Advice on what to do with a towed car

[dmchamberlainy]

I have a reservation at a campground in Yellowstone NP but my toed car makes the overlong length greater than that allowed. Any thoughts on what to do with the car while I am in Yellowstone. Anywhere to park it?

[samven1]

When I was there last year I noticed that many of the sites were limited because of tent spots next to the parking pad, also some of the roads would have been a challenge for the longer combos.

[toedtoes]

Per Yellowstone:

When calling to make a reservation be prepared to give the dimensions of your tent (in feet) and/or the combined dimension of your RV and any other vehicles or towed vehicles. (e.g the length of your truck in addition to the length of your trailer when fully open.)

Fishing Bridge RV sites will accommodate a towing unit and a towed unit side by side. For example, a 35-foot site would accommodate an 18-foot truck and a 35-foot trailer (unhooked) side by side in the site. Adjust for slide outs.
Campground rates are per night, for up to six people or one family (parents with dependent children) and do not include taxes and utility fee.
Campground sites that will accommodate a maximum combined length of 40-feet or more are limited.

Most campsites in Yellowstone will not accommodate oversize units. Please note: If you arrive at the campground/RV Park with equipment different than that for which you have reserved, we will not be able to accommodate you. Also, please note that all rates are subject to change without notice.


To me, that means calling and asking about your particular campground BEFORE heading out there. Fishing Bridge campground can accept the 31ft MH and the tow car because it can fit the tow car beside the MH. The other campsites appear not to have that ability (hence identifying Fishing Bridge as such). Don't take the assurances of folks here that "you will not have a problem" or you're likely to be looking for a parking lot outside of the park to leave your car.

[Gjac]

dmchamberlainy wrote:
I will call the park directly. I am afraid that the length issue is the combination. You can not bring into the campground anything longer than 40 ft combining the RV and the car. My coachman is 31 ft and the car puts it well over 40 ft excluding the tow bar which they include. The only campground which allows larger is full.

You are not interpreting this quite right. If it is a back in site and it says 35 ft max that is the pad size. You will back in with your 31 ft MH after disconnecting your tow car and you will be fine. You just don't have enough room to pull in and have your car sicking out in the road. With a 31 ft MH you should not have a problem getting into most sites.

[gkainz]

unhook the toad outside the campground and drive in separately ...

[dmchamberlainy]

I will call the park directly. I am afraid that the length issue is the combination. You can not bring into the campground anything longer than 40 ft combining the RV and the car. My coachman is 31 ft and the car puts it well over 40 ft excluding the tow bar which they include. The only campground which allows larger is full.

[gkainz]

Oklahoma Dan wrote:
You can use Google Earth to check a future campsite which sometimes will tell you what you need. Best yet, it is free.

added features and bonuses on Google Earth, you can actually measure spots in the photos you're viewing

[crasster]

Park it on top of old faithful. It's a great way to clean the underside of your vehicle!!! 🙂

They do not have overflow parking at Yellowstone from what I remember. I do believe I recall persons parking next to their coaches though. Call ahead as there are several CG's there.

[BB_TX]

I agree with above about the specified max length being the RV itself, and not the toad if a MH or the tow vehicle if a trailer. They typically have space to park the other vehicle next to the RV.

From YNP Fishing Bridge RV park web site:

Fishing Bridge RV sites will accommodate a towing unit and a towed unit side-by-side. For example, a 35-foot site would accommodate an 18-foot truck and a 35-foot trailer (unhooked) side-by-side in the site. Adjust for slide outs.

[Oklahoma_Dan]

You can use Google Earth to check a future campsite which sometimes will tell you what you need. Best yet, it is free.

[path1]

(Unless I missed it, You don't say which campground at Yellowstone)

Campground closest to west entrance (can't remember name) had a small parking lot, with recycle bins and had a couple boat trailers, couple unhitched towed cars, demcey dumpster, couple broke cars etc.

I would call what campground you're booked at and confirm. They might even have it listed on a campground map on-line as overflow parking or something like that.

They have it down to science. For us at 59 feet (trailer and truck) had us booked in 60 foot campsite. That was 6 inches to spare at front and rear. The spot that we had there was no room to park beside, because of trees. Depends on which spot you get, if you can double park IMO. Usually you can "over hang" back bumper some, not this time. We didn't have any extra room because of trees to side or rear.

I'm pretty sure this pic is correct of overflow parking of where we were. And lots more spots than what pic shows. 3rd row second pic to right has "recyle bins" in title
https://www.nps.gov/media/photo/gallery.htm?id=D6687465-155D-451F-67DFA57626F7D708

[Trackrig]

Yes on Jerry's answer.

When a campground talks about a space length, they're talking about the length of the MH or trailer that has to fit into it since the toad or TV and be parked beside it. I've never heard of a campground considering the overall length of both hooked together.

Having said that, we'll often reserve a 65' or 70' pull through space when only pulling into some place to spend the night so we don't have to disconnect.

Bill

[toedtoes]

Call the campground and ask if they have overflow parking - if so, park it there.

[Mandalay_Parr]

Unhook and park it along side your rig.