Outdoor movie projectors are becoming more and more popular. As campground hosts, we are seeing more and more people setting up huge screens with projectors and playing movies well into the night. This usually involves a number of friends and family. What use is an outside movie night without a large gathering? So much for quiet hours and sitting around the ol’ campfire…
Know your audience
Yes, it is cool. Yes, it is reminiscent of the old drive-in theaters. The kids love it, at least for a while. Adults like it too, if they are the intended audience. The unintended victims are the folks camped in a tent next door. The people across from the screen where not only the light is distracting, the screams of the current Sci-Fi horror movie are threatening to cause nightmares… and not just children’s.
As camp hosts, we have had to ask campers to not only turn it off during quiet hours, but to also shut down the generator running it.
Outdoor movie etiquette
If you decide to run your own theater with an outdoor movie projector, please be aware of the impact around you.
- Ask your neighbors if they mind. Better yet, invite them!
- Keep the volume low.
- Forget the R-rated or even PG-13 flicks. Campgrounds are usually filled with young children.
- Turn the screen so it is not shining into someone else’s campsite.
- Book an electric site to not add non-stop generator noise too.
- Shut it down during quiet hours.
If outdoor camping movie projectors and a big screen are essential camping equipment, be fair to others. Or, perhaps save those for home and try a night around the campfire telling ghost stories and making memories the old-fashioned way.
Editor’s note: Outdoor movie screens and projectors are being sold as a package at big-box stores and on Amazon for as low as $89. The photo above is from one on Amazon. It’s being marketed towards “campers.” Yikes!
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##RVT1043
We experienced the big projector movies in Quartzite this year. Kind of ruins it for everyone else. If it’s before quiet hours we have tolerated it but that’s not why we are out there for. Not one of our favorite “new ideas”.
Why do Americans all think they are the chosen ones, when they do some think. Ps I have over 65 plus camping . Is not a good time anymore!
Our society has lost all respect for anyone but themselves. Sad
Ban them all together. It has become OK to push the envelope because “personal rights” now trump “community living rights”.
We work at a family campground in Michigan. Quiet hours are enforced, so outside TV and movie noise is not acceptable, and patrons will be asked to turn the sound off starting at 11 P.M. If it’s very loud before then, they may be asked to turn it down for neighbors’ comfort.
You try to be respectful of others, so you have a quiet generator. But there’s always those who bring contractor generators to the campground because they “can’t afford” a good one – and you’re expected to just ‘suck it up’. You use your inverter to watch TV, but the ‘quiet’ generators are all buzzing until 10pm (or later) to watch TV. Weekend hooligans move in next door and stay up until 2:30am laughing and talking and playing music. And now outside movies. After 20 years of this maybe it’s time to hang it up.
Get a boondocking site! I have not experienced someone this rude near me yet, but boy I can only imagine how annoying this would be! Respect and proper etiquette seem to be lost arts.
Also not fun being next to someone blaring there outdoor tv so that everyone can hear it
Fortunately we haven’t been subjected to this yet.
While my family of campers will sometimes engage in a movie night…usually because weather is threatening…it’s always inside. My rig came with an outside TV which is rarely used. Sometimes I’ll watch the early evening news…volume on low…while grilling dinner and having a beverage.
A few years ago we stopped for the night at a private RV park to break up the drive. There were a lot of full-time residents. Apparently it was a resident’s birthday so to celebrate the camper across from us set up a movie screen around 7:00PM and invited lots of people to watch the movie. I was ok with that, however the movie was definitely an R-rated movie with lots of language and nudity. They had the volume up so high that you could hear it throughout the campground. Anyone walking by had a 4×6 foot scene of naked people doing the deed. The next morning I mentioned this to the park owner as we were leaving about how offensive the movie was and that there were kids in the campground and how could she allow that. She said it was so and so’s birthday and although she knew the movie was really bad, that’s the movie he wanted to watch and how could she say “No” on his birthday. Well, I will forever say “No” to that campground from now on.
I hate to be the one to tell you, but if the park is full of ‘long time residents’ and they were having a park-wide birthday party for someone (I’m guessing an older guy from the movie description), they really don’t care what an overnighter thinks.
Was it in poor taste? DEFINITELY!
Was it your right to be offended? Yes
Should you have complained? Most certainly.
Will your opinion matter to those folks? Not one bit.
Nailed it!
People camp for many different reasons. “Can’t we all just get along.” I wouldn’t let an outdoor movie bother me as long as: it’s before quiet hours, it’s not too loud, and it’s not “R-rated” if in a family campground.
For noise, we’ve turned on the exhaust fans or AC/Heater fan so their white-noise covered up the outside noise. But I then had a noisy neighbor complain the next day about the noise my Fantastic fans made.
At one campground, we kept hearing a loud TV. It was dark but probably not quiet hours yet. We sucked it up for about an hour or so. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore because we were sitting outside. I walked around to try to find it. It was two rows over and a lady was sitting there by herself watching her outdoor TV. I worked up the nerve to politely ask her if she would mind turning it down a bit because we could hear all the dialogue from her show two rows over. She appeared shocked and embarrassed. Really? She was nice enough to turn it down. However, I wondered why neither of her next door neighbors said anything.
It didn’t bother them.
I can’t really figure this one out. The answer might be unpopular with some but easy. Campgrounds should make it a rule “no projectors/movie screens”. Plenty of rv resort type places offer movie nights so if that’s what you’re into I think you should go there. I would think those of us who favor the state parks etc. want quiet more so wouldn’t set up something like this anyway.
+10! Right on… There is a time and a place for this, maybe “camp” resort or your own backyard, not in a quiet place to be in nature.
Technology has crept into the normally quiet, campfire, family get away from it all expierence. Seems there is an increase of “Cousin Eddys” as the price of technology goes lower.
Is there a solution, probably a good ole fashion talkin too, if the movie is loud, or inappropriate for the surrounding campers.
Live and let live! It certainly would not bother us at all.
We suffered through this at a seaside California campground. The show was so violent it was sickening! It was so close to us we had to go inside to avoid seeing it but it was so loud we couldn’t block out the horrific screams! I couldn’t believe that it was allowed to be shown outdoors. Fortunately we only stayed one night.
Should have given the screen a “flying drop kick”, old wrestling move. Have your husband video tape it.
Just be sure the screen is facing away from others and wear Bluetooth headphones.
I stayed at a private, owners only, campground last year and they showed a movie on Sat night in the commons area. It was well-advertised that it would happen and was a family movie event. Yes, it was loud but only for that one night, was well attended as I saw when I walked by on my evening stroll and over before 11. Actually sounded more like the rumble of a train but constant. If it had been someone in the campground doing it at their site I would have been upset
In the summers, we break out our projector and screen in WA State Parks, but only on weekends. We have a canopy that we attach the 10x14ft screen inside of, and have a bluetooth speaker for audio. We always play PG movies (Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, etc…) and have only had one issue – when the Park Ranger reminded us it was quiet hours (sunset was about 10P, we started at 9:45P). We turned it down some, even though everyone was still out around their campfires.
Just because people aren’t in bed, doesn’t mean they want to listen to your movie. I enjoy the quiet crackling of the campfire and soft conversation and laugher with my family and friends. You can watch tv and movies at home and not bother anyone, why do it outside at a campground? Makes no sense, unless you think it makes people envious? Because it doesn’t, it just annoys others and ruins THEIR good time. (And before people start defending it and saying how they don’t mind, I many people exist like that) It’s just a lot of people also hate it and it ruins the camping experience for them. Is a movie worth ruining other peoples’ camping experiences?
It does with the ME GENERATION who only think of themselves!
We do this quite a bit – I camp with a projector and I even have a Spandex outdoor screen that I bring. We use a Bluetooth speaker and I absolutely love sharing movies in the campground.
But this is also why I love to camp in large groups – we just “own” a section of the campground so our drinking, carousing and noise making don’t disturb folks who aren’t part of our group.
This makes me so glad that I go to Ontario parks which have Radio-free areas. Some areas are even radio free, dog free and generator free. Awesome.
Yes! Ontario has got it together, especially with their provincial parks.
Twenty-five years ago this was fun, exciting, new tech… now, not so much…💥
Love it, families and friends gather to enjoy this together. It has never bothered us at all. We do have a Class A with dual glazed windows and if it were a noise factor can just close our doors. We use our air conditioner and generally keep our doors and windows closed to keep our cool temperature inside as it is. Some like it, others don’t, no in between apparently.
I was really surprised to see one being set up at a COE park. There were dozens of people so I can only assume they had several sites. The one thing I noticed was they set up next to a camp host. Not sure if that was by design but I would assume it was allowed to have projector screens. Fortunately for us, it was not close enough to worry about. They had lots of children so I assume it was a family friendly film.
I just think the new wave of RVers and campers has no idea how to camp without noise, lights and gadgets.
You mean that they should think of someone else and not just themselves.
Really this subject could apply to several different things, I have witnessed people outside watching sports on the outside TV, which doesn’t interest me, as long as their TV doesn’t talk beyond their site. I’m sure that person is outside because their DW doesn’t want to him to interfere with her soaps. Point being why do people go camping and insist on living like they do at home. Personally I’m trying to get away from everyday life, I have went camping and didn’t have a TV in the camper and was enjoying myself immensely. If just sitting in my chair and watching people walking by. It’s relaxing, more people would enjoy their lives. And animosity levels would decrease, perfect place for “can’t we all just get a long”.
Rules for Thee not for ME! I hate those things and should never be allowed in campgrounds, RV Parks or anywhere in public. Maybe on a BLM site where the nearest neighbor is a half mile away.
Outdoor movie projectors or televisions; both are irksome. Think I will fire up the campfire and turn up the blues tunes. I wonder if that yappy dog ever shuts up?
Smoke from other peoples campfires is also annoying.
Nanci,
You are OLD and out of touch.
Today our society particularly younger (Meaning 50 and younger) are very visual and totally engaged in visual entertainment. That movie screen is their campfire!
You need to understand that in today’s world “It’s All About Me”!
Why should I care if you want to go to bed at 9:30 when the evenings second movie is just now starting? I paid for my campsite just like you did. Close your damn blinds if the light from the screen bothers you!
Oh by the way the Brownies you shared with us when we arrived were Yummy!
What’s for breakfast in the morning?
Hi, Bull. I’m quite a bit older than Nanci. I’m very glad to be OLD, but I’m not out of touch (and neither is she, of course). I think we’re proud to be of an older generation where it wasn’t just about me, me, me, and we have respect and consideration for others. Not all of the younger people today are so selfish, of course, but it’s very sad and depressing that there are so many like that. Have a great day. 🙂 –Diane at RVtravel.com
I trust you see the sarcasm in my post above?
Of course, bull. I saw it and totally understand where you’re coming from. Just didn’t want Nanci to feel like you were picking on her. (Sometimes it’s a good thing to be, and be called, “OLD.”😉) Take care. 😀 –Diane
Fire up that diesel pusher and show them what noise and fumes are all about. that’s what I did and they got the picture turned their crap off
When there is an old guy involved there is always a solution!
This needs to be BANNED st all campgrounds. If you want to whatch a movie, stay home. Inconsiderate Karen’s.
Oh stop! I don’t do it, but I am all for people having fun. We all do this differently. It’s not like we can commune with nature in a packed like sardines campground. Relax, enjoy, and get off your high horse. And YES my name is Karen.
Oh just great, now instead of having outdoor TV’s blaring all around me now I will have outdoor movie screens with bright screens and amplified sound to contend with.
Thanks for the article. I strongly dislike this activity. I’m choosing nice words, so it’ll be a bit tricky expressing myself. This is the extremity of being selfish and unconcerned about those around you. There is a clear line for what’s acceptable and neighborly in a campground; we all understand that, but some choose to ignore it. And further, I think it is childish and tacky to spend otherwise quality time in an activity that precludes conversation and stocking your life with meaningful memories.
You expressed yourself very well, and very tactfully. Thanks, Stan. Have a good evening/night. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Agreed…
Thank you, Nanci!