Clearance + restrictions
US low-clearance reality + RV restriction reference. 13'6" master reference, mountain pass list, RV-banned roads, hazmat tunnels, smart routing apps, state-by-state.
US RV low-clearance master reference
13'6" is the federal minimum but it's an aspiration, not a guarantee. Real US clearance is much lower in places.
Eastern US low-clearance reality
New York to Massachusetts. Where the historical infrastructure meets modern RVs. Plan carefully.
NYC low-clearance reality — RVs in New York City
Most NYC bridges are sub-13 feet. Most parkways are RV-prohibited. Where RVs can actually drive.
Pennsylvania Turnpike tunnels — RV clearance reference
Four tunnels remain on the modern PA Turnpike. 13'9" minimum. Most RVs OK.
US mountain passes — 10,000+ ft paved RV reference
When you're crossing the Rockies in an RV, altitude is the constraint. This is the list.
US steep grade highways — 6%+ posted grades
Where the descent matters more than the climb. The list every RV traveler should review.
Roads where RVs cannot go — US reference
Parkways. Posted-low bridges. Scenic byways with length limits. Where RVs are explicitly excluded.
Trucks-only routes — RV qualifies
Where the truck route exists, your big-rig RV typically uses it.
Hazmat-restricted tunnels — US RV propane considerations
Federal hazmat restrictions apply to placard-required transport, not standard RV propane. Reference + alternatives.
RV smart routing apps — Garmin RV, CoPilot, TruckerPath
The apps that route by your rig's height and weight, not a car's.
I-70 Colorado mountain passes — RV reference
The marquee mountain interstate. Three passes, two tunnels, four canyons in 200 miles.
I-5 Grapevine — Tejon Pass California
6% sustained. CHP brake checks. The Los Angeles approach.
I-15 Cajon Pass — California LA-Vegas corridor
5-6% sustained. The LA-Las Vegas RV corridor's main mountain crossing.
I-90 Snoqualmie Pass — Washington
Seattle's mountain interstate. 6% grades. Winter chain country.
I-80 Donner Summit — California / Nevada
Sacramento to Reno via the Sierra Nevada. 7,200 ft summit.
NYC truck routes — RV-legal routes
NYC DOT publishes the legal truck-and-RV routes. Use them.
Storrow Drive Boston — RV STAY OUT
Sub-13 ft bridges. Weekly truck strikes. Storrowing is a thing. Don't be the RV.
DC parkway restrictions — federal RV-prohibited routes
The federal parkways in the DC area prohibit commercial vehicles and RVs. Use I-95 / I-495.
Baltimore Harbor + Fort McHenry Tunnels — RV reference
I-895 Harbor + I-95 Fort McHenry. RV-friendly with standard propane.
Chicago RV routes — Tri-State Tollway preferred
I-294 around Chicago is the RV-friendly bypass. Through-traffic uses it.
US bridge strike history — a reference for caution
Documented bridge strikes by RVs and trucks. Don't be the next one.
RV + trailer length legal rules — US state-by-state
State laws on combined RV + trailer length. Critical for fifth-wheel + towed-vehicle setups.