Campground Etiquette 101: Understanding the Most Common Written and Unwritten Rules
With the tremendous influx of new RVers (welcome, newbies!) and campers over the past year, it’s a great time to revisit the written and unwritten rules of nearly every RV park. We’ve seen stronger restrictions being put into place by private campgrounds because of non-compliance by campers. Not to mention rules from the boondocking spots as well. We are seeing our BLM land being taken away from camping use like never before. So it sounds like all of us could use a refresher course in being polite in the outdoors. After all, nature is for everyone and we are charged with keeping it wonderful for each other.
The Most Common Written Rules of Campgrounds
Quiet Hours - seriously be polite - you never know who has little kids that don't sleep well or who may have a long drive tomorrow.
Speed - slow down - you do not want to be the person who hits a dog or a child because you were in a hurry or going too fast to see everything around you.
Trash - PLEASE pick up after yourself and throw away your trash in the dumpster and not in your campfire.
Animals - pick up after your pets, try your best to keep them quiet and safe. Don’t forget their leashes.
Campfires - do not leave them unattended - do you know how many devastating forest fires start because of careless campers? In Colorado, we experienced this first hand in 2020 with the worst fires we’ve ever had.
Watch your children - generally, it's okay to let the kids roam as long as you can see them, but it's better to be safe than sorry. We like to make sure we book a site close to the playground so they have some freedom, but we can also be close by for whatever may come up.
Stick to your site - don't overlap into your neighbor's campsite because you don't care or don't pay attention. Too often other campers are trying to be polite by not saying something, but let’s not put them in that position.
Don't walk through someone else's campsite - it's the same as walking through your neighbor’s tulip bed - respect property. And please remind the kiddos. I know mine forget quite often, so when we’re setting up we always remind them.
Pay for your site - come on, you know you'll get caught. Even when you sneak in at night, you’re still using the resources from that campground.
The Unwritten Rules of Campgrounds
Respect the written rules! Do you think one or two of them are pointless? Great! That's your opinion - respect the owners or go somewhere else.
Be friendly - campgrounds are a social place to talk about where you're from and what kind of rig you've got (or want), so if you are anti-social then ask for a spot in a secluded corner of the campground.
Let Grandma be your guide - follow Grandma's old-fashioned rules and you'll be just fine.
Let the Boy Scouts be your guide - follow their environmentally friendly ways and you'll be just fine.
Be smart with your food - especially when you're in wild animal territory it is essential to keep all food, drinks, and trash sealed and away from their access.
RV owners/renters - don't be careless with your gray and (especially) black water - dump them appropriately. And please don't run your generator all night.
Turn off your headlights - we’ve all pulled in late at night, it’s not a big deal, but as soon as it’s safe - please turn off your headlights. Nothing ruins a relaxing campfire like 15 minutes of headlights right to the eyes from a huge truck.
Check firewood rules - many states prohibit firewood from other states because of bugs and diseases.
Music - most of us love to listen to our music while camping, but sadly your neighbors don’t love your music choices as you do. Keep it down.
Leave No Trace - this can’t be stated enough. Maybe you don’t think leaving a small bag of trash or dog poop behind isn’t a big deal, but it is. We need to show the utmost respect for the environment and leaving no trace is the best way to start.
Don't forget to have fun! We have seen too many people take camping way too seriously. Just relax and have a good time.
What else did we forget? Continue the conversation in the comments below!
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