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February 5, 2020 By Sarah Bloomfield 5 Comments

Campground Etiquette 101: Learn How to Be a Good Camper

Filed Under: Camping 101 Tagged With: camping 101, camping tips, camping tips for beginners, family camping tips

Taking the family camping is a great way to get out and connect with nature. Listening to the sounds of birds chirping, streams running, and……..dogs yapping, children screeching and engines revving?

It seems good campground etiquette isn't always common sense.

camping trailer in desert campground
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Beginners Guide to Campground Etiquette

Whether you have a travel trailer or a tent, there are some basic campground etiquette rules that all campers should abide by.

Campground Etiquette with Pets

We all want to bring our furry family members along to enjoy the camping experience. However, if you do, there are some important things to keep in mind.

You might think that because you're in the wilderness you don't have to clean up after your pets. I can assure you this is far from true. Imagine arriving at your campsite, admiring the scenery, getting out your camping chairs and gear, bending down to inspect a beautiful rock or flower, and right next to it is a nice pile of dog poo. Disgusting!

walking dog in campground

Not only is this unpleasant for fellow campers, but it's also a hazard to the other wildlife. Many animals will be attracted to the waste left behind by your pet and, as gross as it is, they will eat it, get sick, and possibly die. 

Additionally, if you know that your pet barks a lot when out of its comfort zone, it may be best to leave it behind. People want to enjoy the sounds of the environment, not the sound of barking dogs.

Keep your pets on a leash to ensure their safety, as well as the safety of other campers and their pets. You never know how your pet may react when you bring it to the campground.

Camping Etiquette with Kids

Making memories together as a family is one of the best parts of camping. Sitting around the campfire roasting marshmallows, discussing the adventures of the day is a great way to connect with your kids.

But there are some things to be aware of with your kids in the campground.

Rule number one is to teach your kids not to walk through other people's campsites. Taking a shortcut to the bathroom through someone's site is rude. 

travel trailer in desert campground

Think of campsites as backyards. Would you let your kids run around in someone's backyard uninvited?

Keep your kids and your stuff confined to your campsite. If they ride their bikes or play outside of your site, make sure they are acting as a good neighbor and being respectful of other campers and their personal space.

What are the Rules of Camping?

You might assume that most camping rules are common sense, but that's not always the case. Most campgrounds will give you a list of rules or have the campground rules posted somewhere.

This will include guidelines on:

  • Quiet time
  • Campfires
  • Generator use
  • Parking expectations
  • Food storage
  • Check-in and check-out times
Campground Rules

Practicing good camping etiquette means you will follow the rules put in place by the campground. Whether they don't want campers to wash dishes in the bathroom, or if they ask you to keep fires in the designated fire pit, there's usually a good reason for the campground rules. You're always welcome to ask the campground host for clarification.

Always be considerate of others in the campground. If generator hours are from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., don't run your generator at 5 a.m. When the rules say that check-out time is noon, leave by noon because someone else may be waiting for your site. 

Even if you're in a large group just looking to have a good time for the weekend, keep your noise level down after quiet hours. There are other people in the campground that might be trying to sleep or wanting to just enjoy some peace and quiet.

Follow the posted speed limit. This is important because it can be very easy to drive fast in the campground. When you come in after driving highway mileage, driving only 10 or 15 mph can be hard. However, this is important in a campground because there are a lot of children running around, people riding bikes, and dogs out for their walks. So remember to drive slowly.

Good Campground Etiquette Means Leave no Trace

The golden rule of campground etiquette is to leave the campsite better than you found. No one wants to arrive at their campsite to find trash in the fire ring or the picnic table damaged.

Cigarette butts, napkins, cardboard boxes, among other things are all garbage and don't belong in the fire pit or on the ground. On the same note, we all drop things or accidentally leave stuff behind. If you do find debris in your campsite, clean it up to make it nice for the next group.

The cleaner you leave your campsite, the more likely the next campers are to do the same.

garbage in fire ring at campground

Leave no trace also means don't destroy anything.

Leave the trees, bushes, and rocks exactly as you find them, no matter how beautiful they are. If you enjoy them, it's very likely that the next group of campers will enjoy them as well.

This goes for the campsite and any of the facilities found within the campground. Take care of the bathrooms, dishwashing sinks, hiking trails, and anything else the campground provides.

When you follow these simple campground etiquette rules, you not only see to it that you have a good time, but that everyone around you has a good time, too.

Camping is about enjoying nature and making memories, so keep these things in mind next time you head to the campground to ensure you have the best outdoor experience.

Did we miss any important campground etiquette rules? Tell us in the comments!

camping

Camping Tips Every Camper Should Know

No matter how you camp this is advice you need to know!

Campground Etiquette 101: Learn How to Be a Good Camper

Whether you have a travel trailer or a tent, there are some basic campground etiquette rules that all campers should abide by.

Camping Safety Tips and First Aid Kit Essentials | Camping Tips

While the thought of ferocious wild animals may send chills down your spine, it’s the little things that are more likely to ruin a camping trip. Mosquito bites, sprained ankles, and sunburns have the potential to cause real problems, especially if you don’t have access to first aid essentials. The following camping tips will help you prepare for minor and major emergencies in the outdoors.

Bear Safety: What You Need to Know About Camping in Bear Country

Seeing a bear when you are camping is exciting! But you need to know how to stay safe. Bear Safety Tips for campers.

Camping Apps You Must Download Before your Trip | Camping Tips

Some of the best camping apps help you plan things to do on the way to your campsite, share where to hike, or help to locate free camping on public lands. From keeping an eye on the weather, to watching the night sky to first aid, there's an app to help even the most inexperienced camper have a successful camping experience. These are the camping apps we don't travel without.

How to Plan a Family Camping Trip That Everyone Will Love | Camping Tips

My own family camped once a year on our big road trip out west, and the tradition continues with a family camping and canoeing trip each summer. With many years of multigenerational camping experience under my belt, here are some of my best tips for planning a family camping trip that everyone will love.

7 Items You Should Always Take Camping to Avoid Frustration | Camping Gear

The following list of camping gear is not meant to be a camping checklist. Depending on the type of camping you are doing- tent, cabin, RV, car, or glamping- you will need very specific items to make your camping vacation enjoyable. This list is what I have found to be essential no matter the type of camping I am doing. These 7 items are my camping gear essentials.

Camping in the Rain? The 5 Things You MUST Have | Camping Gear

Through our years of camping- whether in a tent, cabin, camper, or RV – I've found that there are 5 things you really must have to be prepared for camping in the rain.

Camping Shortcuts It's OK to Take | Camping Tips

Do you stress about not ‘camping right'? Maybe you were told that taking camping shortcuts meant you weren't ‘really camping'? Or maybe you tried a camping shortcut once and someone told you that's ‘not the way to camp'. Well, we are just going to nix those negatives right now. Here, in our ‘no judgement' zone the only wrong way to camp is to not camp at all!

Beauty Products to Bring Camping

Just because you are camping doesn't mean you can't look pretty! A minimal beauty kit to pack for your camping trip.

camping image and tips

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About Sarah Bloomfield

Sarah Bloomfield grew up in Northern Nevada exploring the wilds of her own backyard. She is now on a grand family adventure exploring the United States in a travel trailer with her husband and three children. Sharing about their adventures and awesome places they experience has become her passion. Check out more of their adventures at statebystate.net.
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Comments

  1. mjjmsmith says

    February 7, 2020 at 5:51 pm

    Good article Sarah. People need to be reminded of the campground etiquette so that others may enjoy the park as they would like.

    Reply
    • statebystateadventure says

      February 12, 2020 at 1:59 pm

      Thanks! We find our camping experience is better when we have good etiquette. Other campers are friendlier to us and the camp hosts and rangers appreciate it!

      Reply
  2. Ryan K Biddulph says

    April 19, 2020 at 11:47 am

    Helpful tips Sarah. No matter what we do in life, we always want to be mindful of other folks.

    Reply
  3. Tony says

    August 15, 2020 at 2:28 pm

    Great tips, written by someone who sounds like she knows what she is talking about from experience!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Camping with Pets: Everything You Need to Know says:
    March 4, 2020 at 3:09 pm

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