There’s camping. And then there’s the whole RV universe. They live in the same neighborhood, but they are not the same vibe.
Tent camping is simple. Not always easy, but simple. Pack less. Plan a little. Forget something anyway. Sleep close enough to the ground to hear every leaf crackle.
While RV camping is more like a system. Hoses, cords, levels…a little more complexity, but that usually also means more comfort.
And look, both styles are totally valid. But when they share the same campground, little things turn into big feelings real fast.
Here are 10 classic RV camper habits that can make tent campers quietly lose it.
1. Running the generator all day
Nothing kills a peaceful morning like a generator that sounds like a lawnmower eating gravel.
Sometimes it’s necessary, sure. But when it starts at 7:00 a.m. and runs until dinner, it stops being about power needs and becomes noise pollution.
Bonus points for placing it as close as humanly possible to the tent loop.
Tent campers usually want to be immersed in nature, hear its sounds, and enjoy its peacefulness.
2. Lighting up the whole campsite
Some RV setups are beautiful. Like, genuinely impressive.
But the string lights, porch lights, awning lights, step lights, and security floodlights can get intense.
Tent campers usually hate that stadium lighting idea. They’re trying to see stars, and the light from a campfire is usually enough.
3. The “it’s basically a house” attitude
There’s a particular energy some RV campers bring. Like the campground is a temporary suburb, and everyone else is just visiting.
Tent campers are out there doing the whole camping thing. Cooking on a small stove, washing dishes in a bin, living with a little mess.
When an RV camper complains that the site isn’t level enough for the slide-out, it lands weirdly.
4. Taking up way more space than seems necessary
An RV, plus the tow vehicle, plus the patio mat, plus the grill, plus the folding table, plus the extra shed tent thing.
Some tent campers complain that RVs take up too much space, often more than necessary.
They look over and think, wow. That’s a lot of gear for someone who is supposed to be outdoors.
5. Driving through loops
RVs are big. People have to maneuver. Everyone understands that.
What tent campers can’t stand is the speed. The fast roll through the campground, the dust cloud, the loud acceleration.
Campgrounds are full of kids on bikes, dogs on leashes, people walking to the bathroom in flip flops.
6. Loud outdoor TVs
A lot of tent campers go outside to unplug. Or at least pretend to.
So when the sound of football commentary or reality TV drama starts floating through the trees, it hits different and not in a good way.
It’s best to keep the volume low so no one gets disturbed.
7. Dump station
Nobody wants to think about tanks, that’s just the truth.
The issue is when the conversation at the water spigot becomes “So the black tank was acting up…” or someone starts rinsing hoses and parts right where others fill bottles and wash dishes.
Or they roll past the dump station, and somehow the smell follows.
Handle the messy stuff discreetly, clean up well, and keep the hose situation contained. Campground etiquette is basically that no one else should have to think about your tanks.
8. Rolling in late and setting up loudly
Tent campers tend to arrive, set up, and settle down. The whole thing is pretty quiet and quick.
An RV arrival can obviously be noisier. Backup beeps, leveling jacks, slide outs, door slams.
In this case, a quieter bare minimum setup is probably the best decision. Level enough, lights low, and finish the fancy stuff the next day.
9. Idling forever
Sometimes a rig needs to warm up. But there’s a difference between getting ready to leave and running the engine for 30 minutes while chatting with a neighbor.
Noise, fumes, and that low rumble that travels through the whole loop. Tent campers can’t exactly roll up windows.
10. Assuming tent campers don’t belong in their campground
The last thing is more about attitude.
Sometimes there’s an unspoken vibe that tent campers are second class, or they’re going to be loud, or they don’t pay enough, or they should be over in some corner loop far away from the nice sites.
Most RV campers are friendly. But when someone acts like they own the place because they brought a big rig, tent campers definitely notice. And they remember.
Campgrounds work best when everyone acts like neighbors, not like strangers or rivals.
Keep the noise down, keep the lights reasonable, share the space, and remember sound and smell travel as well.
Tent campers and RV campers can totally get along. Most of the time they do. But it only takes a few bad habits to make the whole loop feel tense.
