Try to arrive at your chosen campground early so that you’ll have plenty of time to find a good site. When you enter the campground, check the bulletin board or entrance station for instructions and any special regulations and to pay the campground fee. Many campgrounds are self-serve. In this case, drive around the campground until you find a site you like. Leave someone, or a piece of gear such as a cooler, at the campsite so that others will know that it’s occupied while you go back to the entrance and pay the fee.
If you arrive late at the campground, avoid excessive driving around while looking for a site—and dim your headlights. Your fellow campers will appreciate it.
Always use trash receptacles. If the campground does not have trash removal services, you must carry out all your trash. Never bury food scraps, packaging, or any sort of trash. Animals will dig up anything with a food odor. Never burn trash in a campfire. Many packaging materials contain thin layers of aluminum, which does not burn in even the hottest campfire. Like plastic, it fuses into small blobs. Popular camping areas are scarred with numerous old fire pits that glitter with bits of aluminum and plastic. Also, most plastics give off highly toxic fumes when burned.
Carry out trash left by careless or thoughtless people, especially when camping away from developed campgrounds. A few extra garbage bags and a pair of gloves will come in handy for this task—and then you can bask in the glow of self-righteous pleasure!
Campfire restrictions may be in effect during periods of high fire danger. Although fire restrictions usually apply only to campfires outside developed campgrounds, in some cases campfires may be prohibited in designated campsites as well. Even if restrictions are not in place, never build a fire on a windy day or at any other time you perceive the fire danger to be high.
State and federal law requires you to completely extinguish your campfire before leaving it unattended. Two campers failed to do so during the summer of 2011, and the result was the second-largest wildfire in American history, the Wallow Fire which burned over half a million acres of beautiful forest in eastern Arizona.
To put out your campfire, mix the coals and ashes with water until it is cold to the touch. The most effective technique is to add a little water at a time and stir the ashes well before adding more water. You must be able to put your bare hand in the ashes— to do this safely, start by feeling the fire with the back of your hand held a few inches above the ashes. If you don’t feel heat, then you can feel the ashes with your fingers.
If you’re dispersed camping and water is short, you can use dirt, but it will take much longer to cool down your fire. Never put a fire out with dirt in a campground or in a fire pit that others will reuse.
It can’t be emphasized too strongly that just pouring water over a fire or covering it with dirt does not put it out. The fire continues to burn under the top layer of wet ashes or under a layer of dirt and can easily escape later.
Nearly all campgrounds have posted stay limits, usually from seven to fourteen days. A few very popular sites have shorter stay limits, while designated long-term camping areas may allow stays of several months. Many campgrounds impose limits on the number of persons that may occupy a campsite. The number of vehicles may be limited as well. Please observe the stay limit so that other campers can have their turn. Always observe the posted checkout time. If you have to stay later, check with the campground host or ranger to see if you need to pay an additional night’s fee.
Never use campsites for picnicking. Some campgrounds have designated day-use areas; otherwise, use a picnic area for day use.
At all times, respect other persons and treat them as you would like to be treated. During the busy season, some campgrounds can become crowded. Respect other campers’ desire for privacy. Think about your neighbors before you light that lantern or shine that flashlight around. Most campgrounds have posted quiet hours, which are usually between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. During quiet hours avoid disturbing other campers; do not run generators, play radios or stereos, or make other loud noises.
All campgrounds have shared facilities, which may include restrooms, water taps, trash bins, sanitary disposal stations, and other facilities. Patiently wait your turn when other campers are ahead of you. Remember, part of the idea of camping is to leave the frantic pace of the city behind and exchange it for a more relaxed lifestyle!