Core of Engineers camping

[chuckftboy]

I have decided to try some camping in the COE camp grounds. My problem seems to be, my motor home may be too long. at 38'11". Most of the camp grounds I have checked have a 36' limit.
If I fudge a little and attempt to reserve a site, will they ask me to leave when I arrive? What does everyone else do? Surely people with larger coaches have enjoyed the COE campgrounds.

[chuckftboy]

Thanks for all the replies. Several of you gave me some excellent advice. I will stop looking at web sites and make more phone calls and thanks jeanbo1, I need to place an Amazon order, I'll add the book. Thanks to Teacher's Pet fr the link. I was using Reserve America which may not be the best info available.

[chuckftboy]

Thanks for all the replies. Several of you gave me some excellent advice. I will stop looking at web sites and make more phone calls and thanks jeanbo1, I need to place an Amazon order, I'll add the book. Thanks to Teacher's Pet fr the link. I was using Reserve America which may not be the best info available.

[jeanbo1]

I just bought a book on Amazon for the COE campgrounds, Camping With the Corps of Engineers: The Complete Guide to Campgrounds Built and Operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Wright Guides) Paperback – June 15, 2015

[2gypsies1]

We have also stayed at Corps parks with our 40' motorhome and Jeep and many times had excess room. I think you need to find a different park. Also, some Corp parks have multiple campgrounds so just look up another. Some are geared for rustic camping - tents and smaller RVs; some for bigger RVs with full hookups.

[jplante4]

Just FYI - it's Corps of Engineers.

[Kayteg1]

Very often the restrictions are made for liability reason.
They don't want no-skills drivers of 40' coaches to start fooling around and making danger U-turns on narrow and crowded passages.
I have been camping my 40' on campground with 30' restrictions.
But that was campground I am familiar with for 20 years and I went there mid-week what gave me time to maneuver without worry about blocking the crowds.

[darbyjudy]

I have used COE campgrounds in Alabama, TN and GA for many years and I have a 37 ft MH. I have never had any problems and dthe sites are large enough.

[dahkota]

chuckftboy wrote:
I have decided to try some camping in the COE camp grounds. My problem seems to be, my motor home may be too long. at 38'11". Most of the camp grounds I have checked have a 36' limit.
If I fudge a little and attempt to reserve a site, will they ask me to leave when I arrive? What does everyone else do? Surely people with larger coaches have enjoyed the COE campgrounds.

Maybe if you post the campgrounds you are considering, someone here might be able to give you more feedback on that specific campground.

[scrubjaysnest]

The only ACOE that we have seen where your size would be a problem are the ones that are dry camping. These are typically smaller and maybe half a dozen sites.
Just looked at our ACOE CG book and don't see a size limit as a general rule.
Some of the smaller ones listed do show size limits.

[Laman]

I have stayed at probably 20 COE campgrounds in the Southeast in the last couple of years and never had a problem finding a site for my 40 footer. My advice is to call the actual campground and get the specifics because the website is not always correct. Now some of the roads can be narrow and overhanging branches bear watching.

[Teacher_s_Pet]

Check the COE Campgrounds at Recreation.gov. Click on the camp site number on the map and it will give you, a photo, the site length and hookups.

[GTN_and_Catz]

I've found Google Earth to be very useful when looking at some COE sites and trying to identify a specific camping site. If there's not too much tree cover, you can get a pretty good idea if the camping site is a short or long pull-through or has enough room to back in, etc.

We frequent COE parks and haven't run into any issues with our 36' and we usually have either a tow dolly or the jeep toad. But those may just be the ones in our part of the world.

[stickdog]

We've stayed at several USACE parks we're over 53' and usually don't unhook the TV. Most have been west of Mississippi but not all.

[Dale_Traveling]

Sometimes its not the individual site length but narrow interior roads, sharp turns and limited room to either back into a site or pull out of.

I you want to give it a shot do you home work beyond picking a park and camp site. Use the available satellite or birds eye aerial view of the camp ground. Check the interior roads, turns and such. Give the prospective camp ground a call. Many times the contact station and phones are manned by work-campers who will understand what you are asking.

90% of my outings are government facilities and even with my 30' home on wheels I check new park out as much as possible. A pull thru site is no guarantee either if your rig can't make the turn to avoid the drainage ditches, trees, site markers, boulders and such on both sides of the road.