Camper Van Guide: Camping Styles and Fit

In Los Angeles listings

• 106 owner listings within 50 miles of downtown LA.
• Typical length: 20 ft (median of listings that state it).
• Typical listed rate: $210/night.
• 40% list a generator.
• 100% of those that list beds have two or more.

Camping styles

• Beach camping: Parks in ordinary spaces at beach lots and in town.
• Public campgrounds: Short enough for most park loops with posted limits.
• Dry camping: Solar and a generator are listed on some vans; tanks are small.

Posted length limits on LA trips

• Joshua Tree: White Tank and Hidden Valley campgrounds have a 25 ft combined length limit; Belle can take up to 35 ft, but most sites fit 25–30 ft RVs. Source
• Sequoia: Vehicles longer than 24 ft are not advised between the Foothills Visitor Center and Potwisha Campground. Source
• Sequoia: Vehicles longer than 22 ft are not advised between Potwisha Campground and the Giant Forest Museum. Source
• Grand Canyon: Parking on the South Rim is limited for RVs over 22 ft and vehicle-trailer combinations over 22 ft total; arrive before 9:30 am. Source
• Grand Canyon: In December, January and February, Hermit Road is open to private vehicles under 22 ft. Source
• San Diego coast: San Elijo State Beach: max trailer and camper/motorhome 35 ft. Source
• San Diego coast: Silver Strand State Beach: max trailer and camper/motorhome 40 ft. Source
• Big Sur: Pismo State Beach: max trailer 31 ft, max camper/motorhome 36 ft. Source
• Big Sur: Morro Bay State Park: max trailer and camper/motorhome 35 ft. Source
• Big Sur: Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park: max trailer 27 ft, max camper/motorhome 32 ft. Source
• Yosemite: Upper Pines (open all year): RVs up to 35 ft, trailers up to 24 ft. In Yosemite Valley only 8 sites take RVs up to 40 ft or trailers up to 35 ft. No campsites in Yosemite have hookups. Source
• Grand Circle: Zion–Mt. Carmel Highway (Canyon Junction to the East Entrance, the road toward Bryce): single vehicles over 35 ft 9 in long, 7 ft 10 in wide or 11 ft 4 in tall are not permitted; combinations over 50 ft. Oversize RVs must use the South Entrance. Source
• Grand Circle: Bryce Canyon: vehicles 23 ft and longer can't park in the Bryce Amphitheater area while the shuttle runs (typically mid-April to mid-October). Source
• Grand Circle: Grand Canyon South Rim: parking is limited for RVs over 22 ft. Source
• California Triangle: Upper Pines (open all year): RVs up to 35 ft, trailers up to 24 ft. In Yosemite Valley only 8 sites take RVs up to 40 ft or trailers up to 35 ft. No campsites in Yosemite have hookups. Source
• California Triangle: Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park: max trailer 27 ft, max camper/motorhome 32 ft. Source
• California Triangle: Morro Bay State Park: max trailer and camper/motorhome 35 ft. Source

See camper vans (class b) near LA