Question about parking and national parks

[Wendy]

In Colorado you must make reservations for the state parks (no walk-ins) and they are often full within the first few minutes they are available (max 6 months ahead for reservations). But Colorado, too, has an annual pass that gives half price camping fees plus takes care of the daily charge for park entry required without the pass.

Do you have a link to the Colorado 1/2-price camping pass? All I can find is the entrance pass. Thanks.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Good to know, have you had any luck boondocking? Just park the RV on national forest land and call it a day?

Many such places have restrictions on camping areas, even with tents & such. The Ocala Nat'l Forest near me (Florida) only allows camping in designated areas, some of which are actual campsites and others just semi-open areas. Too many inconsiderate people has led to restrictions that didn't exist a few decades ago.

Had good results boondocking in western Canada and Alaska and modest results in the western US. Mostly state forests and such. I don't recall any National Parks that allow you to just pull over and camp somewhere, at least none of the major ones (Yellowstone, Yosemite, Zion, Bryce, etc)

 

[Larry N.]

Do you have a link to the Colorado 1/2-price camping pass? All I can find is the entrance pass. Thanks.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is a nationally recognized leader in conservation, outdoor recreation and wildlife management. The agency manages 42 state parks, all of Colorado's wildlife, more than 300 state wildlife areas and a host of recreational programs. CPW issues hunting and fishing...

cpw.state.co.us

Several other pass types are here, including for disabled vets: Colorado Parks and Wildlife

 

[Adventurous Traveler]

Boondocking might be fine for a night or two to spread out overall trip expenses, but that's about all my and my DW would care to do. This is especially true in the desert Southwest regions like Moab, UT home to Arches NP and Canyonlands NP. The dust and winds blowing aren't our cup of tea. When we were in that area last May we were fortunate we were staying at an FHU campground, the temp was in the mid-80s but with 40 + mph winds we were stuck inside the rig before and after doing the sightseeing thing around the area and parks.

Whatever rig you decide on make sure you find out the size of the holding tanks, and water tank, how many house batteries it has, and the condition of the generator and size. You may want to investigate the various portable solar options available too, sometimes called "suitcase" solar.