Becoming an RVer can be a baptism of fire: not only are you getting to grips with the ins and outs of your rig and the new rules of the road, but you’re also learning the etiquette that underpins the RV community. As an RVer, your number one job is to have fun, explore new places, meet new people, and make new friends. Nowhere offers a better opportunity to do that than the RV park, where family, senior, and solo RVers, from all over the county and from all walks of life, come together to relax and have fun. Fun, of course, means different things to different RVers. For some, fun is a sunrise hike; for others, it’s cooking with the family, or kicking back with friends. However you define fun, RV park etiquette helps ensure everyone gets to enjoy themselves and have a good time.
The rules and guidelines of RV park etiquette are often unwritten, so to help newbie RVers come up to speed on how to be a good RV citizen, we are sharing 8 RV Park etiquette dos and donts:
Full-time RVers may have children who have school the next day, others may have work, or people may merely want to get an early start the next day. For all the comforts a modern-day RV has, thick walls aren’t one of them, so after 10pm, the right thing to do is wind the party down.
At Riverbound our quiet hours are 10pm to 7am.
2. Don’t walk through occupied sites
If an Englishman’s home is his castle, an RVers site is his, even if for just a few nights. Walking through an occupied site without an invitation is like walking through someone’s yard; it’s an invasion of space. It’s best to be aware of the space your neighbor’s site occupies and then just take a couple of extra steps to move around it instead of through it.
3. Do leash your animals
A cute pet dog (or cat) can act as a great icebreaker with your neighbors, but pets that are unleashed can be a nuisance or even a danger. A loose dog could get itself in trouble by getting lost or injured, or, worse still, could cause injury to a child or adult. It’s best is to keep your pet leashed so you’re always in control of where they go and who they meet.
4. Don’t speed
Obeying speed limits within the park is fundamental for keeping everyone safe, especially children. Even if you have a long way to drive to your site, keeping to the RV park speed limits ensures that kids, pets, and adults are all kept safe
Riverbound’s speed limit is 5mph.
5. Do switch off your lights at night
At Riverbound, the incredible display of stars in the Arizona night sky should be the only incentive you need to turn off your lights and turn your eyes skyward, but it’s something easy to overlook. Do remember to turn off your lights at night, not just headlights but also any particularly strong outside lights that could shine into other people’s RVs and prevent them from getting a good night’s sleep.
6. Don’t leave your trash
As a general rule, trash should not be left behind at your site unless the RV park rules state otherwise. Trash bags aren’t just unsightly for neighbors and create more work for site owners, but they also let off unpleasant odors and attract insects and other scavengers. To be safe, check out the park’s rules relating to trash disposal when you arrive; that way you’ll know exactly how to take care of your trash and where to discard it when you leave.
Riverbound trash rules: trash must be removed from the site and disposed of at the designated sites located near the resort entrance
7. Do ask for advice from experienced RVers
Everyone was a newbie once and every RVer has made his or her fair share of etiquette errors over the years. If you have a doubt, don’t be afraid to ask for advice. It can be a great way to meet people, avoid making simple mistakes, and feel more integrated into the RV community.
8. Do leave a detailed review of your stay
Getting the most out of RVing means putting in the time to do the research. Detailed, constructive, and polite RV park reviews are highly valued by other RVers trying to assess whether their rig will fit or if the Wi-Fi is reliable. By sharing an honest account of your experiences, you will be helping other RVers to more easily plan their trips while helping park owners understand where they could do a little better at the same time.
