When you’re on the road in a camper rental, you’ll certainly enjoy private quarters—but you’ll still interact with others, so good manners still matter.

Unless you’re “boondocking” it and staying somewhere completely wild, you’ll likely be sharing an RV campsite with a variety of other fellow adventurers from all walks of life. Practicing good etiquette with your vehicle is the best way to make sure everyone sharing the space has a good time, and that you maximize the chances of hitting the road having made some new camping buddies. Below, Fractional Toys, your preferred Rogers and Oakdale providers of motorhome rentals and more, discusses the numerous do’s and don’ts of staying at an RV campground.

Do: Keep Pets Under Control

There’s nothing better than sharing an RV rental with your four-legged best friend. They’ll love the vacation as much as you do, as what’s better in a dog’s eyes than an extended car ride?

While many people at your RV campsite share this sentiment and are perfectly fine with dogs, it’s still not cool to let your pooch run free. Even if your pet is perfectly well-behaved, you can’t account for the nearly endless possibilities that might compromise that, such as aggressive animals or disrespectful children.

Save yourself and other campers the stress and always keep your dog leashed except in designated areas—like dog parks—in which running free is to be expected. Campers and Campfires, a camping lifestyle and education blog, also recommends keeping barking to a minimum, even if your dog is in the trailer.

For more info on how to make traveling with your pet a great experience for the both of you, check out our recreational rental blog on the topic!

Don’t: Go Crazy With the Noise Levels

We get it: you’re excited to be out in the wilds with your camper rental, kicking it back with your buddies and loved ones. That being said, please try to keep noise down to a reasonable level. It’s impossible to be completely silent when camping—nobody would expect you to!—but just keep in mind that a campground is a shared space, and not everyone has the same idea of a good time as you do.

So while chatting and laughing and cooking and kids playing are all okay, don’t blare the stereo or extend your ruckus past the point of what camp rules deem acceptable. Most parks enforce “quiet hours,” similar to hotels, in which the campground is to expect a lull in activity, so respect others’ right to use the space and adhere to them.

Do: Use Local Firewood

According to Reader’s Digest, “when you bring wood in from another area, you can potentially transport parasites and insects that can destroy local forests.” One of the most notable pests that can hitch a ride on firewood in Minnesota is the Emerald Ash Borer. It can quickly kill trees once it infests them, which can compromise the natural spaces that everyone in the campsite is likely paying good money to enjoy.

Minnesota has enacted various quarantine policies surrounding this pest, according to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Follow them and you should be in good shape. Though this may require a bit of planning on your part, helping to preserve our state’s beloved wild spaces is well worth it.

Don’t: Burn Your Trash

Though it may have the word ash inside of it, not all trash burns. Though tossing your leftovers into the bonfire at home and cleaning it up later might be acceptable, the fire pits in campgrounds are public spaces. It’s gross and disappointing to pull up to an empty spot and discover that you have a garbage can for a fire ring.

Sure, it might be cheaper in some cases to burn your trash, but it’s just not the courteous thing to do. Plus, the stuff that doesn’t burn quickly, like bones, could attract wild animals to the campsite. Do those that come after you a favor and dispose of your trash in the proper containers.

Do: Make Friends With Your Neighbors

Though it is considered rude to cut through someone else’s campsite without permission, it’s not considered rude at all to strike up a conversation. In fact, if you’re a first-time camper, it can help you settle in and learn the ropes! Just be sure to give people space if they happen to be hitching up to leave or backing in or out of somewhere. Such processes are complicated, and you’re more likely to irritate people than make friends if you get in their faces during this process.

Fractional Toys: Everything you Need to Make the Most Out of Your RV Rental

From top-notch camper rentals to all the extras you’ll need, you’ll leave our shop stocked with all the necessities for an amazing camping trip. Reach our Oakdale office today at 651-360-1667 or our Rogers location at 763-265-6891.