You may see a lot of complaints online regarding campground etiquette. You have heard me say that a campground is like a min-HOA. It doesn’t matter if you are in a private, county, or state campground – every one of these has rules. Keep that in mind as you camp, and to be even safer, let’s talk about the top 10 ways to instantly annoy your campground neighbors. I have done an exhaustive search on Facebook pages, YouTube channels, and other sources to come up with this list. Some of these items may not be an issue for you – others may be your pet peeves. Let’s get started!
We are going to count down from 10 to the number 1 most popular complaint.
#10 Leaving bright outdoor lights on at night.
Personally, that doesn’t bother me. Our travel trailers windows are dark, and the shades really prevent outdoor lights from bothering us. However, I know this does bother a lot of campers. I’ve seen this complaint numerous times across multiple camping Facebook and YouTube posts. I’m not exactly sure why some folks want to have their outdoor lights on at night. I find that’s just a great way to attract bugs. The last thing I want when Eva and I go out in the morning is to let bugs into the trailer.
#9 Dumping black tank at inappropriate times etc.
Like dumping your black tank during peak camping hours when people are eating or hanging out nearby. Remember, your dump valves bump up against their living space. So, if they are trying to have lunch outside while you are dumping – well that could be very unpleasant (depending on what happens). Also slightly related to this topic was the issue of being messy at the dump station. Many folks mention others not cleaning up spills, not rinsing the area or leaving a mess behind for the next person.
#8 Ignoring campground rules.
Issues like parking in the wrong spot, extra vehicles, or breaking fire restrictions can frustrate others.
#7 Knocking on someone’s RV without a good reason.
Unless it’s urgent, most campers want privacy. Random visits or “just saying hi” at the door can feel intrusive. Trust me if someone knocks on our door all hell will break out thanks to Eva. That would not be good for any of us!
#6 Interrupting meals, downtime, or tasks.
Walking up and starting conversations while someone is eating, relaxing, or clearly busy is listed as a common annoyance. It can lead to real trouble too. I have read stories about folks getting so distracted by neighbors that they forgot to shut off their black tank flush valve. The net result was a sewage flooded travel trailer. These are true stories, not mine, but true.
#5 Letting kids play in other people’s campsite space.
Especially when they touch things that don’t belong to them. Or play close enough to the neighbor’s trailer or tow vehicle that it might get damaged. Too many times, I’ve seen parents that don’t parent. They seem fine if it’s a free for all outside. Back when our kids were small and we camped they were never left alone outside. Last year while we were camping in Wisconsin, someone with a scooter or bike ran over our dish satellite. It totaled the dome on it.
#4 Parking in or blocking someone else’s spot.
This includes partial blocking that makes it hard for them to arrive at their site and set up or leave their spot. This has happened to us during arrival and departure before. It is a pain trying to find someone to move their vehicle so you can set up or leave the campground. Obviously, we are not alone as this ranked number 4.
#3 Being on a neighbor’s campsite.
A campsite is basically someone’s temporary home—entering it without permission crosses a line. You probably wouldn’t like it if someone spent the day in your front yard at home, or meandered through your backyard while you were having coffee. Tammy and I have seen this mulitple times with folks just wandering through ours or someone else’s campsite. Sometimes they do it to “save time”, shortcutting across multiple sites to get to theirs. Really, no good excuse for that one!
#2 Not respecting park quiet times.
Music, shouting, or generators running after quiet hours can ruin the peaceful outdoor vibe. This would include things like arriving late at night or packing up early in the morning. I’ve seen folks pull into campgrounds before 5:00 AM and leave at 4:00 AM. Unless it is an emergency situation (and they do happen), please don’t do this.
#1 Letting pets run free off leash.
There’s really no excuse for this one—it’s one of my biggest pet peeves. I don’t want to deal with a dog fight in my campsite or have another dog charging at me and Eva. One time years ago, I even had to lift my white shepherd, Hannah off the ground to keep another dog from attacking her. Last year in Wisconsin, I had to talk to a young couple next to us that were letting their two labs run around their campground off leash. They got close enough to our camper that it was an issue. Most recently, a loose dog ran across the campground road straight into our site, right in front of the trailer. The owner came over to apologize later, but halfway through he said, “I’m drunk.” That’s not much of an excuse.
Well, that’s your top ten list.
At the end of the day, camping is about getting away and enjoying the outdoors—but it only works when everyone shows a little respect. Most of these issues aren’t complicated; they come down to basic awareness and consideration for the people around you. Treat other campsites like someone’s home, keep your pets and kids under control, follow the rules, and think about how your actions affect your neighbors. Do that, and everyone has a better experience. Ignore it, and you’re not just bending the rules—you’re making yourself the camper everyone hopes doesn’t show up next time.
Lastly for those of you that follow the rules, thankyou! You make camping enjoyable for everyone!
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