RV Rules of the Road

Cruising across the country in an RV, or setting up camp in a national park? There are rules of the road — and campsite. Know the written and unwritten RV and camping etiquette before heading out on your outdoorsy adventure.

Luckily, most campsite rules are written either on the location’s website or on a sign at park check-in. A few written rules include quiet time hours (when to stop running generators), where to dispose of trash and recycling, whether pets are allowed and if there is somewhere you can wash your RV.

For all the unwritten rules seasoned campers know, that’s where we come in:

Don’t Block the Road

Remember, everyone has traveled for miles and hours at a time and wants to park — be efficient while moving into the campsite. Don’t let your RV block the road for longer than is absolutely necessary while you make last-minute decisions or take pictures.

Don’t Spread Out

Sticking together with your fellow travelers and campers is essential. You don’t need as much space as you think, especially when meeting with fellow RVers and friends. Reserve campsites as close to your travel buddies as possible. This keeps the group together and makes it less likely to disturb other campers while navigating the campsite in the dark.

No Cutting

Speaking of not disturbing other campers, never cut through a section of someone you don’t know. Cutting through your neighbor’s campsite is not only inconsiderate, but it can lead to unnecessary tension in the camp. It’s often the No. 1 complaint online among campers. RV campers often have extension cords running through their site, random objects on the ground and a slew of items you could potentially trip on, break, disrupt and generally create enemies over. Just take the extra few steps and go around.