You have probably heard people talk about RV & campground etiquette before. In today’s minipod, I would also like to add some tips for good behavior while on the road.

RV Road Etiquette

I begin the discussion with etiquette when at a gas station. When you finish fueling up, move into a parking space so the next RVer can pull into the fuel lane. This is not always possible at a local gas station. That is why Sabrina and I like fueling up at Flying J’s. They typically have parking spaces for RVs that are large enough to pull into even with our tow car.

There is also some commonsense courtesy on the road, like don’t tailgate, especially since most of our RV’s cannot stop quickly. In addition, don’t own the road and fight with people who want to merge into your lane. Lastly, always drive at a safe speed. I typically drive around 62 miles an hour on the highway, maybe 65 when not towing our car. We generally are not in that big of a rush and feel the RV handles and receives the best fuel mileage at these speeds.

Overtaking

Overtaking other vehicles is another area where etiquette is essential. You should only overtake another vehicle when you are confident that you can accomplish it without disrupting normal traffic flow. This is a tough one because sometimes we will go to pass someone, and they speed up just as we do. These are probably people with having an ego impediment to being passed. This comes back to the previous comment about letting people merge. If I notice someone trying to pass me on a one-lane highway, I will typically let off the gas to get them safely in front of me before the oncoming traffic starts to pop up again. One of my biggest pet peeves while driving is when one tractor-trailer tries to pass another and can’t, or the other truck won’t let them. This interrupts all of the traffic flow behind them for several miles.

RV Campground Etiquette

I will start with what I believe is the most important rule in the campground. Do not distract your neighbor while they are breaking down their campsite. This is the most critical time for an RVer to be focused. You don’t want this person distracted by your conversation and forgetting something like connecting safety chains to their tow car, forgetting to put their tow vehicle in neutral, or even simple things like forgetting some campground gear. If you enjoyed their company while they were your neighbor, wait until they finish packing up before saying your goodbyes.

Keep your noise levels down, especially during quiet hours. I like my music, but I am sure not everyone enjoys 90s alternative music as much as I do. At my campsite, I keep my music to a level only I can hear. I always think of when I was a shop supervisor. When one worker would turn up his radio, another would turn up his, and so on. Before you knew it, we had radio wars, and no one could hear anything but noise.

Other Camper’s Sites

Try to respect people’s space. Don’t walk through their site to get to the laundry or bathrooms. Walk around. The extra steps will do us all good. Even if they are not outside or at home, it is still good practice to go around. I know for us, Belle does not like when people get too close to our RV. She freaks out, and it takes her a while to settle back down again.

Keep an eye on your kids, and be sure you know they are not disturbing other campers by playing in their site or, worse yet, bouncing a tennis ball against their RV. This is not a random statement. It happened to us.

Keep an eye on your pet and keep them on a leash when on a walk. Not everyone likes dogs, and some people have a real fear of them. So do your best to keep yours under control and within six feet of you.

Campfires

Be sure to extinguish your campsite fire fully. This can be tough and is one of the reasons why we switched to a propane fire pit. I felt we spent as much time putting some of these campfires out as it did to get them started, if not longer.

Try and leave your campsite as nice as you found it. Yes, the campground will come around to clean up after you, but it’s not hard for us to clean up after ourselves. Additionally, don’t throw trash into the campfire. I am surprised by how often I see this done.

Follow all the campground rules. This is a sure way to enjoy your stay and avoid trouble. Almost all campgrounds will hand you a list of their rules when checking in. Sometimes these rules will be printed on their map. If everyone in the family follows these rules, you should have a smooth camping trip.

RV Etiquette at Overnight Parking Lots Like Walmart or Cracker Barrel

Parking lots can be very convenient stays for RVers. We certainly do not want to see them taken away, which some already have been. When planning to stay overnight in one of these parking lots, it’s always a good idea to call ahead and make sure it is ok and ask them where they would like you to park.

Don’t make it look like you are camping. This is just an overnight parking space. This means no slides out, no awning out, and don’t bring out your chairs. When parking in one of these retail spots, we try to blend in as best we can, not make it look like we are tailgating at a Sunday game.

Thank them for your stay by purchasing something from their store or restaurant. This is an easy way to repay them for the safe overnight spot they provided you with. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. I usually buy RV supplies like tank cleaner or a water filter when I stay at a Walmart. These are things we always need anyway.

Well, that is all of my tips for this minipod, but please do not hesitate to add some of your own in the comment section of our website or let us know on our socials, Beyond the Wheel Podcast Instagram and Beyond The Wheel Podcast Facebook page. We would love to hear from you!

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Take care and safe travels! We hope to see you practicing good RV etiquette when we meet on the road.

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