Rig size restrictions in CA, OR, & WA

[Mountain_Mama]

I’m researching a trip and wondering about size of rig restrictions in theses area. We currently have a 38' 5th wheel (possibly might have 42' in future) . I know I’ve seen that many St. parks especially in CA are built for smaller rigs. Got me to thinking about how much we might be restricted. Not fans of "resorts" but will do what we have to! Seen some St. parks in OR where we could fit.

[2gypsies1]

Cape Blanco State Park in Oregon doesn't even accept reservations and we've always gotten in in different months with our 40' MH. We've also stayed - without reservations - at Beverly Beach, Bullards Beach and Harris Beach State Parks in Oregon.

If you like a state park 'feeling' there are always other options in the states - national forest campgrounds, county parks.

The coast of California and the traffic to get there never appealed to us; Oregon is better. We enjoy the eastern Sierra area of Hwy 395.

Buy the RV you'll be happy with. You'll find places to stay.

[ScottG]

There's no denying that the longer your rig is the more likely you are to have trouble finding a site in Wa. State parks.
Ours is 34' and our choices have diminished.

[ktmrfs]

Mountain Mama wrote:

MarkTwain wrote:

Mountain Mama wrote:
I’m researching a trip and wondering about size of rig restrictions in theses area. We currently have a 38' 5th wheel (possibly might have 42' in future) . I know I’ve seen that many St. parks especially in CA are built for smaller rigs. Got me to thinking about how much we might be restricted. Not fans of "resorts" but will do what we have to! Seen some St. parks in OR where we could fit.

Yes you will be limited in State Parks. Check each park for limitations. On the west coast start making your reservations 1 yr. in advance especially on the Oregon coast. Summer months are the worst for availability.

From what I can tell 9 months out is earliest reservations can be made at St parks. Anyone know different?

Oregon state parks during the "summer months" has two categories. Some parks are "first come first serve, no reservations or have some first come first serve sites set aside.

Others have all sites open for reservations.

Many oregon state parks during the off season, oct-early may have some loops closed, or most loops open first come first serve and some spots reservable. Even if during the summer all sites are reservable.



Oregon state parks reservations can be made 9 months in advance starting at 12:01AM. There are several we do summer camps at and we indeed to a group party the night before and have the computers "locked and loaded" with the sites we want ready to hit "Go" at 12:00:01 AM.

Now with all that said, even the parks that fill up 9 months in advance on the weekend, often have sites available Tues-thurs during the week. Fort Stevens, Silver Falls, Honeyman, and others we've been able to get mid week spots looking on line on Sunday and get a Tues-thursday spot with reasonable choice of spots. Fri- Monday are the busy days.

Also there are a lot of county parks that use their own reservation system, not reserve america, so we can get spots on shorter notice.

[ktmrfs]

Most oregon state parks have SOME sites that will handle large rigs. We are 65ft overall, trailer is 35 w/o the bike rack on the back. And every Oregon state park we have been to has sites we can fit into. In some cases, every one, in some cases a few. Good news is that most oregon state park websites have info on site size and often pictures. If in doubt call the park, they will tell you if you can fit into certain spots.

We have also had good luck in washington and in many Oregon county or older parks that started as WPA etc. parks.

California, well fewer parks that we could fit into

[Mountain_Mama]

MarkTwain wrote:

Mountain Mama wrote:
I’m researching a trip and wondering about size of rig restrictions in theses area. We currently have a 38' 5th wheel (possibly might have 42' in future) . I know I’ve seen that many St. parks especially in CA are built for smaller rigs. Got me to thinking about how much we might be restricted. Not fans of "resorts" but will do what we have to! Seen some St. parks in OR where we could fit.

Yes you will be limited in State Parks. Check each park for limitations. On the west coast start making your reservations 1 yr. in advance especially on the Oregon coast. Summer months are the worst for availability.

From what I can tell 9 months out is earliest reservations can be made at St parks. Anyone know different?

[MarkTwain]

Mountain Mama wrote:
I’m researching a trip and wondering about size of rig restrictions in theses area. We currently have a 38' 5th wheel (possibly might have 42' in future) . I know I’ve seen that many St. parks especially in CA are built for smaller rigs. Got me to thinking about how much we might be restricted. Not fans of "resorts" but will do what we have to! Seen some St. parks in OR where we could fit.

Yes you will be limited in State Parks. Check each park for limitations. On the west coast start making your reservations 1 yr. in advance especially on the Oregon coast. Summer months are the worst for availability.

[Durb]

I've been to a number of state parks in both states that will accept your rig. Here are some off the top of my head. Oregon - Silver Falls, Ft. Stevens, Farewell Bend, Champooeg. Washington - Maryhill, Cape Disappointment, Grayland Beach. As stated above, make sure you have a reservation, especially when school is out.

[donn0128]

Except for the coast most state parks will have a few sites capable of handling your rig. But be aware, Oregon state parks fill up fast. Unless you have reservations you likely will be restricted to private parks.