I am certain that absolutely everyone would prefer living in a larger space. Therefore, many people take a close look at RV length when purchasing one.
Some solely consider the largest options of RVs, while the others take a closer look at options with medium RV length.
No matter what you choose, you will still be facing several pros and cons of your RV length.
My experience has shown that the largest trailers almost always have trouble with parking, if they go camping on National parks.
Most of the time they have limitations on RV length because of the big number of visitors. Therefore, if your RVing is mostly composed of camping on campsites, consider smaller RV length.
I believe I have mentioned in my previous articles that I greatly prefer Class A trailers to class C. It is a well-known fact that my preferred trailers are relatively bigger.
Therefore, I started doing a research on various campsites in the country of United States. I will share in smallest details the regulations of those campsites with you.
Before we get into the numbers, I want to say that my research turned into a big thesis with multiple numbers, laws and regulations.
As a result, I came to the decision that the best RV length would be anything less than 35 feet. This RV length will allow you to easily find at least a couple spots at any campsite in the county.
The ultimate RV length for US campsites
Since you are not going to park your trailer without the towing vehicle, I have included the total number of both the trailer and the towing vehicle in my calculations.
Moreover, whenever there is a restriction on RV length for any campsite, the number refers to the total length of the trailer and the towing vehicle combined. If you have a fifth wheel (see the article on pros and cons of fifth wheel trailers)
Additionally, my experience with RVs has shown that almost all manufacturers fudge their RV length in order to make you believe that their products all correspond to the standards of the parks.
The optimal decision would be to take a measuring tape and go get the exact number of your RV length. Add the length of your towing vehicle to the number and you will see if you are allowed to a certain campsite.
Make sure to check out my review on Champion 75537i.
Average RV length scale for US National Parks
We have roughly 9 RV length categories, starting from 12 feet all the way to 41 plus. I will talk separately about all these 9 categories and present the percentages of each one of them in relations with national parks.
Excluding the parks, which do not allow trailers at all, since they are solely tent camps, all of the US National Parks allow 12 feet trailers. The “tents only” campsites are not really that many.
About 98% of US National Parks are appropriate options for trailers up to 19 feet long.
Regarding the RV length of up to 25 feet, the percentage of US National Parks decreases just a little. 93% of the campsites are good with 25 feet campers.
I am sure you have noticed the pattern of decrease in percentages. Well, for trailers with RV length up to 29 feet, only 84% of US campsites are compatible.
Regarding the campers up to 32 feet, still most campsites are okay with the number. However, the percentage is 81%.
Since the numbers of RV length increase, the number of parks decrease. 73% of US National Parks are ready to host campers up to 35 feet.
Despite the fact that the difference between 35 and 37 feet is not that big, the percentage difference is quite big. Only 60% of US National Parks can park trailers up to 37 feet.
Regarding the larger, up to 40 feet campers, they can be hosted by only 53% of the campsites in the United States. I strongly recommend people who own big RVs to book their places in advance.
Since there are too few campsites, which have the capacity for long trailers, you might face the problem of these parks not having any free parking spaces.
Finally, if your RV length is 41 feet and more, you can be welcomed in only 7% of US National Parks. The above-mentioned advice applies here even more.
Also make sure to see my article on RV mistakes and tr to avoid them.
Most popular campsites with their RV length restrictions
I could get my hands on this list after a thorough research. I have included almost all parks with their multiple or only campgrounds.
There are two campgrounds in Acadia Park: Blackwoods and Seawall. For the first option, the limitation is 35 feet. This of course includes the length of the towing vehicle as well.
You have to keep in mind the fact that if you trailer has slide outs; they must fit in the same space as the trailer. However, most people I have talked to said that they were cutting the limitation with 2-3 feet and they still were let in.
The numbers do not change for the second campsite Seawall. It is still 35 feet, and it does include the length of both the towing vehicle and towed vehicles.
Meanwhile, Arches Park has three campgrounds: Davil’s Garden, Archview and Moab Valley. Unlike the previous option, the number of these campgrounds are different form each other, even among campgrounds themselves.
Devil’s Garden has three groups of RV length categories. The campground is divided to areas, which allow different length trailers. The first area is for campers up to 25 feet long. The second one has the capacity to host campers up to 30 feet long.
Finally, the last capacity holds trailers with RV length of up to 45 feet long.
However, please keep in mind that the last two areas are not free of charge. You have to pay extra money. These spots are considered premium spots, therefore they cost more.
Badlands Park has only one campground. I honestly could not find any official information on RV length restrictions.
However, whoever is a common guest there told me that the area is huge and the spots are plenty big. Therefore, can hold big trailers as well.
The next is Bryce Canyon Park. It has two campgrounds: Pines and North campsites. The situation with Pines is similar to Badlands Park. No official info.
However, the area is big enough to fit trailers over 40 feet long.
Meanwhile, North campsite has the limitation of 40 feet. Nonetheless, whoever went there, has told that it is quite hard to park a 40 feet-long camper.
Denail Park has three campgrounds: Riley Creek, Savage and Teklanika. All these campsites have the same rules and regulations. The regular spots are for 30 feet-long campers.
Additionally, there are premium spots, which are not free of charge and they have the capacity of 40 feet campers.
Death Valley Park has two campsites, which have the same capacity of 40 feet RV length. Those campsites are Sunset and Furnace Creek.
Everglades Park can host campers up to 45 feet long in its Flamingo campground.
Grand Canyon Park with its Railway campsite is among the very few, which host campers bigger than 45 feet. However, this number includes the length of the towing and the towed vehicles.
Joshua Tree Park has the same capacity all over its area. There are three different campsites: Black Rock, Hidden Valley and White Tank.
All them hold the capacity of 25 feet RV length.
Redwoods is one of the biggest National Parks. It has four different campgrounds with different capacities.
Jedediah Smith has spots for 31 feet-long trailers and 36 feet-long motorhomes. Mill Creek holds campers with 27 feet length and motorhomes with 31.
Elk Prairie is fit for 24 feet-long trailers and 27 feet-long motorhomes. Finally, Gold Bluffs can only host motorhomes of 24 feet-long. Meanwhile, in this campsite, trailers are not allowed.
Rocky Mountain Park also has four different campsites. They have the capacity of 30, 35, 40 and 30 feet RV length. Respectively those campsites are Aspenglen, Glacier Basin, Moraine and Timber Creek.
The situation with Sequoia Park is a little complex. Although the restriction is up to 42 feet, most of the road leading to this Park do not allow vehicles longer than 22 feet.
Yellowstone Park is among the biggest in the United States. Although the capacity for all campsites is the same, the total number of those campsites is five.
Fishing Bridge, Bridge Bay, Canyon Village, Grant Village and Madison. All these sites have the capacity of 40 feet RV length.
Finally, the last destination is Zion Park. We were going alphabetically; therefore, we have arrived at the destination.
This park is probably the smallest one throughout the United States. Although it has two different campsites, their capacity is not that outstanding.
You can enter with 19 feet-long trailers. Moreover, the restriction refers to the total length of both the trailer and the towing vehicle.
In this case, the only option is either a pop-up or a teardrop.
In conclusion, I can say that our country is big enough to fulfill any of your caprices. You can find campgrounds and National Parks nearby any cities.
Moreover, any length trailers can be parked in more than 10 campsites. Therefore, you will definitely find what you are looking for.