Camping Etiquettes To Follow
Spread the Word, So Everyone Can Have A Great Camping Trip!
There You Are...
You Finally Made It To The Campground!
You have been planning your camping trip for months. You’ve read blogs, articles, books, and watched YouTube videos and talked to friends. You’re as prepared as you can be. You’ve applied all the tips and tricks to make your camping vacation the most successful camping vacation that there has ever been.
And Then...
You’ve pulled into your campsite, only to realize that you are camping next to “Those People”. You know the ones. They’ve made Horror/Comedy movies about them.
And Now, What IF...
You were “Those People”? At least in the eyes of other campers? YIKES!
By following basic Camping Etiquette, you can be sure of one thing.
At least you won’t be seen as “Those People”.
If you do need a reminder, here are some of the Basic Camping Etiquettes to read through.
What Camping Etiquettes Should You Follow?
Table of Contents:
Click on the Etiquette To Scroll Right To It
- Respect Nature
- Respect the Facilities
- Campfire Etiquette
- Respect Other Campers
- (Golden Rule)
- Be A Good Neighbor
- Observe Quiet Time
- Early or Late Arrivals
- Mind Your Voice
- Use Your Camping Voice
- Keep it PG & P.C.
- Manage Your Kids
- Manage Your Music
- Control your Pets
- Things To Keep In Mind
- Manage your Lights
- Be Mindful of Your Vehicles and Generators
- Slow Down Campers at Play
- Avoid Cutting Through Campsites
- Contain Your Campsite
- Keep your campsite clean/picked-up
- Leave No Trace
- Follow Campground Rules
Respect Nature:
This should not just be something you do while you are camping, but something that you live by in your day to day lives.
Camping generally takes place in the outdoors. (Unless of course you set up camp in your living room). That means you are out amongst nature along with all the other living things. By leaving things such as plants, animals and their homes alone, as you see them, will only help to ensure that others, as well as yourself, will be able to enjoy nature for years to come.
This means NOT cutting down trees for firewood, picking pretty flowers, or even knocking Beehives off of branches. Just because you think you need more firewood to roast marshmallows, you want to take some pretty flowers home, or because you’re afraid of Bees’.
Everything in Nature is there to serve a purpose in the cycle of Life. Not to be there to make your vacation better, easier or give you little bits of memorabilia to take home with you.
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Respect The Facilities:
Campgrounds go to great lengths to try and make your stay as comfortable as possible. Some provide amenities such as toilets, sinks and showers. Many people use these amenities throughout the season. By applying common courtesy and picking up after yourself, flushing, and over all not creating a mess, you are not only showing respect of yourself but to the others needing to use these amenities and for those who keep them clean.
Some campgrounds even include a variety of recreational activities for you and your family to enjoy. These too need to be constantly cleaned and sanitized. Especially after the variety of influenza and corona viruses making their way through our lives. Properly using and respecting these recreational facilities also ensures that we help keep everyone safe and healthy.
Campgrounds go to great lengths to try and make your stay as comfortable as possible. Some provide amenities such as toilets, sinks and showers. Many people use these amenities throughout the season. By applying common courtesy and picking up after yourself, flushing, and over all not creating a mess, you are not only showing respect of yourself but to the others needing to use these amenities and for those who keep them clean.
Some campgrounds even include a variety of recreational activities for you and your family to enjoy. These too need to be constantly cleaned and sanitized. Especially after the variety of influenza and corona viruses making their way through our lives. Properly using and respecting these recreational facilities also ensures that we help keep everyone safe and healthy.
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Campfire Etiquette:
What’s camping without a roaring campfire? I agree, however there are a few etiquettes to follow when managing your campfires.
Use a Fire Ring/Barrier:
Sitting around a campfire is great! That is until a log falls and rolls catching some dry leaves on fire and then spreads to some more dry vegetation and then you got a full-blown forest fire. A little dramatic I know, but it can happen. Trying the best to contain your campfire is just one step into making sure that doesn’t happen.
Use Local Source Wood:
Across the nation, tiny bugs, insects, and parasites are living inside trees. Nature has a way of containing those insects and parasites to certain areas, so they don’t destroy other ecosystems. When you bring in firewood from other areas, you are essentially bringing in those bugs too. When you set your firewood out at your campsite, those tiny bugs get out and spread, sometime destroying entire ecosystems. The Emerald Ash Borer comes to mind. Destroying over 40 million trees in Michigan alone.
Here is a Great Resource to use for more State by State information about moving firewood:
Here is research paper from the University of Wisconsin about Insects and Firewood:
Extinguishing Fires:
Campers do a great job at managing their campfires while they are around them. Those little sparks that fly out of the fire ring and land on the ground are usually stomped out pretty quickly. However, when no-one is their to manage the fire or even the smoldering embers, is when problems occur. It’s a good rule to follow that, when you are calling it a night, or leaving the campsite for a while, to COMPLETELY extinguish the campfire and glowing embers with water. If the coals are still too hot to put your hand by it, then it can re-ignite or spark something else on fire. Don’t worry the water will evaporate or steam off in time for you to light your morning fire or start another one when you get back.
Follow Campground, Local, and State Rules:
As you well know, the weather sometimes doesn’t always work out in your favor. Some areas may get plenty of rain while others will be experiencing a drought. Unless you are constantly keeping an eye on the amount of precipitation each region has accumulated, you might not know if it is safe to even have a campfire. It’s always best to check with your campground staff to find out what the local and state guidelines are.
The Forest Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture has a great website to learn and get information of local conditions. Follow the link here:
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Respect Other Campers:
Golden Rule
One version of the “Golden Rule” states: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Luke 6:31
This rule encompasses many different aspects of Camping Etiquette. The message is clear and simple, treat and respect other campers as you would like to be treated and respected.
Be A Good Neighbor:
Offer Help, Ask For Help
Let’s face it, we can all use a little help from time to time. Even if we don’t think we need it. Even though camping is seen as a separate thing, it really is a community of people looking to enjoy some time away from their busy day to day lives. Murphy’s Law always seems to kick in when we least expect it and the only way to get through it is by offsetting it with Good Karma.
If you see someone pull into their campsite at night and they don’t have access to their lights yet and are having a hard time parking their camper trailer, yet you’re all set up relaxing by the fire, ask if they would like some help parking or at least would like to borrow some lights.
Note: I said ASK if they would like some help. Some people are just not comfortable with others and would rather be left alone. Don’t push your generosity, knowledge, or skills onto other people. Even if they’re doing it wrong. Wink!
If they accept your help and appreciate your gracious personality perhaps later, they’ll be willing to help you out when you completely forgot to pack any condiments for your Hot Dogs and Hamburgers. Take That Murphy!
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Observe Quiet Times:
Most campgrounds post specific quiet times. Usually before 7am and after 10pm. This is for everyone’s benefit. Not everyone is a morning person. Just like not everyone is a night owl. To try and accommodate everyone’s sleep habits, this rule can be strictly enforced with the punishment of being asked to leave. Mostly though, it is in good character to abide by the posted quiet times, by showing you have respect for other campers.
Early or Late Arrivals:
Sometimes you may get to the campgrounds much earlier or later than expected. This does not mean that you have the right to be as loud as possible when setting up your campsite. Or even when you finished setting up. We get that your excited to be there and start enjoying yourself, but your camp neighbors will greatly appreciate it if you either wait until tomorrow or at least until they have had their morning coffee.
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Mind Your Voice:
Even outside the posted Quiet Times, campgrounds are generally pretty quiet places. They are usually set off far from the noises of busy roads or cities. Which is usually why people like to go camping. To get a way from all that.
Use your Camping Voice
Campsites are close together and sounds seem to carry a lot further in a quiet area. So, when speaking to friends or family around the campsite, there is no need to shout or yell. Not everyone wants to hear you arguing with your significant other or hear you asking for your partner to bring out the toe nail clippers.
Keep it PG & PC
I know sometimes words or phrases just slip out, but as a rule of thumb, speak at though kids are always around you when camping. Even when you think you said a curse word or made some off-color remark about another culture you clearly don’t understand, at a volume where no one would hear, some one probably did. Again, campgrounds are typically quiet places and campsites are usually close together, so someone probably heard you.
Minding your voice basically means keeping the volume of your voice down and be conscious of what you say. This shows respect to the other campers who are also trying to find some peace and quiet.
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Manage Your Kids:
Not saying your little ones are not just the cutest little angels, but I’m sure they can get out of hand from time to time. A kid’s job is to explore the world and learn from it. They don’t always have a full understanding of what is acceptable behavior in every situation. Nor do they always show the fullest control of their actions even if they did. That is where, as adults/parents, we need to make the effort and teach them correct behavior and etiquette while camping. Most other campers will understand if they hear children screaming and acting a fool, but when that behavior is constant for the entire weekend, then you are disrespecting their right to trying to enjoy their own camping trip.
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Manage Your Music:
We all have our favorite songs, artists, and styles of music. Sometimes, part of going on vacation, even a camping vacation, is letting the rhythm move you. When you get that feeling inside your bones. When it goes electric wavy when you turn it on. When you got that sunshine in your pocket, and good soul in your feet. You got to turn up that music and put that dance into your feet. However up beat and happy as “Can’t Stop The Feeling” is by Justin Timberlake, not everyone will share your enthusiasm. Please respect that not everyone will want to rock out to your tunes. If you must, take a moment, grab some earbuds or headphones, and feel free to enjoy all the music you want as loud as you want.
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Control Your Pets:
Camping is a family event. Sometimes that even means having your creature babies with you. Most pet owners will agree that even the most well behaved pet will have their own personalities shine through when they are in an unfamiliar environment or encounter unfamiliar people. Take time to try and curb their sporadic tantrums before they get out of hand and disrupt the other camper’s family time.
Things to keep in mind:
Dogs are the most common pet for families to take camping with them. However, I have seen families bring their pet birds, cats, even pigs camping with them. Here are a couple things to keep in mind when bringing your pet(s) camping with you.
- Make sure they are secured to a leash, tether or in a cage while camping. There are lots of different distractions that can grab their attention and they’ll want to explore.
- Try to manage their Barking, Squawking, Meowing, Oinking, or whatever, the best you can. Just like kids, they don’t always know when the appropriate times are, and they can sometimes lose control.
- Pick up after them. They don’t have the luxury of using the facilities and will go when and where nature calls. Others don’t want to accidentally step in their business when playing or exploring the campgrounds. I’m sure you don’t either. Plus, the campground staff will appreciate it after you leave.
- Try not to leave them alone at the campsite. Remember, they are in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by unfamiliar noises, their instincts, personalities, and anger might shine through. This may lead to destroying your campsite or getting loose to wreak havoc on other campers.
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Manage Your Lights:
When camping, lights are a much-needed commodity during the night. Kids love to play flashlight tag and shine their lights at everything that makes a noise. Adults love to use lights as decorations to make their campsite feel like a Hawaiian getaway. However, those lights are also illuminating much more than just the one campsite. Teach the kids how to properly use a flashlight. For example, not to shine them in anyone’s face, or see how far their flashlight beam goes. Also, if you must decorate your campsite, try and get low watt LED camp lights as to not disrupt others wanting to sit back, relax and view natures nightlights. The Moon & Stars.
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Be Mindful of your Vehicles & Generators:
Both are necessary at times, but remember they do make noise and produce harmful emissions. Camping is about being out in nature to get some fresh air and listen to the sounds of nature. Not to breath in or smell the exhaust from a generator or hear a Muscle Car being started up every hour because someone thinks that if it doesn’t get started it’s not going to run ever again. If that’s the case, it should be in the shop and not at the campgrounds. (Sorry, the muscle car example was from a personal experience I had on a camping trip). On the plus side, I did know when an hour had passed.
Slow Down; Campers at Play:
You’re there. No need to rush. Not to mention little kids are running, biking, and playing around. Outside, in nature, not parked in front of a television or computer. Appreciate that for a moment and drive slowly. There’s no need to ruin a perfectly pleasant camping trip by speeding around the campgrounds only to possibly hit a little one playing or a family enjoying a walk with their pet.
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Avoid Cutting Through Other Peoples Campsites:
As we all have learned in school, the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. However, if that straight line between your campsite and the restrooms means cutting through someone else’s’ campsite, DON’T!
Just like anywhere else, trespassing is often frowned upon. Thinking it is alright when camping is just wrong. Campers are generally open and friendly people, but when you invade their space without their knowledge or permission, their first thought is to protect their own. They don’t know if you are just cutting through or scoping out what is valuable to come back later to steal. Not to mention if the other campers have little children, I’m sure you’ll meet up with Mama Bear wanting to protect her cubs. Or perhaps their dog “Sir Sniffs A lot” might really be “Cujo” in disguise.
Chances are you have been potty trained for a while now, so plan ahead, give Mama Bear and “Sir Sniffs A Lot” room, and give yourself time to take the long way around to the restrooms.
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Contain Your Campsite:
Campgrounds plan out each campsite to optimize space. They make sure to allow you enough room to set up camp and still have room to move around in. With that being said, make sure when you do set up camp, that you are not invading your camp neighbors space. It’s very tempting to set up you camper or tent as close to the campsite boundary line as possible, only to forget about your slide out or tent support lines. Or spreading out tables, chairs, clothes lines, hammocks and so on, making it so you invade and take up your camp neighbors space. Out of courtesy for your camp neighbors, make sure you keep all your belongings within the designated campsite boundaries. That way, everyone is ensured to have enough space to enjoy their designated campsite.
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Keep your campsite clean/picked-up:
Very few things are an eye sore at a campground. Except maybe a campsite with “Stuff” and garbage all over the place. Some people forget that they are just visiting and feel they own the place. They forget that other people are out there camping too and don’t want to see nature being turned into something that resembles an elementary school playground right after a tornado during Halloween.
By making sure your campsite is organized, clean, picked up, and free of garbage, you are ensuring that you have plenty of space to move around in and find items you might be looking for. Plus, little forest creatures will not tempted to come into your campsite to tear into the garbage and snatch little shiny objects that might be laying around.
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Leave No Trace:
As the famous Chief Seattle said, “Take only memories, leave only footprints”. Meaning, while camping, you are respecting nature and NOT picking flowers, or catching little lizards to take home with you. Then, when it is time to leave from your camping adventure, you make sure you leave it better then you found it. This includes picking up every bit of trash, even if it’s not yours. Putting picnic tables back to where they were. All your camping gear should be packed up and your trash should be thrown out in a designated area or packed out with you. The only way some one should know that you were there was because of the footprints you left behind as you walked away.
For more information on Leave No Trace; Visit their website at…
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Follow Campground Rules:
When all else fails and your sure that you can’t remember any of these basics of camping etiquette, take a moment and find the campground rules. Most places have a big sign posted somewhere near where you check in. Even more now will provide you with a little pamphlet to take with you to the campsite for a little light bathroom reading as you take the long way around passed the other well maintained, quiet, campsites, to the nice clean facilities.
There You Go...
Camping Etiquette Rules To Follow
To Make Sure You're Not "THOSE" People Around The Campground
Spread The Word
And Remember...
Camp Happy And With A Purpose!!
Camping Etiquettes To Follow: Audio Version (22min 12sec)
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