How To Avoid Being “That Guy”
If you have camped at a private or provincial campground, especially since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, you’ll know exactly how busy campgrounds can be! When you’re around that many people, proper campground etiquette is important.
We talked to campers and asked them what their campground pet peeves are, and compiled from them a basic guide on how to avoid being “That Guy” at the campground.
Keeping these in mind while camping ensures everyone at the campground has the best camping experience possible, and you may even make some new friends!
Campground Etiquette: RESPECT, CONSIDERATION, and RESPONSIBILITY for other campers
Setting Up
If you can, arrive during the day. Who likes to set up their campsite in the dark anyway?
Most campsites lock their gates after their closing time, but some remain open 24/7. Just because your campground is open all night, does NOT mean you should arrive in the middle of the night.
Waking the entire campground by driving your rig around searching for your campsite, then struggling to back into the campsite in the dark, and finally using an impact gun to lower your RVs stabilizers, will not be appreciated by campers who are trying to rest!
Arrive during the day, and drive VERY slowly through the campground. Kids or pets are very likely to dart across the path of your rig without a second glance, and it can be difficult to brake quickly if you are towing a trailer or driving a large motorhome.
Once you find your campsite, only take up as much space as you need. Avoid extending an awning or placing a camp rug onto your neighbor’s campsite, and be respectful as to where the exhaust of your generator faces. Hint – not right into your neighbor’s campsite.
If you have reserved a site but cannot make it to the campground, cancel your reservation. This way, someone else can enjoy the site!
Noise
Only run your generator during the hours the campground has allowed generators to run for, and avoid running it in the early morning or late evenings.
When shopping for a generator avoid loud industrial generators. Instead, hunt for the quietest one that you can find, or ask us about setting up a solar system for your RV.
Only run your generator during the hours the campground has allowed generators to run for, and avoid running it in the early morning or late evenings.
When shopping for a generator avoid loud industrial generators. Instead, hunt for the quietest one that you can find, or ask us about setting up a solar system for your RV.
Courtesy to Others
Wave and greet your neighbors! This will help you both avoid a weekend of awkward eye contact from across your campsites, and you might even make some new friends who love camping just as much as you.
As an added courtesy bonus, remember not to cut through other people’s sites. That is their space and it’s impolite to walk through their area.
Most new RV’s come with brilliant LED lights on the awning or the front cap.
These create a fantastic ambiance for your campsite at night but keep in mind how close other campers are, and if your camper’s LEDs could possibly be shining into their campsite.
When you retire to bed for the night, don’t forget to switch off the outdoor LEDs of your RV.
Campground Etiquette: RESPECT, CONSIDERATION, and RESPONSIBILITY for nature.
Always leave your campsite looking better than when you arrived, and if you are feeling extra kind even leave some firewood for the campers after you.
Clean up all garbage, and never litter. Avoid nailing anything into trees around your campsite, and make sure your fire is completely extinguished and cold before you leave.
The fire pit is NOT a trash can! Nobody wants to arrive at a campsite to find the previous camper’s garbage filling their firepit.
Campground Etiquette: Kids and Dogs
Camping is a family activity, and it is encouraged to bring your children and furry family members. But unmonitored, they can easily disrupt other campers’ peaceful vacations.
- Teach kids to only play around their campsite, and not to cut through others sites or run around the campground, shouting and screaming without supervision.
- Make sure they understand quiet times at dusk and dawn, and if kids want to play in communal areas like a beach or the playground their parents should always be supervising them to ensure they are respectful of other campers, and safe.
- Dogs should be leashed at all times, friendly or not. Other campers may be fearful of dogs, and other dogs may not be as friendly as your dog, so never leave them off leash to follow their noses into the nearest campsite that has hot dogs on the grill.
- If you bring your dog camping, do not leave them inside the RV all day! Not only is this dangerous for both your pets and your RV, but locked up barking dogs are sure to ruin the experience for anyone camping nearby.
- While your dog is on the campground, always pick up after it and dispose of the doggy bag properly.