Campground Etiquette

[CajunCamper]

I began camping as a kid with my friends and family some 35 plus years ago in a canvas pup tent then moving up to a canvas cabin tent. The tents were heavy, bulky and had an odor that many of you will remember. We had a Coleman lantern, a Coleman stove and cotton sleeping bags with a canvas exterier. We had a few pots and pans as well as our tin cups, plates and utensils. We also had a green metal ice chest that completed our assortment of camping equipment. This stuff took up a lot of room and was a chore to lug around and set up, but it was all worth it just to get a chance to sleep out under the stars in the woods or near a favorite lake for the weekend or even a quick overnighter. Most of our camping took place on private property owned mostly by friends of the family, or by getting permission from the property owner. To be sure we could return to those spots we always made sure we cleaned up after ourselves and gave no reason for the landowner to regret allowing us to camp on his or her property.

I do remember my first camping trip to a public campground, it was Percy Quinn State Park in McComb Mississippi. Everyone there was camping in a tent, there were no RV's at all in the entire campground. It was as quiet as it was beautiful. It was my first time being around so many people camping in my entire life. With the exception of my family and the family that was camping with us, everybody else was strangers.
Kids were playing and having fun, people were canoeing and fishing and hiking, it was a wonderful place to experience. The poeple that were there truly loved the outdoors and the peace that it had to offer. There was sort of an unspoken etiquette among the campers to preserve the peacfulness of the outdoors and to be mindful of the others in the campground.

Today, with the design and production of the new generation of RV's and camping equipment, it has introduced a whole new group of people to camping, that would have never considered camping with the limited equipment we started with. Many, not all, but many of these folks don't really seem to care much for the outdoors and it's tranquillity that many of us are in search of. Their campsites resemble more of a tailgate party than a camping trip and that's okay, just don't forget to be mindful of the others camping near you.

This past weekend, we went to a state park about 3 hours from our home, in which our five nearest camping neighbors were camping in a variety of equipment. (1) tent, (3) pop-ups (4 including us) and one travel trailer. These were the quietest sites in the whole campground. The rest were Fifth Wheels, travel trailers and Motor Homes. Most of which had, spotlights, that's right spotlights set up on their sites, with music playing louder than it needed to be, with lots of partying and loud talk late into the night.

I don't blame these people, they probably aren't even aware that they are ruinning it for the rest of us. They've never been taught the joy and the art of camping much less the etiquette that needs to be practiced while in a campground. Based on their behavior, everything they know of camping was learned at a tailgate party outside the stadium of their favorite team. There is a huge difference between camping and tailgating and those that don't know the difference need to be made aware of the difference.

I know it's hard to enforce etiquette and common courtesy, but I would certainly be in favor of a noise free, excessive lighting free area in campgrounds. Let the tailgaters have their fun in their area and let those of us who enjoy the peacefullness of the outdoors have our area. It wouldn't be that hard to do, just like a smoking and non-smoking section in a restaurant, or a non-smoking room in a hotel. This should make everyone happy.  Campgrounds could event advertise that they have a noise free area, excessive lighting free zone in their campground. This could work for everyone.

What do you think?

CajunCamper

[Jofabietz]

NORTH AND SOUTH UNITED AGAIN!!!!!
Could not agree more,but to make a point we usually ignore the drunks and late night arrivals.Smile more than we should,give whatever they ask,(sometimes more).And, if ever the subject of why should come up,I try and fill them in on who makes me this way.

[Weber Grill]

I agree!

Just this past weekend we spent 2 nights at Lake Perris, just wanted something close, it was just our second trip in the new pup.

My personal feeling, all music should be banned, period, no matter what kind of music. The noise carries so far in the open. I don't want to hear music, I want to hear nature (crickets, birds, frogs, etc.) If I want to hear music, I will go to a bar.

Keep control of your kids also, I have 2 kids myself so I have a right to say people don't teach their kids common manners and courtsey any more. (of course once you see the parents, you know why the kids have no manners)

I think that would be a good idea, split up the camp ground in a way so you have all the 'noise' on one side, and 'campers' on the other!

[cobbs1]

I agree that a lot of people do not understand the "peace and quiet" aspect.  Funny thing happened to us, though, on Memorial Day weekend. We got there a day ealier than most people.  We watched 2 or 3 crowds come in and we looked at each other and said "oh boy, here come the partiers and late nighters".  To our shock, at 9pm, all was dark and quiet around their campsites.  Never judge a book by it's cover!

I guess the biggest problem we've had was with people driving to the bathroom at 5 and 6 am.  I wish they would just walk.  Well, the driving, and the dad who did nothing but scream at his kids.  That was awful.

[SpeakEasy]

Have you ever noticed that there is quite often only ONE loud group in a campground? You know - the one whose voice you can hear from fifteen sites away? The one whose kids are always bellowing? The one who has his cd-player going at full blast all the time? It's often just a single campsite that produces all the noise.

Of course, in campground, it only takes one to completely eliminate the peace and quiet.

-Speak

[dthurk]

Letchworth SP in NY bans boomboxes and radios.  No music allowed.  It was pretty much adhered to.  What we saw there harkens to "the old days".  Nice people, respectful.  People enjoying nature, kids playing in the fields, etc.  The Rangers seem to have a fairly tight control of the campground, at least from what we experienced over Memorial Day weekend.  Letchworth and Pohick Bay SP in VA have been the tightest controlled parks we've encountered to date.

[ILUVTHEBEACH]

We don't resemble any of these campers but we have 2 sets of friends that do.  Both groups likes to stay up late, drink, play loud music and have a fire blazing all night long.  They have no idea what quiet time means nor do they like to abide by it.  Everytime we go camping with them, I cringe and tell the DH I NEVER want to with them again. They ruin the expierence.

[wavery]

My experience has been that no one wants to confront people that are noisy. If no one says anything, the noisey people think that it's OK and they aren't bothering anyone.

If someone is bothering me (especially late at night), I go over and politely let them know that they are bothering me and/or others. I've always had a positive outcome. If I'm polite, they respond politely and apologetically.

I had an experience, about 2 months ago, where some guy in a large RV was entertaining (he thought) the entire campground with his (country) music in the middle of the afternoon. We had a site on the edge of a large circle with sites all around. Every one of the people camped in those sites were grumbling and shouting across the campground at this guy. However, they knew that he couldn't hear them.

I finally got tired of all of the grumbling and shouting. I went over and politely told the guy that he was disturbing the campground and that people were shouting at him and they were disturbing as well. He apologized and turned his outside speakers off and went inside.

I have found that most campers are really nice people and intend no harm to others. I feel that if someone is disturbing our peace, the onus is on us to let them know. If no one tells them that it's not OK to do that, they think that it is OK.

The other option is to go to the ranger. The problem with that is, it usually upsets the offenders because they feel like someone has tattled on them. That can have mixed results. Often times, the ranger doesn't come right away to address the issue and the offenders are quiet when they get there. There response is then, "We weren't bothering anyone" and they really feel that way because no one said anything to them.

I manage an apartment complex. When I first started working here, I would get people coming to me and complaining about their noisy neighbors. When I would go to their neighbors, I would often get the same remarks, "It wasn't us" or "They're lying" and the tenants would be sworn enemies from that point on. Now, I tell people, "If your neighbor is bothering you, give them the courtesy of knocking on the door (while they are noisy) and let them know that they are bothering you. If they continue, then come and and get me WHILE THEY ARE BEING NOISY and I will confront them". I haven't had one noise complaint in over 5 years because of this policy.

[beacher]

Marina Del Rey
By: George Strait

We said good-bye in Marina Del Rey.

[SpeakEasy]

My experience has been that no one wants to confront people that are noisy. If no one says anything, the noisey people think that it's OK and they aren't bothering anyone.

If someone is bothering me (especially late at night), I go over and politely let them know that they are bothering me and/or others. I've always had a positive outcome. If I'm polite, they respond politely and apologetically.

I had an experience, about 2 months ago, where some guy in a large RV was entertaining (he thought) the entire campground with his (country) music in the middle of the afternoon. We had a site on the edge of a large circle with sites all around. Every one of the people camped in those sites were grumbling and shouting across the campground at this guy. However, they knew that he couldn't hear them.

I finally got tired of all of the grumbling and shouting. I went over and politely told the guy that he was disturbing the campground and that people were shouting at him and they were disturbing as well. He apologized and turned his outside speakers off and went inside.

I have found that most campers are really nice people and intend no harm to others. I feel that if someone is disturbing our peace, the onus is on us to let them know. If no one tells them that it's not OK to do that, they think that it is OK.

The other option is to go to the ranger. The problem with that is, it usually upsets the offenders because they feel like someone has tattled on them. That can have mixed results. Often times, the ranger doesn't come right away to address the issue and the offenders are quiet when they get there. There response is then, "We weren't bothering anyone" and they really feel that way because no one said anything to them.

I manage an apartment complex. When I first started working here, I would get people coming to me and complaining about their noisy neighbors. When I would go to their neighbors, I would often get the same remarks, "It wasn't us" or "They're lying" and the tenants would be sworn enemies from that point on. Now, I tell people, "If your neighbor is bothering you, give them the courtesy of knocking on the door (while they are noisy) and let them know that they are bothering you. If they continue, then come and and get me WHILE THEY ARE BEING NOISY and I will confront them". I haven't had one noise complaint in over 5 years because of this policy.

I agree with this, and have done this on several occasions. However, one time when I did this, I reported the whole thing to the rangers as I was checking out. They (the rangers) were VERY upset with me for "taking the matter into my own hands." I asked what the problem was, and they indicated that my "behavior" can lead to "problems." I guess they were afraid I'd get the other campers ticked off and get myself into trouble.

-Speak

[wavery]

I agree with this, and have done this on several occasions. However, one time when I did this, I reported the whole thing to the rangers as I was checking out. They (the rangers) were VERY upset with me for "taking the matter into my own hands." I asked what the problem was, and they indicated that my "behavior" can lead to "problems." I guess they were afraid I'd get the other campers ticked off and get myself into trouble.

-Speak

The rangers may have just been ticked off because they didn't get to go over and display their authority to the offender. I have found several rangers that are very eager to show you how important and powerful they are. I have little patience for that stuff.

If my neighbor offends me, I'll "Go to my neighbor" first. If that person seems unreasonable  :mad: (which I've never experienced), I will then go to the ranger and let him display his almighty power . That's just my feeling about it.

[merkong]

Well, here in MN we have a no alcohol policy in our State Parks and a typically very adhered to quiet time (10pm).  While by everyones admission, the booze deal is a don't act up and don't show your wares, don't get hassled, the no booze rule sure keeps the hard partiers out.  

The book and the cover theory also applies:  The fifth wheelers we were next to over Memorial weekend truly had a busy, tailgate type atmosphere going on all day.  Having fun.  It's daytime and I'm sure their travel coffee cups didn't have coffee in them.  No falling down or profanity, just a lot of fun it seemed they were having.  10pm - our fifth wheel friends were in the house out cold.  I never would have guessed it.  The next time you got partiers, buy 'em one, it might put them down early.

[SherryandFamily]

I will admit to being one of those loud campers after quiet time ONCE.
We had gone camping with friends, their 2 children and our 2 children.  The children were very difficult while we were getting set up and fixing dinner so we were all a little stressed.
I think they ranged from 4-9 at the time.  So, anyway when we did get them settled down and in bed it didn't seem as late as it really was.
We had a few adult beverages, started to relax and somehow everything seemed funny.  We were indeed laughing too loud, but truely didn't realize it until a nice gentleman came up to us, told us he had been elected by our neighbors to let us know that it was quiet time and they would appreciate it if we would quiet down.
We were all so upset!  We had no idea and would never had disturbed our fellow campers after quiet time if we had known 1) how late it was 2) how far our voices were carrying.
So...maybe give em a brake and give you neighbors a chance to quiet down is a good idea.
BTW- it never happened again!

[tlhdoc]

This past weekend I was camping at Assateague Island National Seashore.  Friday morning at 0545 the TT next to me fired up their generator.  They turned it off about 0600 and I figured their battery had gone dead and they needed some quick power and would charge their battery during the day.  Saturday morning the generator started at 0500, at 0505 I was knocking on the door asking the man if he knew that generators were not allowed to be run during quiet time.  He asked what time quiet time was.  He didn't have any idea that he was bothering anyone or that he wasn't supposed to run his generator during quiet time.  He was running the generator to make his morning coffee.  Sunday and Monday morning no generator waking me up.
 

[dthurk]

This past weekend I was camping at Assateague Island National Seashore.  Friday morning at 0545 the TT next to me fired up their generator.  They turned it off about 0600 and I figured their battery had gone dead and they needed some quick power and would charge their battery during the day.  Saturday morning the generator started at 0500, at 0505 I was knocking on the door asking the man if he knew that generators were not allowed to be run during quiet time.  He asked what time quiet time was.  He didn't have any idea that he was bothering anyone or that he wasn't supposed to run his generator during quiet time.  He was running the generator to make his morning coffee.  Sunday and Monday morning no generator waking me up.
 

Did you suggest he get an inverter?  Or a 12v coffeemaker?