Ten Tips to Make Camping Friends, Not Enemies.

RV Campground Tip #1:
Never leave your black tank (or gray tanks) open.

Seriously — your neighbors don’t want to experience every flush with you. Leaving your tanks open isn’t just rude, it’s a recipe for clogs. Letting your tanks fill before dumping allows for proper flow and prevents the dreaded “pyramid of doom.”

Bonus etiquette tip: Time your tank dumps like a considerate human. Try to empty tanks early in the morning or later in the evening, when your neighbors are likely indoors. If you absolutely must dump while people are outside nearby, give them a friendly heads-up. Nobody wants a surprise sewage cloud with their coffee.

Camping Tip #2 Don’t Rush Over!

One of the great joys of RV life is meeting new neighbors at every stop. We love getting to know fellow travelers and sharing stories—but we kindly ask for a little space when we first arrive.

Please give us about an hour to get settled in before coming over to chat. Setting up can be a bit hectic, and we appreciate the time to park, level, and get everything squared away.

We also appreciate the spirit of helpfulness, but please don’t offer assistance with parking unless it’s clear we’re having trouble. Sometimes we're just talking through the best way to back in. If you’re unsure, a simple, “Would you like a hand?” is more than enough—and always appreciated when genuinely needed.

Thanks for the neighborly vibes and understanding—we look forward to connecting once the wheel chocks are down and the slides are out!

Tip #3: Stick to Designated Roads and Paths

 Always walk on sidewalks, trails, or clearly marked paths. It’s safer for you, helps protect the environment, and ensures you're visible to others. Remember — cutting through someone’s site is like strolling through their living room!

Tip #4 Camping is for Everyone Including Fur Children, Respect their Space.

People camp with their FUR children all the time and it is important to respect their space!  If you see animals in a pen, be mindful that bringing your dog over to say “Hi” might not be the best idea.  Not every dog gets along just like people so please keep your dog on a leash at all times unless you’re in the dog park. 

Remember to always as before approaching pets, it’s better to be safe than sorry. 

Tip#5 Being a Respectful Pet Owner 

On the flip side, pet owners should always practice good campground etiquette. Dogs must be secured with a leash or kept within a portable fence, and it's essential to clean up after them.

When entering the dog park, it is important to remember to ask the other dog owners before entering if they have any concerns. 

If your dog is a barker, when you leave them in the camper, maybe try leaving the radio on to help them stay calm.   However, people do not go camping to listen to your dog bark all day so be mindful of your dog's needs. 

Tip #6 Following the Quiet Hours

Campers keep different schedules, so campgrounds establish quiet hours to ensure everyone can get a good night’s rest. These hours vary by location but typically run from 10 PM to 7 AM.

During quiet hours, outdoor speakers and TVs should be turned off. It’s perfectly fine to relax outside but be mindful of your volume—keep conversations low and avoid loud laughter or shouting. Generators and other noisy equipment should also stay off during this time.

Lighting matters, too. Before heading to bed, turn off bright outdoor lights to help maintain a peaceful atmosphere for everyone nearby.  Nothing is worse than attempting to sleep with someone’s LED decorative light shining into your camper or tent. 

Tip #7 Keeping Things Tidy at Your Temporary Home

Nothing better than walking through a campground and seeing everyone’s decorations and camping gear but remember to keep your site tidy! Don’t leave garbage out as this will attract unwanted visitors and just be unsightly.  Keep your site free of extra clutter, it maybe your temporary backyard but it is still a public space, your neighbors do not want to stare at your trash. 

Tip #8 Creating Memories with your children and Grand Children

Camping with kids will create memories that last a lifetime but remember to teach them the rules of camping too! Remind them to wear their bike helmets, nothing will put a damper on a camping trip like a visit to the local ER. 

Camping allows children to roam and explore but remember to keep them in eyesight. Camp roads can be busy and steep so teach them the ways of the road. When riding on a bike, you should travel with traffic.  When walking, you walk against traffic. Stay safe and have fun!

Tip #9 Campfires are Fun but Keep Them Controlled

If you know you are heading out, don’t start a campfire because you should never leave a fire unattended.  It’s not your neighbor's responsibility to monitor your fire.  The smell of a campfire is so calming but, not if you are burning your garbage so, please only burn wood in your campfire. 

Tip#10 RV/Resort Campgrounds are a place to make Friends

Whether you’re in tent, travel trailer, or RV, camping is a great place to make lifelong friends.  Rember to be friendly, cut loose and relax.  Say hi to people, make small talk and most of all have FUN!