Readers Respond: What Has Spoiled One Of Your Camping Trips?

Responses: 60

From David Sweet, former About.com Guide

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I have gone camping once before where it rained the entire day, from 5am to after midnight. We had nothing to do and just decided to head out, so we packed up in the dark and rain. Everything was soaked and we were exhausted.
—Guest Jess

Our last winter desert trip. Out of about 35 people, we ended up with 8 injuries. The worst was a broken wrist and neck for the same person. But, all ended well. I was told I did a great job on our friend, who split his chin while riding out in the dunes. For the last trip for the winter season, it went well. We all had a good time. Even with injuries.
—0711Lisa

We were camping at Crystal Lake in Iowa, which is where we camp often. They were dredging the lake that year (yippee, it was really needed). Apparently I was allergic to some of the little parasites that were dredged up and I broke out all over my entire body and my eyes swelled up into huge puffballs. That really ruined the rest of my trip.
—Guest jrsurohlfs

Too many electronic devices. Camping is suppose to be quiet. Exceptions are weather radio and GPS. Do it the Boy Scout way.
—Guest Bob

Of all the camping trips I have taken over the years only two stand out as spoiled. Many years ago my family and I were at our favorite campground and my younger sister got so constipated she had to be admitted to the hospital. The "porta potties" were too much for her. I remember one weekend at the same campground that stopped before it started. By the time we got to our campsite (where our tent camper was already set up) a tornado had gone through and left everything in a terrible mess. No one was hurt, but the weekend was over.
—Guest steved

Recently, we stayed in a park next to where our daughter was attending a Scout event. In the morning another camper asked if we had seen anyone taking things out of the camp kitchen. Many campers lost food that night including us. Apparently, it is a regular occurrence at this park - well thanks for telling us after the event. We travelled for 3 months and never encountered this problem. It was locals, not other campers.
—terriblycluttered

My husband, 11 year old son and I just wanted a quiet weekend. Well we got neighbors, no problem, but they just kept coming. All night long they partied with loud music and yelling. I looked at my watch, it was 4:30am and they were still at it. Must have been over 50 people. Worst night ever. We called the rangers the next day and they came, found drugs and weapons, gave tickets and kicked them out.
—Guest Alicia

Well would it be when my car battery kept dying and AAA kept having to come to the campground to jump my car? The AAA guy ended up eating dinner with us a few nights. Or was it the first time I took my kids camping, my first time in nearly 35 years, and we got the typical Pacific northwest weather - downpour, rain rain rain. Of course we were only to stay one night, because the campground was full, but after it started raining prime campsites opened up and we stayed 10 full nights. The rain only lasted one night! My kids were troopers! Wearing ponchos, helping to move our tent to another site and all of our gear. They love camping and say they sometimes miss the fact that we usually end up with sunny weather.
—momconom

We have camped in a new and beautiful motor home near our daughter, son-in-law and children in the mid-Michigan area that was gated (fine), but they also charged 6.00 per person any age to use the pool including our 6 month old grandchild. That's greedy! We then went to Merril,MI, and the rules about drinking, drugs and sex only apply to those who don't go there and stay home. This park with a lake put so many campers, tents and motor homes in that it was a problem to move and the stench of everything was unbearable and not a good place for the grandchildren ages 5 to 12 years. The managers took the money from these drunken druggies wearing thong bottoms and topless with booze in their hands and the stench of marijuana was overwhelming. We will never go there again, nor will we recommend it to anyone.
—Guest SIOLSON

Probably my worst trip was the first one with our new used motorhome. During the middle of the first night, we found water on the floor and discovered the water heater was leaking, so we spent the next day finding plumbing parts to bypass it so we could have water in the camper. Oh, and the camping pads were on about a 20 degree slope too.
—ebraith

Two years ago, just when we were leaving, my son asked me to pack his scooter. I bent over and out went my back. I tried toughing it out, drove 200 miles to the camp and my wife set up the camp. I sat and watched and directed. I woke up even more in pain, and we had to leave after one night of a week long trip. I was flat on my back for two weeks.
—Guest mudman55

Many years ago, we camped at a state campsite where our neighbors had several dogs. Most of the day they were gone, dogs tied up, barking the entire time they were gone. They came back, ate, left again with the dogs barking well into the night. (We mentioned to them about the dogs prior to them leaving a second time, and they were angry we said anything to them. These people had no consideration for the rest of the campground.
—Guest Kathleen Kennedy

Yup, there's no doubt about it. Some things you just have to accept - nature, weather, insects, etc. It's the people that ruin it all. Number one culprit - radios, boom boxes. If you want to listen to that crap, stay at home. I'll take the birds and the wind in the trees any time. Number two - smokers. Why must I suffer by breathing your cigarette/cigar/pipe smoke. All I want is a chance to enjoy the fresh air. Number three - 4-wheelers and trail bikes. Take them to designated areas. Don't contaminate my campground with their noise and smell. You respect my space, and I will for sure respect yours.
—Guest hermit at heart

I've run into most of what the others are calling bad events such as animals, weather, primitive facilities and getting lost, but I consider most of those part of the challenge and our perserverance is an integral part of the satisfaction of the trip. But the one thing that irritates me most and leaves a permanent bad taste is the inconsiderate, noisy or just plain 'bad' camping neighbors.
—Guest Westy Tech

My husband and I were not new to camping. We'd been tent campers for a few years, and we finally uprgaded to a pop-up camper. It had no extras. Basically it was a 4000 lb tent. But we didn't have to sleep on the ground, and we could stand up to change our clothes. Anyways, we took it out for the second time. We had a great time. We came home, parked it, cleaned it up and secured it. A couple weeks later we set out for another weekend. We get to our destination, picked a really good site and began to set up. My husband's job is the outside, my job is the inside. I go in to make the beds, and an ant colony has taken up residence. More ants than you can imagine. In a few short weeks carpenter ants moved in and multiplied. We had to scrape them off the bottom of the bed, pack up shop and come home. We had to vacuum them out. The tree we parked by got cut down, and every time since then we look before we leave. It took awhile to sleep on that end without getting the heebie jeebies.
—Guest happycampr

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