Camping dos and don’ts at a glance
Most camping rules come down to three ideas: look after the place, look after yourself, and be considerate of the people around you. The lists below turn those ideas into habits. Rules also vary by campground, park and country, so treat this as a general guide and check the local rules before you go.
Camping dos
- Check the rules before you leave. Look up reservation requirements, fire restrictions, quiet hours and any food storage rules for your specific site. Our guides to national park camping rules and Iceland camping rules show how much these can differ.
- Arrive with daylight to spare. Pitching a tent in the dark makes mistakes, trip hazards and noise for neighbors more likely.
- Follow Leave No Trace. Pack out your trash, food scraps and anything else you brought in. Use toilets where they exist, and follow local guidance on human waste where they do not.
- Camp on durable, designated ground. Use the established pad or site (developed sites are described in what frontcountry camping is) and keep to existing paths so vegetation is not trampled.
- Store food properly. Keep food, trash and scented items in a way that suits the area, such as a hard-sided vehicle, a food locker, a bear canister or a hung bag, as local guidance directs.
- Respect quiet hours. Many campgrounds set quiet hours in the late evening, often around 10 pm, but the posted times at your site are the ones that count.
- Keep your site tidy. A clean site is safer and attracts fewer animals.
Camping don’ts
- Don’t keep food in your tent. Crumbs and wrappers can attract insects, rodents and larger animals to where you sleep.
- Don’t cut through other people’s sites. Treat each site as someone’s temporary home and use the paths.
- Don’t feed wildlife. Animals that learn to expect human food can become a danger to themselves and to later campers.
- Don’t bring firewood from far away. Moving firewood can spread tree pests and diseases. Buy it near where you will burn it, or use what the campground allows.
- Don’t camp where it is not allowed. Private land, business car parks and many road-side spots are off limits without permission. See is wild camping free for how to think about this.
- Don’t run loud music or generators at night. Check generator hours at your campground.
- Don’t leave a fire unattended.
Campfire basics
Campfire rules change with the season and can be tightened or banned at short notice during dry periods, so check current restrictions first. In general:
- Use an existing fire ring or stove where provided.
- Keep fires small and keep water close.
- Never leave a fire unattended.
- Put it out fully (more fire basics are in camping survival skills): drown it with water, stir the ashes, and check that it is cold to the touch before you leave or go to bed.
Food, wildlife and pets
Where large animals live, food storage rules are not optional, and the right method depends on the region. Follow what the land manager asks for. Keep cooking and eating away from where you sleep when you can; car camping cooking has tips on a tidy camp kitchen.
If you bring a dog (see camping with small dogs), keep it on a leash where required, pick up after it and do not leave it alone at camp. Some areas, including parts of national parks, limit where pets can go.
Being a good neighbor
- Keep your voice and lights down after dark.
- Keep your site within its marked boundary and keep vehicle numbers to what is allowed.
- Drive slowly through the campground.
- Say hello. Most campers are happy to help if something goes wrong.
Rules depend on where you camp
A private campground, a national park, public land and a foreign country can all have quite different rules about booking, fires, group size and stay length. Read national park camping rules if you plan to camp in a park, and check Iceland camping rules if you are heading there, since vehicle camping is handled very differently from tent camping.
Solo camping notes
If you camp alone, tell someone your plan and expected return, carry a way to call for help if you can, and choose a developed campground for a first trip, and read our women camping alone guide for more. Solo trips are good for slow activities such as reading, short hikes, photography, stargazing or cooking something simple, but they leave you with less margin if something goes wrong, so plan a little more cautiously.
FAQ
What are some basic camp rules? Follow posted rules, keep quiet at night, store food properly, keep fires safe, stay on your site and pack out what you bring.
Why do some people not like camping? Common reasons are discomfort, weather, bugs and poor sleep. Better planning (see how to plan a camping trip) and gear make a real difference, and starting with a short trip at a developed campground can help.
How do I camp in a national park? Reserve a site or get a permit if required, camp in the designated area and follow the park’s food storage and fire rules. Details are in our national park camping rules article.