The concept of
social distancing is really nothing new to campers who love to get out to
enjoy wide open spaces. But it’s now something everyone must abide by. And
while we would all love to go camping to escape this pandemic, many of us are
unable to right now due to government policies and safety practices limiting
non-essential travel. These restrictions, while necessary, are seriously
impacting campgrounds across the country, many of which are fighting to
provide lodging to full-time RVers and other essential workers that must
travel for their jobs.

If you can’t go camping right now, there are several things you
can do to help support your favorite campgrounds during this
time:

• Postpone and reschedule your trips instead of cancelling
  them. Find another time down the road to visit these parks and
  give both the park and yourself a reason to look forward.
• Buy gift certificates from the campground to give others or
  to use for future trips. Give yourself, a friend or a family
  member the gift of a camping trip.
• Purchase t-shirts or other items from your campground’s
  online store, if they have one. They, like all small
  businesses during this time, will appreciate the extra
  revenue.
• Support parks and campground on social
  media. Like, share, retweet and interact with parks on their
  social channels to help promote their brand. Leave a positive review as
  thanks for a past stay. Many campgrounds are offering fun activities like
  virtual scavenger hunts, hosting live streams of musical acts or other
  interactive activities that are great fun for you and your
  family

Between now and your next camping trip, why not try a little
virtual camping? Many RV parks and campgrounds offer virtual tours on their
websites and social media. This is a great time to take a few virtual tours
of campgrounds you’re interested in so you can decide which ones you want to
visit. You can even set up a tent or make a fort in your yard or house and
pretend you’re visiting your favorite park! Bonus if you wear the campground
shirt you purchase and share with the campground on social
media!

If you do have to travel to a campground or RV park, or are already
residing at one, here are some tips to follow to help ensure that your
camping experience is optimal:

• Check the status of the area you’re planning to
  visit. Be sure to get up to date on all federal, state and
  local rules and recommendations regarding visits and business operations in
  the area. Information is changing fast, so be sure to check
  often.
• Don’t plan a trip if any members of your party are feeling
  sick. You wouldn’t want their symptoms to worsen while camping
  and/or to expose others to their illness.
• Check with your campground. Visit your
  campground’s website and social media to make sure they’re open for business
  and to get updates on what they are doing to follow the Centers for Disease
  Control and Prevention (CDC), local and federal guidelines. Make sure they
  have a safety plan that is clearly defined and that it is one you feel
  comfortable following. Don’t hesitate to give your campground a call if you
  have specific questions.
• Observe social distancing guidelines.
  Remember to do this in all facets of your trip, from your campsite or cabin
  accommodations to using any shared facilities to enjoying outdoor activities
  such as hiking. Use grocery delivery services, if necessary, if you find that
  you didn’t bring enough supplies with you.
• Go cashless whenever possible. This will
  help you avoid any possible contamination from exchanging coins or paper
  money.
• Respect temporary changes. Campgrounds may
  be making some changes such as restricting park capacity or limiting some
  activities or amenities in order to comply with current government guidelines
  and best practices. Remember that these changes are being made in your best
  interest and to keep everyone safe.

Finally, if you do have the opportunity to stay at a campground
during these challenging times, be sure to leave an online review and to
share your experience with other campers on social media. This will let them
know they can look forward to having a positive camping experience there,
too. The owners of your favorite campgrounds will appreciate it and they will
welcome you back with open arms once this crisis is over.