5 Things You Should Never Do At A Campground
Most of you that have followed my blog through the years know my favorite campsite is a free one in the boondocks. One of the many reasons my wife and I prefer the boondocks is that we aren’t annoyed by other camper’s lack of manners. These are the top five inconsiderate things you never should do while you’re at a campground.
1. Cut through occupied campsites
I believe when you rent a campsite it ought to be your little piece of real estate during the duration of your stay. It should be up to you on who enters your space with permission.
My wife and I both consider it very inconsiderate when others take a shortcut through our space on the way to somewhere else like the bathhouse, beach, playground or any other destination, especially when we are sitting outside enjoying a meal or the campfire. Please walk around, the exercise is good for you.
2. Let your dog roam in other campsites
Over fifty percent of RVers bring their four-legged friends camping with them. My wife and I love dogs and always brought our beloved lab with us.
However, just like above, we don’t always appreciate uninvited guests in our site and that includes unleashed dogs that come running into our site looking to steal a snack off our picnic table, stick their nose in our catch of shellfish, redistribute our sacked garbage, or are maybe wet from a swim at the beach. Please keep your dog on a leash as required by most campgrounds.
Please keep your dogs leashed
3. Or let your dog bark excessively
This could be included with number 2 above but it is such an annoyance it deserves its own listing. If your dog barks at every stranger that passes by your campsite, please consider keeping it inside the RV, away from the road where it can’t see others passing by, or invest in a bark collar.
Another consideration is a dog that yips excessively when left alone in the RV. This is almost as annoying as listening to a smoke detector with a low battery chirping. Remember, other campers may have come to the campground to enjoy some quiet time, so please respect that and take your dog(s) with you if they are prone to endless yipping in your absence.
4. Be loud after hours
Let’s face it, most of us go camping to have an enjoyable time, but there comes a point when it is time for the party to end and go to bed. Nearly all campgrounds have posted quiet time and most campers willingly abide by them.
Being loud after hours—and leaving your dog unleashed—is not only annoying to other campers but it’s usually against campground rules.
However, some inconsiderate campers seem to ramp up the volume after hours via alcohol consumption, the volume control on their sound system, or both.
Please be considerate and keep the noise level confined to your campsite. If you want to be loud and party all night, please find yourself a campsite way out in the boondocks where there is no one to bother.
5. Leave trash in the fire ring
It’s amazing how many times I pull into a campsite and find the last camper used it for a trash can rather than walking a couple hundred feet to the dumpster.
It’s not my job to clean up after the thoughtless camper that was there before me, nor is it the campground host or paid staff’s job.
Please plan ahead and bring a trash bag or two with you when you go camping and dump your trash in the campground dumpster—or if you are too lazy to walk to the dumpster, take it home with you.
I’m sure you have your own annoyances to add, so please feel free to share using the comment box below. Avoiding bad manners of other campers, just another adventure in RVing!
See also:
- Five Ways to Annoy Campground and RV Park Neighbors
- Campground Etiquette: How To Be A Good Camping Neighbor
Dave Helgeson’s many roles in the RV industry started before he even had a driver’s license. His grandparents and father owned an RV dealership before the term “RV” had been coined, and Dave played a pivotal role in nearly every position of an RV dealership. He and his wife Cheri launched their own RV dealership in the Pacific Northwest. The duo also spent 29 years overseeing regional RV shows. Dave has also served as President of a local chapter of the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), worked on the board of advisors for the RV Technician Program of a local technical college, and served as a board member of the Manufactured Home and RV Association. Dave’s reputation earned him the title of “The foremost expert on boondocking,” bestowed by RV industry icon, the late Gary Bunzer (The RV Doctor). When he’s not out boondocking, you’ll find Dave in the spotlight at RV shows across the country, giving seminars about all things RVing. He and Cheri currently roam in their fifth travel trailer, with Dave doing all the service, repair and modifications to his own unit.
It always amazes me the volume of trash that accumulates on public lands. I find myself wondering what people who litter can be thinking. Perhaps they imagine their trash will somehow evaporate. I’m sure a fair percentage don’t care.
In any case, there is no future for camping if litter rates even stay the same except for those who enjoy living in garbage. More than the watchword, “Pack it in; pack out.” a stronger mandate is needed. My plan exceeds that by always including in my hiking gear a grocery store plastic bag which I endeavor to fill. If I don’t find enough trash to fill it, that’s okay. When it is full, I stop. If every camper would declare war on trash in the same way it would have a huge impact at no cost.
Well said….
Love your idea & I will pack disable glove too
one year on the snake river we picked up 20 black bags of trash before we started to fish
Please if you must smoke ,please stay inside with windows closed , so you get full benefit of it,do not open window and hang out side an let the smoke roll.Spme of us don’t enjoy it dome of us can’t breath an on top of that dome of us are already dieing from cancer,please be considerate.
Bad manners of. Campers.
Mind your monkeys, many times we have been woken by screaming kids, running back and forth their paper thin rigs. Slamming doors etc…the parents seemed to be trained to tune it out but for those of us that don’t, please be mindful. It can sure rattle your nerves
We pulled into our designated spot in a county campground and found the fire pit full of cigarette butt filters, not biodegrade and somewhat gross to a pair of former smokers.
These rules are common sense but unfortunately we are surrounded by many inconsiderate people today!
Maybe we should start a new campaign. Start with pack it in/ pack it out bumper stickers.
Thank you so much for taking time to share these annoyances. I totally agree & wish that the people who need to read this article would read it. I wish fines could be given to those who are not considerate of others. Money often brings about change.
#6. Just as you shouldn’t let your dog or cat run loose, neither should your kids. Yelling and screaming and zooming around the campgrounds on electric scooters they are even more annoying than the dogs. I’ve found most dogs are better behaved than way too many children. Whatever happened to good parenting?
I agree with all of your very valid issues. I would just like to add that folks are walking their dogs and other folks are out walking, it is inconsiderate and very rude to assume the “walker” enjoys your dog, sniffing, barking and jumping on them. I so detest those walking their dogs to allow them to come and lick me or sniff on me. I respect their right to have and take care of their animals and they need to respect folks who wish to not take animals on their ventures. I also do not appreciate folks walking their dogs and stopping right on our parking pad or site to allow the dog to poop while we are sitting at picnic table eating (or inside looking out over our spot) or just sitting enjoying the scenery. I am sorry , but these owners know what their dogs are about to do and see you there and act as if it is nothing. I have never let my children just squat and poop in front of others, stopped and changed a nasty diaper in someone’s face, run into someone’s campsite and start licking on them as all these acts are unacceptable even with a dog. We have friends that travel with 3 dogs that they take excellent care of . We have traveled together all over the country and we respect the way they care for their dogs. In the past, I have simply been quiet, said nothing as owners allow their dogs to lick and rub on me, but moving forward, I have no intention of allowing it to occur. It is rude and unacceptable and I will treat it as such. We love animals, but we choose to not own any due to our travels. Dog owners, it is your duty to please respect those of us that do not own animals by choice or due to allergies.
My assessment: Too little, too late. I always start my hike with an empty grocery store garbage bag which I fill with trash others have left. When it is full, I stop collecting for the day. This inconveniences me very little and results in me packing out RATHER THAN packing in. Swinging the packing equation in the opposite direction is the only way to guarantee to clean up the parks.
I know we are all camping in RV parks or campgrounds but if you have an open fire in a pit and it is blowing into my space that is very annoying! I know we have no control over the way the wind blows but don’t go to bed and leave it smoking thinking it will go out when it is blowing into my RV and not yours! So be responsible and put out your fire completely before you go to bed! I have a small propane fire pit so I can turn it off before I go to bed!
I asked a slob camper if he was going to leave his trash behind (dry camping) and his comment was “I do not have room for it”. I told him you managed to bring it, so take it with you. Almost came to blows, I was infringing on his rights according to him. This is the “It is about me crowd” who do not care about anything but them selves. I would hate to see their homes.
My other pet peeve is the dog owners (we have been camping for over 30 years with dogs) who do not pick up after their pets. One owner on a trail when asked if she was going to pickup after dog replied “We are not in the CG”. Were as I replied “Oh, I guess you forgot a bag” and handed her one. Embarrassed her enough so she picked it up.
Also Walmarts, some of the grassy areas have so many left dropping you can not see the grass.
As a native of CO, It is disgusting to see so much trash everywhere, even on top of the Fourteeners.
Be safe out there and treat the open spaces with respect so your children and grandchildren can enjoy them in the future.
LED lights that rival Las Vegas and stay on all night. Sure, they are pretty but not as pretty as the clear sky and stars! Turn them off, Griswalds!
This may be more than just a light show. I have read that lights around the RV on the ground deter mice and other nocturnal pests that can invade and destroy your RV.
The lights around the RV may deter pests; its also true that those big yard lights in rural yards deter vandals and thefts. But light pollution became so offensive that light shields have been mandated on them on many areas. There are far less offensive ways to deter vermin than all-night decorative RV lights.
Yes I agree….I love opening my bedside window to allow the fresh cool air in. But there is always someone with their outdoor porch light shining bright or someone’s camper lit up like the Fourth of July….No one considers that there are people who have seizures from these blinking lights..
I agree TURN OFF THE LIGHTS
I just came through Quartzsite and I am appalled at all the trash out on the BLM land, we are losing Walmart parking lots to trash and abuse of someone else’ property and BLM land will be next.
Patti, I too was appalled by the trash and utter disregard for public land while there. We’ve been going to Quartzsite for 12 years, and this by far was the absolute worst we have seen……and the landfill takes your trash for free!!!!
Only 5????
Great article. Not a dog owner so I don’t understand how some people bring doggo with them and abandon them at the campsite. Poor dog barks and whines while left alone. I am appalled by the number of bottle caps I pick up. They aren’t biodegradable.
Yes I agree….I love opening my bedside window to allow the fresh cool air in. But there is always someone with their outdoor porch light shining bright or someone’s camper lit up like the Fourth of July….No one considers that there are people who have seizures from these blinking lights..
I agree TURN OFF THE LIGHTS
And there is a place to take it just north of town. It use to be free..
A more practical solution is boondocking capability. Abraham Lincoln’s father said, “The neighborhood is getting too crowded when you can see the smoke from your neighbor’s chimney”.
Well written!!!! #1 is our pet pev… adults and kids do this all the time when we are camping. My husband doesn’t hesitate to EDUCATE them of what they should be doing. I can say they only do it once. He must have a mean face haha… I wish more people could live by this and be considerate of others.
Agreed, people should be more considerate and perhaps ‘nice’ in educating people. I was walking our cat (yes cat, she loves the outdoors) with my two small children when my cat stuck a paw (literally one paw) on someone else’s patch of lawn that they evidently own because they spent the same money we did, as I was saying, ‘Hi how are you guys today’. The man looked at me and my kids, let his 100 lb mean ass dog out specifically to attack my cat and yelled ‘MY SPACE, NOT YOURS!!’ Wow! My kids left crying, asking why someone would be so mean and I was shaking I was so scared and appalled. All he or his wife had to do was simply say ‘We would appreciate if….’. To which my response would have been, ‘Of course, I understand!’ My husband was none to happy and I had to convince him not to beat anyone, or anything petty like throwing all our cat poop in the back of their truck. Instead we had a conversation with our kids about how not everyone is nice and next time we will make sure to walk within the lines. Or never go to another way too busy camp ground again. We’ll stick to the backcountry…no people.
Another virtue of a boondockable RV.
My wife would have a hard time restraining me from educating that asshat, his dog not withstanding..
You had to convince YOUR husband not to BEAT the guy up or throw YOUR cat poop in HIS truck because he was (according to you), rude?
And your point is this guy was unreasonable?
Wow…! Sounds like there’s a definite maturity lag here, “Bree”.
Please don’t let your sewer cap leak. When the camp sights are close togather. Its leaking by the other campers table usually. Nasty. Just buy a new fixture for the leak.
I have two dogs and I always pick up after them. I camped where they have a dog park . you would think that people would be more courteous to pick up after their dogs since dogs don’t know not to walk or run in the poop. I just decided it was to my benefit to walk through the dog park and pick up all the poop before my dog or myself stepped in it. I just learned that some people are not going to live by the rules or be considerate of others. why beat my head against the wall? Life’s too short.
I love a campfire and some smores as much as the next person, but cramped parks with cramped spaces should not put fire rings where they’re right underneath the next RV’s window. This happened to us in York Beach, Maine and it ruined an otherwise pleasant experience.
People will use the fire ring “because it’s there,” with no consideration as to where it is, whether or not it’s in a safe location, and where the smoke’s going. I choke just thinking about it!
People should think of supervising their kids and not allow them to play ball around cars and RVs. There is often a playground to do that. They invariably miss the ball and bounce it off someone’s vehicles. Dogs, I guess people think the rules are for someone else. And not only do they cut across your space, they allow dogs to relieve themselves while they are cutting across. And yes, the dogs bark and bark while mine minds his own business.
Firing up your diesel at five AM (Truck or MH) and leaving it running while you have breakfast, empty your tanks, say goodbye to people, break camp.
Just downright annoying.
Campfires that smoke up neighbors rigs and you can NEVER get that smell out! I do not think that fire pits, rigs etc. should be allowed at campsites! People just don’t think nor care about others anymore. They are like spoiled children. If an RV park wants to allow campfires, just have a couple of central rings away from the sites so people can bring their chairs and wood and cook their marshmallows while they get to know each other. PLEASE!!
How about, “NO SAVING CAMPSITES!”
I cannot tell you the number of times we have not been able to “partake” a nice spot, cuz someone is “saving” it for someone else; especially places like Thousand Trails, where it is explicitly written in the rules, “No Saving Spots,” yet some folks apparently can’t read, or feel rules don’t apply to them…..
les
This is for the campfire comment. I personally don’t do campfires but realize that camping is about campfires. There are kids out there that live for a campfire experience. If you don’t like campfires you need to stop camping. You need to be considerate of other people.
Well… it IS a campground, not the Holiday Inn…
Well, it IS a campground and not the Holiday Inn…
You should probably go to RV resorts where the rigs have gas fireplaces…Camping includes camp fires..good grief.
That’s ridiculous. I like the privacy of time with my family at our fire. Not a bunch of strangers.
I think manufactures of RV’s should be restricted from building in TV and stereo systems on the outside of an RV UNLESS the ONLY speakers will be through headphones!! Again, people these days are just rude, selfish and immature and often ruin their neighbors camping trip with loud noise! Grow up and respect others!.
People don’t seem to understand that camping even in an RV is your time to cut loose from electronics. They are missing the most important part of camping.
Where is that made up rule enshrined in law.
Do you leave all your electronics home.? Phone, microwave, generator, solar system, temperature gauge, stove ignitor, furnace, hws, AND even your vehicle engine itself.
Where do you draw the line
Outside tv’s and radios are very annoying. I love tv, but I would not watch it outside where it would bother others.
Some campgrounds have spots for folks who can’t do smoke, without campfire rings. I wish more did, as my grandson has very bad asthma. He often went camping with us, but we tried to be away from anyone with a really smokey fire.
I need to know how to have a fire without smoke?? Whether someone BBQs with charcoal or wood, smoke seems to come with the territory.
It all comes under the umbrella of common courtesy, which apparently is no longer taught and, sadly, many of my generation (OLD) have forgotten. We truly live in an egocentric society nowadays.
I know most people who have dogs walk around with their little poop bags…most of them use them. But this one really gets me. Just because you have a retractable 30′ lease on your dog, it’s not cool for you to let your dog crap on my little piece of rented lot. How would you like it if someone came to your lot and took a crap. There are designated “pet areas” in most RV Parks, use them please! A little respect goes a long way!
We camp mostly in COE camp grounds and they are kept pretty clean except for the occasional foil in the campfire ring. But we also trail ride on national forest land and I guess it’s a different breed of people out there. We can usually fill a trash bag with beer can and other trash along trails.
People walking in my camp area diesnt really bother me. Most campers are nice people and it gives you a chance to have a friendly exchange.
How about people who douse their fire rings or BBQs with lighter fluid? We were choking one night when the adjacent RVers indulged themselves with a roaring inferno in the fire ring. Although all our windows were closed, the wind was such that the smoke and fumes permeated our camper.
Although I rarely discuss camping etiquette with neighboring RVers, the next morning I gently advised these folks that the fumes from their lighter fluid and smoke from their fire ring had us gagging the night before.
The people were mortified and deeply apologetic – I’m sure that the consequences of that action hadn’t dawned on them.
What’s more, they opted against a fire the second night, for which I was deeply grateful – I expressed my thanks that following morning.
So let me get this straight. You camped close to someone who used their campfire ring while they were camping and you were offended by their smoke and fumes? Campfires are a part of camping, and if you don’t like camping and campfires, suggest you camp away from others, or rent a motel room instead.
Ekkk! REALLY? You think it’s OK to smoke/fume out your neighbor?! A proper fire is nearly smoke free and never needs toxic and dangerous petroleum distillates to grow a beautiful glowing campfire . I guess you are one of the inconsiderate ones who smoke/fume out their neighbor just because you don’t have the slightest idea of how to start a campfire? Grow up and be respectful of others like your mama taught you!
Not really , however starting a fire does not come without smoke maybe you should buy a gas campfire & provide it to your nieghboring camper. Seriously get a life . Keep your windows shut, close your vents this will keep smoke out of your camper.
Mike…..some people!
LMAO .NO CAMP FIRE
it’s like city people moving out to the country
they wanT police patrol, side walks, STREET LIGHTS, garbage removal, dog’s oN a leash,
they leave all the lights on all night because there scared of the dark..
i say burn baby burn .
we were at a camp ground the people wouldn’t sell me wood for a fire.
i found out that the people who bought the camp ground were from the CITY…
got to love it …
CANT MAKE THIS STUF UP….
There are different ways of starting a campfire. Soaking your fire ring with petroleum products and lighting it on fire is the laziest and most generally offensive way. Anyone in any campground that would like assistance with starting a decent fire without subjecting all their neighbors to the gasoline smell of lighter fluid have only to ask, and some well-educated Eagle Scout will be happy to instruct them….
Camping means learning new skills, one of which is how to build and light a proper campfire that will not smoke out your neighbors and doesn’t need chemicals.
Starting trucks and letting them run for 30 min. Before you leave at 5:30 in the morning. 7 days a week.
My husband and I were camp hosts at a state park, we love animals, have 2 dogs. We were amazed how often dogs were off leash, we would tell the campers it was the park rules, right after we left the owners took the leash off, yes we saw it, or would argue with us. One camper even said he knew the governor who gave him permission to disobey the rules. picking up after the dogs, don’t even go there! We tried to tell them if everyone did that, there would be so many flies no one would want to camp there.
My husband and I are campground hosts in State Parks in PA and I totally agree with what you’re saying. It’s unbelievable how some people disregard the rules for quiet times, pets on leashes, pet cleanup, etc. We’d have pet owners walk their pets over to the non pet areas where the dogs would crap and they wouldn’t pick it up. I started hanging poop bags on the pole with the tags and a copy of the rules, hoping they’d get the point, Sometimes it helped on their own but if someone complained to us, we wouldn’t hesitate to call them out. If they gave us a hard time, we’d just let the Ranger step in and handle the situation.. Frustrating ,tho.
Anyone can find the littlest things to complain about. If you follow the camp rules everything should be fine. Ofcourse there are the few that go on walks thru the campgrounds just in search of things to complain about. That’s my complaint. What I do in my little space is ONLY the park managers and my business nobody else’s. People have to mind their own business and what is going on in their own campsite and quit being a nosy body. Normally if someone is doing a little noisy work during the day they usually have permission from the park manager. With me, I normally talk to my next door neighbors as well just to give them a heads up that I am going to be a little noisy for an hour or so. This way it doesn’t come to them as a surprise. This is what I call respecting your neighbors. And what you were saying about stray dogs stealing food off your picnic table….. that shouldn’t be an issue anyway. Most parks discourage campers from leaving food and trash outside at their campsite unattended anyway do to wild animals. Most campsites won’t allow certain breeds of bugs due to their progressiveness. So really the main concern I have would be the land minds they leave in their wake. The bottom line here is FOLLOW THE PARK RULES. unless you get permission from park manager to do otherwise. Safe Travels
SOUNDS LIKE A NITPICKING PRUD ..THE ONLY DOG WE DO NOT LIKE IN OUR CAMP SITE IS A MEAN ONE .. heres some real issuse
living dog poo in the woods on the path’s..
living busted chairs & what not that didn’t work for you iv see scrap metal piles at the camp grounds..
WE MADE FRIENDS WITH OUR NEIGHBORS THEY BOUGHT A CAMPER AN FALLOW US BUT they use there fire ring to burn all there trash and motor oil & plastic bottles u name it realy burn’s my a** there kids come camping and its a alcohol free fall No joke..then there kids live the baby dyers every weir NY er’s…
my wife and I constantly take a walk through the boon docking camp sights after every one level and pick up all the garbage these free loading slobs leave it all ways seems to be city people .. then we have the weekend worriers chopping trees down & bringing wood pallets leaving the nails behind ..
then theres that RAP CRAP .may be you like it but i cant stand it. play me some buck owens or ozzy osborn.
we have met a lot of different people . transit homeless fillthy rich. & drug addicts.. party goers ..boon docking is getting a little rufF ER .. these are the places we love to go AND YES YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT THEM GETTING CLOSED BECAUSE OF THESE ISSUSE
well thats all i got to say
In Colorado, the campground (and roadside) trash becomes a real problem every summer once the ‘Texas invasion’ commences. They seem to think everyone lives here just to clean up after them.
Good heavens–my wife and I just bought our first RV and thought most people in campgrounds would be considerate and nice–sounds more like a lot of disrespectful jerks and noise?? Maybe we should just stay home?? LOL
Most RVers are nice folks. FYI we are the partiers. But we are usually inside by 10 or 11.. Unless we are camping with other football fans, then we maybe outside watching the game. Depending on the situation.
While I respect others, I also expect to be able to use our area fully. Not everyone is in bed at 8pm. Or up at 0700 on vacation..
Not everyone is on vacation either. There’s a growing number of people that have chosen to travel full time in RVs while they’re still working.
You are correct. I frequently work while we travel. I am on call 24/7/365 because of my unique computer skill set. No different than being in a hotel. If someone ‘s loud outside from 0800 to 2200, there’s not much you can do about it.
I am looking for another job opportunity that will allow remote work so we can travel more. I passed on several over the past 10 years as I wasn’t ready for that then.
NOT EVERY ONE IS IN BED BY 8 pm UP AT 7AM.
I LIKE TO HERE THE NOISE AN COMMOTION IN THE CAMP SIGHTS ..
dont care when any one go’s to bed or gets up …
or how much noise they make
MOST OF THE TIME IT;’Just people telling jokes laffing playing guitars singing, playing horseshoes..
i dont even care about the generator noise…
when we camp out people look at us like we are taking up to much of a foot print on the earth..
so these are the people we are dealing with city people and leaf eaters…
dont get me wrong i like my vegatables ….
Not at all. Your RV can visit a lot of other places besides campgrounds, particularly if it is 4 season and boondock-capable.
robbie is that a bowtie on steve lol camping lmfao..
fire ring ill try to explain..
our friends burn there empty plastic bottles motor oil, meat packagings any toxic crap they can get there hands on… then leave a molted mess of plastic in that fire ring…….
we have been camping for 28 yr’s the slobs just keep coming out to the wide open spaces
Looking above it seems that we have nothing but a lot of crumudgeons on here. All you Oscar the grouches. Crawl in your trash cans and put on the lids if the rest of the world bothers you. I delight in watching the kids playing outside if a ball bounces into my car so be it at least they don’t have their heads stuck in a video game. No campfires are you kidding me? Some of life’s greatest social times come around a camp fire. The outside tv when used responsibly is no more intrusive than a group sitting around talking. Go boondocking. Get as far away as you can do you don’t have to hear anyone breathing and we don’t have to hear you complaining.
Chet, I’ve notice to in the last two replies you have made they are never about the topic only about how you hate Texans. I’m sure Texans are not the only people that visiting Colorado. Beside we are visiting the Republic of Texas not Colorado
im all ways glad to meat new people out camping .
dont care about the kids bouncing balls.. the thing is RV ing is changing there making it easer for people to go out on the roads …unfortunately we have these people invading our life styles what we worked for things that mean something to us like the campfire stories. the experiences we grow up with we earned them we didn’t have a butler a made fat wallet the biggest baddest RV . i still dont have a nice nice RV i had to fix a lot of things roof slide i do all my own work …
i dont care about kids playing or the balls bouncing of my truck or yelling i dont even care about the dogs loos
I agree with most of what you mentioned. Too bad lists of identical complaints seem to frequent numerous RV related sites and should not be necessary if folk showed consideration for others.
I would point out though that anti-bark collars that use electric socks to modify dog behaviour are both cruel and unnecessary. Better to train dogs to bark on command, then teach ‘no bark’. How would you like a strong electric shock to your throat? Not very likely!
We spent 8 days in Quartzsite this January. We were amazed with how clean it was and how well everyone kept it clean. The slobs must have come in after we left. With a very few exceptions we have found most fellow campers very courteous.
I AM NOT A BIG CAT FAN BUT I WOULD NEVER DO THAT TO A FELLOW CAMPER
MUST HAVE BEEN A NEW YORKER
How Lucky are we to live in such a diverse society where we can enjoy the freedom of this beautiful country
and all it’s bounty!
Sure we have are faults, we are “human”! It’s not about what state your from or ethnic background or age !
We all need to do more , step up be that change!
The people your complaining about are your neighbors down the street, your co workers, or even your family!
When you lead by example others will
follow !
QUESTION FOR EVERY ONE
I got bunk bed’s in my 5th wheel No kid’s
any one have some pictures of remodeling there bunk’s …
i have a puma Rear bunk
thinking on pantry
We have 3 Tibetan Terriers that just came with us on our first RV trip (NH to FL and back) for 2 weeks. We never let them off leash, try to keep them quiet, and ALWAYS carry and use poop bags. We were amazed to
see a pile of dog poo 1 foot away from the post a poo bag dispenser was mounted on (with plenty of bags) and a couple of feet from a bucket to drop used bags in. Talk about complete disrespect and laziness! We have even picked up other dog’s poop so people would not think it was from our dogs. Then there are the people who let their dogs run unleashed outside of the dedicated dog park area…Thankfully most people were more respectful, it only takes a few to screw it up for everyone else.
RVNewbie
Hello there Fellow Snow bird
i have a question we boon dock in VT been looking for some places in NH
any info would be great i think you can P.M me on here
thank you
As campground hosts, we witnessed a woman throwing a ball for her dog . She was standing 10 feet from a huge sign that read, “ALL DOGS MUST BE ON LEASH”. I”m pretty sure the dog didn’t know how to read.
I grew up on a small trailer, it was my dad, mom, brother and sister. It was a great adventure and it showed us to be respectful and clean around our surroundings. Now that im an adult i have bought a class a rv (it is a mansion compared to what i grew up in. Lol) and now with my husband and 3 kids i am taking them to know the rv life and i am teching them the same values my father showed me…
Well i am a respectful person. but reading all this complaining really does not make me feel like camping. Leave your baggage at the door.
Mike
I am a campground host and this is very accurate. Our rules state no trash in fire rings, but I most always have to clean trash in them. Cigarette buttes are abound at most sites. Guess what? That is litter too and a fire hazard. Thanks for listing the top 5 peeves.
IM WITH YOU
cigaret buts are discussing
I hate to say it but the Joke is on the next fool that burns his trash in the ring an then cooks his food over some one ells toxic trash..
people just dont think about that crap.
our neighbors burn plastic u name it then they cook marshmellows hot dogs over the burning plastic toxins
but they do the same thing at home..
i dont get it ..
befor we leave we always walk around the empty camp sights a take what ever trash we see and get rid of it with our trash……
we really enjoy camping dry boon docking and state or privet camp grounds
keep America beautiful
We live in California, 20 mins. From Yosemite national park, on almost 9 acres, 1/4mile long river, very quiet , very private etc. but not far off the road, and 7 mins from grocery stores etc.
That said, Wow, After reading this I think we will Not be buying a Rv, but just stay on our own property sitting on our sandy beach on the river where we can be noisy, but not be around inconsiderate people that leave trash, and have cigarette smoke in my face, and we let all dogs run around free.
Any of our friends and our grandkids friends can bring there dogs, and kids here ( but have to call first, and all dogs have to be nice and get along..no problems).During the summer, once to twice a week we have 25 to 40 people and kiddos here just having a good time.
I have asked my neighbors (only one close, & only 5 people on my rd.) if
they hear anything, they said,No…
I also notice most Rv parks look like parking lots. Your all so close together, but maybe thats the problem!
Hope your all having fun 🤙..
Wow ! Maybe I made a mistake .I just got my first R.V. and couldnt wait to get away from this town that the people somehow became indifferent to each others needs or basic rights .Common courtesy seemed to of vanished.along with the ability to agree to disagree.i thought that’s it .I dont want to become a complainer ..I’ll hit the road…you know theres always been and always going to be jerks and sometimes people who dont pay attention…unintentional lack of courtesy.. l this is unfortunate..but what’s worse is not dealing with it handling the situation instead of complaining ..if you tryed maybe try another approch..because what you guys are doing obviously doesnt work and keep going on like this all you’ll have is common bitching..common courtesy goes both ways ..I hope I dont run into just complainers ..like quartside.im from long BEACH .GRANT it it took me a long time to not want to shove these people trash up their ass but I take a bag to the beach and pick up trash if I stop I put a big circle around my area mark off 3 giant steps in each direction except the water and pick up any trash I usually go by a family so the kids could see and it’s made a difference .not over night but I started seeing people doing the same thing ..there will always be trash ,jerks ,and people who just dont care .but do something be an example .it doesnt have to be a big deal .and complaining changes nothing only compounds suffering of those who have to hear it and then itd epidemic no bodies happy complainer addicts suffer the worst think about it open your mind and change the world
I’ve been around for over 6 decades.
Taught the “Golden Rule”, told to respect my elders and other people’s property. I have no problem with other people having a good time. After all, that is what life is all about. The problem with that is when the person having the good time, spills over into the other persons’ space. Your neighbor doesn’t want to hear your music or your loud belly laugh or your child screaming at the top of their lungs. Just because you are camping does not mean you can be a jerk and not respect your neighbors’ right to peace and quiet. Then there are those responsible pet parents. Letting their barking dogs bark for hours or the ones who feel that cleaning up after their pet is for everyone else, not them. Then there are the ones who feel it is ok to let their dog(s) roam free. All parks have leash rules, cities, towns and villages have leash laws. Just because you are in a campground does not justify not following the laws. Campgrounds are in these areas too. Campfires, a part of camping when and where allowed. The problem is, not everyone enjoys the smoke they produce. When you build your fire and the smoke blows in your face, you move out of the way. Your neighbor can’t move. Yes, they can close their windows and doors, but the smoke still gets inside and stays for days or longer. Trash is a problem everywhere. People just can’t seem to find or properly use a trash can. Some people can stand a foot away from a can and find it to difficult to drop in their trash. Too much effort to move their arm I guess. The same goes for cigarette butts, they are still littering and another reason smokers get a bad rap. If there was more respecting other people’s property (campgrounds, BLM land, etc.) and people’s space (their rented piece of dirt) everyone would have an enjoyable time.
If it is generally accepted that it is impolite to cut across someone’s site then why is it increasingly common for motorhome drivers to assume it is acceptable to drive into a back-in site, thus forcing their neighbor to share the patio? I understand they want to enjoy the view out their front window. That does not make it ok.
Good suggestions–most people follow them. It only takes one… How about suggestions regarding outside lighting? To me, one of the greatest curses of RVs is the introduction of LED light strings. Would people rather be at a carnival than a campground? Are there that many carnies traveling around the US? At least have restricted areas of campgrounds where outside lighting is prohibited; especially in the desert SW where sky gazing is one reason to travel there.
Cigarette butts, smokers don’t seem to see them as trash. I find them all over my campsites, grrrr. Also burned over trash in the campfire. Unfortunately the people leaving this trash are not the ones reading posts like this on social media.
Also don’t park or let your guests park in front of or in your neighbor’s campsite. Ever. They paid to be there just like you and deserve to be able to access their entire campsite without having to constantly walk around your vehicle or have less space for their kids to play. This happened to us last summer and I didn’t report to the campground but if it happens again this year I definitely will. There is a reason most campsites say limit of 1 vehicle per site. Don’t be a jerk.
Wow. Sounds like a lot of you should probably just park your campers in the comfort of your own yard! We are talking about camping/rv’ing, aren’t we. Some minor inconveniences are to be expected… would be pretty dull if you couldn’t have a campfire, listen to some music, let your children play, string your patio lanterns, play with your pet, etc. If you are that bothered by people/children/pets, stay home!
Minor inconveniences? Really? Dogs barking, people trudging through your “yard”, loud music, trash are all major issues. Camping is supposed to be getting out in the natural setting, clean air, gurgling streams and stars at night, not living in the city or crowded burbs. Campgrounds have rules for a reason, slobs who care nothing about anyone but themselves have made them necessary. I loved camping as kid, a family of four and we left no trash, no burning campfire, were respectful of others, and made many “new” camping friends. To be otherwise is downright rude and obnoxious.
Appreciate everything you outlined here, with one major exception. Please don’t advocate bark collars for dogs. They are not humane. Dogs bark (or yip or whine) to communicate how they are feeling, including their stress, anxiety, boredom, loneliness. If a dog is making chronic noise , the dog’s BASIC NEEDS are NOT being met. This is the fault of their guardian, not the fault of the dog. We shouldn’t be adding physical punishment on top of their existing distress. Try engaging in a conversation with their person instead. Try to make life a little better for our loyal companions.
Good list. Consider when making a list of “Don’ts” to put DON’T in front of each item. Otherwise, while scrolling down, you just see Let Dogs Bark….
Thanks.
After reading a lot of the above comments, I would like to propose that a course be taught in high school, continuing ed, at point of sales, or wherever, on camping etiquette. Camping is more popular than ever, and anybody can buy a unit, rent a unit for a weekend or week without knowing a thing about it. Maybe people do feel entitled, or privileged, or they are just ignorant and need to be taught. I’m sure there are a lot of us who have camped extensively who would be willing to devote an hour every once in awhile at a community center. How does everybody feel about this?
A big one for me is getting the equipment at the camping space dirty. You mentioned dumping trash in the fire ring. How about don’t lay your sewer hose on the picnic table. I have seen people do this when packing up to leave. Just gross people, don’t do it!
Noise after hours? There is no enforcement of noise after 10pm at Garner State Park in Texas. Partying college bros were up to at least 3 am. Never going back there.
We stayed in a park in CA and the lady next to us had a bunch of the LED ropes around her area. That was just a little annoying. The worst part was the pot smoke. It was a hot day/evening and we had the windows open for some fresh air. Our coach was filled with the smell and we had to close the windows. Unfortunately, how do you air out the coach when there is no fresh air to bring in.
I guess it was one of the constitutional amendments that stipulates that it is an unalienable right for anyone to be inconsiderate so that 40 others have to be tolerant.
No one would argue with the notion that “your right to swing your fist ends at my nose” so why wouldn’t that apply to your smoke, your noise, your trash, your kids and your animals.
Sewer hose on the table is just awful. Thank you for the warning. I’ll never look at a picnic table the same way again.
You forgot cigarette butts. The smokers think nothing of just tossing them wherever they stand and smoke. They do not pick them up and dispose of them the right way, they just leave them on the ground. Inconsiderate bad habit and they smell to high heaven, too.
OMG From the sounds of this I think my camping days are done. I will be selling my trailer this year. If we have all this to put up with I might as well stay in my sticks n bricks where I have city ordinaces to take care of all of this nonsense. I will just confine my outdoor bent to walks in the park. Where trashy inconsiderate boobs are fined and or given restraint papers. All physical threats are put to rest.
When campers needing overflow parking instead take all the spaces at the only laundry room. It’s easier for you to walk empty handed from further away than for those with loads of laundry.
I like this article, but one thing is missing. People shouldn’t expect to share their campsites with other campers!
I will explain here:
We were camping in a small camping area, called Turkey Creek in Arizona, near the Chiricahua Mountains. It is a beautiful area, with a little stream near our campsite. We bring our two Staffies with us and make sure they stay quiet and clean up after them, as we also do. We try not to bother anyone unless they come onto our site to visit. However, that Thursday, (we came on Monday), many cars came onto our site, looked over our set up and shook their heads because they thought we had taken over their site. The sites are on a “First Come, First Serve Basis” no reservations. They preceded to block our camper in and park. One of the women shook her head in disgust, so I went up to her and asked her what the problem was. Turns out they camp there every Easter and apparently they felt it was their campsite to use. They came from Tucson, (which was just as far away as our town), so I said we would share the site, since they came a long way and thought that would be the only 3 cars that was coming. Boy, I was wrong! Not only did they plant their tents right next to our camper, setting up sitting areas, as well, but more cars with kids and adults and a dog came late at night, slamming car doors and the kids talking very loudly, disturbing our peace. Their dog came up to ours, (allowed to run loose), while I was tying one of my dogs up. My dog being playful and friendly, ran up to their dog, pulling me down which resulted in my hitting my head on a rock, causing a huge bump and black and blue. (Staffies are very strong dogs). They didn’t bother to apologize for their dog not leashed, (which is a law here in AZ) and continued to make us feel like we were intruders. It was so uncomfortable, (and my head being painful), we were forced to ask them to move their cars and tents so we pack up and could leave the campsite. Now we are afraid to go to any area where there isn’t an established campground with hookups. It ruined our first time using our camper and camping.