What Length Are They Really Referring To?

I have not found anything that was the same from campground to campground. Years ago I was given a camping spot listed for 32', I had a truck with a camper on it and a small trailer, total size was 25' and that is being generous and we had to disconnect the trailer and push it in by hand as there was no unit above a small car that could make the turn without taking out rocks and bushes. Another time we registered in a "small " site that was rated as car with tent or van and that was it. I backed straight in the site for 150' before getting to the camping pad, I could have put a semi in there with space left over.

I really don't know but we have a 30 ft. MH and tow a subcompact and it the site advertises at 30 ft. or more we seem to be OK. Sometimes have to park the car at an angle to fit.

My experience has been that it's the entire length of the parking space that is available for parking the entire rig in, whether it's a class A DP, a truck and travel trailer, or truck camper with something towed behind it.

For years I used to sweat this, reserving every night of 1-2 month long trips, months in advance, to popular national parks.

In the past, when we reserved a 25' space for a 26' TT online (NP, SP, public), there has always been plenty of additional length for the tow vehicle, even unhitched. Sometimes the pavement is double wide so you park next to the RV. Lots of public campgrounds don't seem to distinguish between travel trailer length + TV or single motorhome (RV), even if you can click between the 2 on the reservation site. They seem to assume that there will be one extra vehicle per camping unit. I've noticed site measurements are usually conservative unless it specifically states a short pavement length or other restriction. Approach angles, boulders, and tree "tunnels" can be the limiting factor. Then again I have seen folks do some interesting things to get into their site with their 5+ axle combos....:R
Only once ever did we have trouble with a site. That was in Lassen Volcanic National Park, and only because the site was extremely narrow and crescent shaped between dense trees, not length. Now with just the TC, I don't worry much.:C

My rig is 53 1/2 feet long. I have been unable to find a campsite in Moab that I didn't have to break it down. Jeep goes inside trailer ;-)

thedavidzoo wrote:
For years I used to sweat this, reserving every night of 1-2 month long trips, months in advance, to popular national parks.

Yikes.

Terryallan wrote:
It is in fact the trailer. IF you can get the trailer on site. you can always park the TV somewhere else. The CG we have used on the Blue ridge Parkway. Have TV parking areas

A bit inconvenient if your tow vehicle is where you sleep, cook, etc. This is the truck camper forum, and the OP's trailer is for cargo.

I too noticed that. It seems we have a lot of folks with trailers, and tow rigs, not campers. Not picking a fight, just an observation.

stevenal wrote:

Terryallan wrote:
It is in fact the trailer. IF you can get the trailer on site. you can always park the TV somewhere else. The CG we have used on the Blue ridge Parkway. Have TV parking areas

A bit inconvenient if your tow vehicle is where you sleep, cook, etc. This is the truck camper forum, and the OP's trailer is for cargo.

Actually it can be a lot inconvenient as I'm specifically referring to our truck/TC set-up towing our cargo trailer carrying our camping gear (cookstove/grill, lawnchairs, water/beach toys & pull cart, firewood etc. plus ... our 2 maxi-scooters).

We could park the cargo trailer elsewhere if needed (have done this once) but that approach was a PITA and denied us access to just about all of the outdoor equipment we schlep along with us.

And before someone suggests cut back on what we bring, that is not an option. We love to camp, ride our scoots, grill and relax around the fire. It took us a decade to tune what we bring and everything has its place in making our trips comfortable, pleasant and memorable for us.

It seems that after reading all of the posts, there really isn't a set guideline as to what constitutes "maximum RV/unit length" from campground to campground.

Thanks all for sharing your opinions.