The United States is home to nearly 60 national parks, each slightly different in its landscape, each stunning in its vastness and beauty. In most cases, these monuments and their scenic campgrounds can be found in remote locations throughout the country, reached only by a long, steep drive, tour bus, or small aircraft.
These idyllic campgrounds are ideal spots for outdoorsmen looking to escape the confines of society and discover the joy of being connected only to the ground beneath their feet. If you’re looking to visit a national park by RV this summer, we’ve got a few essential tips you should consider to help you better prepare for and complete your journey.
Research your specific park
There are general guidelines campers ought to follow in order to enjoy a successful and responsible RVing experience at one of the nation’s iconic parks. However, it is important to remember that every park is its own, with unique wildlife and terrain as well as rules for camping and navigating. Prior to embarking for a national park, it’s recommended that you visit its website to gather key information, read about past experiences of other campers, and fully acclimate yourself with the lay of the land. Look over maps and lists of attractions, and be sure to schedule a reservation for your preferred campground, if possible. Major parks such as Yosemite make thorough RV camping guides available on their site for visitors planning to travel by motorhome.Know how you’ll get there
Just as important as knowing what you’ll do once you’ve arrived is making a plan for the road trip. Being that national parks are typically found in the middle of nowhere, you likely have limited options for your route. However, with RV-specific GPS systems and mountain directories, you can cater your drive to the needs of your vehicle. If you want to avoid an excess of winding gravel roads and narrow passes, you’re better off knowing about them ahead of time rather than the moment you’re staring them down in person.Respect other campers
We don’t just mean being friendly and maintaining your distance, but in keeping with the spirit of the outdoors, most RVers set up around you at a national park will expect you to keep noise and modern technologies to a minimum. We recommend only ever running loud generators when totally necessary, such as in the event of recharging RV batteries at the end of the day. The goal of camping at a national park is to soak up the beauty of nature without leaving your mark. And most essential of all tips and recommendations: have fun! The majority of national parks have made their campgrounds fully accessible to motorhomes of all sizes, so you won’t be breaking any new ground. Additionally, if you have questions during the buildup to your trip that are not addressed online, feel free to call your park’s headquarters—they’ll be happy to advise you.
Have not used a government reservation system yet (federal or local) that wasn’t a pain in the ass to use.
Your information is way out of date. All camping reservations are handled through Recreation.gov
Hello Anne,
Thank you for your feedback. I have forwarded your comment to the proper department. We value your opinion, and it will help with the development of our online streaming community. We will continue to listen and work hard for your complete satisfaction.
Sarah
RV Repair Club Video Membership
BASIC INFORMATION
Just beginning my FT RVing and looking…
“mountain directories” link above in How You’ll Get There section is broken with a 404 error.
Hello Louis,
I am sorry that you are experiencing technical difficulties on the website. We are aware of the issue and working on a resolution to get this resolved as quickly as possible. I apologize for the inconvenience.
Sincerely,
Sarah
RV Repair Club Video Membership
The “mountain directory “ is still broken. It’s been a year now and it’s still not fixed?
We live in Australia, our Rv is similar to an Adventurer 34 Except it is worth $100,000 AUD.
Planning on a trip to Grand Tetons and Yellowstone. Would like info on all US and Canadian parks as well..Thank You!
Hello Jeff,
I would suggest going google to look up information on all the US and Canadian parks.
Sincerely,
Sarah
RV Repair Club Video Membership
Should I drain my DEF tank and refill it with new DEF since I have only driven 1000 miles?
Hello David,
Great question! The ‘Ask an Expert’ section is currently for members of our online community. By becoming a member, you will have access to our expert’s knowledge. With your membership you will also receive discounts on products and hours of Premium video content.
If you are interested in becoming a member, please click on the special offer below:
https://go.rvrepairclub.com/a19774/
Thanks!
Why would you do that????
no comment
My RV is 38ft. long. Can I tow my 2019 Tuscon behind?
Hi Louis,
That’s a great question!
The ‘Ask an Expert’ section is currently for members to our online community. We do have a promotional offer if you are interested. This would include access to expert advice (like this), plus discounts, hours of Premium videos, etc. Please feel free to take a look. You can message us right back with your question if you decide to become a member and you will have a response within 1-2 business days from our experts!
Please follow the steps below to receive the annual membership at the introductory rate:
1. Click on the email link: https://go.rvrepairclub.com/C23586
2. Click on the Premium Membership offer.
3. The Checkout page will display your Premium Membership purchase.
4. Fill in your Billing Details and create an account password.
5. Fill in your debit/credit card information.
6. Finish by clicking Complete Order.
If you have any further questions, please contact Customer Service at 1-855-706-3536 at your earliest convenience, or chat with us on our site.
We greatly appreciate your business!
Sincerely,
Shelley
RV Repair Club Video Membership”
Chassis radio blinks green light with loud thumping when dry camping
Winter rv.places,out west?
Hello Donald!
That’s a great question!
The ‘Ask an Expert’ section is currently for members to our online community. We do have a promotional offer if you are interested. This would include access to expert advice (like this), plus discounts, hours of Premium videos, etc. Please feel free to take a look. You can message us right back with your question if you decide to become a member and you will have a response within 1-2 business days from our experts!
Please follow the steps below to receive the annual membership at the introductory rate:
1. Click on the email link: https://go.rvrepairclub.com/c19458
2. Click on the Premium Membership offer.
3. The Checkout page will display your Premium Membership purchase.
4. Fill in your Billing Details and create an account password.
5. Fill in your debit/credit card information.
6. Finish by clicking Complete Order.
If you have any further questions, please contact Customer Service at 1-855-706-3536 at your earliest convenience, or chat with us on our site.
We greatly appreciate your business!
Sincerely,
Jessica
RV Repair Club Video Membership
How do you like self leveling jacks
looking info in NC
right now looking in NC
Does Yosemite allow older RV’s?
Just planning a trip to Colorado and Utah
Tyler, Thanks for this timely article. We are in the early planning stages for a month-long trip, September 2017, from San Antonio, TX to Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, Glacier, then across to the Little Big Horn and Rapid City/Mt Rushmore/Badlands area then back home. We would appreciate any feedback you or your readers might have on these parks.
If you can, find a campground or RV park outside of the NP. Our experience is exactly as related by John above regarding roads, parking lots, etc. definitely research not only the campgrounds, but the length of RV/trailer that can be accommodated on the roads. Narrow roads and hairpin turns abound. Love the NPs but usually have to camp outside the park and unhook.
We live in Waxahachie TX and are looking at making that same trip next year. Is there any info you can share with us that might make our trip more enjoyable? Thank you very much for any help.
Interesting article
The National Parks I have been to are not set up for large RVs or travel trailers as the parking lots have very tight turns in them, very few RV sparking spots, the scenic pull-offs are short and narrow and the RV camp grounds have close-in parking spaces, where you barely have room to put out your slide or put out your awning. National Parks seem to be more set up for tent campers than RV, 5th wheel or travel trailer campers. The entrances with those “cute” little log cabin-style entrance gate houses are set up for passenger car travelers, not RV or trailer travelers. You cannot get close enough to them to either pay or pick up your “free entrance brochure, map and newspaper.” Either you have to practically crawl out of your window or the staff members has to crawl out of the window of the building to reach you, because the roof of the little building sticks out two feet from it. If you have a dog, you may as well not visit any National Park. They have so many rules against what you can with your dog, they spend most of their time in the park in your vehicle. Most NPs we have visited have vendors running the campgrounds and concessions. The vendors are not as nice or as polite as NP employees and act like they really don’t want to be there. This “they don’t pay me enough to be nice to anybody” attitude wears thin very fast. And don’t ever complain to them about their attitude. You will be threatened with everything but death. The only good thing about National Parks is the Golden Age Passport or Senior Pass, where you get in for half price!
Oh, I am married to a southern girl, if her tongue dont set them strait, the vendors, her 12 gauge will! Just kidding!
There are now 62 National Parks since Gateway in St Louis, Indiana Dunes, and White Sands have been added.
Would like to receive RV related information on all the US’s and Canada’s National Parks
We stayed at Madison CG in Yellowstone, near West Yellowstone. As we pulled into the dump station we didn’t realize it was too narrow for a class C motorhome to enter. We lost our awning to the post that was positioned too close. While we were trying to secure it at the next stop another couple came over and asked what had ripped it off. We explained and they asked us if it happened at Madison. They had gotten stuck in the same side of that dumpstation with a pickup camper just a few days before. They had to be pulled out by another truck. The sides of their unit showed the scars. It is unbelievable to me that the park didn’t at least have a sign warning those with wider RVs (or in this case normal width RVs) not to enter that bay. Very irresponsible in my mind. Madison is a beautiful campground, just stay away from the dump station’s west bay.