If you’ve ever been in some campground bath houses and showers, you’d know that some are just plain nasty! They’re unsanitary, full of gross heebie jeebies and can be downright scary! So, we are sharing some helpful tips on how to survive those campground public showers and come out alive!

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Campground Shower Survival Tips

Why on earth would we need to use a campground shower if we have a shower in our RV?

Well, there’s simple answer to that question. If there are no sewer hookups at the campground, that means we have to diligently monitor every drop of water that goes down the drain into our gray tank.

Then, Dan would have to begrudgingly haul our portable sewage tote, also known as the honey wagon, out to empty it at the campground dump station.

So, instead of burdening Dan with that dirty task, I just slip on my shower shoes, grab my towel and my shower tote and head for the campground bath house to take a shower. It’s a great way to get a nice, long hot shower and space to actually get to shave my legs too!

Another reason why some RVers may not want to shower in their RVs is showers create moisture inside the coach. While others may not want to be bothered with taking everything out of the shower (because some also use them as storage spaces). So, they just take showers at the campground’s bath house.

Best time to go to the campground bath house showers?

While we all would love to start our day with a hot shower, you may find yourself locked out of the bath house in the mornings for cleaning.

So, ask the campground office or camp host what time(s) they typically close the bath house for cleaning. Then plan your shower time accordingly. 

Also, since campgrounds are typically busier on weekends, it’s considered good campground etiquette to not take long showers when everyone else is waiting in line. Wait to shave your legs, color your hair or whatever else you’re doing in there for a different less-busy time.

It might be better to take your showers when everyone else is out exploring or enjoying their camping adventures. I’ve found the best time is about dinner time.

Campground Shower Safety

Your personal and family’s safety and privacy should be your first priority. I want to bring up a few important personal safety issues.

So, listen up; especially for you ladies and those with children and teens. You may want to scope out the campground’s bath houses and shower situations before loading up your shower gear. And here’s why…

Some campground bath house showers don’t have lockable shower stall doors. They only have a shower curtain that flails every time someone opens the door leaving you vulnerable due to lack of privacy.

I get all nilly-willy about campground bath houses that don’t have private, locking shower stall doors. I just have this vision of some jerk reaching their smartphone camera through the curtain to snap a picture like that nasty Playboy model took photos of an unsuspecting woman in a ladies gym locker room and then posted it on social media.

If you, like myself, don’t feel comfortable showering in bath house stalls with just curtains, consider taking a buddy to keep a lookout outside your shower stall.

Another important campground shower survival tip is to take a whistle. And keep it within easy reach should you need it to alert someone of an unwelcome intruder or criminal.

Unless your totally comfortable going to the campground bath house at night (which I am not!), you may want to wait to take your shower in the morning.

NEVER allow your children or even teens go to the campground showers alone or without an adult.

And lastly, just to be on the safe side, always let your spouse, significant other or travel partner know you’re going to the campground shower and about how long you’ll be gone.

So, now that we’ve got the shower safety rules out of the way, let’s get on with more campground shower survival tips.

Shower Shoes

Let’s say it here. There’s a crap ton of little gross and nasty things living on shower floors that cause athlete’s foot, nail fungus, plantar’s warts and whatever else that will rot your feet off.

So, we highly recommend wearing some sort of foot protection before stepping onto the shower floor. Simple slip-on shower sandals offer protection between you and the heebie jeebies. But, make certain they are slip-resistant with traction so you don’t slip and end up in some really embarrassing position.

Shower Tote

In my opinion, mesh shower totes are the best because the bottles and other contents will dry faster if you just let it hang outside or in your own shower when you get back to your own RV. Oh, and get one like the one above with lots of pockets to hold your hair brush, comb, shave gel and razor, face scrub, lotion, and other shower foo-foos.

Shower Stall Hooks

Through our travels, we’ve noticed that campground bath house shower stalls never have enough hooks for us to hang stuff in the shower as well as outside the shower.

So, we keep a few shower hooks stashed in our shower bag for us to hang our shower tote, bath towel, and loofa. 

Spray Disinfectant

Maybe this is over-kill but that’s what we want!! Seriously, having been a former short-lived Camp Host, you’d understand why I’m suggesting this.

Whenever shower in a campground shower or bath house, I’m spraying down damn near EVERYTHING with spray disinfectant. Because shower stalls are big huge Petri dishes. Laugh all you want but I ‘ain’t getting that’…whatever ‘that’ is. I’ll spray down the shower floor, shower walls, the bench, etc.

Travel Bottles

If you don’t want to carry a shower tote, you can find these awesome shower bottles that hang on from a lanyard that you hang right on the shower rod. They are leak-proof, BPA-free bottles that are perfect for containing your shower gel, shampoo, conditioner and shaving lotion.

Puppy Pads?

I learned about this genius idea from a magazine article. A woman laid a puppy pad or disposable small bed cover on the floor (plastic side down) in the dressing room. After showering, she’d step out onto the dry pad. She wouldn’t have to worry about dropping her clean undies on the wet and dirty floor.

After she was dressed, she would just pick it up (without touching the plastic part that was in contact with the floor) and toss it in the trash.

Those disposable bed cover pads are also great to cover the shower stall bench so you can actually sit on them without catching cooties.

Final thoughts

That wraps up our campground shower survival tips that we hope will help combat your fears of showering where things smell weird and grow out of the walls and in the drains. Joking aside, not all bath house showers are as gross. But it never hurts to be prepared.

Oh and lastly, speaking of campground showers, check out our video on one of the reasons why we may never camp host again! And it had something to do with the campground showers!

More Campground and RV Tips…

Campground Etiquette: Camping Rules to Remember

How We Find RV Parks and Campgrounds

RVer’s Guide to Personal Safety on the Road

RV Bathroom Storage and Organization Hacks

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