Choose an RV campsite: fit, hookups and park rules
Choose an RV site that fits the full setup and follow that campground’s rules for noise, generators, pets, fires and occupied space. Pull-through or back-in describes access, not a guarantee of privacy. Verify the actual pad, turning route, obstructions and site boundary.
Quiet hours are not permission to run a generator at every other time
Yosemite’s camping regulations state quiet hours of 10 p.m.–6 a.m. and generator windows of 7–9 a.m., noon–2 p.m. and 5–7 p.m. Those are different restrictions.
A planned generator run at 3 p.m. would be outside quiet hours but also outside every listed generator window. A quieter generator does not automatically receive different hours. Verify current rules and any generator-free area at the booked campground.
Measure the setup rather than relying on a photograph
For an assumed eight-foot body with a three-foot slide on one side, the occupied width is eleven feet before any awning or clearance. An assumed ten-foot allowed envelope would be one foot too narrow. Confirm the site’s usable boundary and required clearance rather than borrowing space from a neighboring site.
| Check | What to verify |
|---|---|
| Entry and exit | Turn, slope, pad and travel dimensions |
| Slide and awning | Obstructions and permitted occupied envelope |
| Utilities | Correct connections and safe hose/cord reach |
| Shade and sky | Cooling needs, solar and communication visibility |
| Pets and fires | Current leash, location and fire restrictions |
| Noise and lighting | Quiet hours, generator windows and neighbor impact |
Book the actual services, not the park’s marketing label
Full hookup means an individual site has electric, water and sewer connections. A communal dump station is a different service. Confirm the particular site’s electric rating and connections; a description such as resort or big-rig friendly does not establish usable space or utilities.
The Paddock’s advertised facilities include water, septic and 50/30/20-amp service at each post. Its monthly electric bill is metered separately. That distinction matters even when all connections are present.
Check cancellation, check-in, pet, vehicle-age and occupancy conditions before paying. Ask about the actual pad, turns and overhanging branches. For remote work, verify the connection you intend to use at the site instead of relying on the presence of park Wi-Fi.
Use the office’s procedure for a problem
Keep equipment and people within the permitted site and use designated paths. Ask the operator about a boundary or access conflict before setting up. Contact the host or office using its posted process for persistent noise or a safety concern.
Site maps and photographs are useful starting points, but conditions and restrictions can change. Confirm the setup at arrival before extending equipment. Do not infer that a back-in is more private or a pull-through more exposed without inspecting the actual site.