Zion National Park//Pat Williams "Cletch"

RVing used to be so simple. You plan for a road trip, you pack your rig, and you go. But in our post-pandemic nation, we’ll have an added layer of RV etiquette basics to consider when camping in national parks. Common neighborly courtesies like respecting campsite boundaries and minimizing generator noise are still advisable. But now, all of us will have to go a step further to nurture neighborliness and reap the rewards of life after lockdown. As RV life ambassadors, here’s what we need to preach and practice from arrival to departure.

How to Minimize Your RV Footprint in the Campground

Coronavirus made all of us keenly aware of how one person’s behavior impacts an entire community. As we shed the shackles of confinement and hit the road, respect for other campers’ outdoor experiences is more important than ever. America’s travel industry experts predict that the post-pandemic domestic travel market will rebound long before international globetrotting does and as a result, thousands of antsy Americans will discover the joys of RVing. In a National Park System that’s already burdened by overcrowding, these RV etiquette tips can make everyone’s experience much better.

Campground Courtesies 101: The Top Three Bad Camping Behaviors

Before we take a deep dive into campground conduct, let’s review the top three infractions many of us might inflict on others:

• Speeding in the campground. Some vacationing campers have a hard time remembering to lighten up on the gas pedal. All of us can ease into relaxation mode by obeying posted campground speed limits. Going slower minimizes noise, decreases road dust, and lowers the risk of tragic collisions with wildlife and people.
• Letting unsupervised kids run amok. Watching children explore their wild side in a natural setting creates a lifetime of fond family memories. But campground neighbors don’t always want to be part of that together time. Teach kids boundaries by explaining that each person’s campsite is their own “house” and cutting through yards is not allowed. While you’re at it, you may need to educate some lazy adults, too.
• Being bad pet parents. National parks have strict pet rules for a reason. Their un-scooped poop pollutes and their noise disturbs wildlife—as well as your neighbors. Pick up pet waste and use a non-retractable, flat leash on walks to set a good example for all pet parents. And don’t forget that while pets love to play outdoors, nature isn’t always kind to them. Cats and dogs of all sizes are easy prey for fierce critters on the hunt for dinner, so don’t leave your fur kid unattended outside of your RV, even in an exercise pen.

Lone Rock Campground at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area/Colleen Martel

Go Beyond Basic RV Etiquette in National Parks

Let’s be honest: the vast majority of RVs in national parks take up a lot of space and seem out of place. Those tall boxy homes emblazoned with names like “Attitude,” “Intruder,” and “Vengeance,” don’t exactly give non-RVers a great impression of the lifestyle we love. Here’s how you can keep a low profile and considerately use RV amenities around campground neighbors who might be leery when they see your rig pulling into the campground.

Create a cone of silence at your campsite.

RVs create a comfortable camping experience for anyone lucky enough to travel in one. From surround sound stereo systems to outdoor kitchens and patio bars, even the smallest RVs are loaded with creature comforts that make Edward Abbey roll over in the grave. Unfortunately, RVs don’t come with residential grade insulation to contain the noise generated by those amenities. Other campers probably don’t enjoy the same kind of music or movies that you do, so creating a zone of silence around the campsite is a simple gesture any RVer can make. For example: 

• Wear wireless headphones. Turn them on when cranking your favorite music or watching movies on the patio, especially at night.
• Minimize generator use. National park campground generator rules often allow for a few hours of morning and evening use. But just because we’ve got the green light to fire it up, doesn’t mean we can set it and forget it. When your RV batteries are fully charged, turn it off to give your neighbors a break from the din.
• Party respectfully. Friends, food, and beverages are some of the key ingredients to a good time around the campfire. But when neighbors aren’t part of the celebration, keep voices low and call it a night when evening quiet time hours kick in.

Capitol Reef National Park/Heather Yandziak

Embrace dark skies.

Nobody goes to national parks to gaze up at light pollution. Dark skies are why many of us go camping in the first place, but RVs can impact darkness in several ways. From patio awnings with built-in LED strands, to motion detector security lights glaring into neighbors’ windows, these conveniences might help some RVers sleep better, but they annoy most other campers who choose to live without them. Here’s how you can avoid being that jerk:

• Take time after dark to see how your RV lighting impacts neighbors.
• If any of your patio lights are reflecting off neighbors’ sites, turn them off.
• Don’t forget to turn off your porch light when quiet hours kick in.
• Some people say that strands of LED lights placed under your rig will keep rodents away. The problem is there’s no proof that this trick works, so leave the extra lights at home.

Clean up at the dump station.

Few things are more disgusting than pulling into a park’s RV dump station left with smelly evidence of incompetent users. When you’re emptying holding tanks, practice the same level of sanitation procedures that you've been following during the coronavirus pandemic.

• Wear gloves. You’ll avoid cross-contamination during the dumping process.
• Be efficient. Don’t take any longer than you need to effectively empty your holding tanks without making a mess.
• Don’t leave a mess. Spray down the dump station hose connection basin with water, and leave it cleaner than you found it for other RVers.

Furnace Creek Campground at Death Valley National Park/Nicole Williams

Give campers space.

The essence of RV camping etiquette is remembering that our actions always affect another person’s experience of the national park. Giving neighbors enough physical and mental space not only helps them enjoy the park as they had hoped, but returns the favor to you. Here’s how to keep the kindness flowing:

• Avoid parking right next to other campers if additional spots are available. People want their elbow room so if other campsites are open, grab one that isn’t right next to another camper.
• Manage your campfire. Next to unsupervised kids and dogs, one of the biggest pet peeves of any camper is a lonely, smoldering fire pit. If you build a fire, keep a close watch and when you’re done, drown it out with enough water to snuff out any billowing smoke pouring into your neighbor’s spot.

When my husband and I were backpackers, we used to think of RVing as the lazy person’s camping choice. But eventually, we discovered the appeal of sleeping on a nice mattress in the wilderness and were hooked. Since we hit the road full-time in 2007, we’ve witnessed good and bad RV camping etiquette all over the country, most of it good. Those small acts of kindness influence so much more than our personal experience in the national parks—they make us happier people who want to return the favor. Paying that forward is the least we can do in a world that needs joy more than ever before.

This article was made possible by RVShare.com.