What Is a Park Model RV? Definition, Sizes, and Costs

A park model RV is a factory built, single chassis dwelling on wheels, capped at 400 square feet, and certified to the ANSI A119.5 standard administered by the RV Industry Association. Federal regulators classify it as a recreational vehicle rather than a home. It carries an RV title with annual taxes and registration handled at the state DMV. Most US zoning codes prohibit using it as a permanent residence.

The 400 square foot cap is the defining spec. Cross it and the unit is no longer a park model RV. Move to the HUD code instead and it becomes a manufactured home, which sits in a different legal, financing, and zoning bracket. The line between the two shapes most decisions a buyer makes after that point.

How big a park model RV can be

A park model RV cannot exceed 400 square feet of gross trailer area in set up mode under ANSI A119.5. Add a porch, an add a room, or a screened deck and the extra space does not count toward the cap because it is measured outside set up mode. Inside the cap, manufacturers stretch the layout in three usual directions: a single level open plan, a sleeping loft above the kitchen or living area, or a dedicated second bedroom.

Production widths run 11 feet 2 inches to 13 feet 7 inches. Length runs 32 to 45 feet depending on whether the unit has an enclosed porch. Width matters more than length. Standard US highway width is 8 feet 6 inches, so a park model overshoots by 3 to 5 feet. Relocation requires a wide load permit and a licensed hauler in most states. Most units move once, from factory to site.

Floor plan type	Typical width	Enclosed length	Approx sq ft
Single level studio	11 to 12 ft	30 to 36 ft	330 to 390
Loft model	11 to 12 ft	34 to 40 ft	370 to 400
Add a room with porch	11 to 13 ft 7 in	39 to 43 ft total	390 to 400 enclosed only
Two bedroom	13 to 13 ft 7 in	29 to 34 ft	370 to 400

Source: ANSI A119.5 (2025 Edition) administered by RVIA; current production specs from Phoenix Park Models, Cavco Industries, and Champion Homes.

Park model RV vs manufactured home vs tiny house vs traditional RV

The four categories overlap on size and aesthetic but split on the standard that governs them. That standard then drives almost everything else: financing, insurance, taxation, zoning, and whether the unit can be a primary residence.

	Park model RV	Manufactured home	Tiny house	Traditional RV
Governing standard	ANSI A119.5 (RVIA)	HUD code	Varies (IRC, ANSI A119.5, NFPA 1192, or none)	NFPA 1192 (RVIA)
Max size	400 sq ft	No federal cap	None (commonly under 400 sq ft)	None (typically 150 to 350 sq ft)
Title type	RV title	Home title or real property	Varies	RV title
Mobility	On wheels, wide load permit to relocate	On chassis, relocated rarely	Wheels or foundation	Designed for frequent towing or driving
Typical siting	RV park, resort community, private land (seasonal)	Manufactured home park, private land	Varies, often urban infill or private land	Campground, RV park, driveway
Financing	RV loan, chattel loan, personal loan	FHA Title I or II, chattel, sometimes conventional mortgage	RV loan if certified, otherwise personal or construction loan	RV loan
Tax treatment	Sales tax (vehicle)	Property tax, often as real property	Varies	Sales tax (vehicle)
Self contained	No, requires shore hookups	Yes, plumbed for permanent service	Varies	Yes, onboard fresh, gray, and black water tanks
Intended use	Seasonal, recreational	Primary residence	Either	Recreational, mobile

Two distinctions explain most of the practical differences between the categories.

First, ANSI A119.5 versus the HUD code is a vehicle versus housing line. A park model RV has a VIN, a state DMV title, and it pays sales tax once. A manufactured home under HUD has a data plate, can be titled as real property, and pays annual property tax in most states. The RVIA inspects ANSI A119.5 builders 6 to 7 times a year unannounced.

Second, self contained versus shore hookup. A traditional RV carries its own fresh water, gray water, and black water tanks. A park model RV does not. It needs continuous water, sewer, and 30 or 50 amp electric service. That is why it lives in an RV park or resort community rather than at a primitive campsite.

What a park model RV costs in 2026

Park model RV prices run from around $25,000 for a base unit to over $200,000 for a custom luxury build, with the working middle of the market sitting between $40,000 and $100,000.

Brand and model	Price	Notes
Phoenix Double Take (11’7” x 34’, 2 bed/2 bath)	$43,000	Builder direct, Phoenix Park Models
Forest River Salem Villa 42QBQ	$49,499	Dealer listing, Couch’s RV Nation
Hilltop Structures cabin units	$61,545 to $67,970	Turn key, builder display
Forest River Cottage 40RDE	$65,499	Dealer listing
Alliance Benchmark 44LFT	Dealer pricing varies	Destination trailer category
Grand Design Foundation 42GD	$145,594	Destination trailer category
Deer Valley Cozy Cabin XL	$169,900	Luxury custom

GoRVing, the consumer arm of the RV Industry Association, puts the typical buying range at $35,000 to $80,000. That number aligns with the dealer and builder data above for a mid spec single level or loft model in 2026 dollars.

The advertised price is the unit only. A real total cost has four lines:

• The unit itself, $25,000 to $200,000+
• Delivery from factory, $1,000 to $5,000 depending on distance and width
• Site preparation and utility hookup, $5,000 to $15,000 for a private site
• Lot rent at an RV park or resort, a monthly figure that runs as long as the unit sits there

Three financing paths are available, all of them more expensive than a residential mortgage. RV loan rates vary by lender, credit score, and loan term. Chattel loans use the unit itself as collateral and account for a large share of manufactured home financing, with the same loan structure available for park model purchases. Personal loans cost 6% to 37% APR and require no collateral. Traditional mortgages are generally off the table because the unit is titled as a vehicle in most states rather than as real property.

What is inside a park model RV

Park model RVs come standard with full size residential kitchens and bathrooms, which is the biggest functional gap between them and a traditional RV. The kitchen has a full range, a residential refrigerator, and often a dishwasher. The bathroom has a regular shower, often with a tub, rather than a marine style wet bath. Many models include a vaulted or cathedral ceiling that a travel trailer cannot run.

Sleeping arrangements go from a single primary bedroom to two bedrooms plus a loft, with capacity that GoRVing puts at up to 10 people. Storage is generous against a travel trailer: built in closets, cabinets, and pantries are standard rather than aftermarket. Insulation specs vary by builder and are typically tuned for a seasonal climate rather than residential IRC code, which means a park model built for Arizona will struggle in a Wisconsin winter without upgrades.

Power comes from a 30 or 50 amp shore connection. There is no onboard generator and no solar array as standard. There are no fresh, gray, or black water tanks. The unit is plumbed for continuous water in and sewer out, the same as a small house.

Where you can put one

Park model RVs go in three places: RV parks and resorts, 55 plus resort communities, and, in some jurisdictions, on private land for seasonal use. The first two are the main paths.

RV parks and resort communities are purpose built for park model siting. They have full hookup pads with water, sewer, and 30 or 50 amp electric. They hold the zoning permits to allow longer term occupancy that most residential codes do not. Some of the larger 55 plus resort communities run 1,800 plus full hookup sites and rent or sell park models for that lifestyle.

Private land is the harder path. Most US counties classify a park model as a recreational vehicle, which limits occupancy to 180 days a year on private land outside of an approved RV park. Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina publish specific park model guidance; other states defer to county or city zoning. In most jurisdictions a park model RV cannot serve as a primary residence, which means it is not a valid address for voter registration, DMV records, or homestead exemption.

Insurance follows the RV classification. Specialty RV insurance, written through major RV carriers, covers the unit, contents, and liability. Homeowners insurance does not apply.

The pros and cons

Pros	Cons
Up to 400 sq ft, more living space than any other RV class	Not self contained, requires a full hookup site
Full size kitchen and bathroom standard	Width over 11 ft means special permit and licensed hauler to relocate
Lower upfront cost than a comparable site built or manufactured home	HOA and park rules typically restrict exterior modifications
Factory built, faster to occupy than site built construction	Depreciates as a vehicle, does not build equity
Works as a seasonal second home with low maintenance	Traditional mortgage usually unavailable, financing is RV loan or chattel at higher rates
Resort communities offer pools, clubhouse, organized amenities	Full time legal residence is restricted or unavailable in most US jurisdictions
Aesthetics range from cabin to contemporary	Lot rent at RV parks and resorts is an ongoing cost
Factory inspections by RVIA give a clearer build standard than custom builds	Insulation runs below residential IRC code, so climate fit matters

Who makes park model RVs in the US

Park model RVs in the US come from a small group of certified manufacturers, each one inspected by the RVIA 6 to 7 times a year unannounced. The blue and gold ANSI A119.5 seal to the right of the main door is the buyer’s first check; the names below are the ones the category turns on.

Champion Homes. Based in Troy, Michigan. Park model brands are Athens Park and Shore Park. Sells through a US and Canadian dealer network. Models run close to the 400 square foot cap with kitchen, bath, and loft options.

Cavco Industries. Based in Phoenix, Arizona, with the Cavco Homes subsidiary handling park model production. Builds to ANSI A119.5, HUD code, and the Canadian CSA Z241. 2025 introductions included the Cavco 150 Series 190014 and the CSA Z241 Country Manor 148044ES.

Kropf Industries. Deep floor plan catalog across four series (Island, Eldorado, Canadian, Lakeside) and a quality reputation. The 2025 Eldorado 9101PWD with a middle porch is one of the year’s headline introductions.

Forest River. A Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary. Park models sell under the Salem Villa and Cottage names. Salem Villa 42QBQ and Cottage 40RDE pricing runs from around $49,000 to $66,000 at dealer.

Phoenix Park Models. Phoenix, Arizona. Builder direct sales. The model range covers $43,000 to $90,000 across four product families.

Alliance RV and Grand Design. Both build at the premium end, with destination trailer models like the Benchmark 44LFT and the Foundation 42GD at $145,594 that compete with the upper bracket of the park model class.

A park model RV is the right answer when you want a stationary cabin with full kitchen and bathroom for a season or two, in a park that handles the hookups and the zoning. It is the wrong answer when you want a primary residence with equity, a unit you can tow yourself, or a self contained rig for boondocking.