Campgrounds & RV parks
How should a campground handle RV site-fit questions?
The questions campgrounds and RV parks should ask before assigning a site, how to measure sites, and a worked example of matching a rig.
By Evan Thomas, Co-founder, Propty · Austin, TX
Published
Before you suggest a site, get the rig's type and total length, slide-outs, power and sewer needs, where the tow vehicle or towed car will park, and the arrival time. Match those answers to measured records for each site, including usable pad size, back-in or pull-through, hookups and approach limits. Confirm the match in writing so the guest knows what was assumed.
Why "how long is your RV?" is not enough
A single length number hides most of the ways a site fails to fit.
- Length is measured differently. Owners may quote the length from the brochure, the length of the box, or bumper to bumper. A guest towing a car may give the RV's length and forget the car.
- Sites have more than one length. The pad, the driveway and the whole site are different numbers. Federal campground listings on Recreation.gov keep these apart: the Furnace Creek campsite record lists maximum vehicle length, driveway length, driveway entry (pull-through), driveway surface, and water, sewer and electric hookups as separate fields.
- Width and sides matter. Slide-outs, awnings, trees, posts and the position of the utility pedestal decide whether the rig can open up once parked.
- Arrival time changes the answer. A site that is easy to back into at noon can be hard after dark for a driver who has never seen it.
When a fit question is answered from a single number, the problem appears at arrival: a guest who cannot get in, a late-night site swap, or a refund. The fix is a short, consistent set of questions and an honest site record.
Questions to ask every guest
The first six are required. Ask them in this order on the phone; the same list works as fields on a booking form.
- What type of rig is it? Motorhome, fifth wheel, travel trailer, van or truck camper.
- What is the total length, measured bumper to bumper? For trailers, does that include the hitch?
- Will a tow vehicle or towed car stay on the site, and how long is it?
- How many slide-outs, and on which side?
- What electrical service does the rig use (30 or 50 amp), and do you need water and sewer at the site?
- What time do you expect to arrive?
- Optional: Do you need a pull-through, or are you comfortable backing in?
- Optional: Any accessibility needs, pets, or a second vehicle?
- Optional: Is there an awning or rear-mounted equipment such as bike racks or a cargo carrier?
If a guest is unsure of their length, ask them to check their registration or measure before arrival, and note in the reservation that the length is unconfirmed.
Measure your sites once
Matching only works if each site has a real record. Walk the park with a tape measure and record each site, not each site type. Update after you regrade pads, move pedestals, or trees grow in.
| Field | Why it matters | Example entry |
|---|---|---|
| Usable pad length | The rig has to fit on the level, usable surface | 42 ft |
| Pad width and clearance on each side | Slide-outs and awnings need room | 14 ft pad, 8 ft clear on the left |
| Entry type | Back-in or pull-through | Back-in from the loop road |
| Parking for a second vehicle | Decides whether the tow vehicle fits on the site | Beside the pad, up to 20 ft |
| Electrical service | Which pedestal service the site actually has | 30 and 50 amp |
| Water and sewer | Full, partial or no hookups | Water and electric only |
| Pedestal side | Cords and hoses must reach the rig's connections | Left rear |
| Approach notes | Tight turns, low branches, slopes | Low branch at loop entrance |
The example entries are placeholders. Measure your own sites.
The matching workflow
| Step | Owner | What happens | Output |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Intake | Whoever answers: office, phone or form | Ask the required questions | Completed rig profile on the reservation |
| 2. Filter | Office staff | List open sites where length, width, entry type and hookups all match | Short list of candidate sites |
| 3. Check arrival | Office staff | For late arrivals, prefer pull-throughs or easy back-ins near the entrance | One primary site and one fallback |
| 4. Confirm in writing | Office staff | Send the site number, its measurements and the assumptions used | Guest has the details before they leave home |
| 5. Exception | Manager | If the rig does not fit on arrival, move the guest to the fallback, or follow your policy if none is open | Logged exception with the reason |
If late arrivals are common at your park, pair this with a clear after-hours check-in process. Propty Learn covers that separately in how to handle late arrivals and after-hours check-in.
A worked example (hypothetical)
This example is invented. The guest, rig and sites are not real.
A guest calls about a weekend stay. Their answers:
- A 34-foot fifth wheel, measured bumper to bumper
- A pickup that will stay on the site, about 20 feet long
- Two slide-outs on the driver's side, which is the left side when parked
- A 50-amp electrical service, and they would like sewer
- Arriving around 9 p.m. Friday, and they would rather not back in after dark
The park's site records show three open sites:
| Site | Usable pad | Entry | Truck parking | Hookups | Clearance on slide side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 40 ft | Back-in | Beside pad, up to 20 ft | 50 amp, water, sewer | 8 ft on the left |
| 7 | 65 ft | Pull-through | Fits on pad behind the trailer | 30 amp, water | 10 ft on the left |
| 21 | 45 ft | Pull-through | Beside pad, up to 22 ft | 50 amp, water, sewer | 3 ft on the left, tree |
Working through it:
- Site 12 fits the trailer and the truck, with sewer and 50 amp. It is a back-in, and the guest arrives after dark.
- Site 7 is an easy pull-through, but it has only 30-amp service and no sewer. That does not meet what the guest asked for. The office should say so plainly rather than assume the guest carries an adapter.
- Site 21 is a pull-through with the right hookups, but a tree leaves only 3 feet on the slide side. The slides may not open fully. It is out.
The office offers site 12 and explains it is a back-in. It also offers to meet the guest at the gate on Friday or to text a photo of the site approach. The written confirmation lists the site's pad length, entry type, hookups and the 20-foot parking spot for the truck.
Common problems and fixes
These causes are likely, not certain. Check them against your own reservation notes and arrival exceptions.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Rigs arrive longer than the reservation says | Length was asked one way and answered another | Ask for bumper-to-bumper length and say what to include |
| Guests cannot open slide-outs | Site records have length only | Add clearance on each side and note trees and posts |
| Late-night site swaps | Back-in sites assigned to late arrivals | Prefer pull-throughs for arrivals after dark when available |
| Tow vehicles block the road | No record of where a second vehicle can park | Add a second-vehicle field to every site record |
| Hookup complaints at arrival | Electrical and sewer needs were not asked | Make both required questions |
What to track
Count arrival-day site changes caused by fit, divided by arrivals in the same period. Read the reservation notes for each one to see which question was missing or answered wrong.
Where Propty fits
Fit questions can come in while the office is busy with check-ins. Propty's campground page describes answering site calls day and night from your park details and rate sheet, collecting dates and rig length from callers, and quoting only your prices. What it could tell a guest about a specific site depends on the site details it has, so the site records above help either way. These descriptions come from Propty's public pages as checked on 2026-10-14. They are not a test of the live product. What is available for a property depends on setup and connected services, so confirm current behavior in a demo before relying on it.
See how Propty works for campgrounds and RV parks, see the campground demo, or read more campground answers on Propty Learn.
Sources
- Recreation.gov campsite record, Pinnacles campground site and Furnace Creek campground site: examples of campsite records that list maximum vehicle length and hookups as separate fields. The Furnace Creek record also lists driveway length, driveway entry and driveway surface. Neither record lists a site width.
- Propty for campgrounds and RV parks: product statements used in "Where Propty fits" (answers site calls 24/7, answers from park details and rate sheet, collects dates and rig length, quotes only your prices).
- No outside statistics are used in this article. The example is hypothetical.