Another Campground Etiquette Question

[Ray,IN]

Originally Posted by rosebud1218

I like your style!

By following your Grandad's good advice and maintaining your cool, you not only educated, but also improved the other camper's potential for paying your good manners forward.

I like to think, as others have suggested in this thread, that this individual was dealing with his own pre-setup anxiety. Seems these days, we're not uncommonly finding ourselves in a "waiting for the other shoe to drop" mindset.

Two wrongs do not make a right.

[Duster73]

I always try to be nice when I first interact with others and show respect. Once they lost the respect within the first minute, they can pound sand.

I'd leave when I planned on it, and not rush if I was in the right. But if I had the time frame wrong, then apologize and try to move quickly.

[FloridaSon]

Originally Posted by Duster73

I always try to be nice when I first interact with others and show respect. Once they lost the respect within the first minute, they can pound sand.

I'd leave when I planned on it, and not rush if I was in the right. But if I had the time frame wrong, then apologize and try to move quickly.

BINGO! Duster73 nailed it (and was clearer and used a lot less words than I did haha)

[Toby Dog]

I'm sure that that big 5er already had the fridge running.

[AllegroD]

Originally Posted by Duster73

I always try to be nice when I first interact with others and show respect. Once they lost the respect within the first minute, they can pound sand.

I'd leave when I planned on it, and not rush if I was in the right. But if I had the time frame wrong, then apologize and try to move quickly.

Originally Posted by Toby Dog

I'm sure that that big 5er already had the fridge running.

The above are spot on.

IMO, the guy was being very rude and intentionally using his kid and the lame food line to guilt you.

[aspengirl]

Originally Posted by DavidEM

I am surprised your COE campsite had a 3:00 pm check out time. The SPs we camp in in the NE states typically have an 11:00 check out time and a 1:00 PM check in. Every hotel I have stayed in had a noon or before check out time. So I can see why the guy pulling in with the 5th wheel was miffed a bit when he pulled in at 2:20.

But given that check out time, you were perfectly within your rights to stay. I do wonder why the park rangers let him in, but maybe COE sites are all self served.

David

South Dakota State Parks check-out and check-in time is 4:00 p.m., though if the site isn't occupied, the ones we've been to have allowed early entry.

[pvcampbell]

We're in a PA State Park CG ✅️ now and their check in and check out times are both 3:00. Makes no sense to set up for this kind of coming/going interaction among campers.

We had to move sites during our stay, and the new site had no one in it the night before. I asked a ranger going by if it was OK to move to our new site early since it was vacant. She said no, that you can't occupy a site before the 3:00 arrival time. The reason she gave was that they may have to do some "maintenance" on the site before we move in, and she couldn't let us do it unless they allowed everyone to do it.

I wonder how many interactions like that experienced by the OP they have to deal with every day.

[drfife]

I'd like to hear the other side of the story before passing judgment.

[JimDross]

In all of our years Glamping in our Prevost, regardless of checkout time I packup everything the night before, empty holding tanks, fill fresh water tank and store the hoses. As soon as there is enough daylight in the morning I start the Diesel to build air pressure, start the generator, unhook shore power, police the area, pull out of the spot, connect the Toad and head to the next camp ground usually 7 to 10 hours away. Never once had any issues with fellow campers

[Mudfrog]

Originally Posted by JimDross

In all of our years Glamping in our Prevost, regardless of checkout time I packup everything the night before, empty holding tanks, fill fresh water tank and store the hoses. As soon as there is enough daylight in the morning I start the Diesel to build air pressure, start the generator, unhook shore power, police the area, pull out of the spot, connect the Toad and head to the next camp ground usually 7 to 10 hours away. Never once had any issues with fellow campers

Your description of the process makes it sound like it took several minutes before you actually took off. If so, I have no doubt you annoyed a few people. They just didn't have quite enough time to get the sleep out of their eyes and then get dressed to come over and complain.

[Old Folks]

You didn’t do anything wrong. Carbolyn Park in Kansas had a 6PM check out time. This can be frustrating for travelers, but the park is frequented mostly by locals. It is what it is.

[roblaura]

It is hard to say whether the guy was being a jerk, or just poor at timing his arrival. His described attitude suggests someone with a sense privilege. We own a lot in a nice RV park in the Smoky Mountains. People who arrive before the 1pm check-in time run a risk of being told to wait in the overflow area until their space opens up. No pulling up to a space and telling the current occupant to get out.

[jriley1]

What time did you check in?

[glwinger]

Originally Posted by FloridaSon

Funny how our grandparents wisdom bubbles up when needed.

You handled that very well. You were following the rules. Maybe that hour is for the staff to pick up the site in a private campground; in a public camp, I imagine the hour is to accommodate the early birds a little and avoid conflict.

Now remember to ‘let it go’, I know, easier said. I have stuff that pops up in my memories but still have to put the thought away cuz its so long over.

Good question.

And 5'ver driver would probably complain about the condition of the campsite since the staff didn't have time to make it ready.