Another Campground Etiquette Question

[Meames1]

First off, I'm not complaining or mad, just wondering what people think of doing this / or being on the receiving end as I was.
Spent the last week @ a COE park we frequent.
Check out is 3:00 pm, check in is 4:00 pm. But, you can access your site early if it is unoccupied.
We tend to stay right up to pretty close to 3:00 as we only live 40 minutes away and the kids like to use the lake right up through the last day.
Finished up at the lake, had lunch, and doing our final clean up before departing.
It's now 2:20 and this huge fifth wheel pulls up in front of the site and they guy gets out and says to my kids, "Whose is this, it's in our site". They pointed to the door, which was open, I was in drivers seat about to start to build air and lower jacks. He says, "Hey, when are you leaving I have a fridge full of food here". I politely told him, we are starting now and by the way check-out isn't until 3:00. He acts like he didn't know it wasn't until 3:00 even though it's very clear on the website (which is the only way to book a site btw).
As I was picking up my blocks a neighbor came over and said I should sit right there until 3:00, and checkout isn't until 4:00. I chuckled.
Anyway, we try to accommodate the next camper the best we can when we see them pull in. They usually look at the site and we get the idea and move along. My concern is missing some part of our packing and preparation checklists just because we are hurrying for someone clearly early. This guy rubbed me wrong how he was basically demanding us to get out of "His" spot. I could never see myself being like this unless it was after the 4:00 move in.
All in all we were pulled off site and parked down by the lake by 2:30.
I guess my grandfathers words come to play here, "Just don't be a Jerk"...cleaned up for irv2

[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

[TandW]

I would not be rushed and the 5er guy should have had refreezable blue ice in his reefer if needed.

[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.

[MtCamper]

We have a hard time adjusting to the new normal of reservation campsites. We've noted there is a large variation of check in and out times. Most places we've been can accommodate us waiting for a checkout time if the site is occupied and a couple of places made us wait until check in time even when the site was empty. Go figure. I'm guessing the fellow had a residential fridge and wanted to get to a plug in. Bottom line is try not to let other inconsideration and expectations ruin your day. The guy wasn't too out of line with arriving early but was rude especially after being informed of the 3:00 check out time. I'd probably cut him a little slack though cause 3:00 is an exceptionally late check out time based on our experience. At any rate, you did right by continuing your normal pack up routine and not being equally rude by going slower.

[tmandoug1]

I've never actually seen a check out time that late, but rules are rules and you did the right thing. He is coming off the road and going though the "park and getting set up routine" in his head and that may have been a curveball to him. His anxiety was probably up because he was thinking there was a mix up and his day was going to get worse.

[Meames1]

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

Yes, this campground is 100% self served. There are "camp hosts", but no one at front gate and all reservations are online or by phone to @ Reservation.Gov . But either way, the times are Very clear in your reservation confirmation.

[B52Rnav]

All of the COE parks we have used recently have 2pm checkout and 3pm check-in. We have seen a few with 4pm check-in.

[rtaggio]

There is no shortage of jackasses in our world, unfortunately we can't eliminate this 10% +/- part of the population, that turns everyday life into a **** show.

I would have told him to "go get some ice" if he's worried about his beer, and pulled out at 2:59.

[Backcountry1]

I know of quite a few campgrounds (Mostly COE, and Recreation Areas) that have late check-out/check-in, either 3 or 4pm being the norm. One of our favorite campgrounds (Recreation Area) is a 4pm out/in. On a Friday afternoon… it can get alittle hectic if campers are trying to swap spots close to 4pm. (We also stay till almost the very end because of being out on the water during the day)

If it was me, I would have just went about my routine and paid no mind to the guy waiting. He can wait… and if he waits long enough in the road… well I’m sure someone would come along and let him know he needs to move along till check-in time.

[inthepines]

sounds like a bully who failed reading comprehension.
I like what the neighbor said. It's one thing to pull up next to a site and that is kind of pushing it imo and another thing to get ignorant with someone that is allowed to be there still.
Personally I don't want to be up anyones butt when they are breaking down and I don't want anyone staring me down while I break down.
Go sit at the office or busy yourself with pre-setup.

[tmandoug1]

[QUOTE=rtaggio;6235970]There is no shortage of jackasses in our world, unfortunately we can't eliminate this 10% +/- part of the population, that turns everyday life into a **** show.

I would have told him to "go get some ice" if he's worried about his beer, and pulled out at 2:59.[/QUOTE]

Does this response not put you in the 10%, being that it is an unnecessary escalation of the situation?

[US1]

I would have done the same. You where within your rights and had already started the departure process so not really worth worrying about and ruining your time. He may have very well been mistaken on the timeline. No way would I sit there till checkout time ‘just’ to be an azz. No good would become of it.

[Psneeld]

Something that has caught me a few times is activities near time zone changes.

May not apply in this case...but be careful when doing things in an area where your time just shifted an hour.