*All photos are protected by copyright and the property of Briana Nickas unless they are stock photos or otherwise noted.

After driving for hours to reach a destination, going through the hassle of getting the RV set up, and finally settling in for a nice campfire, the last thing RVers want to deal with is an inconsiderate or downright rude RV neighbor.

That’s where RV park etiquette comes in. When you stay in an RV park, you’re bound to have RV neighbors. Things can get pretty tight at times with neighboring slides practically touching and little to no privacy.

So it helps when all RVers do their part to allow everyone to enjoy their time at the RV park. Unfortunately, it seems like there’s always at least one RVer that’s completely oblivious of all their RV neighbors (or just doesn’t give a *bleep*).

Don’t be that RVer.

Use your manners. By having RV Park Etiquette with the following 10 Tips on How To Be a Good RV Neighbor, you’ll be well liked by your fellow RVers. Hey, you could even make some new BFFs!

10 Tips for Good RV Park Etiquette

RV park etiquette really just comes down to being respectful and considerate of your RV neighbors. And while you’re at it, why not be friendly too?

It’s as simple as taking a moment to think of your fellow RVers and following the Golden Rule: treat them how you want to be treated.

RV parks will have their own set of rules that you’ll need to follow. In addition, these are some basic guidelines to follow for good RV park etiquette.

1. Give new RV neighbors some space

When a new RV neighbor is pulling or backing into their site, give them some space and time to get set up. That especially goes for back-in sites.

Backing into an RV site can be challenging and stressful. RVers tend to be super friendly and helpful. So you may want to offer to help or give advice.

But rather than rushing over and giving well-intentioned yet unsolicited advice, don’t offer to help someone back in unless they ask. 

Perhaps they’re trying to figure it out on their own or they already know how to do it and are just trying to get everything lined up.

Either way, give them a chance to do it on their own. And be willing to help if and when they ask.

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You should also give space to RV neighbors who are hooking up to head out. RVers have their own methods for getting packed up. 

If you start chatting it up with them while they’re in the middle of their process, they could get distracted and miss a step. 

They could also be trying to get on the road by a certain time, and you don’t want to hold them up. A friendly wave as your fellow RV neighbors head out does the trick.

2. Don’t walk through other people’s RV sites

This is one of my BIGGEST pet peeves at RV parks. When I’m sitting outside or in my RV, I don’t want to see a stranger walking through my site. 

Even if we’re not there, our dog may be in our RV while we’re out exploring. And she’ll go crazy if she sees someone right outside our RV. This could cause her to potentially herself or, at the very least, annoy our other RV neighbors with her barking.

When someone is staying in a campsite, it becomes their temporary property. So treat other people’s sites like private property, and don’t trespass. Respect each other’s space. 

If the bathroom, dumpster, clubhouse, pool, or playground is between your site and someone else’s, don’t cut through their site. Don’t be lazy, go around. Walking a few extra feet will go a long way in being a good RV neighbor.

3. Don’t be loud (respect Quiet Hours)

RV parks have quiet hours for a reason. Some people might be RVing for vacation and getting together with friends to live it up.

But other people are trying to have a peaceful, relaxing time. Or there are full-time RVers and families with children who want to go to sleep at a decent time. 

Follow the RV park’s quiet hours, and be considerate of your RV neighbors within earshot. They don’t want to hear your music or your outdoor TV, especially late at night.

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4. Be a responsible parent

Kids just want to have fun. But it’s the parents’ responsibility to make sure their children understand the campground rules and are respectful of other RV campers.

Share these guidelines with your kids and make sure they use proper RV etiquette too. Keep an eye on them. 

And don’t let them cut through other people’s sites, run around screaming, or ride their bikes in the middle of the street.

5. Be a responsible pet parent

Pets need responsible parents too. So when you have your dog at an RV park, be sure to follow proper RV park etiquette with these rules:

Keep your dog on a leash at all times.

This includes at your site. Someone could be walking by your site and not want to be ambushed by your dog running up and jumping on them, even if your dog is friendly. 

Or they could have their own dog with them. Even if your dog does well with other dogs, another dog might not react as well. 

For example, our small dog gets super defensive when larger dogs stand over her. She’ll go into attack mode to protect herself even if the other dog doesn’t mean her any harm.

Nobody wants their dog to get in a brawl with another dog. And people don’t like having random dogs jump on them.

Don’t leave your dog unattended outside.

Even if your dog is leashed up or contained in a crate or play pen and loves being outdoors, don’t leave them alone outside (especially if you’re not there). 

They could get hot and need water or shade. They could bark incessantly or try to get out and hurt themselves. It’s just not good parenting and most RV parks won’t allow it anyway.

Pick up after your dog.

This goes for in the dog park too. I’ve seen RVers chatting it up, not paying attention to their dogs dropping a deuce in the dog park. Nobody wants to step in that. 

Keep an eye on your dog. And make sure you pick up after them whether you’re in the dog park, walking around the RV park, or at your campsite.

6. Be responsible with your campfires

Campfires are one of the best things about RVing (IMO). But with more and more wildfires destroying nature, homes, and lives, it’s important to be responsible with wood fires.

If you have a campfire, don’t leave it unattended. And make sure the fire is completely out before you retire for the night. 

We usually pour water on our campfires to be sure. We would absolutely be devastated if our fire started a wildfire or fire in the RV park.

If you don’t want the responsibility of a wood campfire, go with a propane fire instead.

7. Keep the RV park restrooms clean

RV parks typically have someone clean their restrooms several times through the day. But do your part to keep the restrooms as clean as possible between the official cleanings.

Ladies, please don’t leave your hair all over showers or sinks… ew.

Fellas, please wipe up any overspray. 

Treat the camp restrooms like they’re at your mom’s house.

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8. Don’t smoke near campsites

Even though your RV is your own personal space, smoking affects everyone around you. I absolutely despise smoke and don’t want to have to smell it when I’m RVing.

We recently stayed at an RV park on a river with sites crammed in together barely a few feet apart. And a guy two RVs down from us kept smoking a cigar. Talk about bad RV park etiquette!

There were three separate times we tried to sit outside to enjoy the river and had to go back inside our RV to avoid the smoke. It was extremely frustrating, annoying, infuriating, disappointing, all of the above.

Before you light up, please use RV park etiquette and consider the following:

• Is your RV neighbor sitting or eating outside? 
• Do any nearby RVs have their windows or doors open?
• Are children nearby? 
• Could there be any pregnant women in the area?
• Which direction is the wind blowing?

One of your RV neighbors could be trying to get pregnant or have a medical condition. Personally, I have asthma and smoke can bring it on. Or there could be kids around. 

Basically, other RVers don’t want to inhale second-hand smoke. They want to be out in nature taking in fresh air. So be considerate of others. Don’t smoke at your site or walk around the RV park while smoking. 

That goes for cigarettes, cigars, and vaping. If you need to smoke, please take a walk far away from all campsites.

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9. Be courteous with your black tank

Your RV neighbors don’t want to smell your waste, especially when they’re sitting outside enjoying a meal at the picnic table right next to your sewer hookup.

Be conscious of your RV neighbors. Don’t leave the black tank open. And try to only empty your tanks when your RV neighbors aren’t outside.

If you can’t wait to empty your black tank and your RV neighbors are right by it, at least give them a heads-up first. That’s good RV park etiquette.

10. Keep a tidy campsite

Take pride in your campsite and keep it tidy when you’re staying at an RV campground. 

Most RV parks won’t let you hang your laundry out to dry. That’s because they don’t want their sites to look cluttered and unkept.

Also, don’t leave trash out, even if you intend to throw it away eventually. There could be bears in the area that would love to get a hold of leftover food.

And don’t leave trash behind for the next person to have to dispose of. When you get to a campsite, you don’t want to have to clean up other people’s trash.

Well, neither does the next person who comes after you. Leave the campsite as clean as you found it.

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Wrapping Up Good RV Park Etiquette

RV park etiquette comes down to basic manners. Always keep the Golden Rule in mind and treat your RV neighbors how you would want to be treated. If something would annoy you, it will annoy someone else too.

Enjoy yourself, but be considerate so your RV neighbors can enjoy their time at the RV park too. Think about your fellow RVers before you turn your music up or walk through an RV site.

Taking an extra moment to consider how something will affect other RVers will go a long way. They’ll appreciate your thoughtfulness just as you’ll appreciate theirs when they follow these suggestions too.

Let’s all make each other’s RVing experiences as best as possible!

What’s your biggest RV park etiquette pet peeve when you stay at an RV park? Share it in the comments below. I’m dying to hear!

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