Camping can be a lot of fun when you’re around the right group of people. However, there are always some campers that can be rude and annoying. In this camping post I am going to go over 20 rude and annoying things that campers do at campgrounds and what to do instead. The goal is to help others understand what can be considered rude and how to avoid being “that camper” that others secretly can’t stand. As a new camper you may find yourself learning somethings as well. We want to educate new campers to avoid these things. I’ve been in your shoes as well.
THINGS CAMPERS DO THAT ARE RUDE AND ANNOYING TO OTHERS
There are a series of things that different campers can do that are considered rude. Others can be extremely annoying. Most of these are common sense things while others are may be small mistakes that are made by new inspiring campers. Whether you are a newbie or experienced camper, this guide will help you learn if something that you are doing may be considered rude or annoying by other campers.
As someone who has gone camping since childhood I can say that there is always room to grow. This post is not made to offended or criticize but to guide and help others to avoid making these mistakes.
COMMON RUDE THINGS CAMPERS SHOULD NOT DO AT CAMPGROUNDS
While the list can sometimes feel never ending, in this camping guide I am going to mention the top 20 things that are considered rude or annoying by other campers. Let’s dive in!
1. Don’t take short cuts by walking through someone else’s campsite.
When camping you should consider someone’s campsite as their “own space.” You should respect it. You wouldn’t cut through someone’s front yard to get to someone’s house, right? You would use the sidewalk or side of the road. Same thing at campgrounds. We should look at someone’s campsite as their own little yard for their home.
There has been times when I am getting dressed in my tent and I hear strangers walking through my campsite very close to my window. It feels intrusive. Like invasion of privacy. Just stick to the walkways and the side of the road to get to where you want to go to.
2. Smokers, please smoke away from people and dispose of your cigarette butts in a trashcan.
Not everyone smokes cigarettes and some people, such as myself, can be allergic to cigarette smoke. It is important to smoke on your own campsite, designated smoking areas, or away from other campers. Also make sure to properly dispose of your cigarette butts. Always follow the Leave No Trace Principles when exploring outdoors.
Note: A cigarette butt can take up to 10 years to fully decompose depending on the environment. It can be longer.
3. Not following quiet time hours for the campground.
I can’t stress this enough. Please follow the quiet hours that are set in place by the campground. Many campers go to sleep early to wake up for an early morning hike. Others may have babies or kids that go to bed at a set time. There are many reasons as they differ from person to person. This is why it is important to follow the quiet time. This includes music, generators, speaking loudly with friends, etc.
4. Not following the speed limits on all motor vehicles.
Campgrounds are known to have children playing and campers riding their bikes or walking on the roads. It is important to follow the speed limits that are set in place for the safety of everyone. Of you are driving any type of vehicle make sure to yield to pedestrians and always watch your surroundings.
5. Not watching your kids and letting them wander into prohibited areas or other people’s campsites.
It is important to keep an eye on your kids and make sure that they don’t wander off to areas where they shouldn’t be in. You should also make sure that your children do go playing or sneaking around other people’s campsites. A person’s campsite can be something private or maybe they may have some “not so kid safe” items laying around that your child can get hurt on. It is important to respect other people’s areas just like you would like others to respect your own. One way to think about it is to think that you are all in your own individual hotel room (aka campsites) and the entire campground is the hotel.
6. Not giving another camper a lending hand if needed.
There have been plenty of times when we needed a hand for something and a kind camp neighbor came to the rescue. It was very helpful and brought ease to the struggle we were having at the time. Same the other way around. We have helped out other campers as well.
I remember when it was raining one time and a camp neighbor offered to help my family by letting them get under their awning. My mom also had someone stop for us in their golf cart as we were running in the rain back to camp. He gave us a ride back to our campsite which was a good 10 minutes away if not more in the down pour.
7. Not keeping your campsite clean and free of trash.
No one wants a trashy neighbor. Making sure your area is clean, trash is properly disposed of, and putting things away can make a huge difference in how your campsite looks.
8. Leaving trash in the fire ring.
A fire ring is not a trashcan. Leaving trash in the fire ring just adds more to do for the next person using the fire ring. You should simply dispose of your trash properly instead of leaving it behind.
9. Leaving a mess at your campsite before checking out.
Before checking out of the campground make sure to always clean up after yourself. Doing a quick sweep of your campsite for trash or items that may have been left behind can help keep your site clean for the next people. We always like to leave a place looking better than before we arrived.
10. Leaving a campfire unattended.
Please don’t ever leave a fire unattended. All campgrounds, especially state parks have regulations against this. Always follow proper campfire procedures and keep your fire contained and guarded.
11. Not disposing of your trash properly.
This goes for the entire campground, not just your campsite. I have seen so many campers walking along the side of the road and just throw their wrapper on the floor like nothing. It is our job to dispose of trash properly. This helps keep the campgrounds you visit clean. State parks and national parks can be very strict about this in some areas if caught littering.
12. Not putting your food away properly to avoid unwanted visitors.
It is important to remember that you are out in nature. Wildlife will always come roaming around the campgrounds. By putting your food away properly you are avoiding unwanted visitors around the campground, especially in bear country.
RUDE THINGS DOG OWNERS SHOULD NOT DO WHILE CAMPING AT CAMPGROUNDS
When camping with dogs you should be respectful of others around you. While you know your dog, you need to keep in mind that others don’t and they may be annoyed or scared of your pup. With this said, here are some things that other campers consider to be rude.
13. Not keeping your dog on a leash.
I have had so many dogs randomly approach my kids and myself throughout the years. While you may think your dog is the most friendliest dog in the world, someone else may not see it that way. As a mom protecting her kids, when I see a dog off leash I immediately take precautions. Other people don’t know your dog and they may not know how your dog will react to them or their dog.
Also my dog is not the friendliest dog towards other dogs so when other dogs quickly approach her and invade her space, she sees it as a threat. My dog is not the only one that is like that. Many dogs can be dog aggressive under certain circumstances.
For the safety of others, yourself, and your own dog, it is important to always keep your dog on a leash at all times unless there is a designated off-leash area.
14. Not picking up after your dog when they poop.
This is a no brainer! If your dog poops, please pick it up! No one wants to walk on a dog poop and have it stuck all over their shoes.
15. Letting your dog bark constantly all throughout the day or night.
We are all at the campground to enjoy nature, some peace and quiet, and have a good time. No one wants to hear a dog barking all day long. If your dog is the kind of dog that barks constantly then maybe you should try some training, more socialization, or even consider boarding them when you travel.
16. Allowing your dog to roam freely through other people’s campsites.
Just because you are on your campsite doesn’t mean you should allow your dog to be off leash. They aren’t aware of their boundaries like you and me and this can lead to your dog wandering into other people’s campsites. Not only can this be intrusive, this can be very rude and annoying to others, especially if they have children or dogs with them.
RUDE AND ANNOYING THINGS CAMPERS WITH RV, CAMPER TRAILERS, AND 5TH WHEELS SHOULD NOT DO AT CAMPGROUNDS
We absolutely love living in our camper full time. However, we have learned that it is important to avoid a few things to not annoy our camping neighbors. A lot of it was from camping close to other campers who had a camper, RV, or a 5th wheel, and others from our experience from living in our own camper. Here are a few things campers do that are rude or annoying to others and what to do instead.
17. Running your generator during quiet hours.
When following quiet hours you should consider the noise your generator makes. To avoid being loud during quiet hours, it is important to turn off your generator during this time. This allows others to have a better night sleep including yourself.
18. Not turning off your outside lights or not using your amber light.
It can be rude to others to leave your outside lights on or not use your amber light instead, especially if the campsites are very close to one another. The light can be beaming into your neighbors tent or window which can be annoying to some when they are trying to sleep. It is best to just use your amber light or turn them off before you go to bed.
19. If the shades are closed, don’t knock.
When you see the shades down or close it is most likely because they want some privacy. Don’t knock, and if you do and there is no answer, don’t continue to knock over and over again!
20. Make sure you have no leaky hoses for your tanks. No one wants to smell those odors!
Trust me! The smell of a black tank hose is not pleasant at all! It is important to make sure that all of your hoses, especially your black water hoses have no leaks. This includes inspecting your tanks as well for leaks. I know some things are just out of our hands but if you do see a new leak that happened during your trip, fix it right away.
WHAT IS PROPER CAMPING ETIQUETTE?
Whether you are camping at a local campground, national forest, state park, or a national park, you should always remember to check out the rules and follow them. Camping etiquette is common sense things for the experienced campers but for new campers it can be a learning curve. For this reason you can find a detailed camping guide that goes over all of the camping etiquettes for campers below.
WHY YOU SHOULD FOLLOW PROPER CAMPING ETIQUETTE AT CAMPGROUNDS
By following these camping etiquettes, you are helping create a safe, positive, and happy atmosphere for everyone in the campground, especially your camp neighbors. Take full advantage of your camping trip and make it a fun one by making new friends, doing new things, and enjoying what the campground has to offer.
BASIC CAMPING TIPS FOR CAMPERS
If you are looking for more basic camping tips then here are some other blog posts that you might find useful.
- Best Tips for Camping When Pregnant
- Camping with Kids Packing Guide
- Camp Kitchen Essentials and Organization Tips
- Tips to Entertain Your Kids During Camping Trips
- 7 Tips for Sleeping in a Tent
- 10 Must Haves When Camping with Kids
RECAP OF HOW NOT TO BE A RUDE AND ANNOYING CAMPER
It’s pretty simple really. As long as your are mindful of others and your surroundings, you’re pretty much set. Just keep your area clean, don’t throw trash, be mindful of your pets, children, and other items and you will be on the right path to a happy camping trip with happy neighbors.
2 Responses
Great Tips!
Thank you!