Spoiler: If you can smell their bacon or hear their Netflix, you may already have your answer.

🏕️ Close Quarters, Big Questions

Ah, the age-old RV conundrum:
You wanted nature, space, and tranquillity.
You got your neighbour’s campfire smoke in your awning, and a front-row seat to their speakerphone breakup.

So how close is too close?
Let’s talk about it—respectfully, and from at least two picnic tables away.

🚐 What “Too Close” Really Means

Distance at a campground isn’t just measured in feet. It’s measured in:

  • Volume – Are they talking or broadcasting?

  • Smell – Grilled hot dogs: welcome. Vape clouds and wet dog: less so.

  • Light – Are their fairy lights a vibe… or a disco invasion?

  • Movement – Are your stabilisers shaking because they walked past, or because they drove past on a scooter?

🔍 The Realities of Popular Campgrounds

At peak season, your idea of “elbow room” might need adjusting. National parks, waterfront resorts, and holiday weekends mean:

  • Tighter spacing

  • Shared utilities (hello, tangled water hose spaghetti)

  • Unintended socialising via sound, sightlines, and shared squirrels

But don’t despair—close proximity doesn’t have to mean discomfort.

💡 How to Make It Work (Without Moving)

If you're already parked and it's a tight squeeze:

✅ Do:

  • Set clear boundaries (figuratively and literally—camp mat lines count)

  • Keep your noise polite (save the karaoke for the forest)

  • Acknowledge neighbours kindly—sometimes a smile goes further than a fence

❌ Don’t:

  • Assume everyone’s down for conversation

  • Fire up a smoker under someone’s window

  • Play corn hole at 6 AM (you know who you are)

🔄 Booking Smarter Next Time

When possible, look for:

  • Pull-thru sites on the ends of rows

  • Camps with site dimensions listed

  • Satellite or street view tools (like Campground Views)

  • Off-peak windows for more breathing room

It’s not always about being anti-social—it’s about preserving choice in your social bandwidth.

❤️ The Unspoken Rule

A great campground isn’t just about the trees or the trails.
It’s about the vibe—and that comes from everyone giving each other just enough space.

So the next time you’re wondering if you’re too close?

If you can hear your neighbours whispering... maybe back it up.
If you can’t hear them laughing at your setup attempts… maybe go say hi.