some what less than $300. Get reservations early, maybe before you arrive.

Tape measure? The rules are there for a reason, be a good example and OBEY them.

Don't count on it. I had my truck camper measured at Zion in order to travel through the tunnels without an extra fee. The first time, they decided I was OK. A few days later they measured again and said no. I guess they did not include the width of the mirrors the first time.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Jun 22, 2020
Never dropped at a KOA, but Have pretty much any other place from NF campgrounds to state parks to private RV parks. Never been a question.
naturist
Nomad
Jun 22, 2020
Geo*Boy wrote:
JimK-NY wrote:
What's wrong with the free NP buses? They leave from both Apgar and St Mary's and meet at Logan Pass. There are numerous stops along the way.

Unfortunately the fare free shuttles are not running on the Going to the Sun road in 2020.

What? Oh, no! That makes the traffic even worse.