By Chuck Woodbury
EDITOR
I am often amazed in RV parks about how so many RVers are consumed with lighting up the park at night. They spread LED lights on the ground around their site or hang them on their awnings. Some put a flashing light atop their personal flag pole, even though I don’t believe there’s a big danger from low-flying aircraft. Many leave the lights on all night.
And as you can see above, sometimes they bring along their own electric palm tree. It’s cute, yeah, but once you’ve seen one, I say, the joke is over. (BTW – The description on Amazon.com says: “Great for parties and game rooms, poolside or outside your RV.” And it’s only $107!)
At last count, there were five electric palm trees in my park.
RV makers encourage displays of lights by installing them on the outside of RVs. Very often they line the lip of an awning. Honestly, sometimes there are so many RV lights in a park you need to pull your shades at night to avoid sleeping in a room with flashing red, green and yellow lights, like back in the days of sleazo motels.
Do you leave your porch light on? Some people do. Maybe they’re just trying to be helpful so when their neighbor gets up at night to use the potty he or she doesn’t need to turn on any lights.
I know a lot of RVers enjoy lighting up their RVs. Maybe I’m just a fuddy-duddy because I am not crazy about it. In my book, illuminating an RV at night in an RV park is right up there with hanging wind chimes or building a campfire 12 feet from your neighbor’s window.
If you are the kinda person who loves to “share the light,” please do me a kindness and leave a comment to let me know why you do it. Is it to deter crime, or maybe critters? Or is it just fun? Do you ever wonder if your neighbors may not appreciate you lighting up their campsite without asking them?
##RVT936
Lights in campground? Not a fan at all, big flood light shining in my windows at night sucks. Campfires? Not a fan I don’t mind a small campfire, but some people think it must look like burning man, personally I do not do a campfire.
Noisy neighbors? Go to bed or at least be quite at 2200 hours, I have had people partying until the wee hours of the night, the more alcohol involved the louder they get.
Lights don’t bother near as much as smoke from a campfire…
I do light up my motor home campsite with blue under chassis lights and a solar light illuminating the American flag I have on a pole to the side of my site. Oh, and I have a flashing red, white and blue solar LED light on top of my other American flag that is flown from a pole about 10 feet above the roof of my motor home. The top of the flag pole light makes it easier to find my motor home in the dark and the under chassis light, well it just looks cool.
Never gave any thought about it offending anyone. If it did I would extinguish them, but I doubt I ever will, they just aren’t that bright.
Your key statement, “Never gave any thought about it offending anyone” says everything that I need to know. Your mother never taught you to be considerate of others. The folks that have been bothered by your actions are the ones that did learn from their mothers and have been courteous enough not to tell you. I know that my mother would be disappointed that I am saying this. Sorry Mother, just had to get it off my chest.
Minus 22 votes says it all here.
On our street in the RV park in Florida at least 50% have a lighted palm tree or two. Another person on the block buys one, every cheers. Other people drive through the street and comment on how nice it looks. We Northerners love it.
I have a palm tree too. It’s a decoration and it’s fun. I camp in resorts at the beach, primarily Lakewood in Myrtle Beach, that have light poles. It’s almost like dusk all night long and I don’t have any problem sleeping. However, when I stay in a state park I don’t put up my palm tree.
Thank you for being considerate. Take note, if you don’t see the positive point, this gentleman just made.
I’m with you, Chuck. Campers should keep their light, music, and TV confined to their own site.
Me…not a fan of the outdoor light thing—don’t use them personally but don’t object to others doing so. However, it would bother me if those lights disturbed my sleep….
And as to campfires, I love having one. Not too close to the neighbors. Small, barely discernable above the rim of the firepit. Love the ambiance, the smell of the burning wood. But work really hard to ensure little to no smoke. And of course, would not light one if the next-to-us neighbor was really close. What I do dislike, though, is when others choose to walk thru my campsite. Like it is a path. No! I do not want you walking thru my site. And I promise not to walk thru yours.
Well, at least they didn’t sit down at your picnic table! This actually happened to me … it got resolved quickly too.
I’m a fuddy duddy like you. I hate the extra lights. We have been in Florida this year with many lights outside of many rigs. Next year, we hope to head back to the desert to find a spot where it’s dark and we can see the stars.
I’m currently in a RV park where the rv across from me has some kind of lighted ball that has a prism-like cover that projects colored lights all over the surrounding campsites and into my windows at night. The guy who owns this gadget is the only one who doesn’t see the lights because he has his nightshade down. Yeah, I’m not a fan of lights!
I had the pleasure of experiencing every broken camping etiquette rule over Presidents Day weekend. From 2s to 3s walking through our campsite, adults no less, to outdoor tv’s to loud music (at least off at 10) to bright bright light from 2 rigs-one being a floodlight and the other a fluorescent light you’d hang in your shop to extended diesel idling and redlining the engine like gentlemen start your engines rev-vin.
I like campfires and low lighting (especially the newer blue) for ambiance even the rope lights and awning danglers-it all looks cool as long as it doesn’t light the campground.
I did find out and confirmed that people are oblivious to the amount of rude they display both in public and behind a keyboard on social media and there is no exception with RVers especially Class A DieselPushing Owners, some people/groups believe they are above all others and that is just the facts of life I guess.
I take offense to your singling out Class A DP. What an obscure bigoted statement.
It gets back to respect of others and personal space, which the younger generations have none
Wow, all of us 50/60’s crowd had to live by this degrading statement! Lighten up we’re talking about RV camping/camp ground experience’s. I do agree everyone must respect their neighbor. Don’t pin your personal opinion on “the younger generation”. In my twenty plus years of traveling the most offensive have been those of forty and above. However I choose small owner managed CG when staying long term. Wish you safe travels😎
I boondock 100% of the time. The bright light UNDER my RV keeps mice and other pests away
Sorry, no proof in that. I wish you had found a solution to pest intrusion, but there is no proff that lighting up your campground area. If you do have information on that, please share it.
Travel with a cat. I do. No issues with mice or other things and my neighbors don’t even know they are there unless they see them in the window sun bathing.
I wish you also asked for people to post their age when commenting on this to see if it’s a age thing. I personally think the people lighting up their campsite are the younger crowd and they want everyone to look at them. “That’s not a criticism just an observation”. We have left the porch light on when we knew we would be back after dark but I think with the awning out and the night shades down on the neighbors RVthats not an issue. BTW I’m 54.
Sir, you are the younger crowd👍
Folks should remember that not all people will agree with all points of view. Some like lights, some don’t. (Those that do should realize most RV’s are cheaply made, especially those “shades” in the windows. Personally, I can’t stand light at night, and like it dark, dark, dark while I sleep.) Yes, the lights help you find your way back to your RV at night, but there are lots of other ways. Also, using motion detector lights around your stairs would help you, but turn off when done.
My primary point, though, is that even if you like lights, if it’s been said over and over ad nauseum in “etiquette newsletters and articles” that lights should be extinguished come sleeping time (maybe 10pm, at the latest?) then one should really follow the crowd majority. If you want to do what YOU want w/o regard to others, then feel free to camp on BLM land, where you can be far from the community that might want to criticize your life (and LED) choices.
Please don’t encourage those inconsiderate campers to head out onto BLM lands. If they do, good things will not become of it.
There are almost no BLM lands east of the Mississippi. Not an option for many of us.
This article is just another reason I recently sold my 5th wheel. Rv with its poor quality control, high expense, inconsiderate glampers all lead to this decision. Gonna get a cabin in the woods and smell the trees, hear the crickets at night, and see the stars (like your teeth that come out at night-had to put some humor in my comment). Safe travels to all!
I agree, lights can take the pleasure away. We camp in state parks and not in resort parks. We like the solitude state parks tend to offer. My suggestion: if you want to be the life of the party (with lights etc) continue staying at resort parks with like minded people. Leave the state parks, and primitive areas, for less social people. This message was not meant to offend anyone, hope it doesn’t.
I love the lights at night, from the stars, not from the humans (I mainly boondock).
A couple of nights ago we stayed at a state park with beautiful desert scenery. Coyotes were howling and the night sky was filled with stars. But I couldn’t see the stars because many of the rigs were lit up like whorehouses, and for some reason, many with those purple rope lights that belong in a disco palace.
One time we were at a the Cosmic Campground in Utah. It’s only one of three International Dark Sky Sanctuaries in the world. Guess what? Some mope in a trailer had the place lit up like New Years.
And to the guy who thinks lights under his rig keeps the critters away….big myth. You should stay up later and watch all the four legged vermin who use your lights to navigate about.
Please don’t bring your nasty big city habits with you when you’re RVing in a campground.
They should have severe restrictions in Dark Sky areas. Really, why go there if you want to pollute it with light.
Some people don’t understand what a dark sky preserve is.
I guess my question would be if you still have a sticks and bricks place in addition to your RV do you light that up all year as well? Personally, I want total darkness so perhaps I might see some stars and I’m with you Chuck on the wind chimes……….music to some but noise pollution to others.
Bob, I have the same question. It doesn’t seem that people light up their houses like this. What in the world happens to people that they decide to go nuts with lights when they leave home in an RV?
Our S&B is lit up like a Christmas tree every night and we have motion detection lights on all four corners of the house. Our coach lights are only turned on when we are taking the dogs out or if we turn the porch light on when we go out in the evening. That is turned off when we arrive home. One does not equate to the other.
The problem began to intensify, when LED lighting became readily available, at a price point. That is the downside to that amazing technology. For government camping sites, light restrictions should be put in place, and enforced. No different than generator hours.
The first time I saw someone with the blue lights under their awning, I thought it looked cool. But, shortly after that (like a few minutes) the whole light thing hurt my eyes. Red lights don’t affect your sight, but blue certainly does. Now I hate them all. If someone leaves their ‘door light’ on so they can see when they get back, fine. Turn it off once you’re safely inside.
We full-time and put a circle of warm white lights around the base of the trailer to keep mice away. Does it work? Well despite my husband dropping crumbs everywhere we have never had mice in the trailer. It’s the only preventative we use.
In large commercial RV parks we often add colored lights on the awning to help Us find our rig when walking the dog at night and because it’s festive and fun.
From earliest times mankind has sought to light up the darkness. Maybe they drive away evil spirits! In any case, one of the many benefits of RV travel (and we’re always on the go) is that if anything about our neighbors is nettlesome either they or we will be gone in a few days. Enjoy the journey.
I’m of the belief that the need to ‘personalize’ is the culprit. For whatever reason people these days must reflect some sort of identity as they feel ‘lost’ otherwise. Vanity plates for vehicles are a good example. I’m guessing it started with bumper stickers. The insecurity of ‘not being recognized’ is only getting worse as is the insensitivity and lack of caring with regard to others. The latter is the real problem as it relates to the RV experience. For so many, “it is all about me, and only me”. Absolutely no desire to recognize that their behavior and actions have an immediate and direct affect on others. In fact, they seldom appear to recognize that anyone else exists.
Try to reason with them and you are denying them the freedom to express themselves that can lead into some very angry, aggressive outcomes. The answer is simple and seldom exists and if it does exist it is seldom enforced. Campground owners, National and State parks managers need to establish a national policy of all outdoor and rig exterior lights out at 10pm.
I live in mobile home at an RV Resort in Florida, I have 2 palm trees and 2 Flamingos in my yard. They’re on at dusk and off 4 hours later. I also have a motion-detector light over my front door. This is not a campground by any stretch of the imagination although people live in motorhomes and 5th wheels and there are many sites for short-term accommodation. If I look down my street at night at least 50% of the units have some sort of outdoor lighting after dark. I’ve never had anyone complain about any of this. When people are out walking after dark, they appreciate the lighting to guide the way. We’re not out boondocking or in a state park. I think the location you’re at makes a big difference to how much outdoor lighting is acceptable. Can’t group all us “bad guys” together.
To call yourself a fuddy-duddy is a disservice to all seniors and those (young and old) that find this trend for excessive lighting a real problem. Using such negative descriptive terms just stereotypes seniors and provides ammunition to those that want lights on all night. You are not a fuddy-duddy, you are someone that does not like excessive lighting use and has a good explanation as to why it poses a problem in the RV community and environment.
I enjoy going for walks, in the morning, afternoon, even at night. Unfortunately, during the winter months it gets dark by 5 or 6 pm. Walking around a pitch dark campground with a flashlight to illuminate just the 10 feet of space around me is not really very enjoyable. Therefore I do like it when there is some ambient light in the campground. It doesn’t take much. For example the little yellow light that most campers have above their doors seems sufficient to cut through the murky darkness.
Rather have lights than loud music. At least one can use Reflectex for unwanted light.
All should be dark and quiet after 22:00.
I have been full time in a class A diesel, with my wife and 2 small dogs for 3 years. Have been in many campgrounds from shore to shore. So I cannot say we are camping, but I do enjoy a campfire many nights. I also have lights, led on one side that can change 8 colors for holidays or for mood, and red, white and blue on the drivers side. They are not so bright as to bother any sane person. They are also on a timer to go off after 6 hours. I also do not like the bright white lights I see around some campgrounds as they are boring and not conducive to RV life in my opinion.
YE OL Chinese proverb: Ya can please some of the people ALL of the time & ALL of the people SOME of the time, but NEVER ALL of the people ALL of the time! Any questions?
Snoopy
I’d like to suggest my neighbors get room darkening blinds. 🙂 Seriously, I used to leave some lights on for when I took the dogs out at night. I think keeping them on the ground in that case isn’t bad. I also have bad vision and lighting helps me see better. I once took my dog out at 11 p.m. only to fall down my own stairs breaking one ankle and the other foot, plus bad contusions. Lights help me get out safely, especially if there is an emergency. I like the overhead lights in campgrounds and prefer to be under them. I also like wind chimes, but that’s another issue.
I do know that too much light can confuse migrating birds and therefore cause them to lose their way. I doubt there is that much light in an RV park, but it is an issue that should be thought about at least. A few low level lights on the ground isn’t so bad, but big ones up in the air are a different story.
I vote no to lights. I would like to go out at night and look up and see the stars. Light pollution spoils that. It’s night time people. After a certain time it’s time to shut them off. If you NEED SOMETHING ON,make it a dim light, not superbright leds.
Plus, it’s better to shoot at the light than being shot at if you are the light.
At least lights don’t make noise. The curfew time should mean lights out, noise off. Go outside, use a flashlight. Can’t find your RV, use reflective materials on your “welcome” sign at the post.
How about a 100 watt bulb in a white 5 gallon pail, if you want to really light up the park!
I could see this guys pail from six block away, and boy could they party late into the night!
Adding to the noise 🙂 When we are in our winter home base we have fairly extensive lighting. Most of it is ground level illumination from solar powered garden lights. Under our permanent hard awning we have a string of lamps that are dimmed to 50% or less to provide visibility of anyone approaching our place. Another solar lamp lights up the sign with our site # – required in the park to aid first responders. Finally a motion detector solar lamp, away from our coach, to illuminate everything when someone comes on to the site after dark. This provides safety for us when moving around and will at least send an intruder to someplace less well lit. We have had problems with squatters in our area and sometimes they find a way past our gates and fences. When we are on the road either boondocking or in campgrounds we minimize lighting and turn it off once we are settled in for the night.
We keep a string of LED rope lights tucked tightly under the motorhome that are timed to go on at dusk and off at dawn. Didn’t have under the car and got a pack rat or two.Guess we will keep them on. Oh, guess the other eight Motorhomes lined up with the rope lights will keep theirs on too. It is illegal to set traps for the pack rats in this desert southwest regional park so at least the lights seem to discourage them. And yes, I do have a string of dragonfly solar lights in our canopy tent.
I don’t like to leave my porch or awning lights on overnight or have any reason to do it, usually. But, there are times I will forget to shut them off. I feel embarrassed in the morning, but don’t mention it in the morning unless someone mentions it.
I also do not like all the lights but have resorted in using the brightest ones I could find in a few parks due to raccoons getting into the engine compartment of our Class “A”. I had over $300 in damage done when they tried to make a nest and that did not count all the sleepless nights from their scratching and noise or the nasty fact that they crapped while in there. This has happened in several parks in different areas one park was very helpful and trapped the raccoon the next night and hauled it to a different area. Another park would not do anything and I resorted to several different deterrents and several sleepless nights before finally leaving the area.
I do like awning lights. That is my choice. What you choose is up to you. People enjoy there rv and want to keep a light on. If total darkness is what you choose then you should camp further into the woods. People have become so touchy about everything these days.
I really don’t see the issue. If you have night shades, how do outside lights get in? Besides I sleep with my eyes closed so no light gets in there either.
We do have Boogey lights under our RV and awning LED’s but they go off at 9 when we head to bed.
I enjoy seeing others lights at night when I walk the dogs.
I frequently see this comment when this issue is discussed. If you want to enjoy the breeze through an open window, the shades prevent that. If you enjoy reading in bed before closing your eyes to sleep, while enjoying a breeze through an open window, excessive outside light is a problem. We try to run our AC as little as possible, and since we mostly camp when the weather isn’t too hot, there are many nights when an open window is very important.
If you enjoy a nice walk at night to enjoy the stars, garish light displays make that almost impossible.
I appreciate your thoughtfulness in turning yours off at 9 PM, but many leave theirs on all night, some because they forget, many because of a lack of sensitivity. I am generally a live and let live kind of a guy, but I really get steamed when people disregard others for no discernible benefit of their own, ie leaving lights on all night while they are inside, asleep or watching TV with the AC on and their shades down.
I don’t like a lot of light at night, but the comment you made about someone putting a flashlight on their flag and you saying that there aren’t low flying planes around is wrong. Flags are to be lit at night or taken off the pole, folded and put away until the next day. That is probably why they had the flashlight on it. It would have been just as easy for them to take the flag in, but they do have the right to fly our flag in the correct manner. Just sayin’.
Thanks for your comments, Pamela. However, Chuck said they put a “flashing” light on their flag pole, not a flashlight. Not quite the same. 😉 —Diane at RVtravel.com
Military retiree here. This is a special interest item for me. We’ve been camping in all kinds of parks for 5 years now and have seen lots of lit flags at night – for proper display as Pamela mentioned. Not once have I seen a “flashing light” on a flag. It is far more likely that that Chuck’s autocorrect changed “flashlight” to “flashing light”.
Thank you for your service, Roger, and for your comment. I know flags are supposed to be lit at night (I remember learning that when I was a Girl Scout for 10 years). I can’t imagine that Chuck would object to a flashlight shining on a flag at night — that probably wouldn’t affect any neighbors. So he might have seen a flashing light on one at some point. But I don’t know. It certainly could have been his autocorrect — it’s interesting to see some of the changes spellchecker suggests. Have a great day. 😀 —Diane at RVtravel.com
I’m with you – leaving bright lights on all night (especially blinking ones) is sooo inconsiderate of one’s neighbors. It displays a sense of entitlement – of “it’s all about ME” – an attitude prevalent in today’s society. Usually the RV Park has enough security lights for Fort Knox anyway.
Excessive lights are annoying, but since we are all “enjoying” the life, learn to tolerate. Perhaps the great whiteway should be turned down to 50% at 9. For those who need total darkness, perhaps lowering your shades is the solution. Don’t be so sensitive, ask your neighbors to turn down the lights, via the camp host.
Will admit the light up the night types seem unconcerned if your annoyed by their all night lights. 10 PM seems a reasonable turn out the lights the night is waiting. I believe a camp fire is in order which it seems is also an annoyance.
I like the idea of lights on the ground around my RV, but lights out at 10:30 PM, which is about a half hour before quiet time in most parks.
I do not mind the lights if they turn them out by 10-11pm. I had one guy that would leave the blue LEDS on the front of his fifth wheel on all night. I was camped perpendicular to the front of his rig. My RV which is hybrid lit up inside like I was camping in a strip club parking lot. I did kindly ask him to turn them off the next night and he did. Unless its Halloween weekend or Christmas in July weekend turn them off at bedtime.
Outside lights should be turned off by 10:00pm and when it comes to color changing lights or flashing lights those are just annoying and very distracting. I would rather a light be left on all night than a flashing or color changing light be used at all. It may be attractive to some but it can cause headaches and or dizziness in many people. When you have had a long day on the road and just want to relax outside bright lights or flashing lights make that difficult especially in open or crowded campgrounds. I think it’s just a matter of respecting your neighbors. Like many I don’t have good night vision so I turn on an outside light when needed or use a flashlight but in many cases the neighbors lights are all I need.
Yes we have lights around our 5th wheel. Lights on the ground are supposed to deter critters. To be patriotic ours are red, white and blue. We also fly our American flag 24/7 and we have white lights shining on it all night long and a light on top that flashes red, white and blue. It’s all in the picture of being lovers of our great land.
It is also being an inconsiderate neighbor.
In other words, you’re an inconsiderate xxxxxxx.
The only time our outside lights are on is when we are outside before quiet hours to enjoy them. If the dog needs to go out after dark we’ll turn the door light on so that we can see to get up and down the stairs then it’s off again
An observation, people who do not like the lights tend to say “it’s all about you” to those who have lights. Couldn’t that be reversed and be applied to those who want it dark? Seems that the phrase applies to both sides…… just saying. By the way, I am 75, hard of hearing, and can fall asleep anywhere anytime light or dark. I have slept in parking lots at truck stops and not been woke up……just saying. HAPPY TRAILS TO ALL.
I don’t use a lot of lighting but I don’t mind it either. As an avid RV traveler, I cannot even begin to list all the annoying things that go on with our neighbors in RV parks across the country. Being tolerant is a must if you’re going to park in a campground. It would have to be over the top for me to complain because everyone is just trying to have fun. Get some shades.
Lights are part of camping. Nostalgic patio Lights are part of my childhood camping memories (owls). Children love to walk (and myself lol) and see decorated campsites. You may be too full-time to enjoy camping anymore or you should enjoy the local state park of which some don’t allow light pollution for astronomy viewing purposes. PS there is a great one in PA if you look😘