This research was to test the structural connections among the quality of recreation services, visitor satisfaction, place attachment, and responsible behavior. Specifically, the study investigates how place attachment and tourist satisfaction influence responsible behavior, as well as their mediating roles in the connection between recreation service quality and responsible behavior of rural tourists. Data for this study were collected online over a span of 9 weeks from 405 travelers who visited rural areas in Jiangxi, China, within the past six months. Findings indicate that the quality of recreation services offered by destinations positively affects tourist satisfaction, place attachment, and tourists’ responsible behaviors. The findings indicate two mediating pathways: (a) Tourist satisfaction partially mediates the relationship between recreation service quality and responsible behavior and (b) place attachment also serves as a partial mediator in the link between recreation service quality and tourists’ responsible behavior. It offers theoretical insights and practical recommendations for promoting the sustainability of rural tourism destinations.