Camping Safety

Well, my two cents or experience, whatever you want to call it.
Over the past 20 + years, no issues. We travel all over, been up the west coast, stayed in multiple states, state and national parks, private campgrounds and rv parks, walmart, museums etc. For us, we just make sure we are aware of our surroundings, don't stay in an area that doesn't feel right. Staying for free, we go in to the establishment, ask for the manager, get permission and they usually tell you where to park, get their name and are very comfortable. We stay most anywhere, also carry maps and check websites for stopping points. Cracker Barrel, Cabelas, other restaurants, museums, even stayed the night at a gm dealership as we were getting an oil change the next day, stayed at Lowe's in California. But overall, no worries, on our part, about 6 to 8 thousand miles per year, only one time had an uncomfortable issue. That was at a campground near mount hood oregon, i woke up about 3 am, something didn't feel right, we left. no biggie. Anyhow, just go, be aware, be carful and know where you are and enjoy your travels.

I'm 82, and I've almost always felt like I lived in danger. BUT I do NOT live in fear. Today I feel like there is more
danger than previously. If I say more, it'll be political,....sorry.

Probably a little more risk if you're staying in sketchy places, which have increased in numbers. There's more people, more touchy people, more angry people, most of whom are encouraged by the media to act out their issues.

For us its safer today in campgrounds with park rangers....cell phones...active campgrounds hosts or mgrs or owners and active CSO deputys...gated COE campgrounds vs years past (60s/70s/80s) where there was little to no help from the above.

We stay away from campgrounds close to big cities....close to a college town or campgrounds known for partying.

In the early '70s we were camped (fishing) in one of our favorite COE campgrounds in NE Oklahoma.
Sat afternoon 12-14 pickup loads of the local KKK chapter thugs started drifting in with water tanks in the back of several trucks that were full of ice and beer. By 10 oclock most were drunk ...then their guns came out. Pistols...shotguns...two AKs...calibers and gauges of all sizes. They had the road blocked so no one could leave or get in.

A farmer about a mile away heard all the gun fire...called the sheriff office. Deputies from two counties....several cars full of state troopers swooped in and bagged all of them. One trooper told us who these jerks were and confiscated 26 weapons of all sizes.
My kids were under 10 years as were several other campers. The whole campground was scared of these idiots. I sure was and I carried back then.

I feel much safer today than 50+ years ago while camping.

I have not noticed a great increase in "Incidents" other than theft of Catalytic Converters. This is not "Dangerous" just costly. (And insurance..well that's what it's for).

Now.. I have noticed that there are places where I would rather NOT park a Motor home not even overnight. So far I've found about 4 or 5 of them (in 15 years of RVing) What did I do? Park elsewhere of course.. Without incident.

Your eyes and your "Gut" are very good protection.. if it does not look safe.. Move on. Do keep doors double locked at night.. I recommend against Guns for protection.. Fire Extinguishers are good. Have several not just the one inside the door (that little 5 pound joke) but some "All Fire" foam types.. They put out wood/fiber fires. Gas/oil fires.. Electrical fires, Passion Fires (see movie 6 Pack staring Kenny Rogers. he uses one to put out a passion Fire) If the attacker can not breath due to the powder (in the movie's case) he's not going to continue the attack.

The bodies piling up seem to indicate that it is not safer today versus prior years. Nearly all communities have had cases where stray bullets have killed innocent people on the street or asleep in bed.
The perps have moved out of their neighborhood to other neighborhoods and brought their violence with them. They are mobile.
Drugs and gangs don't care who you are or where you are.

I don't think it's safer or not safer. Things happened before. My parents were camping in a campground when someone used a knife to slash a tent and attack the occupants. My grandparents were mugged while parked in a remote area.

As others have said, using common sense and your eyes will prevent a lot. Just like in the past. Folks didn't park in a bad area overnight 40 years ago thinking it was safe - folks don't park in a bad area overnight today thinking it is safe.

bgum wrote:
The bodies piling up

Just last Friday I had to negotiate the rig around a couple of those piles while arriving at the campground.


Where do you get your info? In 1990 there were 9 homicide deaths per 100K population in the US. From 2010 through 2020 that number has floated around 5 per 100K or less. The MS media, gubmint, and political hacks will lead you to believe otherwise. Never let a good crisis go to waste.

They're piling up.

Camping safety seems the same to me these last few years, but...

In my small town, the car break-ins, outright car stealing and store shoplifting is definitely more than it used to be.

Mostly the media making it easier to distribute news. 40-50yrs ago, you likely would never hear about a stray murder 1000miles away. Now your internet news feed will pop up with murder news from every podunk town across the country. The podunk towns were still having murders back 50yrs ago but you just never heard about them.

With modern tools, you can check out reviews of locations which likely makes it even safer to travel with an RV.

Another added benefit is newer tow vehicles are far safer.