How big is too big for scenic campgrounds? (5er)

[SettingOutSoon]

I plan to go full-time soon, and need an RV that allows me to get into state/federal parks and the more scenic/natural campgrounds. I am leaning heavily towards a 5th Wheel.

Does anyone have any advice on when your RV size starts to become an issue? I really don't want to miss out on beautiful spots because my rig is too big. A related question: do the more scenic and public campgrounds limit you more on how long you can camp?

[Roads_Less_Trav]

When going full-time, the first concern should really be comfort, and for that we found we needed a big rig (36' fiver). This is your home, afterall, and you can't "go home" to somewhere else once you go full-time.

There are gazillions of scenic places to see by RV but you don't have to camp in all of them... you can stay in a comfy RV park and drive to the scenery every day.

The best method we've found for parking with multi-million dollar views out our windows is Boondocking.

We boondock all the time, and that is the most scenic way to camp imagineable. The US public lands in the west are extensive and we regularly camp in a huge open area with as much room to spread out as we need (and then some) and with views we could never afford to buy.

We stopped staying in campgrounds and RV parks because it was just plain too complicated -- hard to fit in, too many rules and regulations, and very very expensive

If this kind of camping appeals to you, we have lots of boondocking info on our site:

RV boondocking tips & tricks

[DianneOK]

Settingoutsoon....regarding fiver towing....not really. We towed the 34 with a F450 & the 35 & 39 with a F60. The freightliner was by far the easiest truck to handle......

[vermilye]

The simplest answer is the smaller you are, the more spaces will be available. I've stayed in many state & national parks where you could easily park a 40' RV, but I've also found stops where I could barely fit my 17' trailer. More than once I've been given a site while larger trailers were turned away.

[SettingOutSoon]

Thanks, all.

[Jim-Linda]

Setting Out, Your other post in Beginning RVing has several answers, including the question you have about working online.

Jim

[Eycom]

SettingOutSoon... Obviously when it comes to campsites, the smaller the RV, the more options you'll have. A number of the eastern SPs I've camped in were designed and built back in the days of the CCC. Some of those parks have been updated to a degree. But, there is still a larger selection of shorter RV/tent sites than those that will handle a 40' 5er.

Take a look at Paris Mountain SP down in Greenville, SC as an example. If you have a truck camper and disdain reservations, you'll fit in any available site. In a 40 footer, you've got a shot at 8 spots. And don't discount the fact that a few of those sites will be occupied by a pop-up or a Casita. Of course, as a full timer, it won't be such a big issue during the off-season unless you are looking for a SP site in South FL.... in which case, it's the in-season.:B Good luck with your selection.

[skipnchar]

You will ALWAYS find a larger number of sites that a 30 foot trailer will fit into than a 40 foot trailer. A 20 footer will find even more sites in which it will fit. That doesn't mean you can't find plenty of sites for larger trailers but it will never be equal. You need to decide what size trailer you need/want and then fit the sites to that size.

For what it's worth, I've only been asked to leave ONE campground in over 100,000 mils of travel and THAT was after I was all set up and ready to pay for the site. I was told it was not possible to get a trailer that size into the campground in Rainier national Park :H They had no answer when I told them I had not had any difficulty getting in but HOPPED I could get out as easily.

[SettingOutSoon]

TerryAllan: That's helpful, thanks. I hope to make it further than Linville, but I'm sure this applies to other parks too!

Eycom: So, you're planning to go with a 32-34' 5th Wheel? I take it you think that's the best balance between RV space and campground accessibility?

brirene: Thanks...friendly place!

[Eycom]

I've traveled all over the east coast on business, staying in government (public) parks probably 95% of the time. Based purely on my observation it appears that 32-34' is a reasonable size. I've been in some parks where access roads alone would hinder longer units. I've also been in parks that would accommodate larger units, however the number of large sites were few. I'll be looking for a 5er for retirement in the next few months and due to my preference for government parks, that's the way I plan to go.

Most public parks I've visited in the east have had a 2 week stay limit. A few have allowed a month. While one permitted an unlimited stay during the off-season. However, one would have to rotate (move) every two weeks into a different section of the park.

[Terryallan]

SettingOutSoon wrote:
I plan to go full-time soon, and need an RV that allows me to get into state/federal parks and the more scenic/natural campgrounds. I am leaning heavily towards a 5th Wheel.

Does anyone have any advice on when your RV size starts to become an issue? I really don't want to miss out on beautiful spots because my rig is too big. A related question: do the more scenic and public campgrounds limit you more on how long you can camp?

Honestly. IF you are thinking of camping in the Blue Ridge Parkway CGs. Going big can be a real problem. There are few sites in Julian Price, or Linville Falls that you would fit in.

[brirene]

Many, if not most state parks limit stays to 14 or 15 consecutive days. Some, I believe would allow you to simply move to another site, but I don't know how common that is.

And welcome to the forum!

[SettingOutSoon]

Thanks Dianne. Did you find any difference in the way it feels to tow a 34' vs. a 39' RV?

[DianneOK]

We have had 3 different sized 5ers....from 34' to 39' The 34'was the easiest to find parks for, tho very few places were a problem even for the largest one.