Because the natural scenery is a huge part of what makes RV travel appealing, it’s important for RV’ers to keep the health of the environment in mind. Travelers should make sure to keep recreational vehicles on roads that it can navigate safely, and maintain the engines properly in order reduce emissions. Additionally, camping should be restricted to clearly marked campsites; recycling facilities and categories may be different from those you use at home, so it’s best to pay close attention to signage. Keeping disposable item usage to a minimum is a great way to reduce the amount of garbage you generate on the road. Packaging and excess materials should be discarded at home if possible; also, campers should be very careful about using fire to dispose of refuse. Items that will not burn, such as plastic and metals, should never be placed into a firepit. Additionally, carefully observing fire rules is imperative, as weather conditions may change the regulations regarding the building of campfires.

Saving energy and reducing usage of finite resources can also be as simple as configuring your RV’s placement on a campsite properly; natural shade and awnings can help keep your vehicle cool during summer months, while shielding from north and west-blowing winds can help you retain heat during colder ones. Labeling for tank additives and cleaning supplies should be read carefully in order to ensure earth-friendly ingredients; there are many options available to reduce your impact on the planet. In order to prevent damaging the bark of surrounding trees, it’s best to use a screw-in stake to restrain pets rather than tying leashes to the trees. The dump stations and showers provided by campgrounds should be left as you found them, with any messes that you made cleaned up before departing as a courtesy to other campers.