RV Exterior Lights: Should You Leave Them On All Night?
Most RVs are equipped with some exterior lighting nowadays. This is a useful feature that makes it easy to see what you’re doing when it’s dark or cloudy outside. Unfortunately, the usage of RV exterior lights has also sparked a bit of debate between different RVers.
Some people believe that they can (and should) leave their lights on at all hours of the day or night. Others believe that they should never use them at all unless it’s an emergency. Both sides have some valid points, and we’re here to explore the different facets of this issue.
Below, we’ll break down some of the pros and cons of using your RV exterior lights at night. Ultimately, it’s up to you, unless there are specific campground rules about light usage. But take some time to look at the different reasons people might have for leaving their lights on or switching them off. If nothing else, it may help you better understand the other side of the issue!
Benefits of leaving your RV exterior lights on
RV lights are quite bright and powerful nowadays. They can keep your RV nice and visible, which is wonderfully convenient if you need to do anything at night. Most modern models have some exterior lights installed, and they’re meant to be used. Some benefits of these lights include:
You can see better in the dark
The most obvious benefit of using your RV exterior lights at night is the increased visibility. If you need to go somewhere during the night, such as taking your dogs outside or using the bathroom, you’ll be able to see everything in your campsite. This reduces the likelihood of tripping and generally provides a safer environment at night.
Provides light to others if the campsite is poorly lit
In addition to illuminating your personal campsite, keeping the RV exterior lights on can also light up the surrounding area. A lot of campgrounds (especially rural ones) have little/no lighting at night.
Even if they never say it, your illuminated camper can be helpful to others in the campground because it can act as a landmark or a source of light. On dark nights, this can be quite handy!
You’re more visible to others/have greater peace of mind
Some people like to keep their lights on at night because it makes them feel safer. Sometimes campgrounds can also be quite dark at night, and this setting can make a lot of people uneasy.
Some RVers who travel alone or struggle with PTSD have stated that they feel more comfortable if they leave the lights on at night. If there was an emergency and someone needed to locate your camper, it would be much easier for them to find it if you had the lights on.
More convenient than using flashlights or headlamps
Finally, using your RV exterior lights is useful for you because you won’t need to keep track of other sources of light. Flashlights and headlamps are some of the main alternatives, but they are easy to lose, and sometimes they run out of battery at inconvenient times.
Plus, they need to be aimed at specific things, and they often don’t provide enough light for your needs. So if you just use the built-in RV lights, you won’t need to deal with the hassle of these smaller devices!
Drawbacks of leaving your RV exterior lights on
Of course, RV exterior lights are a double-edged sword. Although they may be enjoyable for the person using them, they can be a major annoyance for everyone else in the vicinity.
Sometimes you need to balance your preferences with the comfort of others. Some drawbacks to keeping your lights on at night include:
You might annoy your neighbors
One of the biggest reasons to keep your lights off at night is because it’s considerate to your neighbors. Sometimes they might appreciate the extra illumination, but most people just want to enjoy a quiet, dark campsite.
This is especially important to remember if you camp in close proximity to other RVs. If you’re decently spread out in the campground, it’s less of an issue. But if your lights are shining directly into their windows, you must understand that they could justifiably become irritated by this practice.
Contributes to light pollution
Light pollution is a common problem in the world, and many RVers enjoy this lifestyle because it allows them to connect with nature and get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. But if you keep your lights on all the time (and others follow suit), then you’ll contribute to light pollution in your area.
When this happens, it’s hard to see the sky. Stargazing is one of the most iconic parts of camping, but it’s hard to enjoy this pastime when someone has their lights turned all the way up.
Can attract bugs
Nothing attracts swarms of bugs quite like a bright light in the darkness. Moths are common culprits, but you could also invite swarms of mosquitos, flies, and other annoying insects into your campsite. Make sure you bring plenty of bug spray if you plan to keep your lights on all night!
Uses extra energy
Lights require power in order to function. If you want to run your exterior RV lights all night long, they can drain some of your energy reserves. In addition, the lights will also burn out faster than usual and you’ll need to get replacements semi-regularly. This is often a waste of energy because you usually won’t even be awake to take advantage of the lights.
It may be against the rules
Finally, you’ll need to learn the rules and regulations of each campground you visit to learn if overnight light usage is even allowed. Some places have pretty strict policies, and you might have to pay an extra fee if you keep your lights on at night.
There are also some spaces that legally restrict the use of lights so they can combat light pollution. To stay on the safe side, you may want to power down the RV exterior lights so you can avoid any trouble they might attract.
Key takeaways
At the end of the day, there aren’t usually strict laws that forbid the usage of RV exterior lights at night. It’s your vehicle, and you can generally decide when to turn the lights on or off. If it grants you peace of mind, feel free to keep the lights on.
That being said, you can’t control the reactions of your fellow campers. Even if you prefer to keep your campsite lit up, you need to be prepared to deal with the possible backlash from your neighbors. It’s courteous to turn your lights off when you go to bed, especially if you’re camping in close quarters with other people.
If you need to keep them on for some reason, try to talk to your neighbors to inform them of the situation. They might not like it, but they’ll probably be understanding if they know why you’re doing it. Try to respect the people around you if you want them to extend you the same courtesy.
Nobody can stop you from keeping the lights on inside your camper though. If you need some extra illumination to feel safe, try keeping some lamps and nightlights on within your RV. Then, if you need to go outside during the night, you can turn on the exterior lights for brief stints or use a flashlight or headlamp. Maybe it’s not your preference, but compromise can help everyone have a better camping experience.
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Turn them OFF!
Leave ‘‘em on!
Bugs drawn to a light left on at night draw snakes under to rv. I used to leave a light on, but I looked down as I stepped outside my motorhome late one night and found a 5′ timber rattlesnake laying under my steps eating bugs. I no longer leave the lights on.
Contrary to the statement that leaving lights on helps seeing in the dark, I disagree. When there are no lights anywhere, the human eye can see some amazing things in the dark. A small sliver of moon light can illuminate everything. Turn on 1 single light anywhere, and they eye can’t see anything, except be blinded by that light.
We don’t have outside lighting unless we are actually outside. We do leave a light on inside the camper. The glow on the window shade from the outside is more than enough to locate my camper after dark, provided everything else is dark too.
100% agree with this. Thank you.
RV Exterior Lights…to me it boils down to consideration for others. In some places there are strict rules that should be complied with. There is little point to having exterior lights on once you are inside your traveler at days end. Be safe and yet be courteous.
Obviously, some lighting at night is necessary at the campground, at least for a while, but there have been at least a half dozen times where we have had to endure some really obscene lighting spectacles while camping. Usually it’s a new arrival that shows up after dark, backs his camper into the spot, and leaves the truck’s bright headlights on while unhooking and setting up camp. Again, there is a need for some lighting during this procedure, but for crying out loud, not in front of the truck. Tail lights are perfectly adequate to supply enough light to the hitch area. Awning lights or a head-band light should be plenty for operating jacks, running water and power lines, etc. There’s nothing in front of the tow vehicle that needs to be lit up, no need that I can think of for headlamps to light up someone else’s campsite (or even an entire section of the campground for more than a minute or two. Yet, I have had more than a few occasions where we were sitting around our campfire, enjoying a dark, quiet, star-filled night, only to have “Captain Diesel and the Light Brigade” arrive and leave the truck running, headlights blazing for an hour or more, while going thru the entire routine of unhooking and setting up camp. On other occasions, we have had neighbors with an apparent need to light up not only their campsite all night, but several others’ as well. On our final camping trip of last year, we had neighbors in an adjacent campsite with awning lights brighter than anything I have ever seen on any camper, anywhere. They literally lit up that entire end of the campground, way more light than what would be needed to light up their campsite. So much for enjoying the evening sitting around the campfire. We love to look at the stars on clear nights, but sometimes these obnoxious light shows are way too intense, lighting up even the tops of the trees, making for an impossible star gazing experience. I believe it comes down to the same thing as many other camping etiquette issues: If it infringes on your fellow campers, you have overstepped your boundaries. After dark…. motors off, vehicle headlights off, other lights dimmed, only enough lighting necessary for safety while moving around your campsite. Anything else is overkill and likely un-neighborly and just plain rude.
We have become scared of the dark. Granted lights on in some areas one might find themselves in is justified. Safety first, either personal or property. But by and large campgrounds are relatively safe. We used to camp with a campfire and then retire to a tent. Does that now sound scary from a safety point of view? What we do is generically still called camping or in some circles glamping. When outside in most campgrounds, it feels more like any neighborhood in the U.S. given all the lights no matter how late one stays up.
Install a motion sensitive porch light.
I personally love camping next to someone with all the led lights on and generators running full blast. Like being at a truck stop in the middle of the woods. The lights on also help dim the stars, cause stars are irritating….
unless partying at my RV.
i do not leave lights on-at night. if i go out, ill use a flash light,
Another pro may be the light discouraging the approach of rodents that might otherwise crawl into the engine or other areas and chew wiring, hoses, insulation, etc. Flashing lighting and/or ultrasonic deterrents underneath the rig may be more effective.
Turn them OFF… Use only if you need to go outside and only as long as needed.
FYI: Light do not deter rodents, especially if the lights are left on regularly, the light fades into the background becomes normal – same with sounds. Here’s a quote from a website that talks about it: “Special neurons in the brainstem of rats focus exclusively on new, novel sounds and help them ignore predictable and ongoing noises, a new study finds.” The human brain uses this process too. It’s like the scarecrow in the field that never moves, it starts as a deterrent, and soon becomes a great place to roost.
Contrary to the ads, electronic or ultrasonic pest chasers don’t work either. Studies have shown that any small effectiveness drops to zero after two or three days, for the same reason as mentioned above.
As an example, I did institutional pest control for 16 years and we had mice in boiler rooms where steam boilers, air compressors, and driers cycled on and off 24 hours a day. These rooms were also well lit. Mice/rats didn’t care.
For all animals in the wild they constantly evaluate their surroundings to determine if there’s a threat or a benefit. It often doesn’t take them long to decide something that initially frightened them, really poses no threat. It fades into the background. It’s very easy to underestimate just how good these little creatures are at surviving and indeed thriving in the human world.
Well one night a guy was caught breaking in to campers. He stated he only broke into campers with lights off because the dark hid what he was doing.
After this incident my lights will be on from now on.
Another key drawback is by keeping your exterior light on all night you are going to wear out your lights a lot faster and thus spending more on light repair/ bulb replacement.
Personally I find it extremely rude to leave your exterior lights on all nite. It ranks right up there with allowing your dog to constantly bark and not do anything about it
Steve, I couldn’t agree more on both of those things. People have dogs, and when they leave them behind for the day while they’re out and about, dogs become unhappy, which they express by barking. All. Day. Long. And for those people who say that it doesn’t matter if they leave every light on all day and night because the electricity is “free…” Nothing’s free. With increased electricity usage comes higher campground fees. Notice the increase in the cost of a campsite these days? Yeah. We’re ALL paying for your Vegas light show. Campgrounds have to make a profit to stay open. That’s how business works. Sure, there’s runaway inflation right now, but the race to see if you can burn more “free” electricity than your neighbor costs money as well!
Has camping come to this?! Enjoy your lights outside until no later than 10pm. After that, use them only briefly if you need to go outside to get something or use a headlamp or flashlight. If you have problems with darkness, you probably should stay home. Good camping etiquette means thinking about how not to annoy your neighbors, being respectfully quiet, enjoying the natural beauty of the night time sky, fresh air, not slamming car doors, shining auto headlights towards other campsites & so on. Showing off your bright toys, including outdoor televisions, or booming stereos is all very sad & pathetic because it’s rude & not what real campers do! When camping among nearby other campers, camping shouldn’t be about “me”, it should be about “us!”
I turn the outside light when we will be coming back late at night.
One thing I keep seeing people ask is if lights on deters animals. In a word, no. I’ve turned million power spot lights on all types of critters from deer to skunks and they were not phased in the least. The deer will react to the edge of the light by crawling underneath the perceived barrier, but that is the only reaction I’ve ever observed from any animal over the years. This is strictly my personal observation, and while not scientific, it’s equivalent to anecdotal evidence I’ve heard from others. Think about it this way: if you have lights on at home, does that deter animals from coming to your house? It doesn’t at mine. Deer seem to be attracted to the lights.
Most areas/subdivisions in our area keep their outside lights on for crime prevention. Our area also has more firearms than residents😁. We do not keep our outside lights on when on the road. Also armed on the road while in our home on the road. We do pick carefully where we camp…
Let’s be real…rv/camper outdoor lights are yellow…not bright white. Secondly rv/ campers have blinds or shades. The yellow light is not going to come into your rv/camper if they are closed. Most of us do turn our lights off outside if we are in a well lit camprground but if not we leave them on. If the light bothers you..you are looking for something to whine about. Be an adult and double up a beach towel and hang it over your blind/shades…problem solved.
So you’re saying that something you are doing that’s bothering everyone else around you is their fault, and they should all just change their attitude and modify their plans, likes, and camping setup to accommodate you, even if they enjoy camping with the windows open and shades up so they can see the stars at night and be awakened by the sunrise. Ok Kamper Karen…
Howdy.
I don’t think you are aware of the lights now being used — LED light looking like a stationary fireworks show.
If it were just a single, yellow light by the camper door; that would not be a problem.
Some RV’s have porch lights, large hitch lights, awning lights and very bright interior lights.
It looks like a downtown neighborhood all lit up.
I use solar powered motion sensor lights. They work great. K
One thing this article didn’t address is does lighting outside help keep rodents like mice, squirrels and others away at night?
Please turn them off after you go inside your rig. Some of us like to star gaze. Set up motion lights if you are worried about your precious stuff. If it’s that valuable, put it up and lock it.
This is really.a topic.of discussion?? You could have a football field lit up next to us and we wouldn’t know.
My vehicles have been parked in the dark every night of my 55 years and that hasn’t been a problem.
With the comment “they can be a major annoyance for everyone else in the vicinity” I can tell which “camp” you’re in. I’ll somewhat agree that they can be annoying to some in the vicinity. I have difficulty getting to sleep with high level’s of ambient light so I have blackout shades in the bedroom windows.
Our awning lights aren’t LEDs and are on a timer/remote that shuts off after we call it a night. We don’t need them on after we go to bed, and I don’t want to annoy our neighbors. We do have a pair of cheap solar lights that are at the bottom of our awning tie-down straps so no one will trip over them if they cut through our site.
As a tent camper I beg of you to turn them off!! They shine right through tent walls. And it’s like someone shining a flashlight in your face all night long. Motion sensor are fine with short turn off times. Embrace the darkness and the quiet, these are essential components of the outdoor experience!! See you out there!
One of the main reasons we like our neighbors to turn off their outside lights is so we can see and enjoy a campfire. It’s not so much fun when the neighbors lights drown out the warmth of a campfire and you are reminded constantly that they are close to you.
If I want my campsite lite up I’ll do it. The last thing I want is a neighbor doing it for me. Some low colorful lights may add a little ambiance, but some campers just overdo it
Motion sensor lighting outside the RV is probably the best solution for this dilemma…contributing to both safety and security for self & fellow campers. They will be triggered by human or animal movement, so might help keep “varmints” away as well!
Prefer to have them off or at most one small bulb.
Turn off your lights. There is nothing worse than having your lights shining into my RV. It’s supposed to be dark at night.
Turn them off unless you are actually outside your camper/rig and need the light. Just plain rude to leave them on. Nothing cute about it.
I use a headlamp if I need to wander outside after dark.
If you don’t like exterior lights, go buy a tent and go primitive. There’s a reason we call it “Glamping”. I leave my lights on at night for security purposes and it keeps the larger animals away. I’m a full timer. Not going to let some weekend warrior dictate how I should set up camp.
I’m not a weekend warrior. I live in my mh as much as possible, but my hubby still works PT & I’m not keeping the mh stationary because of his choice. A few nights ago, we were parked in a nice spot, until somebody came in late and left their bright LED string on all night. We have cats who like to sit in our big “picture window” (windshield) all night, watching what they’re not allowed out to chase, and those LEDs lit up the bedroom until I needed eyeshades to sleep!
Before hubby’s partial retirement, I had a self-built (yes, I did it) Chevy Express 3500 van camper that I lived in in both Ohio & Arizona. ONE exterior motion-sensor light & a good old-fashioned Coleman lantern.
If you don’t feel safe outdoors, maybe you shouldn’t be there.
So, because you’re a full timer you somehow have more rights than everyone else who also paid for their campsite? It’s also a bit narrow minded to assume that everyone in an RV wants to go “glamping”. Some people actually do enjoy nature and the outdoors.
That is just plain rude! We’ve been full timing for 10 + years and the worst is ending up in a campground with RV’s having their rigs float on all shades of the rainbow at night and bright LED lights to boot! If you are afraid of the wildlife stay in the City. If you need to see at night, take a flashlight. These Vegas light shows ruin Nature for everybody around, whether camping in a Prevost (yours truly) or in a tent! Nature has the Moon and Stars, most being made invisible by blinding light shows. Aside from the fact that artificial light kills night vision, I have never been ‘blinder’ walking the dog at night than after passing some lit up, gaudy RV ‘palace’!
.off off off
Off. As someone else said …. on only if you are out and coming home in the dark. Once in, off they go.
Just like at home. If you are not actively using them, turn them off.
Yes, the power is “free” to you at a campground, but why use it if it is not needed.
Finally, if you fear darkness, stay home in your closet with a flashlight.
For safety sake, please turn on a light to walk outside, noone wants to see an injury. But, please be considerate and turn it off after you no longer need it. I have had extremely bright led lights on the front of RV’s pointed at my camper at night, all night long making it difficult to sleep. I try to always be considerate of my camping neighbors and would appreciate the same in return. I like to see the stars and sleep with windows open when possible. Just my humble opinion.
Interesting comments by all. Some glamp, some tent, others star gaze. Lights on or off was the beginning of the topic. The question should have been, do we camp to tell others what to do, or do your camp for our own enjoyment. Last I checked we still reside in a free country that gives me the liberty to choose when and how I camp. As long as I follow the rules of where I camp. So lights on/off is a non issue but a convenience we can freely choose how to use. If that is an inconvenience to some so is reading this lengthy post.
WELL SAID!
Reading this is like listening little kids arguing.
Camping is a way to relax and forget about all the worries in your life. If your worried about your security, stay home where you can have all your lights on 24 hours a day. Most campgrounds are safer then the neighborhood you live in.
We have awing lights that can be dimmed to a point that they are no brighter than a few candles burning. They also get turned off when we go inside for the night. There is a motion sensing light about 2 feet above our steps. Stays on for 30 seconds.
The worst lights are the NOSE lights on fifth wheels. They are bright enough to be used for aircraft landing lights and can’t be seen by the owner, but can by everyone else int he campground.
As far as the “Glamping” statement, it nothing more than showing off your $$$$ rig. Nobody really cares about how much you paid for your “home away from home”!
It think the issue here is that the discussion is on lighting in general rather than the kind of bright, normally LED, light that tends to blind people. Those bright LED lights (often blue) that some of the campers have on the nose cap can be seen for miles and are blinding in a campground. Normal lights under the awning are generally much more useful, tolerable, and acceptable to most. Bottom line is to use reasonable (notice I didn’t say common) sense and judge the brightness of your lighting and be considerate of others.
no, No, NO !!! Light pollution! If you need light at night, stay in the City or camp at a Mobil Station or Walmart but PLEASE!!!! stay away from Nature and Campgrounds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This piece was obviously written by a pro lighter.
I have no problem with lights as long as they are not on for no good reason all night. Keep your lights & the reach of your lights limited to your own site.
If you want to be lit up like Vegas, go to Vegas. There simply is no need for the super bright LEDs to be on for hours on end. Yes, we all now that you are there.
I came to RVing from weekend overnight boating where we were anchored out, no power, rarely used the genny & even then not for long.
We were limited to the size of the battery bank & were very mindful of what was turned on & if it really needed to be on. RVing that frugality with power carries on, even on shore power.
The lights are on when needed but later in the evening ambient light all that is used is an old fashioned style kerosene lantern, that helps keep the bugs away as well.
As pointed out by a previous poster, it is amazing how well the human eye can see in low light levels.