Community Forums

Unicorn Driver · 01-20-2018, 07:57 AM

Hi,

I live in mid Michigan and stay mainly in State parks with my 35ft coach

When booking online I normally pick the up to 35 foot bracket and have got a spot.

Twice there no 35ft sites available so had to pick a 30foot one. I looked at the online photos and site length and width and took a chance, they were tight but fine.

If I went to say a 37 or 38 footer could this restrict me more?

BFlinn181 · 01-20-2018, 05:55 PM

I've never seen a campground refuse you your reserved site because the RV is longer than the site is listed for. Now if the bumper is hanging out into the road, or you took down a row of bushes trying to get in the spot...

momdoc · 01-20-2018, 06:57 PM

I look at the site info that is listed along with pictures many times for each site and make my decision based on that. We spent a few weeks in Michigan this past summer and they have some great state parks.

Unicorn Driver · 01-21-2018, 09:03 AM

Thanks both for the advice.

Gigattime · 01-21-2018, 10:55 AM

Increased length certainly can make things more challenging, but the benefits can out weigh the cons.

I have learned to do some research before just assuming "close enough, we'll fit" on site length alone. Some parks with length restrictions are also due to navigating the roads getting to the site.

To answer the original question, yes you may limit choices, but probably not much difference. Becomes bigger issue once you reach the 40 feet and over mark IMHO. When in doubt, it doesn't hurt to also call and ask questions about entry roads, etc.

Unicorn Driver · 01-21-2018, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gigattime

Increased length certainly can make things more challenging, but the benefits can out weigh the cons.

I have learned to do some research before just assuming "close enough, we'll fit" on site length alone. Some parks with length restrictions are also due to navigating the roads getting to the site.

To answer the original question, yes you may limit choices, but probably not much difference. Becomes bigger issue once you reach the 40 feet and over mark IMHO. When in doubt, it doesn't hurt to also call and ask questions about entry roads, etc.

Thanks for the advice on the entry roads.

My wife thinks tat 35ft long enough.

Superslif · 01-21-2018, 12:05 PM

That is one reason I wanted to stay under a 30' RV trailer. We do 90% of our stays in state, national, forest service or BLM campgrounds. Yes, the web has provided more photos of campground sites and roads the last few years.

There have been times when reserving a site the person on the phone said that site is only listed for a 20' RV, when I had a 26' at the time. Knowing that campground, and staying in that site before, I told her I have stayed in that site before and have no issues. I have never been denied a site.

Many of the actual state park site length restrictions are wrong in the first place. Example: Cook Forest State Park in PA. had many of their sites listed as 20' or 30' where in reality a 60' RV would fit. My sis-n-law was trying to do a online reservation for a 38' 5th wheel. It told her there were no sites available for her dates. Knowing the campground, I gave here a list of 10 sites that were available for her. You just have to "lie" and but down 30', in your length requirement box.

We went from a 26' tt to a 28' 8" RV we just bought in Oct. The new RV tt is 18" taller than the old one, so I will now have to watch on over hanging tree branches.

Unicorn Driver · 01-21-2018, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superslif

That is one reason I wanted to stay under a 30' RV trailer. We do 90% of our stays in state, national, forest service or BLM campgrounds. Yes, the web has provided more photos of campground sites and roads the last few years.

There have been times when reserving a site the person on the phone said that site is only listed for a 20' RV, when I had a 26' at the time. Knowing that campground, and staying in that site before, I told her I have stayed in that site before and have no issues. I have never been denied a site.

Many of the actual state park site length restrictions are wrong in the first place. Example: Cook Forest State Park in PA. had many of their sites listed as 20' or 30' where in reality a 60' RV would fit. My sis-n-law was trying to do a online reservation for a 38' 5th wheel. It told her there were no sites available for her dates. Knowing the campground, I gave here a list of 10 sites that were available for her. You just have to "lie" and but down 30', in your length requirement box.

We went from a 26' tt to a 28' 8" RV we just bought in Oct. The new RV tt is 18" taller than the old one, so I will now have to watch on over hanging tree branches.

Height is definitely one to watch here in Michigan.

Superslif · 01-21-2018, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Height is definitely one to watch here in Michigan.

I remember my brother had a 13' 5" toy hauler (5er). He was driving thru a PA. state park (Laurel Hill) laying a trail of tree branches to his campsite.

I'm only 11' 6",but having two past RV trailers of 9' 6" and 10', I'll have to pay more attention to overhanging tree limbs. Just noticed the only train bridge in my home town is 11' 6".

The OP said "length" of a campsite was something to watch, but also how much swing room there is to back into a site. More so in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast state parks.

Adventure · 01-30-2018, 11:28 AM

Getting around trees and tight campground curves gets more difficult the longer you are. Also the site may be long enough but in high season may be difficult to get into with the trees and other campers vehicles near the road. With our 35 ft length TT we have been staying in private campgrounds when we want to visit Ludington State Park. It wouldn’t matter at Hardwick Pines there is easy access and some pull through