Hello everyone, Yes, this is my first post and I'm not a troll:). We are new to the TC world, previously owned a 5th wheel toy hauler for 14 years. Used the heck out of it, 90% of the time boondocking.Just purchased from a friend, a 2012 Northern Lite 8-11 Q SE. Love the camper so far and can't wait to get into the places the 5th wouldn't allow.So my question is this. Has anyone parked in a tent only spot and been approached by a host stating you weren't allowed to park there?Just wondering what the technical rules are. Don't plan on using CG a lot but just in case.

I do not think you will have any problems. I have parked my van in camp spots that did not have any hook-ups. I have not seen a site marked "Tents only". I have done this at KOA's, military and NM state park campgrounds with no problems. In fact many of the spots had a car or van and no tent. Some had tents and some, like me, did not. I have even parked my 5er in a no hook ups site and stayed for a week waiting for a W/E hook-up site to open up in the first come first serve sites.

We used to put our pop-up and our first hybrid on tent sites. The sole criteria is that you have no need for any type of hook ups, ie. electric & water. You should have no trouble using "tent" sites.

Many parks have a tenting area that is grass or other ground cover and an additional parking area for the vehicle. You would likely NOT be welcome to park your car or van on those tenting areas. Doing so would subject the area to ruts, to any noxious drippings from under your vehicle such as oil and grease etc. Nobody wants to pitch their tent on top of sludge from the underside of a vehicle. You may be able to stay in your car in the parking spot, but that will vary by establishment. Many places just say no because to many people sleeping in your car reeks of homelessness, which is not an image businesses want to project onto their customers.

I recently made a bunch of reservations for a trip to California state parks. Many of their sites are "Tent Only." I've also seen this at USFS camps, where tents get the nice shady sites by the stream and RV's are out in the field in the hot sun, not exceptions for small RV's. I was asked by rangers to leave groups I camped with at two California national parks because park policy was absolutely no RV's at group sites; I had to buy a site elsewhere and walk back to the group site to be with my friends.The other side of the issue is that my tent camping family members are often not allowed to camp with me in the RV sites. Some RV parks do not allow tents at all.Can't we all just get along? The issue is apparently not vehicle size, it is vehicle type. The solution of carrying a small tent in your small RV and pitching it at the Tents Only site is apparently not acceptable in these places.KOA's have let me camp in their tent areas. I cannot remember whether they say Tents Only or whether they are just designated as primitive or no hookup sites.

Are you thinking of staying at a "tent only campground" at times? Or just want more options for finding a last minute one-night campsite at a standard campground?Generally speaking, many tent only sites are set up where you park in a parking lot and then walk a short distance to the campsites. In these areas, you will probably not be OK with camping there as you will technically be camping in the parking lot (and there won't be any extra space between vehicles). For a quick overnight, you might be OK depending on the host.For those with their own parking pads, often the "livable" area of the campsite (where you can set up chairs, campfire, etc.) is often set apart from the pad either by a short climb or hike. Again, for a quick overnight stay, you probably will be OK. For longer stays, it may not be that conducive to camping out of an RV (you'll be making that short climb/hike every time you want something - versus tent camping where it's all up there). As for technical rules, it depends on the campground and the other campers. In a tent only campground, you are much more likely to get called out on it. In a combined campground, it will more likely depend on your neighbor tent campers - if you annoy them, they will complain and you'll be asked to move/leave; if you play by their rules, they will leave you be.I have a 21ft C and I camp a lot at public campgrounds (FS, COE, etc.). I can honestly say that I haven't seen a tent-only site that I would have preferred over a general site. I can fit into the smallest of the general sites (tent or RV) and have always found one with a great view, privacy from other campers, etc. While I can fit into the tent only sites, they never offer anything better than the other sites and often offer less (no views of the water, etc.).

Tent only camping | Good Sam Community

18 Replies

toedtoes
Explorer III
Jun 14, 2017
I think there's a way to make this real easy:

Before you park ask if it's OK.

If there's no host to ask, don't camp in a tent only site.

There are many different reasons for having "tent only" sites. There are plenty of campgrounds and campsites out there that do accept TCs, trailers, conversion vans, and motorhomes without having to encroach into areas that you may not be authorized to park in.
pcoplin
Explorer II
Jun 14, 2017
Most of the camping I do don't have hookups, so they are just "sites". If you look at the description of most campgrounds they have a max length, or will state if they are pull through or not.

Only when you are going to the State parks and KOAs and such will you have to worry about it.
jimh406
Explorer III
Jun 14, 2017
stevenal wrote:
I've seen lots of tent people with generators. Unlike me, they don't generally have a house battery.

People with tents can also make lots of other noise as well. I think the rules are missing "real" reasons. At some time, they might have made sense.
stevenal
Nomad II
Jun 14, 2017
profdant139 wrote:
A ranger once told me that the "tent only" areas are intended to separate the tent campers from the RVs because the RVs are more likely to run generators. So this would apply to TCs, I think.

I've seen lots of tent people with generators. Unlike me, they don't generally have a house battery.
RickW
Explorer III
Jun 14, 2017
Just to add,

I was at a national park campground and visited at the campground gate to ask about the tent only section. The ranger showed me a placard with RVs, vans, jeeps, etc., on it, some with a red circle and line through them. My interpretation was if you could sleep or cook in it, you could not park there.

For example, a plain van was ok, but a van with a water inlet or furnace vent on the side was not. A truck with a bed cover was ok, but a cabover TC, not.
profdant139
Explorer II
Jun 14, 2017
A ranger once told me that the "tent only" areas are intended to separate the tent campers from the RVs because the RVs are more likely to run generators. So this would apply to TCs, I think.

But it depends on the local rules, I guess.
skidrue
Explorer
Jun 14, 2017
Thanks for all the input!! Good to know about Yellowstone and the TC being an RV. I guess its not very universal as some states you register your TC and some states you don't.
BadgerMcAdams
Explorer
Jun 13, 2017
I know that when we go to Big Lake in northern Arizona, there are 4 types of camping.

1) Unimproved Campsites - find a parking spot out in the wild and go. They are usually utilized by tents but I have seen campers (both TC and TT) park. They are also usually a no fire burn policy.

2) Improved Tent Only Campsites - These are by the lake, they have a parking lot where you park the vehicle, then hump your equipment in to the camp site. No vehicle access to these sites.

3) Improved Campsites - These will have a parking pad or pull through of various lengths. You can park a vehicle there (TC or TT) on the pads and camp, or set up a tent. This is more the generic "typical" campsite. There are generally no hookups, but SOME may have a general use water faucet that is for all camp members.

4) RV Loop - Here, I am guessing, as I have never parked here. but from pictures, it looks like it is set up for RV's to park with hookups. Mind you, it also looks like you could reach out and touch your neighbor. If I want that, I would stay at home.

Hope it helps...Good luck and have fun!
jimh406
Explorer III
Jun 13, 2017
As others have noted, tent only doesn't necessarily mean tent only. In any case, let me pass along that a truck camper is an RV at Yellowstone. At least, that's what they say if you call and ask. That goes for the roads as well.

On the other hand, Washington State Parks allow any type of camper to use any type of spot as long as you fit. In this case though, it's hookup vs nonhookup for the most part. Their online reservation is pretty clear.

Maybe, some other websites are clear for other places you will visit.
mkirsch
Nomad II
Jun 13, 2017
Obviously there is no universal rule that is followed by all campgrounds everywhere, except the Golden Rule, which is, "He who has the gold, makes the rules."

In other words, a campground owner is going to run the campground the way they see fit. As many campground owners seem to be squirrelly antisocial blank-holes on power trips, your mileage will certainly vary.

If there is any question, ASK before you sign the paper and pay your money. When you don't like the answer, put down the pen, walk out the door, and mosey on down the road.