Just about every campground on the planet has a set of rules that guests are expected to abide by. Check in at the welcome center and you will be handed a packet of information, including a list of the rules. You know the drill if you’re a seasoned camper. But have you ever wondered why campgrounds have the rules they do?
Some rules defy explanation. However, most have good reasons behind them. To illustrate that point, let us take a look at what the well-known KOA campgrounds have to say about some of their most common rules. This post will summarize their explanations. You can go look at the details yourself by checking out the KOA blog.
1. Quiet Hours
Campgrounds typically have quiet hours that can run anywhere from 11 PM to 8 AM. This may seem like a bummer if you are the kind of person who likes to stay up late and hang out. But here’s the thing: not everybody does. Establishing quiet hours is just one way for campgrounds to try to achieve a happy medium. It is about respecting your neighbors. They don’t want you installing your inflatable AirSkirts RV skirting at 2 o’clock in the morning.
2. No Parking on Adjacent Sites
A campground might institute a rule that says you are not allowed to park on vacant neighboring sites. It might seem harmless to do so, but it creates a problem. From the park’s position, they may be holding that site for someone else who hasn’t yet arrived. You parking at the site creates a problem when that guest arrives. Now you have to move your vehicle. And what if you just happen to be at the pool when the time comes?
3. Borrowing or Moving Equipment
This next rule is as much about respecting your neighbors as it is not disrespecting park ownership and staff. The rule states that you cannot borrow or move equipment from other sites. Perhaps you have your eye on the picnic table next door. It is a vacant site, so no big deal. But again, you don’t know if another guest is set to arrive at that site during your stay.
Even if the site remains vacant, campground staff will have to come by after you leave and move the picnic table back over. By borrowing and moving things around, you are actually creating more work for your hosts.
4. Occupancy Limits
Rules regarding occupancy limits are a big thing for a lot of campers who like to do what they do in groups. But occupancy limits are not just about campground owners being anal-retentive. In almost every case, occupancy limits are a matter of law. Local governments limit occupancy for safety reasons. If a campsite is limited to ten campers for example, it is probably not the owner’s decision. Take it up with the local fire marshal or town council.
5. Extra Fees for Visitors
Along the same lines as occupancy limits, you might wonder why campgrounds charge extra fees for day or overnight visitors. There are a couple of reasons. First, every guest represents an additional cost for the campground owners in terms of utilities and maintenance. Second, campgrounds utilize visitor fees in order to control maximum occupancy. Everyone who stops at the check-in station to pay a visitor fee can be accounted for.
It is okay to not like rules. In fact, feeling a little rebellious when a list of rules is presented by the check-in staff is normal. But do yourself and the campground a favor: follow the rules anyway. It is in everyone’s best interests to do so.