We’ve been receiving more and more comments lately about kids in campgrounds. Some are complaints: Kids are loud! They run through campsites! Their scooters are annoying! They watch TV outside all the time! And others are complaints about people complaining.
If you had the option, would you choose to stay at a campground that allowed kids or did not allow kids (say 18 and younger)? If you would choose to stay somewhere without kids, would you please leave a comment and explain why? Have you had negative experiences with kids at campgrounds or would you just prefer an adults-only stay for other reasons?
As always, thanks for voting.
Kids laughing and having fun while camping makes me happy. Adults drinking, loudly cursing, blasting music and generally being jerks doesn’t make me happy. How can we devise a campground without those adults? To me, that is the more pressing question, lol.
I agree 100%
I agree 100%.
Yup. Agree!
Yes!! You nailed it.
👍 👍 👍
Most accurate response
I would rather stay at a campground with no dogs due to barking and owners not cleaning up after them.
Campground’s without kids!!!??? It is one of my joys at 75 years old to experience the joy associated with kids having fun at a campground. I agree with Mimi’s comment. Boorish adults without a clue of camping etiquette are far more troubling to me.
Watch a Natl Park Ranger swear in a Junior Ranger. I actually get choked up listening to them promising to take care of our parks.
I host at a state park and was asked “What’s the biggest enjoyment you get being a park Host?” I told them “Seeing kids, of all ages outside playing, having fun and experiencing the outdoors! Not sitting inside, watching TV, playing video games or on their phone.”
I do not mind children in a campground. It makes me happy to see people having fun during appropriate times (not until midnight or before 7:40 am). What I do mind is parents who fail to parent. Kids making noise and running through other people’s campsites is a result of inadequate supervision. The kids do not understand that they are annoying to others; they are acting like kids. It is the parents’ responsibility to correct their inconsiderate behavior. You not only see irresponsible parenting in campgrounds, you see it in restaurants, grocery stores, and places like Walmart.
100% agree. Kids are not the problem. No supervision is.
Yes!
💯
Been a foster parent for 17 years. And I have always taken all my kids camping. Giving them an experience they may never have otherwise. Yes kids make noise. But if that old fart next door complaining because your watching your (I Love Lucy reruns) on your outdoor TV, why didn’t you just stay home to watch tv and save all that camping money. Yes I know I’ll be blasted for this comment, but it’s true. Why go out camping just to sit and watch your outdoor TV. But I also agree to Quiet times, late night, early morning.
I don’t mind children. I’ve had a few that have walked thru my campsite. Most don’t know better. My issue is campers letting dogs loose and non stop barking.
I agree. Kids are way better than pets. They don’t usually poop on your campsite…
Kids in campgrounds are great. Yellin, screaming, laughing, having fun. I love to see it. Now ask if I would prefer to shop in stores that do not allow kids. I would pay extra for that!
My wife and I have no children. That said, camping is generally regarded as a family activity. We don’t mind kids around, in fact they are usually well-behaved and we enjoy their enthusiasm and watching them play. Plus, they’re outside and not glued to their phones. And they go to bed early.
Last summer we had a group of kids that would cut through our site as a shortcut to get to a fishing beach. After a couple incidents I politely asked them to go around and they did with no issue.
People who don’t want kids around should stay in Adult Only parks.
I’d prefer a campground where no one under 35 is allowed, no wild drinking parties no loud music no throwing up everywhere…..
We were in the KOA South Padre Island Campground a couple of weeks ago. Our elderly neighbors who owned an “A******m” partied with their “A******m” group well past 10 pm every night. At first I thought they were just getting together for a few days. But after a week of their lack of consideration I complained to management. Thankfully they complied and shut the party down around 10ish after the gentle reminder from management.
So, no I don’t mind children in a campground. They are just having fun. Dogs…..don’t get me started on rude dog owners.
I’ll play….Anthem?
Having raised two very well behaved children, it has come to our knowledge that people today allow kids to raise themselves. No thanks! Not going to put up with the destruction of property, the talking back and the words coming out of their foul mouths! You know who you are! Thousand Trails started to allow kids into adult only buildings and we all saw what happened there! No thanks!
How about a campground where parents are REQUIRED to be immediately responsible for their children and their actions?
Now that’s a novel campground concept!
That won’t happen. The parents don’t see the problem.
Or, how about a world (including our country) where parents are required to be responsible for their children and their actions? I seem to remember something like that when I (now 76) was a kid. Have a great day, bull. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Spot on, Diane! 😉
Thanks, Mindy.👍 Have a good night. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
As a former child myself, I didn’t forget that it was the best time of my life! Let the children play, yell, and have fun but have the parents supervise their children to make sure it stops at quiet hours.
It’s not the kids. Kid’s will be kid’s. It’s the fault of the parents totally ignoring the problem. Letting their little darlings run around screaming at the top of their lungs, running through other peoples campsites and totally disregarding the boundaries. Letting them run out into the campground roads and riding bikes with no regard to traffic. These parents are no where to be found.
I actually like seeing kid’s enjoying themselves and playing. We’ve even joined them a few times.
Not much different than going shopping and listening to them scream throughout the store, while the parents ignore the situation. I guess it’s called selective hearing. If they can’t or won’t control them, leave them at home.
I AGREE with you Bob!!
It’s not selective hearing, it’s selective parenting🥴
I agree also. There’s no need to run and scream constantly, but it seems to be everywhere. I was certainly raised differently and was never into screaming and hollering and being a bother to anyone. My dog does not bark at people or dogs unless they come skipping into my space, too close to me. And I do not leave him alone. If I did, he would be quiet. It is known as training. Most adults and kids seem to live for getting attention however they can get it, and being loud and obnoxious is what they know how to do best. Parents used to be responsible for their kids actions. That got lost somewhere.
Kids not camping and being deprived of those great experiences would be sad. A child seminar about the wildlife around them and respect toward others is why it is important and children to question parent behaviors by planting that one seed. A certificate of attendance goes a long way with children as a sense of accomplishment. We all have a part ownership in this to secure the camping tradition.
I don’t mind having children around and I think that is a way to build the next generation of campers. It’s up to parents (or grandparents) to teach them rules and acceptable behavior. I do understand the desire by some to have kid-free areas and it would be nice if larger campgrounds could designate separate areas.
In recent times the adults disturb the peace much more often.
Totally agree with the comments about kids & pets. They can both cause problems – but nearly always the root cause are the adults who shirk their responsibilities to supervise and clean up after either. Maybe just my imagination but it seems the attitudes of these adults is that they are on vacation and want to avoid being responsible for anything.
We love children, however we despise parents who fail to teach their children respect, and manners. Parents who let their children run wild through other campers sites disturbing others is the problem. To paraphrase our fearless leader, “C’mon man, parent up”. Lol
Yeah, let’s keep kids out of the campgrounds so they can stay indoors fixated on a tablet or phone screen. Best time of my life as a kid was outdoors camping, fishing etc. I wouldn’t trade those times for anything. I love seeing kids out camping and enjoying the great outdoors this country has to offer. Yes I do agree, parents, parent your kids and teach them the ways of respecting others and the outdoors so the next generation has a chance as we all did. But lets not lock down the opportunity for kids to be kids, those camping experiences will pay forward in life no doubt. You might as well just camp in a mobile home park for seniors only!! If your afraid of camping around kiddos. Safe travels everyone.
No one said keep kids out of the campgrounds. What exactly is wrong with a choice? If someone wants to camp at a campground that has no kids why not? Just like if someone wants to camp at a campground that allows them. Choices.
I had never thought about it until this poll. Yes, I think that I would prefer an absence of children. However, I do not recall ever being annoyed or otherwise bothered by children while at a campground or RV park.
Kids aren’t so bad most of the time, but I have come to enjoy the 55+ parks. More like-minded people for me to interact with.
I was raised completely different than todays kids. If I was out of line I “got it”. Got it depended on how far I crossed the line. Could be a “swat” on the rear end or later in life of losing something I valued. Even not being the “brightest bulb on the street” I figured it was better to “go with my parents program” than my own. Don’t see that today.
Keep the kids, kids don’t bark at you, kids don’t p*ss and crap all over everything, ban the “fur babies!
I couldn’t agree more. We seldom run into misbehaving kids and when that does happen just a look to the offending party works. However dog owners assume their dog is the exception to the rules. Kids are not left in the camper to bark all day or tied up outside to howl all night. Kids hairy blankets are not washed in campground washers rather then at home. And most importantly I’ve never seen a child kill small woodland creatures.
Agree with you 100%!
If I had my choice between 2 similar Parks/Campgrounds, I pick the one with no kids, but I won’t deprive myself of a nice park just because it has kids.
I really enjoy the laughter of young kids around me. I can’t say I am fond of the screams we sometimes hear, but in my opinion, the sounds of children playing makes me glad to be alive.
We don’t mind, but definitely would not book a multi day/long term stay at an rv park that catered to kids. We do not travel in the summer, so pretty much avoid the situation. We’ve had some memorable moments meeting people home schooling their kids. Once just outside of Yellowstone. Well mannered. Well spoken. Smart. Interesting hearing how their ‘school” time was structure. Best part, they all got to pick a place to visit to do a project.
I’m a retired teacher and love kids. Unfortunately, a lot of parents can’t or won’t parent their children and teach them how to act. One time I was camped next to a family with 4 kids under the age of 10. I don’t mind kids playing, but these four were constantly fighting. Kicking, hitting, slapping, screaming, crying, etc and they were doing it right next to my campsite. The mom just sat there. It got old very quickly. Using my teacher voice, I intervened and made them stop fighting while the mom continued to sit. When everyone was calmed down and playing quietly, the mom finally said something along the lines of “Those kids can drive you nuts, huh!” I just shook my head.
Unbelievable, Suru. Well, actually, believable anymore. Very sad commentary on some so-called “parenting” these days. Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
I had to say I don’t mind kids, but I don’t like overly rowdy, obnoxious kids. Or dogs, loud neighbors of any age, etc. But, I dislike even more places that try too hard to regulate “niceness” and calm.
This was a good experience. We were camped at Trailer Village at the Grand Canyon. The campsites there are pretty close together. Next to us was a family with six small children camping in a large toy hauler. They all had bikes and toys. I never heard any of them yell, scream or cry. They were all so cute playing with their bikes and toys and they were friendly with my husband and I. They left really early one morning and we never heard them. I don’t know how those parents got all those kids up and at ’em and packed to go that early without making a peep, but they did.
I also want to be able to have our grandkids come & stay for short visits.
Then you would stay at a campground that allowed kids. Why shouldn’t there be a choice?
I like kids, adults and dogs. What I don’t like is noisy kids, adults and dogs.
I don’t mind the kids. It’s their parents that think when out in nature it’s okay for the kids to act like animals is what bothers me.
I love seeing kids out in nature and enjoying the camping experience, as long as they are supervised and not creating havoc in the campground. As camp hosts for 10 years we have experienced all manner of children. Most are great, some even exceptional, and a few just awful!
Maybe the correct question here is would you rather camp in a campground that doesn’t allow irresponsible adults? Heck yeah of course, who wouldn’t? Don’t blame the kids or pets and enforce the rules, maybe camp hosts and staff should do their jobs which is partly to ensure that everyone abides by the rules. Kids and camping are a natural part of growing up.
Agree 100%
Don’t count on the staff to do the parent’s job. If there is no discipline from the parents over the unruly children, out go the parents after a discussion…assuming there are posted rules. Time for the free spirited adults to get responsible for their spawn
Bunch of DINKS, Dual Income No Kids – or Grandchildren! Kids and pets make life worth living and especially RVing😀❤️
Excellent point. Kids should be on a leash, just like pets.
Good one 🙂
I was at a campground in November full of kids. When the heater went out in the pool, they all flocked to the hot tub. The kids were splashing around and kicking me while they were playing “put your head under water”. I just pushed them gently to let them know it was me that they were making contact with. They were having so much fun, I just put up with it and watched them play.
When it is just me and my wife, RV travel and camping is more pleasant without kids. Since we have grandchildren, when camping or traveling with our family, kids come with the territory and for the most part kids make times more enjoyable except for those few times their energy can be a bit too much for us seniors to handle.
I use to camp with kids but now I am quickly becoming less tolerant of kids. I’m actually not bothered by the kids but the parents that let them run wild. We’ve kinda learned to enjoy the 55+ parks as well. Less obnoxious drunks. Ok I guess I’m just old and grumpy.😁
My wife and I love kids, and are excited to be able to eventually camp with our young grandchildren. However, when it’s just the two of us, our preference is to camp in parks/areas where there aren’t a lot of young families. I’m a big kid at heart, but I have little tolerance for kids who are not disciplined properly or have parents who are not teaching their kids how to behave and respect other people. I guess it’s just a generational thing – my two boys are raising their kids differently than they were raised in many ways – but if we’re staying beyond overnight somewhere, we’d prefer a little more solitude and the company of mature (behavior, not necessarily age) adults.
We enjoy kids…well behaved kids. My kids wouldn’t walk for a week (yes I’m exaggerating) if they behaved the way many kids in campgrounds do now. We used to camp with young kids and never had an issue but now really prefer older campers. A complication in our lives now is a rescue furkid who is not kid tolerant. Mid teens and up hasn’t been an issue but he is scared spitless (but not bark less) of younger ones. He’s small enough to scoop up and calm but it’s hard on him and us when there’s a lot of young ones running and screaming through a campground. Poor guy had a really rough life before he came to us so we baby him a lot now. We avoid the campgrounds that we know will be loaded – Jellystone and some KOA’s – but we don’t seek out 55+ unless one just happens to fit our travel plans.
Aren’t the kids in campgrounds actually parents of kids anymore? Seems like almost everyone is a kid.
The squeals of delight, peels of laughter, kids running around, riding bikes, playing ball and having a good time. It reminds me that I was a kid once. That noise is part of camping. Sometimes parents need to learn a bit about teaching their kids manners and the unwritten rules of camping. Sometimes it’s up to us seasoned campers to teach a lesson in a positive way.
Parents today are insulted if you say anything to or about their children.
It’s not the kids so much as their parents. After all, the kids might not know that their behavior is rude since their parents never bothered to set boundaries for them. Between that and their sense of entitlement it’s a wonder that today’s parents aren’t pushing for rules requiring others to help spoil their kids.
Right on!
I worked with children for many years of my career- they can be wonderful…but we have stayed at several campgrounds recently where there were packs or roaming children with no supervision- the parents were not giving any guidance for respectful campground behavior. The sounds of screaming & loud music drowned out the sounds of nature well before & after quiet hours. It seems to be the experience at most campgrounds we have visited in the past 2 years even though we make an effort to avoid family oriented campgrounds. Some campgrounds have areas where dogs are not allowed…maybe make a quiet loop- no kids no generators no loud music…be able to enjoy nature if that is why you camp. We are actually looking into buying land for our own RV site because it is getting so hard to find a quiet relaxing camping experience at public campgrounds anymore.
No, what kind of a world would that be. We were all kids once. We need children in our lives. I don’t think I would like a campground that told me I couldn’t bring my grandkids.
Amen Leslie, It would be a pretty sick world without little kid’s running around!!!
Then you don’t go to that campground. No one is saying kids shouldn’t be allowed at all campgounds, just giving a choice of campgrounds that are for adults only. Why not?
We all went camping whether or not it was in an RV or not. Cachuma Lake was the go to spot for my family. We mostly tent camped but did on occasion have a pop up trailer. I can’t imagine a location where kids were not allowed. How else are you going to get them interested in something healthy and fun like fishing, or exploring a creek, or getting a basic understanding of nature. This world is for everyone to share not just adults.
Parents need to teach respect and manners then.
Kids are fine, it’s usually the parents that are the problem
We travel with our 16 year old. Oddly enough, he likes hanging out with us?!?!
So, RV parks that do not accept kids, just will not work for us.
No kids because the parents are not responsible enough to keep them under control.
The problem is not the kids but the parents or lack of parenting. Growing up, tent camping, we were taught camp ground etiquette. We learned and was disciplined if we didn’t follow the rules.. Seventy years later the rules still apply to my children and grand children. Camping was and still is a family affair.
My two boys and two girls grew up camping and learned to enjoy the out doors. The education offered by the great outdoors is a necessary part of growing up.
I have met grumpy out there, always complaining, even had a few grumpy people end up complimenting me on my children’s demeanor.
More times than not it isn’t the children that are the biggest bother as long as they have been taught proper campground behavior. In my mind it is a dead even tie between dogs that haven’t been trained to limit unacceptable behavior and the totally discourteous adults’ that don’t give a crap how what they are doing effects those around them. We have all read peoples horror stories so I won’t go into them again.
Bingo, PPPO’s (Piss Pour Pet Owners, 10 times worse than children playing.
I’d prefer no 18 year old KIDS
Childrens Parents Are The Problem, In Todays Society…
Amen
I would just prefer not to be at said campground during school breaks!
I don’t mind kids of any age. What I mind is barking dogs!!
Children can be loud, buy I’d take them anyway over music.