After more than 20 years of camping experience, it’s fair to say that I’ve managed to wrap my head around camping etiquette.
And, good on you for taking these unwritten rules into account and thinking about the comfort of others. Additionally, thank you for taking the steps in becoming a better camper.
Firstly, it’s crucial to show respect for your campsite, fellow campers and the environment. I’m sure you don’t want to be that person that everyone else despises.
So, you’re taking the ethical steps to understand unspoken campsite guidelines for the benefit of yourself and others. However, keep in mind that the majority of these steps are basic common sense. Therefore, follow your intuition and do what feels right.
Without further adieu, continue reading this post to discover some of the best camping tips.
15 Tips to Camping Etiquette
- Keep Noise to a Minimum
Camping is the kind of holiday that people from all walks of life like to enjoy. Moreover, this goes for the young teens who like to party to the grey nomads who get up for a sunrise hike. Therefore, keeping noise to a minimum is crucial at all times.
With that being said, staying up late is fine as long as you don’t bother the surrounding campers. And keep in mind, curfew time is usually around 9 or 10 PM.
So, take the following camping tips into account regarding noise. Firstly, loud generators are what get most campers annoyed. Therefore, do your research before purchasing and find the quietest one or consider another form of power.
Secondly, teach your children to stay quiet during the hours of 9 PM and 8 AM. These tend to be the hours that the majority of people like downtime. Therefore, don’t let your children roam around the campground before 8 AM and avoid screaming or yelling of any kind. It’s not enjoyable to wake up to the sound of someone screaming, especially right beside your tent; Trust me, I’ve been there many a time!
Another campsite guideline is to consider all the noises you make; Including zipping your tent, closing your caravan door, loud shoes etc.
And finally, ah, the dreaded speakers. Unfortunately, not everyone enjoys your music, and many people like to camp to enjoy the sounds of nature. So, please keep your tunes down or better yet, bring a pair of headphones to enjoy full volume!
- Be Friendly to Your Fellow Campers
One of the best things about camping is the community and the people you meet. Therefore, a quick ‘good morning’ as you’re passing a fellow camper is a pleasant way to show kindness.
However, never invite yourself to someone’s campsite, and only visit if you’ve been told that you’re allowed. Also, avoid talking to other campers when they’re sitting down at mealtimes.
Finally, use common sense when it comes to conversing with strangers for basic camping etiquette.
- Don’t Feed the Wildlife
This camping tip goes without saying and is also not limited to camping. With that being said, never feed wildlife and never leave traces of food or food scraps unattended. The animals will rely on humans for food, and it creates unsafe barriers between them and humans.
Moreover, this also includes taking care of your rubbish bin. At the end of every day, try to empty your rubbish into the campgrounds bins, or take it inside your tent with you to avoid wildlife getting it. Otherwise, they will get into the garbage and carry waste everywhere.
- Never Walk through Another Campsite
Intruding on someone else’s privacy is never a good thing. It’s similar to someone walking through your backyard; The best thing is to not do it at all.
Also, teach your children to walk around campsites, as it’s really not ideal to be enjoying your afternoon with random children (or people) travelling through your site.
A simple camping etiquette tip like this goes a long way and ensures everyone in the campground feels comfortable.
- Use the Facilities Respectfully
While using any facilities at the campground, be sure to leave them clean and tidy for the following user. Moreover, this includes camp kitchens, outdoor barbeques, toilets and showers, and any other amenities.
Furthermore, a little step like this proves that you show respect for other people and the campground. Also, there’s no need to leave a huge mess behind, and fellow campers wouldn’t be pleased to come across clutter in the camp kitchen just as they’re about to start dinner.
Finally, while using the facilities, take note of the other campers in the area. Therefore, avoid smashing pots and pans loudly and reduce the volume of your conversations during shower times.
- Reduce Your Shower Time
The most popular showering time is usually in the morning or afternoon hours, from 3-5 PM. Typically, this is when people are back from the beach, hiking, fishing and is when everyone is winding down the day.
Therefore, consider taking a shower at another time during the day (this will ensure you avoid waiting in queues) or cut down on your time in the shower.
Also, having things like your soap and shampoos ready to go will make for a speedy shower so that others can get in and get clean too.
Finally, if there is a mop available, I would recommend taking a few moments to quickly mop down your shower to ensure any dirt or sand is gone and is clean for the next user.
Tip: Don’t splash water all over the clothing shelf. There is nothing more infuriating than when you have nowhere to put your clothes as the previous user has put water everywhere.
- Don’t Set up Camp Close to Others
While camping, there’s no need to be on top of each other. Therefore, consider setting up your site so that there’s plenty of room between you and the next person.
A simple action like this ensures privacy for both sides and offers a modest gesture of respect and camping etiquette.
- Ensure Pets Are under Control at All Times
Never allow your pet, like a dog, to roam; As this creates an uneasy and potentially unsafe environment for families and younger children.
Also, avoid bringing animals you don’t trust. There’s no point bringing an animal that gets anxious around young children or crowds of people. Be mindful of the animals barking and train it thoughtfully. It’s not unusual for a dog to be anxious, so take some time allowing it to get use to the new environment.
Additionally, always clean up dog litter. No one wants to step in dog poo! Finally, take the local laws into account; Don’t take your pet to places they aren’t allowed.
- Campfire Safety
Having a safe campfire in these gorgeous locations is vital for everyone’s safety. Therefore, take note of the current danger rating and never create a fire on a total fire ban day.
Moreover, ensure you know how to build a campfire before setting up one on your trip, as you wouldn’t want to get caught stranded without a decent source of heat, and it’s not fair to smoke out the entire park.
Also, never leave a campfire unattended; This could lead to a child getting injured, or it could potentially start a bushfire.
A few tips for setting up the perfect campfire:
-Start with dry sticks and slowly build it up to pieces of wood
-Never use green leaves or anything with moisture
-Always put a campfire out at night
- Don’t Leave Your Personal Belongings Lying Around
Simply put, never leave your personal belongings lying around. Also, this goes for not leaving clothes in the washing machine (just put a timer on your phone) and don’t leave your dishes to dry at the camp kitchen sink.
Additionally, pick up your stuff, and take it with you so that others can make use of the space. Also, always lock your valuables up. In the unlikely event, something may get stolen, as it unfortunately happens. So, don’t be that person with a stolen laptop, and lock it up safe!
- Drive Slowly through the Campground
There is no place for speeding in a campground, and while you mightn’t think that going 30km/h in a campground is fast, it is for the child learning to ride their bike.
So, take your foot off the accelerator, and take it easy driving through the campground. There’s no rush in getting to your campsite, and whatever it is that you need to do can wait.
Finally, this is a simple campsite guideline to assure the safety of everyone.
- Be Considerate of Your Lighting Equipment
It’s understandable to want to see where you’re going at night, but never shine your torch into the face of someone else as you’re walking around camp; It’s blinding and uncomfortable for the people around you. So, use your camping etiquette knowledge and keep that torch facing down.
Also, consider turning your outdoor lights off at night. No one wants the brightness of the sun burning through their tent at 1 AM. So, keep those outdoor lights off and ensure your fellow campers remain happy.
- Be Aware of Your Language
Another fundamental camping etiquette tip is to avoid swearing loudly and take responsibility for the language you use. Considering, more often than not, there are usually many children around.
Not to mention, parents aren’t the happiest people when they hear all kinds of swear words being used. Therefore, keep your voices low and be mindful of your conversations.
- Read the Campground Rules
For the most part, upon arrival at a campground, there is a set of rules handed to you on your site map. Take a moment to read through these rules to ensure you’re aware of how the campground works.
Usually, campgrounds tend to have similar rules, so once you’re familiar with the guidelines, it becomes an easier task.
However, there may be a few extra things you need to read like ‘Don’t drink the water from a certain tap’. Moreover, this ensures everyone understands what is going on and everything runs smoothly. It also means that no accidents happen and everyone stays safe!
- Leave the Campground Better than You Found It
Last but not least, I would recommend leaving the campground better than you found it.
Now, I’m not saying you have to go on a cleaning frenzy and clean everything up that isn’t yours. But, if you see a few pieces of litter floating around the campground, take a moment to pick it up and place in the correct bin, or take it with you and dispose of it thoughtfully.
A simple gesture like this shows your appreciation for the campground, and I can guarantee that park ranges or campground owners are happy to host guests like this.
Finally, when people continue to show respect for a place, it keeps it open and functioning. However, if people constantly litter an area, there’s likely to be restrictions or closures of sites.
Wrapping Up
In conclusion, there are many more camping etiquette tips that I could talk about. However, these are some of the most discussed and some of the most significant tips.
Furthermore, the best thing you can do is to take consideration into account for others. It isn’t hard to think about what someone may or may not appreciate.
So, before you do anything at a campsite, think if you’re okay with it done to you. And, I’m sure this will stop you in your tracks from doing the wrong thing.
What is another campsite guideline or another unwritten rule you consider critical? Have you discovered a new camp tip that you’ll take on board?
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