Mastering RV Etiquette: Campground Rules, Washing Policies, and Smoking Etiquette

Navigating Smoke Etiquette in Shared Spaces

Few topics spark as much debate among campers as smoking around the site. Whether you enjoy traditional cigarettes, cigars, or vaping, your personal freedom stops where your neighbor's open window begins.

Always check the campground's specific rules regarding smoking zones and fire danger levels. If smoking is permitted at your site, practice common courtesy by being mindful of the wind direction and keeping your smoke away from neighboring rigs, children, and pet areas.

• Never toss cigarette butts on the ground or into fire rings where they leave lasting mess.
• Ask your immediate neighbors if the drifting smoke bothers them before lighting up.
• Consider stepping away to designated common areas if your smoke is traveling onto other sites.

Can You Wash Your RV Using Campground Hookups?

After a long road trip through bug-heavy highways and dusty backroads, your rig is bound to need a bath. However, hooking up a pressure washer to your site spigot is rarely as simple as it sounds.

Many RV parks explicitly forbid washing vehicles or campers on-site due to water conservation limits, local environmental regulations, and drainage capacity. Even when allowed, it is often considered bad form if runoff floods your neighbor's patio space.

1. Read the park rules or ask the front desk before pulling out the hose and bucket.
2. Look for dedicated on-site RV wash bays if the park offers them.
3. Use eco-friendly, biodegradable soap and spot-free water rinses if washing at your site is approved.

Basic Equipment Required for Most RV Parks

Showing up unprepared creates stress for you and bottlenecks for your neighbors while you struggle to set up camp. Having the right foundational gear ensures a smooth, quick arrival process every time.

Beyond your standard leveling blocks and wheel chocks, parks enforce strict utility standards to protect their infrastructure and your RV's sensitive electrical and plumbing systems.

• A heavy-duty drinking water safe hose (never use a standard garden hose for potable water).
• An inline water pressure regulator to protect your RV plumbing from high park water pressure.
• An electrical surge protector compatible with your rig's amp service (30-amp or 50-amp).
• A secure sewer hose support system and a threaded elbow connector for sanitary dump hookups.