Blaring music at 1 AM. Or a loud AF generator. There’s nothing worse than being forced to camp next to the world’s worst neighbors. Whether you’re in a tent or an RV, the rules apply to everyone here. And if you’re a newbie, you may be surprised to learn there are many unspoken rules in the camping world. So be that neighbor that everyone wants next to them with our guide to campground etiquette for beginners.
Don’t walk through other sites
In order to get from your site to the pool, it’s faster to walk through your neighbor’s site. Or someone else’s site. But in campground life, it’s considered rude to do this. It may be the quickest way to get from A to B, but it’s not the most courteous. The guiding principle here is take the paths – even if it takes you longer.
And while we’re on the topic, make sure your kids also avoid walking through sites. Kids are wild – I have two myself. And camping brings out an even wilder side. There’s nothing wrong with letting your kiddos run free. Just make sure they don’t do it while stompin’ through every site in the campground. Unless you are friends with your neighbors – in which case, more power to you.
Keep your pets on a leash
Similar to the first rule, no one wants a rowdy dog roaming through their yard. Even if you have the most well behaved pooch, let’s be honest, they still want to explore. Keep them on a leash and they’ll be less likely to wander over to the neighbor’s yard. And while we’re on the subject of pets, make sure to clean up after them when they do their business. Yes, that should go without saying, but we’ve definitely had dogs stroll over to our yard and go to the bathroom – with no owner in sight! The guiding principle here is to keep your pets on a leash so they’ll stay in your space. Many campground also have a special pet area you can let them off the leash, which is an awesome perk to take advantage of.
We also always bring these pet waste bags with us every time we go camping. They make cleanup a breeze.
Drive Slowly
Camping may feel like your chance to be footloose and fancy free. And in a lot of ways, it is. But there are still some rules that must be followed. And one of them is to watch your driving. Camping etiquette 101: people, pets, and wild animals tend to run around and often make their way into the roads. It’s a pretty established campground rule that cars should drive like a turtle. You never know when a kid will be playing catch and find themselves in the street. Or someone walking their dog. Bikes will also be zooming all over. So don’t take the speed limit signs as optional!
Related: How to set up your RV at a campground
Fire Safety
Campground safety is more than just ensuring your own safety – it’s about protecting the entire campground (and of course keeping yourself safe). Starting with the common rule “don’t bring your own firewood”. Some campgrounds will let you, but most won’t – especially over state lines. And this is to ensure no outside pests are brought into the area. Here in Illinois, the Emerald ash borer is a concern, so campground will ask that you only purchase their firewood or firewood in a designated radius. Read up on your campground’s rules in advance!
Also, make sure if you have a roaring fire, you put it out before bed. Especially in dry conditions, fires can spread easily. And you don’t want to be asleep if that were to happen!
Don’t leave food out
It may not seem like a big deal to leave food out on the picnic table. Especially if you’ve packed it all up. But when you’re in nature, critters are always on the lookout for their next meal. Especially when they know people have food all over the campground. Leaving food out not only brings animals into your own campsite, but it also encourages them to keep comin’ back for more.
This is especially important when you’re in areas where bears frequent. You never know when Yogi Bear may pop by. It’s best just to be careful and leave your food locked up in an RV, car, or cooler. Animals can also be super crafty and open tupperware containers! We finally splurged on one of the Yeti coolers and it was one of the best camping purchase we ever made. Event the craftiest of animals is not getting in there.
Follow quiet hours
This is actually a spoken rule for campgrounds. But some people choose not to follow this one. Most campgrounds will have quiet hours during certain periods at night. It doesn’t mean you have to go to bed, but it’s about keeping volumes to a respectable level. RVs and tents have paper thin walls. And campground sites are notoriously close together. If anyone is causing a raucous, the entire campground will hear it. Be kind to fellow campers so everyone can enjoy a decent night’s sleep.
And if you happen to be using a generator, nighttime is a good time to give it a break. We camped next to someone using a generator all night once and hardly slept a wink. Camping etiquette for beginners is as simple as thinking about how some of your comforts affect others.
Don’t leave lights on all night
For one, leaving lights on can be a safety hazard. But it’s also proper campground etiquette because it can disturb neighbors. The light you leave on may not bother you, but it could be shining right into your neighbor’s camper or tent. This is another unspoken rule that sometimes people don’t think about, but can impact others’ experiences. Turn off all the outside lights so everyone can have an enjoyable night’s sleep.
Clean up after yourself when leaving
Not the most glamorous or enjoyable parts of camping. But it’s important campground etiquette for beginners who may not have as much experience camping. The dump station is where you empty your…waste. And no one wants to come into that situation after someone who didn’t properly clean up after using it. After using the dump station, make sure to leave it how you found it (which hopefully is clean!). It’s courteous and if everyone does their part, no one will be left in a messy situation.
This is also goes beyond the dump site. When packing up and getting ready to leave, make sure to do a sweep through your campsite. Take trash to the trash bins. Pick up any messes. If you moved things around, put them back where you found them. Yeah basic stuff, but in the flurry of packing, sometimes people forget. Make it a group activity for everyone to double and triple check the campsite it clean and ready for the next guest. Campground etiquette is more than just being kind to people, it’s also about being kind to the environment. We always the follow the “leave your space better than you found it” rule.
Keep it civil when parking at your campground
Our last campground etiquette tip for beginners: be aware of your surroundings. Parking an RV is one of the most stressful parts of camping as a beginner (until you get the hang of it). It’s totally doable and there are almost always veterans around to give you a helping hand. But it’s important to keep things mannerly. You WILL have an audience. And it’s not the time for expletives. But the good news is most campground folks have been there at some point. And they are always there to offer advice, an extra eye, or even a flashlight when you’re trying to park at night.
Campground etiquette and a successful camping trip
Because most other guests do their part to follow these unwritten rules, campers are some of the friendliest people you’ll meet. And let’s be honest, most of these rules are pretty basic and easy to follow. You don’t have to be an expert to have a good time. Nor do you have to be super strict. We’ve met a lot of courteous campers. And a few that could have used a gentle reminder. So if you’re a beginner looking for campground etiquette tips, just remember, a little goes a long way! And that makes for a better camping experience for everyone.
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