Ten Things NOT To Do At A Campground!
Please remember that camping is supposed to be fun for everyone, not just yourself.
Usually I’m way more of a “glass half full” kind of person, and I don’t like to dwell on the negative, but some things just need to be shared.
As we work our way into summer, I thought I’d share a few tips for anyone who will be visiting a campground this season. You would think that most of these, if not all, would be common sense, but common sense seems to be missing in a lot of people these days. Did they forget to get in line when that was being handed out? 😜
Anyway, these are all things that we have personally experienced during our camping days, so I wanted to point them out as things you should definitely NOT do at a campground…
1. Don’t talk so loudly that the whole campground can hear you.
You might be having a great conversation with someone, but that doesn’t mean everyone in the entire campground wants to listen to it. 😉
I can’t tell you how many times we’ve been sitting at our campsite trying to enjoy the peacefulness of nature, only for some joker several campsites away to share their many stories very loudly. Some people are camping to get away from it all.
2. Don’t let your kids run around and play (loudly) in other people’s campsites.
I think it’s amazing to see so many families camping and I love that kids are out being active and enjoying the great outdoors. But that being said, they shouldn’t be running around in my campsite. Make sure the kids are playing in your own site or in the public areas designated for that - not other people’s sites.
3. Don’t let your dogs run off leash.
Your dog might be the center of your universe and a great pet for you - but that doesn’t mean it’s the center of other people’s universe. Some people aren’t dog people and some people have their own pets and don’t need your dog encroaching on their space. You might think your dog is friendly and would never do harm, but it’s an animal and animals can respond in ways you’d never imagine given the right circumstances. So always, always keep your dog leashed. Not only is it safe for all (including your dog!) but in most places it’s the law.
4. Don’t let your dogs yap nonstop.
I know dogs can see something that gets them excited or on edge and they’ll bark about it. That’s totally understandable. But when someone puts their dog outside and then proceeds to let them bark, and bark, and bark…that is SO annoying to all of us in the area. Nobody wants to listen to that. Again, we’re all trying to get out and enjoy some peacefulness in nature…don’t let your dogs ruin it, please.
5. Don’t leave dog poop behind.
It’s super simple. If you have a pet, you’re responsible for picking up its poop. Nobody else should have to do that and nobody wants to walk around watching out for landmines. 💩
6. Don’t play music loud enough for the entire campground to hear.
We camped out at a place once where there was a group at a campsite all the way across the campground and their music was turned up so loud that literally the entire campground was having to listen to it. I couldn’t believe their audacity.
I know some go out camping to have some fun and party a little - and there’s nothing wrong with that - but you still need to respect the fact that you’re not the only ones there. If you want to be that rowdy and loud, you might be better off finding a remote spot where there isn’t a campground full of other people.
7. Don’t walk through other people’s campsites.
Sometimes it might seem more convenient to cut through a campsite on the way to something else in the campground, but it’s considered very rude to walk through someone else’s site.
We’ve had several camping experiences where people kept walking back and forth through our campsite. It’s not that difficult to go around. I even read a story the other day from someone who said someone literally walked between their vehicle and their RV and came around the corner under the RV's awning. What?! Why on earth would anyone think it’s okay to get all up in someone’s space like that?
Stick to the paths and roads and don’t wander into other people’s space.
8. Don’t annoy campers with your phone volume up all the way.
One night, we had a guy come park himself in a chair right next to our site, then started watching videos on his phone with the volume all the way up. Listening to people using speaker phones in public is a big pet peeve of mine anyway, but when we’re sitting outside by the fire and trying to enjoy a peaceful evening watching the sunset, and then someone shows up and blares the news on his phone…that’s super frustrating.
Please be considerate if you’re in a public space that is right next to someone’s site. Not to mention they make headphones for a reason. 🙄
9. Don’t leave generators running 24/7.
No judgment on how people want to camp, but many of us are out camping because we want to enjoy the great outdoors and the peacefulness of nature. That means we’re sitting outside in the fresh air. If we have to listen to a loud generator, that definitely destroys that peace.
10. Don’t leave bright lights on outside all night.
If you need a motion detector light in case you need to go outside, that’s one thing, but if you have tons of lights strung all over your RV and campsite, it’s nice to have those turned off by a certain time of the evening. Especially if you’re in a dark sky area.
It’s fun to be able to sit and gaze at the stars while camping, but if lots of sites have tons of bright lights glowing, that makes it almost impossible to do that. Plus, those lights can shine brightly into someone else’s campsite, making it harder to sleep.
. . . ⛺️ . . .
There are definitely more things you can do to be a good neighbor to your fellow campers, but these are some of the top ones in our book.
Do you have pet peeves that you would add to this list?
There are campgrounds where letting your dog run off leash is just fine, as long as you do so responsibly. No one wants to be stuck in a car all day just to be stuck at the end of a leash. We need to consider what the dog needs too.
I was just at a campground and someone did the bright lights and music thing until pretty late. The campground host just hid in their trailer. (I get it, most aren't paid but still). Another thing I hate is when there's lots of open sites but they pull in right next to you! Why??