Megan Campagnolo
Remember that even in the wide-open West, the best views are shared—being a good neighbour ensures everyone gets the peaceful escape they came for.
I’ve spent plenty of nights parked under the big skies of the Alberta prairies and tucked away in the mossy shadows of the BC interior. Most of us hit the road to escape the "city" mindset, but after chatting with folks who run our favourite parks, I’ve realized that sometimes we’re the ones bringing the stress with us.
Being a "good" camper isn't about being perfect; it's about shifting gears. If you want to keep getting invited back to those prime lakeside spots, here is how I’ve learned to navigate the unwritten rules of the park.
1. Slow Down (No, Even Slower Than That)
The quickest way to get a "look" from a park owner—or a frantic parent—is by treating the campground loops like a highway. Between kids on bikes, dogs on long leashes, and folks carrying heavy coolers with zero peripheral vision, campgrounds are high-hazard zones.
If the sign says 15 km/h, try 10. If you think you’re going slow enough, you can probably dial it back more.
- DO: Keep your foot hovering near the brake at all times.
- DON'T: Be the person kicking up a dust cloud that settles on everyone’s dinner.
2. Respect the Clock (Check-In is a Contract)
We’ve all been there: you make great time on the Coquihalla and pull into your destination at 11 a.m. even though check-in isn’t until 3 p.m. You see an empty stall and think, "What’s the harm?"
Actually, it’s a big deal. Park crews need that window to ensure your site is clean, the picnic table is wiped down, and the fire pit isn’t full of the last guest’s trash. When we show up early or linger past checkout, it creates a domino effect that stresses out the staff and delays the next traveler.
- DO: Call ahead if you’re running early. Often, they’ll fit you in if the site is already "flipped."
- DON'T: Just pull into a site and unhook without checking with the office first.
3. Mind Your "Light and Sound" Footprint
Modern LED awning lights look great from inside your rig, but for your neighbours, they can be a major distraction from the starry night they drove hours to see.
Modern RVs come with some pretty flashy gear—powerful Bluetooth speakers and LED "stadium" lights. The problem? Your 80s rock playlist and those bright blue awning lights don’t stop at your property line.
In the quiet of the woods, sound carries for kilometres. And those "security" floodlights? They’re likely shining right into the bedroom window of the camper two spots over.
- DO: Use soft, downward-facing lights and keep the music at a volume where only you can hear it.
- DON'T: Treat quiet hours as the start of the wind-down. They are the absolute deadline.
4. Know Your Borders
A tidy campsite: keeping your setup, vehicles, and slide-outs strictly within the timber-lined gravel pad is the golden rule of boundary respect.
Whether you’re tucked into a tight spot in the Okanagan or have a sprawling pad in the Rockies, those boundary lines matter. I’ve seen slide-outs creeping into the neighbouring site and trucks parked halfway into the road.
It’s not just about being neighbourly; it’s a safety issue. If your rig or gear is leaching into the road, it makes it nearly impossible for emergency vehicles or other big rigs to navigate the turns.
- DO: Make sure your RV actually fits the site dimensions before you book.
- DON'T: Set up your "outdoor living room" in the empty site next to you. If a new guest arrives while you’re out hiking, your gear might end up moved (or worse).
5. Keep an Eye on the "Free Range" Kids
Western Canada is a playground for families, and I love seeing kids exploring. But there’s a line between "independence" and "unsupervised."
I’ve seen genuinely sketchy situations—toddlers on e-bikes or kids wandering near busy boat launches while parents are back at the trailer. The staff are there to maintain the park and keep things running, not to act as a neighbourhood watch for your little ones.
- DO: Let the kids be kids! Just make sure they know the park rules and have an adult within earshot.
- DON'T: Assume the campground staff are your personal babysitters.
6. Don’t Move the Firewood (Seriously)
The easiest way to protect our Western forests is to buy it where you burn it; local, pre-split wood keeps invasive pests from hitching a ride into the park.
This is a big one in the West. We have some of the most beautiful forests on earth, but they are under constant threat from invasive pests like the Pine Beetle or Emerald Ash Borer. Bringing wood from home—even just a few hours away—can literally destroy the park you love.
- DO: Buy it where you burn it. Supporting the park’s wood sales helps keep the business viable.
- DON'T: Try to "sneak" in your own wood to save a few bucks. If there are no trees, there's no campground.
The Secret to Great Etiquette?
The best advice I ever got from a park owner was simple: You’re on vacation, so act like it. Most of these friction points happen because we’re in a rush or stuck in a "city" mindset. When we slow down, relax, and treat our neighbours with a bit of hospitality, everything runs smoother.
Support the local park shop, grab a coffee at their cafe, and let the small stuff slide. You’re there to enjoy the view, not to manage a project.