When you’re traveling in a big rig, loosely defined as a camper longer than 35 feet, camping at a national park isn’t always as simple as booking a site and showing up on the day of your reservation. Not all national park campgrounds can accommodate large campers. To avoid disappointment and the stressful experience of searching for a last-minute alternative, it pays to plan ahead and make sure that your dream national park destination can handle your dimensions.
Ready to spend a night in a national park? Here are nine big rig friendly campgrounds to check out. And remember, always double check the length and width of the specific site you’re booking. Not every campsite in these campgrounds will fit big rigs.
Schoodic Woods Campground | Winter Harbor, ME
Acadia National Park, Maine
Acadia National Park can be a far trek for those outside of the Northeast, but it’s worth every mile under the tires for the chance to experience this beautiful and rugged park on Maine’s coastline. Big rigs will feel right at home at Schoodic Woods, a five-star rated campground that reviewers report will fit a camper up to 45 feet. “Schoodic Woods is perfection in national park form for big riggers like ourselves,” says Liz & Jake, who travel in a 40-foot coach. “[It has] well-spaced, large, level, private campsites.”
Oregon Inlet Campground | Nags Head, NC – Photo by: Stewbachs
Cape Hatteras National Seashore, North Carolina
North Carolina’s Outer Banks is a popular destination, with 300-plus miles of narrow barrier islands that hook into the Atlantic. Explore this wild coast with a trip to Cape Hatteras National Seashore and a stay at Oregon Inlet Campground, which welcomes rigs up to 40 feet. Reviewers share that while the sites are narrow, the short walk to the beach and the park’s central location more than make up for it.
Meriwether Lewis Campground | Hohenwald, TN – Photo by: Kate
Natchez Trace Parkway, Tennessee
Take a tour through history on the Natchez Trace, a 444-mile drive through Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Now managed by the National Park Service, the Natchez Trace Parkway follows a historic corridor that’s been in use for more than 10,000 years. While in Tennessee, stop for the night at Meriwether Lewis Campground, a free, first-come, first-served campground that can accommodate rigs up to 45 feet, according to reviewers. The Parkway itself has a length restriction of 55 feet, including a tow vehicle, and a height restriction of 14 feet.
Flamingo Campground | Homestead, FL – Photo by: Island Girl Walkabout
Everglades National Park, Florida
Everglades National Park sits at the southern tip of mainland Florida and is home to wildlife like alligators, crocodiles, manatees, black bears, and the elusive Florida panther. It’s also a birdwatchers dream, with more than 300 bird species in the park. Roll your big rig down to Flamingo Campground, which can accommodate campers up to 45 feet. “The RV sites (T Loop) are well laid out, all drive-through with plenty of room for big rigs,” reports Rocky Victoria.
Gulpha Gorge Campground | Hot Springs National Park, AR – Photo by: Sundance Kid
Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas
Stunning mountain views, clear-running streams, dense forests—you’ll find all of these natural features at Hot Springs National Park. You’ll also discover a historic bathhouse and public fountains that highlight the area’s famed thermal springs. Go for a soak, take a sip, and walk along the steaming water at this Arkansas treasure. Big rigs will have no trouble parking at Gulpha Gorge Campground, which reportedly fits campers up to 42 feet. “The campground is very clean and well kept. Most of the sites will fit any size rig as long as you are decent at backing up,” says RVwithRandC, who travels in a 42-foot fifth-wheel camper.
Gros Ventre Campground | Jackson, WY – Photo by: TheBuckners
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
There are few landscapes in North America as iconic as the Teton Mountains near Jackson, Wyoming. A trip to Grand Teton National Park and its northern neighbor, Yellowstone National Park, lands on many travelers’ bucket lists. If you’re cruising through with a big rig, snag a site at Gros Ventre Campground. This spacious campground welcomes RVs up to 45 feet. Reviewers note that when booking, be sure to read the campsite notes on total length so you reserve a spot that’ll fit your RV.
Fruita Campground | Torrey, UT – Photo by: Cyclist
Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Utah’s “Mighty 5” national parks include Arches, Zion, Bryce, Canyonlands, and the often overlooked Capitol Reef. In the park, make Fruita Campground your home base. This campground is reservable from March to October and operates on a first-come, first-served basis for the rest of the year. “Each site has a firepit, grill, and picnic table. The sites are spacious, paved, mostly level, and many are large enough to accommodate big rigs,” says Teddi & Roger.
Pro tip: If you visit Capitol Reef during harvest season, you can pick your own almonds, apples, apricots, plums, pears, peaches, cherries, and other fruits and nuts for a small fee. On-leash dogs are allowed in the orchards, too.
Trailer Village RV Park | Grand Canyon, AZ
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
There’s no better way to see the park’s colorful bands of rock than by camping near the Grand Canyon’s rim. Trailer Village RV Park is the best spot for big rigs up to 40 feet inside the national park’s borders. “It’s within a mile from the South Rim visitor center and a great pleasure to watch elk wander next to your site. Classic sites are gravel and spaced apart nicely. The premium spots are paved but close together,” shares Jules.
Pinnacles Campground | Paicines, CA – Photo by: Scooter
Pinnacles National Park, California
Hiking, rock climbing, and wildflower walks are all on the agenda at Pinnacles National Park. This park is a popular destination in the winter months when the temperatures are cool, and the trails offer a quiet escape from the nearby destinations of Monterey and Big Sur. Pinnacles Campground is open year-round and has sites for rigs up to 42 feet. “Pinnacles Campground, run by a third party called the Pinnacles Recreation Company, is simply one of the nicer campgrounds you will find inside a national park,” says AirstreamParkingOnly.
Big rig owners: What’s your favorite national park campground? Let us know in the comments!
