In this blog post, we will answer the following question: Are Skoolies allowed in RV parks? We will explain where you can park your Skoolie and what are the general rules regarding school bus parking.

Are Skoolies allowed in RV parks?

Yes, Skoolies are allowed in most RV parks. Some campsites, however, don’t allow Skoolies, creating the temptation to park in a public parking lot instead, but it’s worth the extra distance to find a Skoolie-friendly park!

You can park your Skoolie:

On free public lands;
At Walmart;
Casinos.
In front of a friend’s house.
BLM Land and National Parks.
Rest stops.
Campgrounds and RV parks.

Are there any size restrictions at RV parks and National Parks?

Yes! The size restrictions are the main reason why some RV parks do not allow Skoolies. School buses can be between 20 to 45 feet long, and each campsite has its own limits, as you will see in the table below.

The table below shows the percentage of national parks and campsites that can accommodate the listed

motorhome lengths:

Motorhome Length	19 feet	25 feet	29 feet	32 feet	35 feet	40 feet	41 feet
Fits thispercentageof the campsites	98%	93%	84%	81%	73%	53%	7%

As for National Parks, here is a list of the most popular 10 destinations and the maximum allowed size for motorhomes:

Acadia National Park – 35 feet
Badlands National Park – 40 feet, 18 feet at Sage Creek Campground
Canyonlands National Park – 28 feet
Death Valley National Park – 25 feet
Glacier National Park – 25 – 45 feet, depending on the campground
Grand Canyon National Park – 50 feet at South Rim 22 feet at North Rim
Olympic National Park -21 feet. Limited spaces are available for 35 feet long RVs.
Sequoia National Park – 42 feet in Lodgepole Campground, any length in Dorst Creek Campground.
Shenandoah National Park – No limit.
Yellowstone National Park – Varies by the campground. The average is 40 feet.

Can I park my Skoolie on private land?

If you wish to park your converted bus on your property, you are free to do so as you wish. In the event that the land is in co-ownership, you must refer to its regulations.

If you wish to park your Skoolie on private land of which you are not the owner, the latter’s agreement is essential. You can park for three months a year, consecutive or not, on someone else’s lot.

Note: When you park on private land, you are not liable for the tourist tax. You are if you park in a campsite or at a paid reception area.

Can I park my Skoolie on the public road?

Since the Highway Code considers the Skoolie to be a car, you can park as if you were driving a car. You can park as long as you are not in the way. Your parking should not be equally dangerous or abusive. You must ensure:

not obstruct the visibility of other road users
do not cover up traffic lights or signs
leave sufficient space between your Skoolie and the continuous line if there is one to allow another vehicle to travel without crossing or overlapping the line marked on the ground.
respect any decrees taken by the mayor of the city where you wish to park.

Finally, you should know that the maximum authorized duration of uninterrupted parking on public roads is 7 days.

Note: Watch out for signs that may indicate the authorization or the prohibition of parking in a converted bus decided by the town hall. They are visible at the entrance to the town and the car parks concerned.

Reminder: the differences between parking and camping

Parking a converted bus is different from camping. If you just want to pull over in a parking space while staying inside your Skoolie, you have the right. You park on your bus. If you want to set up camping gear outside like an awning, table and chairs or any other gear, then you are camping. Therefore, you will be obliged to comply with the applicable regulations.

It is very important for a Skoolie operator to distinguish between parking and camping, so as not to be illegal.

The bus is parked when:

– its wheels are placed on the ground without block or jack

– no installation overflows outside the road gauge: steps, awning, open bay, etc.

– no camping act is practised: setting up a table, chair, linen, BBQ …

On the other hand, you will have understood it, your Skoolie is in a camping situation as soon as it presents one of the aforementioned cases. A permanently deployed step, a simple chair out, a chock under the wheel, and you are camping. We sometimes tend to forget this subtlety on natural sites where camping is strictly prohibited, beware of the fine!

Parking a Skoolie: general rules

When driving a converted bus (Skoolie), you are subject to the same rules as other vehicles:

It is not allowed to park on public roads for more than seven consecutive days.
Stopping and parking when visibility is insufficient (near intersections or hilltops) are considered dangerous.
Outside built-up areas, stopping or parking must be done, as far as possible, off the road.
It is forbidden to park on sidewalks, shoulders reserved for pedestrian traffic, spaces reserved for coaches, near traffic light signals or road signs, in locations where the vehicle may obscure traffic lights or road signs, on bridges, etc.

The mayor can regulate the stopping and parking of vehicles or certain categories of them to facilitate traffic or protect the environment. However, this does not allow him to take abusive orders by prohibiting, for example, the specific parking of motorhomes throughout his municipality.

Note, however, that only the administrative court is empowered to consider that an order is abusive and to have it annulled. As long as it has not been annulled by a court decision, the prohibition served by decree must be respected; in the event of a contravention, the fine must be paid, even if it means going to the administrative court.

All parking or driving bans are only enforceable against users if the competent authorities have taken steps to ensure that they are reported. On this point, moreover, the Town Planning Code specifies that the bans must be brought to the attention of the public by posting in a town hall and by the presence of signs at the access points to the areas targeted by the bans.

Village squares, roadside car parks or any other place depending on the public highway do not allow the installation of camping equipment (awning, table and chairs, stabilizing jacks, etc.) so as not to create a nuisance and to avoid being in the presence of a camp annexing public space to private use.

Final thoughts

For all those who are passionate about travel, a Skoolie offers a way to always be on the go without sacrificing the comforts that a home offers. School buses are also a blank canvas – once the seats are removed the possibilities are endless. The design will depend on the number of people that will be accommodated on the bus, as well as their lifestyle and needs.

Still, it is your duty to make sure you follow the city regulations and that you do not park your vehicle in prohibited places.

If you have any questions, comments or tips on the content, please let us know!

FAQ on Are Skoolies allowed in RV parks?

Where can you stay in a Skoolie?

You can park your Skoolie in the following places:

On free public lands;
At Walmart;
Casinos.
In front of a friend’s house.
BLM Land and National Parks.
Rest stops.
Campgrounds and RV parks.

Are Skoolies worth it?

For many people, Skoolies are totally worth it. A Skoolie offers a way to always be on the go without sacrificing the comforts that a home offers. School buses are also a blank canvas – once the seats are removed the possibilities are endless. The design will depend on the number of people that will be accommodated on the bus, as well as their lifestyle and needs.

Is a Skoolie considered an RV?

Yes, A Skoolie is considered an RV. They have become popular recently and are nothing more than converted school buses. They are spacious and offer plenty of room to decorate and furnish as you may please.

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Are Skoolies allowed in RV parks?