FWC not permitted at Washington State Park Tent sites

[Stromtrooper]

We reserved site #282 (online) at Twin Harbors State Park to go surfing in Westport for the weekend.

Our site was horrible with ultra bad smoke and overcrowding to the max.

We went to front desk for site change / refund. Front desk informed us that vans and campers and FWC's were not allowed at tent sites and that we must park amongst the RV's.

My Tacoma and FWC take up the same amount of space as any of the tent campers' cars jeeps edsels pickups minivans or vans.

Rule was made by the Park Manager and may not be in place state-wide but is a steaming pile of BS either way.

Thanks to the park employee who did issue us a refund for our site and reservation fee.

Anybody else have issues with this kinda thing? We have a call in to the Manager - keep you posted.

 

[Bill D]

A Four Wheel Pop-up Camper is a camper. This is why we get to use RV only campgrounds.

 

[rando]

Unless you are planning to sleep in a tent, I don't think this sounds that unreasonable. Vehicle length is not the only factor here - often only some of the sites have a suitable place for a tent, which is why they are designated tent sites.

 

[Bombsight]

Seems as though the smoke issue could be rectified via park service but the crowd issue is just a jagged pill. You either want it or you don't.

How was the surf?

 

[Bill D]

Unless you are planning to sleep in a tent, I don't think this sounds that unreasonable. Vehicle length is not the only factor here - often only some of the sites have a suitable place for a tent, which is why they are designated tent sites.

Agreed. It's not a pleasure pitching a tent in a site that does not have a flat soft spot designated for a tent.

RVers often run generators, bring bicycles, toys, children, dogs, tiki torches, patio lanterns , outdoor picnic table shelters etc. etc. Often it is a totally different vibe than tent camping. This is the reason that I personally chose none powered sites at campgrounds with RVs. It's closer to tent camping, but has level hard pack, suited for a vehicle to be parked on.

​I don't think it's anything to get frustrated over, there are simply different sites suited for different usage. And the goal of the park is to try to accommodate everybody. Not an easy task during the peak season.

 

[Seth]

A good campground host should be negotiating with the owners of smokey campfires! It's kind of a horrible experience to be in the path of the smoke.

 

[BillTheHiker]

Maybe travel with a small tent and pitch it, but sleep in the camper.

 

[DavidGraves]

We have encountered the same thing in a Texas state park.....was sort of a pain to have to sleep in an asphalt parking area with other "RV'S".

It may have been that the crowding in your case and ours prompted the strict interpretation of the rules.....think of it from another tent campers point of view.

On the other hand, go for remote camping, respect the land and never tell the crowds where you have been !

David Graves

a VERY crowded north Oregon coast.

 

[Advmoto18]

Over crowding at coastal PNW campgrounds is just to be expected this time of year.

We were down wind from the only camper within miles north of Trout Lake in May. Of course, once we had our site all setup and enjoying the scenery, our neighbor, 200 yards away, fired up the smokiest, stinkiest material possible.

So crowded, or not, try to avoid down wind of your camp fire neighbor.

 

[Outnabout]

We just returned from a trip to Canada. No problem camping in any site and the campgrounds were clean and well patrolled. It seems that camping in California is getting worse in regards to parties, generators, dirty restrooms, and lack of proper management.

 

[ACEBLACKDOG]

just came back from zion np....only 1 rv per site....even though 2 pop up campers take up less space than a 40' motorhome pulling a vehicle....
SO...
had to reserve 2 sites....even though there were a total of 3 people...
SO
someone (s) missed the chance to camp in beautiful zion np for 3 nights

some knucklehead(s) have a 10 yr moratorium on more than one "rv" per site...

IS THERE ANY COMMON SENSE LEFT IN THE WORLD ???????

BTW ----if you have the chance, do the 16 mile narrows hike....fantastic experience --if you hump it is under 10 hours....

 

[Bill D]

I've never been to a campground that allowed more than 1 RV per site other than group sites that are designated as group sites and are typically marked A & B. They are extra wide and double occupancy rates apply. Basically you are just sharing a picnic table and campfire.

I don't know if common sense has ever been common, that's why we NEED rules.
The OP is concerned with overcrowded campgrounds, while others want 2 RVs per site. Tough to keep everyone happy.

 

[super doody]

If there is enough parking space and if you meet the length requirements, you should be able to stay in "tent" spots. It really just depending your luck of camp ground host/ranger. We had a similar issue in California. Our friends reserved a full hook spot at a very popular beach. They have a big hardside truck camper with a slide out on a dodge ram. They invited us to stay with them. The campground host mentioned that only 1 RV per site even enough there was plenty of space on the pad for 2 trucks. She let us slide so I didn't bother arguing with her. We typically share our site with friends who camp in tents with no issues since, the regs are 8 people limit and 2 vehicles.

 

[UHAULER]

A few years ago I tried to get a tent site closer to the beach at a private campground, I had a northstar popup and the manager said no. My friend had a box van and said he was tent camping. He put up a small tent but slept in his van. I paid about $35 to camp 300' from the beach while he paid about $15 and was 25' from the beach.

 

[Advmoto18]

A few years ago I tried to get a tent site closer to the beach at a private campground, I had a northstar popup and the manager said no. My friend had a box van and said he was tent camping. He put up a small tent but slept in his van. I paid about $35 to camp 300' from the beach while he paid about $15 and was 25' from the beach.

I guess I will be carrying my 1P tent on my next trip out west. Setup the tent and sleep in my camper. Crazy way to manage a campground.

 

[Bombsight]

I guess I will be carrying my 1P tent on my next trip out west. Setup the tent and sleep in my camper. Crazy way to manage a campground.

I can see them snapping and then putting measures in place to stop that soon.

 

[Cayuse]

I guess I will be carrying my 1P tent on my next trip out west. Setup the tent and sleep in my camper. Crazy way to manage a campground.

White House Campground in Utah at the start of the hike down the Paria River or the exit from Buckskin Gulch used to be posted as "No Sleeping in Vehicles" there were a couple signs there to that effect. Not sure how strictly it was enforced, didn't stop us from sleeping in the back of the truck (pre-camper).

 

[Smokecreek1]

Sorry about those problems! Gee, maybe I have been lucky! Over these last 12 years of camping in my Granby, never had a major problem of where I parked/camped in Ca/Nev/Or ----again, most of us try to avoid those road side over night types and the popular over crowded ones that have heavy use and high turn overs just because camping there can be a free for all! When I first got the pop-up, and I was unsure of where to park especially if they had the spaces marked for RV, tent camping etc,, I asked and did what they said (if they knew) and I usually ended up parking in the smaller rv ones and left the trailer and -as a former back packer-the obvious tent camper ones alone. Although one cold and rainy winter day, the ranger let me camp in a tent space near a trail head at one of the more popular Ca coastal CG's. Luck and time of year and very few other campers can make all the difference to a fun time.

As a rule -unless I was told I could-I never parked in the tent ones. In the more primitive dry type CG's, we go to, hopefully, the trailers and large RV's can not get there and that problem goes away-after all isn't that why we bought the pop-up in the first place-to get away from the milling masses? Trip planning, whether to the out back or off of coastal hw1, it is still a must since all states, fed agencies and private areas can and have different rules and those unpleasant surprises can be avoided by that phone call. I still try to travel on the week days, stop early and camp if I can and be set up and be hidden away by the time any week end crowds(?) show up.

Smoke

 

[robbie]

I am really glad to tell you we are in a who cares where you camp area. Pick a Government camp site. No reservations taken. 12.00 Canadian per night. With that you get free for the taking firewood. Just leave what you don;t use at the site for the next people. Being residents we get a year permit for 50.00. Stay 2 weekends and the rest of the year is free.
I have seen generators mysteriously disapear during the night.
Hunting season starts in 3 weeks.

Robbie

 

[ETAV8R]

I see nothing wrong with camping with a popup in a tent site as long as the vehicle fits. I understand rules are rules but if a similar vehicle profile will fit, i.e. a truck with a topper/shell, then nothing wrong with a popup. This is especially true if there's no generator or other noise coming from the camper.

But I too bought the camper to go with my truck because I wanted to be off the beaten path and not surrounded with others. Sometimes this is possible and others not.