Rv parks that accept older rvs near me

Rv parks that accept older rvs near me

Sep 18, 2020 | Rigs

Will you be allowed at an RV park in a vintage Airstream? Should you buy that used Winnebago you’ve been eyeing? Here are some things to consider before purchasing an older rig.

Photo: Stacey Powers

Older RVs often come with plenty of vintage charm and can be affordable options for anyone wanting to get into the RV lifestyle on a budget. If you’re seriously considering purchasing a used rig, you may have heard of a “10-year rule” being enforced at some RV parks and campgrounds—meaning they won’t allow rigs older than 10 years to park on their property. So, is this actually true? We contacted more than 90 RV parks across the U.S. to find out. Here’s what we discovered.

Do Some RV Parks Not Allow Older RVs?

Rv parks that accept older rvs near me

Of the 94 RV parks we contacted, only three said that they have a strict 10-year rule in place. The majority of the parks said that they don’t have a 10-year rule or are willing to make exceptions. Another 14 parks claimed that they have no policy in place at all regarding the age of rigs allowed on the property. And four of the 94 parks mentioned that they have rules for rigs older than 15 years. 

Rv parks that accept older rvs near me

Is the 10-Year Rule Strictly Enforced?

Close to 78 percent of the RV parks contacted told us that they would want to make sure an older rig is in decent condition before letting it park. In this case, the resort or campground might ask for photos ahead of time. Some mentioned that they would be looking for things like dents, broken windows, loose parts, window AC units, duct tape, and leaks in order to determine the condition of the RV. This isn’t to say that you would be denied access unless your RV is completely flawless, but it could be worth calling ahead and checking first. 

Rv parks that accept older rvs near me

Should You Buy a Camper That’s Older Than 10 Years?

You may want to consider the 10-year rule before purchasing a used rig. If you have specific destinations and campgrounds that you’re looking to visit, contact them ahead of time to see if they enforce this regulation. More likely than not, you’ll be allowed to park an older rig as long as it’s properly maintained and there’s no cosmetic damage. To streamline the process at parks that might have this rule, take multiple pictures of your RV and store these photos on your phone. That way you can easily send photos of your rig to the campsite if requested. 

Why Do Some RV Parks Enforce a 10-Year Rule?

Some upscale RV parks may enforce a 10-year rule to ensure that all RVs and guests have a quality experience. In other cases, RV parks enforce this rule for RVers that are staying for a month or longer. Again, as long as your older rig is in decent condition and well-maintained, you’ll likely be fine to stay at most RV parks and campgrounds on your list. 


Have you been turned away before because of an old rig? Let us know by sending an email to or tagging us on social media @togo_rv.

Meet the Author

Rv parks that accept older rvs near me

Togo RV

Pronounced [toh-goh], and rhymes with logo, Togo RV makes RVing easy so you can spend more time doing what you love. Want more miles, less trials? Run with Togo.

Why do RV parks have a 10 year rule?

The “10-Year Rule” was established by campground owners and owners of RV resorts to keep old, poorly maintained motorhomes and travel trailers from parking on their property (especially long term).

What can I do with an old RV?

If you want to know how to dispose of an RV, some options include paying to have it removed, finding an RV salvage or junkyard, or breaking it down into its component parts. You could also donate it to charity.

How do you get around the 10 year RV rule?

So, regularly washing and wax a pop-up camper, travel trailer, fifth-wheel, or motorhome can help with the ten-year rule. Doing so will mean the luster of the paint finish will last a lot longer. Torn or fading decals can also be easily taken care of. Also, many people take care of rust as soon as they see it.

Does the 10 year rule apply to travel trailers?

Does The 10-Year Rule Apply to Travel Trailers? In most cases, it will. Again, it all comes back to the motivation for the rule. If campers don't want to stay next to an old motorhome, they won't want to stay next to an old travel trailer.