Used Park Model RVs: What They Are, Who They Suit and What to Check
A park model is an RV built to stay put. Here is what the category means, who it works for, and the questions to ask before buying one that has sat on a site for years.
By Joey Bouza, Founder, US RV Connection · Updated October 19, 2026
A park model RV is a recreational vehicle built to be moved to a site and left there, usually for seasons at a time. It has wheels and a hitch, but it is sized and finished more like a small cottage than a camper: residential doors and windows, a full-height ceiling, a house-style kitchen. Used park models appeal to buyers who want a seasonal place at a campground or resort without the price or the permanence of a cabin. This guide explains the category and what to check on a used one.
What makes a park model a park model
- Size. Park model RVs are built to a recreational-vehicle standard that caps living area at 400 square feet. That limit is what keeps them in the RV category rather than the manufactured-housing category.
- Movability. They sit on a trailer frame and can be towed by a professional transporter, but they are not designed for regular towing, and most owners never move them after delivery.
- Construction. Residential windows and doors, standard-height ceilings, often a loft, and finishes closer to a house than to a travel trailer.
- Destination trailers. Many manufacturers also build 'destination' travel trailers, which are larger towables designed for long seasonal stays. They sit between a travel trailer and a park model and are often sold alongside them.
Park model vs travel trailer vs tiny home
| Park model RV | Destination trailer | Tiny home on wheels | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built to | RV park-model standard, 400 sq ft cap | RV standards, larger travel-trailer scale | Varies; some to RV standards, some to none |
| Towing | Transporter delivery; not for regular towing | Towable, but heavy and not meant for weekly trips | Varies widely |
| Where it can sit | RV parks, resorts, campgrounds and private land where zoning allows RVs | Same | Depends on how it was certified and local zoning |
| Feel | Small cottage | Large camper | Small house |
Before buying a used park model, confirm where it is going to live and whether that site will accept it. Many parks limit the age of units they allow in, and a used park model that cannot be placed is just a very large trailer.
What to check on a used park model
- Site history. A unit that has sat on blocks for years has a frame, axles and tires that have not moved. Budget for tires and bearings if it is being relocated.
- Water. Roof, window and door seals, the floor around the bathroom and kitchen, and the walls behind furniture. Seasonal units are often left unattended in weather.
- Skirting, decks and add-ons. Owners build decks, sheds and enclosures around park models. Decide what stays, who owns it and whether it moves with the unit.
- Utilities. Many park models are hard-wired and plumbed to a site. Inspect how they were connected and what disconnection will involve.
- Title and age. Park models are titled as RVs in most states. Confirm the title is clean and that the age is acceptable to the destination park.
- Transport cost. Moving a park model is a specialist job. Get a quote before agreeing a price, because it can be a significant share of the total.
What they are asking right now
Park models and destination trailers list under their type on this site. The live median asking price by RV type is below; filter the listings page by type and location to find units near the park you have in mind, because transport cost rises with every mile.
| Type | Median asking | Lowest | Highest | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class A motorhome | $87,795 | $7,000 | $259,850 | 109 |
| Class B camper van | $96,437 | $34,900 | $184,985 | 42 |
| Class C motorhome | $83,818 | $23,777 | $399,995 | 120 |
| Travel trailer | $27,778 | $3,995 | $139,495 | 1855 |
| Fifth wheel | $62,430 | $3,995 | $176,794 | 456 |
| Toy hauler | $39,636 | $9,988 | $244,632 | 164 |
| Other (pop-ups, truck campers, park models) | $54,900 | $4,999 | $147,500 | 235 |
| Model years | Median asking | Lowest | Highest | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 and newer | $39,202 | $7,000 | $399,995 | 1892 |
| 2020–2023 | $27,777 | $4,999 | $219,795 | 557 |
| 2015–2019 | $26,995 | $6,495 | $259,850 | 365 |
| 2010–2014 | $19,995 | $5,988 | $129,860 | 124 |
| 2000–2009 | $29,998 | $3,995 | $194,899 | 39 |
Frequently asked questions
- What is a park model RV?
- A recreational vehicle built to be placed on a site and used seasonally, with residential-style construction and a living area capped at 400 square feet under the RV park-model standard.
- Can you tow a park model?
- It has a frame and hitch, but it is designed for delivery by a professional transporter, not for regular towing. Most are moved once.
- Can you live in a park model full time?
- Many people do, in parks that allow it. Zoning and park rules decide, not the unit.
- What is a destination trailer?
- A large travel trailer designed for long seasonal stays. It is towable but heavy, and it sits between a travel trailer and a park model.
- Do park models hold their value?
- Like other RVs they depreciate, but the site they sit on and its demand can matter as much as the unit. The live medians on this page show where the category sits today.
- How much does it cost to move a park model?
- It is a specialist transport job priced by distance, permits and site access. Get a quote before you buy.
- Will a campground accept any used park model?
- No. Many parks set age limits and appearance standards. Confirm acceptance with the park before purchase.
- Is a park model a mobile home?
- No. Park models are built to an RV standard and titled as RVs. Manufactured homes are built to a federal housing code and are larger.
About the author
Joey Bouza — Founder, US RV Connection
Working musician and founder of Prospects International, a marketing firm that runs lead and appointment campaigns for dealers across the country.
Prices and counts in our guides come from live listings on this site and are recalculated hourly. Where we quote industry-typical figures (transport, inspection, roof reseal, tire and appliance quotes) we say so, and we never publish a number we haven't measured or sourced.