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This is the [end of my larger answer](http://outdoors.stackexchange.com/questions/13045/optimal-timing-routing-for-a-year-visiting-us-national-parks/14705#14705)** # November # **Park:** Mammoth Cave **State:** Kentucky **Region:** Southeast **Links:** [National Park Service](https://www.nps.gov/maca/index.htm), [NPS camping](https://www.nps.gov/maca/planyourvisit/camping.htm), [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammoth_Cave_National_Park), [Weather](https://weather.com/weather/monthly/l/KYMACA:13:US) **RV Camping in the Park:** Other for amenities **Reserve:** Nearby Nolin Lake State Park http://www.reserveamerica.com/camping/nolin-lake-state-park/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=KY&parkId=91832 **Primitive Camping Options:** Hike, Boat, Drive, Horse; Some reservable ------- **Park:** Great Smoky Mountains **State:** Tennessee,North Carolina **Region:** Southeast **Links:** [National Park Service](https://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm), [NPS camping](https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/carcamping.htm), [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Smoky_Mountains_National_Park), [Weather](https://weather.com/weather/monthly/l/5385:19:US) **RV Camping in the Park:** Other for amenities **Reserve:** Nearby state parks http://theblueridgehighlander.com/state_parks/ **Primitive Camping Options:** Hike, Drive, Horse; Some reservable ------- **Park:** Congaree **State:** South Carolina **Region:** Southeast **Links:** [National Park Service](https://www.nps.gov/cong/index.htm), [NPS camping](https://www.nps.gov/cong/planyourvisit/camping.htm), [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congaree_National_Park), [Weather](https://weather.com/weather/monthly/l/SCNPCS:13:US) **RV Camping in the Park:** Camping at Congaree is tent only. RV and/or car camping is not permitted within the park. Poinsett State Park is nearby **Reserve:** http://southcarolinaparks.reserveamerica.com/camping/poinsett/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=SC&parkId=10224 **Primitive Camping Options:** Hike, Boat, Drive; reservations Required ------- **Park:** Dry Tortugas **State:** Florida **Region:** Southeast **Links:** [National Park Service](https://www.nps.gov/drto/index.htm), [NPS camping](https://www.nps.gov/drto/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm), [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_Tortugas_National_Park), [Weather](https://weather.com/weather/monthly/l/FLNPDRTO:13:US) **RV Camping in the Park:** Boat access only. Of the nearest private campgrounds Boyd's Key West Campground looks best. The Nearest state park with electric seems to be Bahia Honda State Park (35 miles from Key West) **Reserve:** http://floridastateparks.reserveamerica.com/camping/bahia-honda-sp/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=FL&parkId=281005 **Primitive Camping Options:** Boat; non-reservable ------- # December # #Disclaimer and warnings# The question says there are 49 National Parks in the lower 48, I only found 47 when creating this answer. This is the result of internet searching in the Fall of 2016. Nothing is static, parks are subject to full or partial closure due to weather or planned major constructions projects. No attempt is made in this answer, to identify closures that are not permanent. If a major event (disaster or construction project) alters the permanent state of a park readers are encouraged to update the answer, while keeping the same optimal site parameters. Modifications in your “optimal” site can greatly impact the potential available solutions. Of the 47 parks, many do not offer RV camping with electrical hookups (circa 2017), but do have nearby state parks with hookups, these are used as the secondary optimal site location. Commercial sites with full hook-ups can usually be found in the area. Most National parks allow some form of backcountry camping. The addition of a generator or solar panel(s) to your RV that eliminate a need for electrical hookups can greatly expand the available options. Most self-contained RVs will have sufficient battery and fuel (propane) storage to allow for a couple of days camping without any hookups. Many of the National and State parks have limits on vehicle length. You will need to know the actual length of you RV, tow vehicle and combined length, when choosing campgrounds and/or specific sites. Use a tape measure to find the actual length of your equipment. ##Legend## * Park = name of the park * State = name of the State(s) the national park is located in * Region = general area of the country the park is located in * Link to National Park Service = main park page at nps.gov * Link to NPS camping = camping page at nps.gov * Link to Wikipedia = main park page at en.wikipedia.org * Link to Weather = one of potentially several park specific sites for the monthly weather at weather.com at the time these links where selected they also displayed a graph indicating the average temperature range of the park for each month of the year. I transferred these values to a table and used the table plan the visit schedule. Optimal temperature range for visiting the park is a low of 32 F or above, and high of 89 F or below. * RV Camping in the Park = lists the name of a campground in the park with electrical RV hookups (optimal) and or provides important information about RV camping in the park. “Other for amenities” Means RV camping is allowed in the park, but without hookups. Length rules are NOT addressed here. * Reserve = this is my attempt to identify the most likely place I would choose to make reservations for a visit. Information here is going to be the most subject to deterioration over time and subject to opinion. Attempting this journey without reservations would be disappointing at best, impossible at worst. In some cases, reservations are required for even the most difficult to access non-RV sites. With variations by park, ranging from drop in the office the day before, to schedule online 2 days, 2 months, or anything up to a year in advance. While it gives a starting point, significant effort by the trip planner will be required in this area. * Primitive Camping Options = A brief review of camping options in the park, other than an RV site with hookups. Any of four general options are given Hike, Boat, Drive, Horse * Hike = Generally termed “backcountry camping”, you walk some distance (rules vary by park) carrying all of your gear (and maybe water) to spend the night. Options range from designed sites that require reservations, to sleep anywhere out the wilderness. At the least usually requires a free pass be obtained from the ranger station that day. * Boat = Anything from class V white water, to ocean going boating. Generally, either personal boats or rental options exist, “backcountry camping” access by boat. * Drive = Drive to a designated site without RV hookups, RVs may or may NOT be permitted. A numbered site in a designated campground, minimum is generally parking for one vehicle, a picnic table, fire pit, and room for a tent. Drinking water may or may NOT be available in the campground, at least a pit toilet is available, some may have flush toilets and showers with hot water. * Horse = Generally, either personal horses or rental options exist, “backcountry camping” by horse. * *bicycle* = Rules vary significantly by park. No parks identified them as primary means of access to a campsite. I did not include any bicycle considerations in this answer. -------