Whether you’re trying to be a good neighbor at a built-up RV park or figuring out how to be pleasant while group camping in the woods, it’s not difficult to practice good camping etiquette.
It comes down to one simple idea: You’re not the only person hoping to enjoy the campground. So do everything you can to create a pleasant experience for the next camper, and be courteous to those with whom you’re currently sharing the space!
RV Camping Etiquette
Here are a few tips to practice good RV camping etiquette when you’re out and about.
- Follow the rules
- Be mindful of noise
- Be careful with those generator fumes
1. Follow the rules
Most campgrounds have a specific list of rules for the area. Good camping etiquette includes following those rules, and it helps to read them before booking a reservation, or setting up camp. They’re in place for the enjoyment and convenience of all campers. Rules may include items such as quiet hours, whether generators and campfires are allowed, if and where alcohol is allowed, and the guidelines for pets. Knowing the expectations ahead of time will help prepare you for your stay.
Not only will following the rules make you a pleasant neighbor, it can help you avoid a fine…or getting kicked out of the campground altogether.
2. Be mindful of noise
No matter how you slice it, RV walls are thin. There’s no quicker way to upset your neighbors and show poor camping etiquette than to be raucous late at night or to blare your morning radio when most people are still sleeping. Be mindful of your campground’s quiet hours.
3. Be careful with those generator fumes
If you’re camping in an area without electrical hookups and have to run your generator for air conditioning, be conscious of how close you are to your fellow RVers. No one wants to smell your generator fumes… and since burning propane produces carbon monoxide, they could even be a danger without enough ventilation.
4. Pet etiquette
Many campgrounds require pets to be on a leash, and it’s the courteous and responsible thing to do when around others. Yes, your furry friend may be very well-behaved, and you may have trained it well, but there are other factors to consider when camping. Other pets may not get along with your pet. Some pets may not be accustomed to other animals. Your pet may also encounter small children or wildlife. Keeping your furry friend on a leash helps to avoid potential problems. Also, it’s important to always clean up after your pet, and to dispose of the pet baggies.
5. Respect others’ areas
Cutting through someone else’s campground is considered bad camping etiquette. Campers pay for their designated areas just as you did. Saving a few steps is not worth cutting through someone else’s rented property. When you’re RVing, your outdoor space is part of your living area — even if you don’t have an elaborate setup with lawn chairs and other outdoor furniture. Think of it as a hotel room. You can’t just barge into another person’s room because it’s their personal space.
Also, don’t leave debris or use trash facilities in other sites. Be respectful of someone else’s space.
6. Keep your campground clean
An easy way to be a conscious camper (and practice good camping etiquette) is to keep your campsite clean. Keep your belongings within the boundary of your campsite. Pick up trash and dispose of it in the proper receptacle so it doesn’t blow around the campground. This helps to keep critters at bay and keeps the campground tidy for everyone.
7. Avoid critters
Heading out into nature means possibly seeing wildlife. But wild animals are best seen at a distance, not scurrying through the middle of your campground. Preventing wild animals at your campsite is good camping etiquette because those animals are just as likely to scamper through the surrounding campsites as well. So protect your food and other scented products like body wash, deodorants, soaps, and sunscreen. If you’re camping in bear country, many campgrounds have bear boxes installed to properly store these items. Bears are smart creatures and keeping your food in a cooler in your car could mean they’ll break into the car and help themselves! If your campsite doesn’t have a bear box, you can purchase your own bear canister and use it to store your food.
There are also smaller critters like raccoons and squirrels who would love to snack on your food. To avoid hungry animal visitors, pick up all food and store it inside your rig. When you’re eating or preparing meals outside, keep everything off the ground. Never leave food unattended outside as birds or furry critters can easily snatch some and make a quick exit. And if you do see cute little critters crawling into your camp, don’t feed them.
8. Lights & fires out
Campfires are one of the very best parts of camping… but they’re also one of the most dangerous, especially around RVs with tanks of flammable fuels on board.
If you’re going to start a campfire, always do so in a designated ring and at a safe distance from other trailers, motorhomes, and campers.
When turning in for the night, or leaving your campsite, be mindful of your campfire and lights. It’s important to make sure your campfire is fully out before leaving it unattended. Dangers can arise from even a small spark. The general rule is to make sure all coals, logs, and ashes from a fire are cold. Lanterns and porch lights should also be turned off. A lot of RV sites and campsites are close in proximity to others. Also, be mindful of whether your lights are shining on your neighbors’ sites or in their RV windows. It makes it difficult to enjoy the beautiful night sky when nearby lights are turned on.
9. Washing dishes
If you’re glamping in an RV, you get the added perk of your very own kitchen sink. This makes life so much easier. But remember, you’ll want to scrape your dirty dishes before washing them, and you’ll want to avoid putting coffee grounds down the drain. If you’re tent camping, don’t wash your dishes in bathroom sinks. Dirty dishes should be washed in designated areas only. Also, be mindful of dumping water with harmful soaps on the ground where wild animals might ingest it.
10. RV dump sites
Be sure to follow the rules of dump sites to practice good camping etiquette. After you finish dumping your tanks, be sure to remove any debris such like used gloves, towels, napkins, hose accessories, and masks. These sites are there for your convenience, but may not be attended to as often as one may think. Leftover trash can be blown away, or consumed by passing critters. Not to mention these items are unsanitary and potentially dangerous.
11. Clean up
Most of us have been taught to clean up after ourselves since we were children. This lesson is even more important when out in the wild. Maintain a clean campsite during your stay & be sure to pack everything up before heading inside your RV for the night. There are a lot of hungry animals out there & your food may miraculously disappear by morning. Also, some animals cannot distinguish the difference between food and trash. They may eat the plastic wrapper or bottle someone leaves behind.
When you leave, take a few extra moments to make sure every last bit of trash is picked up at your site. Make sure campfires are cold. And return items such as picnic tables back to their original places. If your pets left any surprises, make sure to clean those up as well. If you have leftover firewood, you may leave it behind in the campfire ring. It’s a nice little surprise for the next camper to find wood waiting for their first campfire.
12. Use pre-existing campsites
When looking for boondocking spots, it’s always best to find a place that someone else has already used. Not only do you know for a fact that it’s got attractive campground qualities, but you’ll avoid messing up another section of untouched nature.
13. Keep a respectful distance
People go camping in part to get away from it all. So don’t park as close to them as possible or insinuate yourself into their personal space as soon as you arrive!
14. But don’t forget to introduce yourself
That said, if you see your neighbors out and about, don’t just turn the other direction. Say hello! You never know who you might meet while you’re camping.
Here are a few more camping etiquette tips if this is your first time RVing.
Hopefully, this has helped you to understand the common camping etiquette rules that will help you do be a thoughtful RV neighbor!
