Picture your perfect campground: You have a nice, quiet, shaded spot away from others under beautiful trees, a nice space for your dog, Fido, to explore, perhaps water or mountain views… Ah, it’s beautiful!
Now think about that same campground at night. In your dream world, is that campground pretty dark or is it very well lit? Would you prefer to walk around with a flashlight at night, or would you rather not have to use a flashlight to see at all?
Some RVers love and appreciate that deep, quiet darkness—the kind where you can look up and actually see the Milky Way stretching across the sky. It feels more like “real camping,” doesn’t it? Peaceful, calm, and a little removed from the everyday glow of streetlights and city life.
Others prefer a bit more visibility after the sun goes down. Maybe it’s about safety, easier footing, or just not wanting to fumble around in the dark on a late-night walk to the bathhouse. A softly lit campground can feel more comfortable—and a whole lot more convenient, especially when it comes to letting the dog out for its final potty break of the evening.
We understand you can’t control all your light surroundings—some people have outdoor lights that they leave on all night, others have color-changing LED lights on their RV. But we’re just talking about the campground itself here.
Tell us your answer in the poll below, and please leave a comment, too, if you feel so inclined.
MORE RECENT POLLS:
- Have you taken an ancestry DNA test like 23andMe or AncestryDNA?
- Would you feel comfortable relying on AI for medical advice while RVing?
- In the last 5 years, how many people have slept overnight at once in your RV?
- How often do you use physical guide/travel books to plan your trips?
- To tell or not to tell: Would you tell other RVers about the ‘perfect’ campground?
RVDT2889
The darker the better. I don’t care for all of the lights, underneath and front cap, being installed on the newer RVs.
I totally agree. There is no reason for these lights to be on all night. Everyone knows you’re there without the glaring light show.
We have a small motion sensing light for our steps in case we have to go out at night.
I voted dark, but that is not actually true. What I want are low luminance path markers and short range motion detection lights that illuminate steps or other major trip hazards. I don’t care for general area lighting.
After being in a campground in St David AZ, with a decided lack of lighting, I prefer a lighted campground. Not bright lights, but lights are preferred, the dark sky friendly variety. I was walking the dog and a mountain lion was tracking me until I hit him in the eyes with my high powered flashlight beam.
We have stayed in rv parks that had many bright street lights making it seem like we were in a well lighted parking lot rather than a rv park. I also have a friend with a new 5th wheel trailer who always turns on the bright lights on the nose of the 5’ver then goes inside for the night. I tried to explain how his lights affected us even though we were across the avenue from him….but he was so proud of those lights I don’t think he understood how they impact our experience when parked near him. Oh well!!
That’s the typical ME, MINE attitude.
I installed a dimmer switch on my front cap and awning that allows me to have the trailer visible at night when out for a walk and the campsite lit to a comfortable level while outside, but they’re turned out when we go inside.
Au Naturale…with hookups, please. 👍
No lights, if I needed them I guess I’d be camping at a hotel 8.
Prefer dark, the ones who insist on lighting up their whole exterior, what they are afraid of?
Campground = Camping. If I’m in a campground (State or National) I want to see the night sky and the glow of a campfire, not the neighbors underbelly lights, TV, or flashing LED strings. If you want streetlights or need lights to feel safe go to an RV park, KOA, or stay home… and don’t get me started on those that leave their outside lights on all night.
There is considerable difference in my expectations between a campground and an RV park. I am rving, not camping. I would expect a campground to be unlighted, while I would expect an RV park to be reasonably lighted.