When taking some time to relax and vacation away from the big city hustle, it’s important to remember your manners and strive for courteous interactions with other RVers and campers. Trailers, motor homes, and tents are not as well insulated from noise as your house or apartment. But your campsite is your mini-home site and there is a special need for other’s consideration in these situations. Here are a few reminders about RV and camping etiquette.
- Be considerate with the noise level of your stereo, TV, parties, etc. Most parks have “quiet hours” These are the times that you shouldn’t be running your generator or having loud discussions.
- Avoid walking through occupied campsites. For the time a camper is on a site, it is their space and their privacy should be respected.
- Observe the speed limits that are posted and stay wary for animals or children that may be crossing paths.
- Pick up after pets. If your pets are traveling with you, it’s important to pick up after them, as pet waste can spread disease. Do not leave your dog unattended in or out of your rig if it’s know to have “separation anxiety” and bark profusely.
- Don’t litter. Your trash is your responsibility. This means you shouldn’t leave behind paper, trash, clothes, kid’s toys, cigarette butts, or other discardable items. Also, be wary of anything that you have sitting out that could easily blow away into someone else’s campsite.
- If a park is full, check out when you’re supposed to. During check-in, if there are others waiting in line, remember they also just got off the road and are looking forward to setting up camp as soon as possible.
- Keep your fire tended. If you decide to have a fire at your campsite, don’t leave it unattended and don’t throw trash, cans, or bottles in your fire. Cans don’t burn up and the smell of burning plastic is awful. When you leave, make sure your fire is completely out- don’t let it just smolder. Windy conditions could easily restart a smoldering fire.
Adhering to this etiquette makes your camping experience, and everyone’s around you, better. The easiest way to tell if a campsite behavior is okay is to ask yourself “Would I be okay with my neighbor acting this way? Would my neighbor acting this way infringe upon my camping experience in any way?”. Simple courtesy goes a long way and keeps the good vibes flowing!