RV access in California State and National Parks???

[americasweets]

We just finished a 3 week trio to Texas and back to California with he kids. We visited a lot of National Parks but skipped a few because we went sure we could make it in the TH. We live in California's Cental Valley and he a 35 foot TH. We're only here another year and want to hit as many State and National parks as possible. Does anyone know of any parks we should avoid with the TH?

[bikendan]

Lots of Cali State Parks and a lot of the National Parks can't accommodate a TH of that length, especially Cali SP. They haven't updated many of their campgrounds for the larger RVs that have become popular.
Just like less than 1% of Cali state parks have any hookups.
Having camped in California for 30 years, my feeling is that they cater more to tent campers, than RVers.

Which model TH do you have?

[americasweets]

We have a 29v vengeance. We wanted to plan a trip up to the Redwoods soon. It's super expensive to get a room and thought a camp site would be better. With gas and everything it looked like it would cost the same just take longer. But after reviewing the NPS our TH is too big.

[bikendan]

very few of the state/national parks in the redwoods, have room for that size of RV.
you'll probably have to stay at a private park in the area.

[j free]

Most of the big parks have private parks right outside there gates. I have been at some nice ones out side Yosemite, some of the big redwood forest and Santa Cruz, Monteray areas. and I have a 41 foot 5er.

[salbrecht]

We recently did the Texas to California round trip and had to stay in private parks with our 40' 5er. Almost impossible to find accommodations for our length, let alone with hookups in California.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by salbrecht

We recently did the Texas to California round trip and had to stay in private parks with our 40' 5er. Almost impossible to find accommodations for our length, let alone with hookups in California.

yep, that's how SP and NP campsites are like out in California.
since we preferred those kind of campgrounds, we chose our 24' HTT with the smaller sites in mind.

don't see the State ever upgrading services or campsite sizes at the State Park campgrounds.

[americasweets]

Ya were looking in to maybe getting something smaller. With 4 kids though it's hard to find something that gives everyone some space.

[PolarisGuy]

Originally Posted by americasweets

Ya were looking in to maybe getting something smaller. With 4 kids though it's hard to find something that gives everyone some space.

We live in the central valley too! We just upgraded from a 22' Fleetwood TH to our new 30' Stealth and LOOOVVVEEE the space. We are also starting to worry about spaces as well. We are doing a family reunion trip next weekend to Dinkey Creek and our space is 50' but that's suppose to include TV. I'm borderline hahah. My Stealth is 35' total length and my Ford PSD club cab is long too... Hmmmmm

Should be camping but I'm on Tapatalk

[pmsherman]

We have a CA issued state park camping map that lists all of the state parks and their amenities/restrictions. I think that's what you're looking for.

Phil

[americasweets]

We just picked up a California State and National park map. It gives the location of the RV sites but not their accommodations. What's your map because your right I want that one

[Skip 63]

I just came from California and must say that they have the worst state park system in the nation! No hookups and twice as expensive as every where else. I have camped in over forty states in tents and with a travel trailer. Hands down California State Parks are the worst. We stayed in some excellent county parks near San Francisco. Go to Oregon. They have excellent parks.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Skip 63

I just came from California and must say that they have the worst state park system in the nation! No hookups and twice as expensive as every where else. I have camped in over forty states in tents and with a travel trailer. Hands down California State Parks are the worst. We stayed in some excellent county parks near San Francisco. Go to Oregon. They have excellent parks.

Sad to say that currently, they are bad. and they probably cost more than any other state, especially the coastal ones.
the most common campsite rate is $35/nite, which only gets you a picnic table and fire ring. no hookups, not even water.

but they've never had many campsites with hookups.
i always post that less than 1% of all Calif. state park campsites have any hookups and most of them are just W/E.
and the competition for them is so fierce, that they are almost gone in mere seconds they become available.

but a couple of decades ago, Calif. State Parks were among the best. but those days are gone and i don't ever see that changing.

the pic in my avatar, is from one of those Cali SP's, one of our top 5. those are Redwoods in the background, but i'm not telling where it is.