FYI Campground etiquette

[Tjdave]

A few, of many, things my father taught me. If it's not yours, don't touch it. If you want something, work hard for it. If you tell someone your are going to be somewhere at a certain time, be there. Don't cut through other people's campsites.
If some kids or adults cut through mine, I never say anything. They probably didn't have as great of dad as I did.

 

[AbdRahim]

Lights are a thing too. I have LED lights all over from under slide, under glow (underneath coach) and I rarely use them now. I'm annoyed by it now (I'm old and cranky) so I rarely use mine anymore. At my current location it comes to my attention who is lit up...

Man, those have been on my to do list since the beginning. I love the lights. Cranky, sometimes old, no way. Still want the lights.

 

[Joe Hogan]

Typically when traveling solo I am up and out close to dawn. I will close up as much as possible the night before departure. The only thing I might leave is a power cord to 50 amp to use to close up the bedroom slide. Main slide closed the night before.
a quick walk around and then power up and go.
If we leave after breakfast noise is typically not an issue. We head to check out, load toad and go.
when camping we are typically inside after dinner and relatively qulet.
also, we try very hard to arrive before dinner at any campsite.

 

[Rosy]

Typically when traveling solo I am up and out close to dawn. I will close up as much as possible the night before departure. The only thing I might leave is a power cord to 50 amp to use to close up the bedroom slide. Main slide closed the night before.
a quick walk around and then power up and go.
If we leave after breakfast noise is typically not an issue. We head to check out, load toad and go.
when camping we are typically inside after dinner and relatively qulet.
also, we try very hard to arrive before dinner at any campsite.

People who arrive late don't necessarily bother me. I know how tough it is to get everything and everyone loaded up and hit the road and sometimes stuff just goes wrong while you're on your way. However, the people who arrive the latest always seem intent on packing all their fun into the first evening. It's full dark and after quiet hours and the kids are riding bikes and the adults are chopping wood and getting drunk with their 20 closest friends around the fire, etc.

 

[Neal]

People that arrive early, bother me. Check-in at 1 PM and they arrive at 11'ish thinking that's acceptable. Nope, etiquette again - follow the check-in and out times. Today I have a 3 PM check-in at a KOA, good thing I looked. I had hoped to get there at 1 so I can get some work done but I'll work prior to leaving.

 

[Jim]

People that arrive early, bother me. Check-in at 1 PM and they arrive at 11'ish thinking that's acceptable. Nope, etiquette again - follow the check-in and out times. Today I have a 3 PM check-in at a KOA, good thing I looked. I had hoped to get there at 1 so I can get some work done but I'll work prior to leaving.

This is one of our biggest problems here at the park! Check out is 11:00am and Check in is 1:00pm. That only gives us 2 hours to mow the lawn, clean the refrigerators and counters, etc. If there is only 1 site to prep, then no problem. But if 4-5 people leave, and I've got 4-5 coming in, things can get pretty hectic.

Guests don't understand the effort that goes into getting things ready for them, and when someone leaves late, and then someone comes in early, we are in trouble.

 

[Rosy]

People that arrive early, bother me. Check-in at 1 PM and they arrive at 11'ish thinking that's acceptable. Nope, etiquette again - follow the check-in and out times. Today I have a 3 PM check-in at a KOA, good thing I looked. I had hoped to get there at 1 so I can get some work done but I'll work prior to leaving.

I don't understand why the campgrounds around here have check out at 11 AM and check in not until 2 PM given that nothing is done in that time. It's not like the staff go around and clean up the sites or anything like that, at least at the campgrounds we go to in the Canadian national parks (obviously may be different for other campgrounds). If you're switching sites in the middle of your stay, it's totally fine to leave your original site at 11 and drive directly to your new site (assuming the previous occupants are out) but it's not ok to come in at 11 if it's your first night staying there. Why not? What difference does it make? Or is it just that the staff need a 3 hour lunch break?

 

[Boat Bum]

I appreciate it, I really do, but if I tell you I'm fine please stop trying to "help."

This was a problem with boating as well, when docking. Well intentioned people trying to help you when you don't need or want it. They do not know what your intentions are and concerns you carry when docking your craft.

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

Lights are a thing too. I have LED lights all over from under slide, under glow (underneath coach) and I rarely use them now. I'm annoyed by it now (I'm old and cranky) so I rarely use mine anymore. At my current location it comes to my attention who is lit up...

Thank you! I appreciate you not turning on your outside lights. We frequently go to a park in Big Bend National Park that states in their rules "We are a dark skies park, please do not have any outside lights on after dusk". There are always 3 or 4 lit up like it's New Year's Eve.

This is one of our biggest problems here at the park! Check out is 11:00am and Check in is 1:00pm. That only gives us 2 hours to mow the lawn, clean the refrigerators and counters, etc. If there is only 1 site to prep, then no problem. But if 4-5 people leave, and I've got 4-5 coming in, things can get pretty hectic.

Guests don't understand the effort that goes into getting things ready for them, and when someone leaves late, and then someone comes in early, we are in trouble.

I've seen how quickly Trish gets everything ready for the next guest while you're walking around looking like you don't know what to do next. I told you when we were there you need a better inventory system for the liquor cabinet.

 

[Jim]

I've seen how quickly Trish gets everything ready for the next guest while you're walking around looking like you don't know what to do next. I told you when we were there you need a better inventory system for the liquor cabinet.

Why do I need an inventory system for something that is always empty???

 

[Jim]

I don't understand why the campgrounds around here have check out at 11 AM and check in not until 2 PM given that nothing is done in that time.

I can't speak for the campground that you're referencing, but at our park, we only have one way in, and one way out. So a good part of getting the rigs in/out safely, is making sure there is adequate time for the late leavers to get out before the early arrivers try to get in! We don't want a bottle neck at the gate.

Believe me, it can be quite problematic when a 45' King Aire pulling a 35' toy hauler meets someone coming in, especially if no one can back up!

 

[MFJ]

Well I got one, but mainly for campground owners.

Banning wood is not an uncommon practice, and I get why they do it. Usually they limit it to wood obtained from outside a certain region, but sometimes they limit any outside wood whatsoever. Okay, I get it. You don't want your trees to get infected, I can respect the value of a tree.

BUT...if you're going to make my buy wood from the campground, two things. 1) Don't make the wood absurdly expensive and 2) maybe make sure your wood is actually dry and ready to be used? I was just at a campground which had this issue and it took me awhile to get their wood to burn, whereas the stuff I usually bring myself lights up in an instant.

 

[Jim]

Well I got one, but mainly for campground owners.

Banning wood is not an uncommon practice, and I get why they do it. Usually they limit it to wood obtained from outside a certain region, but sometimes they limit any outside wood whatsoever. Okay, I get it. You don't want your trees to get infected, I can respect the value of a tree.

I think I'm the only "campground owner" on the forum?

I don't know if the threat to their trees is valid or if they just want to sell you firewood. But I will toss out this shameless act of self promotion and say that here at Deer Springs RV Park, we don't care if you bring your own firewood or not. If you decide to purchase ours, it's dry and it's only $20.00 for all you can burn for the length of your stay.

And to help you feel good about your purchase, we donate the proceeds to the local school lunch program and the local humane society. Got to give back a little every now and then, right?

 

[Bigblockyeti]

If you decide to purchase ours, it's dry and it's only $20.00 for all you can burn for the length of your stay.

I can understand why you cater to a more mature crowd, this could be viewed as a challenge to some, certainly myself in my younger years.

 

[sheridany]

Let me ask a question since we are discussing camp fire and camp etiquette. Why is that every time I go to a park that has a strict rule that says no fires at the camp site that people disregard the rule and burn a fire. Typically they have a “community” fire pit. I don’t get it. Can’t tell you how many times I have had this experience but enough to make me swear not to patronize some chains.

 

[Rosy]

Let me ask a question since we are discussing camp fire and camp etiquette. Why is that every time I go to a park that has a strict rule that says no fires at the camp site that people disregard the rule and burn a fire. Typically they have a “community” fire pit. I don’t get it. Can’t tell you how many times I have had this experience but enough to make me swear not to patronize some chains.

Do you mean like there's a fire ban when you go? If there's a permanent rule of no fires, where would people make a fire?

 

[sheridany]

Do you mean like there's a fire ban when you go? If there's a permanent rule of no fires, where would people make a fire?

Yes. The park has a rule that says no fires at the camp site yet people bring portable fire pits and wood and burn away.

 

[Wemustrv]

I can't stand the people who need to use an impact wrench to put their jacks down. Is grabbing the wrench and doing it by hand really such a hardship?

Yes it could be for an elderly camper or someone with physical restrictions

 

[Wemustrv]

Even if it saved thirty seconds per Jack, it’s not worth it. It might take me thirty seconds per Jack right now, and I don’t have to haul a drill with me when we camp or travel. It’s just unnecessary weight and is something else to keep charged.

Then again, I also start campfires without using any sort of accelerant or paper. I do prefer non-mechanized things when possible.

And no, I’m not horrible with a drill, I’m just fast without it.

Now there is a good one to bring up, starting a fire with an accelerant. I have never seen the need for that at all. Also why when an individual does use an accelerant why do they have to put on an extreme amount? then it seems they have to keep feeding the fire with it. Sorry for the rant

 

[Jim]

I can understand why you cater to a more mature crowd, this could be viewed as a challenge to some, certainly myself in my younger years.

Yeah, my group isn't up late enough to need much of a fire.