Starting fulltiming this year and have been researching NP campgrounds. The listings will sometimes show spaces for a 40 ft motorhome. If I'm pulling a 39 ft 5er with a GMC 3500 CC DRW, does this mean I'm SOL? Where does the 40 ft MH park the dinghy? Not trying to sound dumb here just the first with RV that big.
Sometimes your truck will not fit on the RV site, and you might need to rent a second space, or move it to the visitor parking, and walk back to the trailer. With a Golden Age Pass or Handicap pass, you can get 50% off the camping fees.
Usually there are sites that will accommodate the 40' RV and a tow vehicle or towed vehicle.
Generally in NP everything must sit on the paved pad, may vary by park but that's the usual rule. I've found a 35 foot limit in many parks. With anything longer being very rare.
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You'll need to take them, case by case, as you may have no problem in some, but will in others. The main problem with length, in NF or NP CG's & some COE, is the interior roads, many are Very narrow & winding with close trees, getting backed into a site can be a real stuggle in some of them.
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Basically like the others said it just depends on the campground. We're 40-foot motorhome plus toad. I usually look for and book 40-foot sites and pretty much all of the time we're able to squeeze our toad in front of the MH right on the site. On the rare occasion we can't we'll park the toad in visitors parking (usually there will be somewhere you can take it).
Also like others said we have less problems w/ the site size than we do w/ the interior roads. In older campgrounds sometimes roads, corners, trees & site access is very tight. SO, usually I book 40-foot sites and hope the roads fit us If you're really worried you can always call the NP and ask. They'll usually have a good feel for what size rigs are able to get in.
Yosemite differentiates between MH and FW or TT. When you click on the site number it'll tell you at the bottom of the page what size trailer will fit. Most of the time the MH sites are single wide so the length given will be all the space you have. Double wide sites will give you more room and flexibility since you can park your TV next to your FW. I also agree with the comments about the roads. Our FW is 36 ft. and that is where we have most of our problems. The first time we went to Yosemite we took a day trip up to check out what sites we could fit into. I understand you probably won't be able to do that so you're at the mercy of recreation.gov, reserveamerica.com and any information you can get with a phone call to the CG. Oh...and rv.net forum members.
Public parks are our first choice - national parks, national forests, state parks, city parks. We have a 40' motorhome and Jeep and honestly, we never have problems fitting into sites and we don't make reservations. However, our travels are mostly west of the Mississippi. We have stayed in all the major national parks except Yosemite. No, the majority of sites won't work for you but if you can enter the park early in the morning (staying nearby the previous night) and early in the week, sites are available. If possible, we disconnect the Jeep and drive that through the campgrounds to check out tree overhangs, turns, and pick out a campsite. We have to disconnect anyway so doing it outside the park is no problem. Also, not all the sites are reservable and there are some campgrounds that are totally, unreservable. Those are the ones we choose because we can see the site in person. If a site is stated as a 40' you'll have room for your towed. You might have to park it on an angle on the parking spot but you'll fit. Or sometimes there are parking spaces at the bathrooms - just ask if you can park there - but we've never had to do that. And we have never had to or would rent two spaces as someone mentioned. Some national forest campground have "double sites" - much larger. You'll pay more for them but being in a national forest it's still cheaper than a private campground. If you're 62 yr. of age be sure to get your Golden Age Passport - $10 for life and gives you 1/2 price camping. You just have to do some research before you go. Have fun and best of luck to you in your new adventure. We love the lifestyle!
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If you're really worried you can always call the NP and ask. They'll usually have a good feel for what size rigs are able to get in.
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