Written by Sam from ammo.com When you make a reservation at an RV campground, there are usually pages of written rules that you need to follow. These include everything from quiet hours, where your dog can (and cannot) go, and reminders not to do something unsanitary like put your sewer hose on the picnic tables or rinse it with the fresh water spigot.  But these rules usually just cover the basics of RV etiquette. If you want to be a good RV camper, you need to follow these unwritten rules too.

Turn Off LED Strips at Night

Not everyone has blackout blinds in their RVs, and your bright LEDs can make it hard for them to sleep. If you want to have outdoor lights on all night for some reason, then get ones that have a dimmable red light option. The red light isn’t as bright or hard on the eyes. 

Don’t Fly Political Flags 

Politics has entered almost every aspect of our daily lives, and a lot of people go RVing specifically to escape this. So, while it is perfectly within your First Amendment rights to fly a political flag, it is bad etiquette.  Etiquette aside, flying political flags or ones that have been politicized—like a Pride flag or the Fort Moultrie flag in the South—could open your rig up to vandalization.  If you want to fly a flag, stick to the Stars and Stripes, state flags, holiday flags, or other non-political flags. 

Trash Bags Are Meant for Dumpsters 

Trash bags are ugly to look at, can stink up the camp, and can be a hazard if they attract wild animals. The moment your trash bags are full, take them to the dumpster. Don’t leave them outside until you happen to be walking that direction. 

Be Mindful Of Your Headlights 

Turning on your vehicle at night is sometimes necessary, but your powerful headlights can easily become a nuisance if they shine a blast of bright light into neighboring windows, startling or waking them. Be a good RV neighbor and be mindful of where your headlights are pointed. If possible, dim your lights or use parking lights when maneuvering around the site at night. Small gestures like angling your vehicle away from other RVs can go a long way in ensuring everyone gets an undisturbed night’s rest.

No Tank Dumps During Mealtimes  

When done properly, emptying an RV black tank shouldn’t stink (much). But it is still bad etiquette to empty the tank when your neighbors are outside cooking or eating. They don’t want to smell that or see that when food is involved! 

Give Privacy during Arrival and Setup

While it can be tempting to sit in your campsite and watch the new arrivals back in and set up, remember that this can make others feel self-conscious. Being watched is especially intimidating for newbies to RVing, but even seasoned RVers don’t like having an audience. So, resist the urge to observe and respectfully give your neighbors some privacy. 

Hold Back on “Helpful” Tips

What’s worse than watching your neighbors as they set up? Going over to offer advice.  Yes, you may know how to do it better, but a lot of newbie RVers want to figure it out themselves. If they really seem to be struggling (and we mean really struggling), then you can maybe call out an unobtrusive, “Hi there!  I’m just hanging out and have some free time. Let me know if I can help with anything.”

Quiet Time Includes Slamming Doors 

Even the RVers who know better than to play music or talk loudly during quiet hours can forget about their doors. It’s especially annoying when your neighbors are packing up at five in the morning.  If you have to leave this early, either leave the doors open while you do it, or pack items efficiently so you don’t have to constantly open/close doors.

Don’t Interrupt During Setup or Takedown

It is good etiquette to go over and introduce yourself to the neighbors, especially when staying long-term at RV campgrounds. However, there is a time to make the introduction–and it’s not during setup. When RVers arrive, they are often tired and want to get everything up as quickly as possible. So, wait until they are finished and have had a moment to relax before you stop by their site. Likewise, don’t say goodbye while they are tearing down. A lot of RVers have a strict protocol for tearing down. If you come over, it could throw off their rhythm and cause them to forget something.