RV Camping for family with > 6

[nparker76]

I have 7 people in my family. How can I "legally" stay somewhere when the maximum occupancy is 6? :?

I've had a camper for several years but I've only gone to the local state parks, in which they don't check the number of people on your campsite. This year we are hitting the open road for the first time. I've been looking around at various RV campgrounds and they all say maximum of 6 people. I am married and have 5 kids, so there's 7 of us total. One of the kids is bringing a friend on one of our planned trips. My camper sleeps 8 comfortably and there's no issue with room.

So my question is how am I supposed to camp with more than 6 people? I've read rules in Canada, and they state that the max doesn't matter if its the same family. But I've called several places in the Texas and they are all sticking to the 6 person limit and don't seem to care to turn away a paying customer. The only think I can think of is to hide a kid during registration and lie to them.

Any ideas? Seems like a pathetic rule. I know rules usually have good reason, but they become pathetic when they aren't implemented correctly.

[westernrvparkow]

Grit dog wrote:
Lol, just go camping and don't worry about it.
Unless all 7 are lined up at the curb, who's to tell how many you have?
Those rules are designed to keep multiple groups/families from cheaping out and getting 1 hillbilly campsite.
Dont sweat the petty stuff.........or just call and ask. No one here cares how many in your campsite. Ask the right people if it's concerning to you.
Edit didn't read you actually called the campgrounds and got shut down on it.
I'm the type of person that doesn't care about this stuff and would get a kick out of riling up some guy like westernrvowner above. You're just going camping. I'd call their bluff if called out on it. Be a pretty sad day someone calls the cops on a nice family cause they popped out one to many kids!! My guess would be the cops, unless they can make money off of it, would laugh at some a hole campground attendant for a complaint like this, unless there was more to the story at the time.

It wouldn't be a bluff you were calling. I am not an idiot. I can count to six and above. We are very clear about our policies. Arrive with seven or more we give you two options. 1. Leave and forfeit your deposit. 2. Go and find a hotel room for some of the people and return with a receipt and then you will get a site.
It would be a pretty sad day that the police would have to be called because someone blatantly refused to honor the rules and policies of an establishment. I haven't had the need, but I sure wouldn't shy away from doing so should the situation require it.

[pookiebear38]

Texas State Parks allow 8 people per site usually. I don't know where you're traveling in the state but there are definitely decent state parks throughout. Happy travels!

[Merrykalia]

nparker76 wrote:
And thanks for the feedback so far! I'm a newbie to this forum and I appreciate the help. A lot of forums these days are full folks who only like to trash on people. So far this one is going good!

I wouldn't play dumb, but when I called, I would speak to someone that actually has some authority, not just whomever answered the phone. Ask to talk to the owner, the ranger, the campground manager, etc.

Be sure and keep track of who you talked to, when you talked to them and what was said. If you could do it by email, that would even be better because then you would have a written response.

I am sure most state parks are like Virginia.

[Grit_dog]

Lol, just go camping and don't worry about it.
Unless all 7 are lined up at the curb, who's to tell how many you have?
Those rules are designed to keep multiple groups/families from cheaping out and getting 1 hillbilly campsite.
Dont sweat the petty stuff.........or just call and ask. No one here cares how many in your campsite. Ask the right people if it's concerning to you.
Edit didn't read you actually called the campgrounds and got shut down on it.
I'm the type of person that doesn't care about this stuff and would get a kick out of riling up some guy like westernrvowner above. You're just going camping. I'd call their bluff if called out on it. Be a pretty sad day someone calls the cops on a nice family cause they popped out one to many kids!! My guess would be the cops, unless they can make money off of it, would laugh at some a hole campground attendant for a complaint like this, unless there was more to the story at the time.

[fla-gypsy]

Florida State Parks allow up to 8.

[lots2seeinmyrv]

I agree with westernrvparkowner.

Don't crowd others with too many people. Most sites are not that spacious. Rent two sites and put a tent or pop-up on the 2nd site.

[westernrvparkow]

We have a 6 person limit per site. We do not make exceptions. Obviously that does not work for everyone, but it works for our parks. We have that rule to ensure our park facilities do not get over crowded. We do not allow tents on the RV sites for the simple reason that they crowd the next site. A constant complaint on these forums are the fact that RV sites are close together. A tent between neighboring site cuts the distance between sites.
Then there is the issue of disturbing those neighbors. The fact of the matter is while a travel trailer may indeed sleep 8 people, that same trailer is very crowded if those 8 people are inside not sleeping. And if there are children involved, they tend to go to bed earlier than the adults, meaning the adults must stay outside to talk and entertain themselves. There is logic and a business reason to maintain site limits.

[jamway]

I would try C. O. E. campgrounds. We are camped at one now and the MAX. no. of people is 10. We have been in a few that only allow 8 per campsite.

Most are very good campgrounds and some have full hookups.

TX. Ok. AR. has many for you to try.

http://corpslakes.usace.army.mil/visitors/camping.cfm

Enjoy

[DutchmenSport]

I was at one private campground this last summer and they had a 2 people rule for the basic campsite. ANY additional people more than 2 was another $5.00 per person, per night! When my son showed up with his little boy, we paid the $10.00 and we've never been back.

[nparker76]

Veebyes wrote:
Claim one of them as the family pet.

I'm sure a few of them would qualify lol. I finally found a place close to where I wanted. Had to go outside of the Good Sam parks though. But found a cheaper place that looks really nice.

[Veebyes]

Claim one of them as the family pet.

[rekoj71]

I wouldn't try the playing dumb method as then you will likely have to move and may not be able to find a spot where you were planning to be. Lots of campgrounds will take more people, but yes many charge a per person fee after 2 people. You will just have to keep looking. I follow a family blog that travels with at least 11. Most of the campgrounds I've been in do have people who are driving around the campground checking on things and you would probably be figured out and then have an awkward situation.

[nparker76]

And thanks for the feedback so far! I'm a newbie to this forum and I appreciate the help. A lot of forums these days are full folks who only like to trash on people. So far this one is going good!

[nparker76]

Merrykalia wrote:
In Virginia State Parks, the rule states "Developed campsites can accommodate six people per site or all members of a household."

That rule makes sense, and that's how it should be everywhere. It's just getting frustrating calling all the places in the area we plan to stay and they all say no. So I'm just getting farther and farther away from where we plan to go because of some rule meant to keep partying down to a minimum. So far all of them that I've called I already have to pay per person, but they won't allow over 6. Do places actually check? Would it be worth the risk of just booking it and showing up? Playing dumb if I get caught?