What Is a Park Model Home?
A park model home — sometimes called a park model RV or park model tiny home — is a small, cabin-like dwelling usually designed at or just under 400 square feet. Most are built on a chassis so they can be delivered to a site, then set up semi-permanently with skirting, porches and utility hookups. They are typically parked in RV parks or on rural property situated outside city limits.
The 400-square-foot line matters. Park model RVs are commonly built to the ANSI A119.5 standard, which applies to units with no more than 400 square feet of floor area in the set-up mode. That is why so many park models are designed at about 399 square feet. Lofts generally do not count toward that floor area, which is how a well-designed park model can still sleep four.
Cowboy Tiny Homes designs park model homes that feel like real cabins, not campers: higher ceilings, real porches and finishes that suit Texas land.
Park Model vs Tiny Home on Wheels vs ADU
| Park model | Tiny home on wheels | ADU | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical size | About 399 sq ft plus loft | About 120–400 sq ft | About 300–1,200 sq ft |
| Width | Often wider than 8.5 ft | Usually 8.5 ft for towing | No road limits |
| Mobility | Delivered, then mostly stationary | Built to move | Permanent |
| Common locations | RV parks, rural land, ranches | RV parks, rural land | Back yards inside cities |
| Built to | RV-style standard (often ANSI A119.5) | Varies; ask about RVIA/NOAH | IRC and local zoning |
The full comparison, including financing and resale, is in our guide to ADU vs park model vs tiny house on wheels.
Why Park Models Work So Well in Texas
- Weekend places on rural land. A park model on the deer lease, the lake lot or the family ranch is more comfortable than a camper and far less expensive than a cabin built on site.
- Long-term RV park living. Many Texas RV parks welcome park models for extended stays, giving you a real home with community amenities.
- Extra space wider than a trailer. Because park models usually move only once, they can be wider than a towable tiny home, which makes room for a real living room and kitchen.
- Short-term rental cabins. On properties where it is allowed, a cluster of park model cabins can become a Hill Country or lakeside getaway.
Popular Park Model Layouts
The porch cabin
A single main floor with a full-width covered front porch, open kitchen and living space, a bathroom with a real shower and a bedroom at the back. Simple, durable and easy to cool.
The loft cabin
A main-floor bedroom plus a sleeping loft over the bathroom and kitchen for kids or guests. Lofts add sleeping space without adding to the counted floor area.
The rental getaway
A vaulted great room with big windows facing the view, a kitchenette, a spa-style bathroom and a deck sized for an outdoor dining table.
See more inspiration on our house designs page, or add up the rooms you need with the tiny house size planner.
Choosing Finishes That Last
Park models often sit on land you visit on weekends, so low maintenance matters as much as looks. We favor metal or fiber-cement siding over materials that need frequent painting, luxury vinyl plank flooring that tolerates muddy boots and humidity, and solid-surface or quartz counters that will not stain. Inside, a vaulted ceiling with a ceiling fan, a mix of open shelving and closed storage, and a bathroom with a real full-size shower make a 399-square-foot cabin feel like home rather than a camper. Outside, a covered porch sized for rocking chairs or a dining table effectively doubles your living space for much of the Texas year.
Placing a Park Model: What to Check
Before you buy a park model, confirm where it will go. Cities often treat park models like RVs, so placing one as a permanent residence on a residential lot inside city limits is frequently not allowed. On rural land, check county requirements for septic systems and floodplains, any deed restrictions, utility availability and road access for delivery. RV parks may have their own age, size, style or certification requirements. Our Texas tiny house laws guide covers the details.
How Much Does a Park Model Home Cost in Texas?
For planning, builder-built park models in Texas typically run about $150 to $260 per square foot at standard finishes, or roughly $60,000 to $104,000 for a 399-square-foot home. Basic finishes can lower that about 15%; premium finishes can raise it 30% or more. Delivery, set-up, skirting, decks and utility hookups are extra and depend on the site. Get your own range with the tiny home cost calculator or read the full cost to build a tiny house in Texas breakdown.
Built for Texas Land and Weather
Rural Texas sites are tough on small buildings. We plan park models with metal roofs that shrug off hail and sun, generous roof overhangs and covered porches to shade windows, well-sealed walls and ceilings for humid summers, and ductless mini-splits that keep a 399-square-foot cabin comfortable without a big electric bill. Where you are off the grid, we can plan for solar, battery storage, rainwater collection and propane appliances.
Working With Cowboy Tiny Homes
Every Cowboy Tiny Homes park model starts with a conversation about where it will live and how you will use it. From there we handle the floor plans, elevations and renderings, then the build. We work with buyers across Texas, including Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin and rural properties statewide.