When you picture RV life, what imagery comes to mind? I bet somewhere in your mental image there is a blue sky. And maybe some green grass and budding wildflowers somewhere. Perhaps you envision the rocky cliffs of Utah’s robust red desertscape. Or a multicolored autumn highway. But I would bet that your mental picture doesn’t come with icicles hanging from your awning, or sheets of rain gathering mud and mini landslides next to your campsite. Being outside is an invigorating experience that many of us strive to attain regularly. But if you give yourself to four-season RV camping entirely, you and your RV must be prepared for the elements.
So, let’s dive into all four seasons and what you need to do get ready — and stay safe.
Summer: Planning for Extremes
Don’t Forget About Rain
Our family spent the most delightful summer in the Blue Ridge Mountains this year at Wilson’s RV Park in Asheville. The summer flew in on the tails of fireflies and butterflies. The weather was so perfect it was like a dream. Until, it wasn’t.
Around the middle of summer, it started to rain, and it didn’t stop … for three straight weeks.
Instead of making s’mores and catching fireflies by the campfire, we were huddled inside. All the while rain and hail pelted our camper. And when it wasn’t raining, the mosquitos were hatching, buzzing, and biting. It can feel miserable when rain imprisons you inside your small RV space.
Rain, in most seasons and across multiple landscapes is flat out fixture. Which means you’re going to have to be ready for it in four-season RV camping. But don’t despair! Here are some ways to mitigate the rainy-day discomforts:
Tips for Summer Showers
- Assess Your Site Selection. When choosing your RV site, if there is rain possible during your stay, be judicious about selecting your site. If you are near a river or other water feature, ask how often it floods, and in which areas. I have stayed at campgrounds where RVs have literally washed down a raging river.
- Bring the Right Rain Gear. Make sure your rain gear is up to par. Not all rain gear is created equal! (No, water resistant is not the same as waterproof.) A good, light, rain jacket, is invaluable. If it packs up small, even better.
- Throw in the Towel. Have extra towels. I find myself using towels endlessly during rainy stays in the RV.
- Let the Games Begin. Designate a game section in your RV! Rainy day games are such a fun and cozy way to connect with friends and family.
- Start Arts and Crafts. Make something that you’ve always wanted to make, but never have time to when the weather is ripe for exploration. I love making crafts in the RV. (It drives my family nuts, but I find it soothing and satisfying. )
Handling That Summer Heat
The only thing worse than summer rain, is summer heat. Rain is uncomfortable, but heat can be dangerous. We stayed in Utah in the middle of summer in our RV, boondocking by the Colorado River without any hookups. Everyday we crossed our fingers that our Honda inline Generators would continue purring behind our camper, powering our life saving AC unit. Utah is one of those places where you have to be mindful and aware of the heat on a consistent basis. People die in that kind of heat. Regularly.
Here are some things to keep in mind when RVing in excessive heat.
Ways to Beat the Heat
- Extend Your Awning. Your awning will be your saving grace. Don’t lose it! Keep it rolled up and put away if you aren’t using it. It only takes one microburst to come barreling through the canyon to tear apart your awning in under 5 seconds! (Yes, this happened to us). Without our awning, we had no shade under the relentless desert sun. It was awful.
- Open an Umbrella. Bring shade with you! Don’t go anywhere without a hat. Make shade with an umbrella if you need to. I love walking around with an umbrella in the sun. I would attach one to my hat if it wasn’t’ so absurd.
- Protect Any Paws. If you have a dog, be aware that the heat on asphalt or even sidewalks can burn the pads on their paws. In Utah, the first thing we did was find a pet store and buy little doggy booties for our pup. She is a black dog, and being in the sun can be hard for her, so I fashioned her a little white cape out of an old tshirt. It made a huge difference! (Read more on hiking with dogs.)
- Plan for Power Failure. Have a back up plan in case your AC unit or generator dies. If you’re in a campsite with no shade, you will want to have an escape plan if something breaks. We love our Honda in-line generators, they can run together, or independently, so if one craps out, we aren’t up the creek.
Fall and Spring: The Seasonal Sweet Spots
Fall and spring are undoubtedly the best time of year to be in an RV. They’re the pinnacle of four-season RV camping. The weather is cool and crisp, and perfectly warm under the sun. In the fall, you might see the leaves turn red and orange on the east coast, or the Aspens turn the Colorado mountains into a golden fire storm of picture perfect views.
As you soak in the scenery, be prepared for variations in weather. The only downside to these seasons is having enough space to pack all your weather gear. Fall and spring are perfectly delightful, but they carry more temperature variations than other seasons. So, you need to have your summer clothes, your winter clothes and everything in between. Make extra space in your closets! Personally, if I’m traveling to new places with varied climates, I like to pack light, and use it as an excuse to hit up the local thrift stores. Especially out west where the thrift stores know no equal!
Winter: Four-Season RV Camping’s Big Challenge
Step 1: Dress Accordingly
Winter can be the most intimidating climate of them all. But I find that it doesn’t matter how cold it is, your comfort level is directly connected to your ability to dress and wear appropriate layers. Our family spends extended amounts of time living in cold weather, on a sailboat and in an RV. Knowing how to dress for the weather, means we are perfectly comfortable in almost any temperature.
Here are some tips for keeping your body warm, but not hot, in cold temperatures.
Things You Can Do For You
- Work Those Layers. Layer yourself with a lightweight base layer, preferably polypropylene. The polypropylene dries quickly, in case you start sweating. We also love merino wool base layers. We used those on both our kids, and they were happy as clams in sub freezing temperatures, all day. Tip: don’t wear constricting socks or gloves.
- Think About Extemeties. Staying warm really is all about the extremities. Here is my secret sauce to keeping warm in cold weather: Keep your ears/head warm with hat or ear muffs + keep your neck warm with scarf or buff + keep your hands warm with light gloves + keep your feet warm with (not too tight) socks, + keep ankles warm with wool leg warmers. Everything else is secondary!
- Keep Your Hands Warm. Hand warmers! We live by these things. I used to spend all day in a horse barn in the cold midwestern winters of Iowa, and I would stick one of these warmers in between two layers of socks in each of my riding boots. But be warned, if you keep the hand warmers on bare skin for too long, you could end up with a small chemical burn. And if you’re really out there, like skiing or snowboarding, consider a rechargeable hand warmer!
- Prevent Cold-Weather Injury. The biggest risk in cold weather climate is hypothermia. It happens more often than you would think. Some tips to avoid that are:
- Staying dry (hence the quick drying base layers).
- Good head gear (we loose more heat off the top of our heads than anywhere else).
- Avoid overly constricting socks, gloves, and hats.
- Listen to your body! If you feel confused, if if you’re shivering uncontrollably, extremely tired, or stumbling when trying to walk, you may be experiencing symptoms of hypothermia.
- Get out of the wind if you feel the effects of hypothermia coming on.
- Be prepared with a blanket (or space blanket) if you’re going on a long hike or even a long drive somewhere cold and remote.
Step 2: Prep the Inside of Your Rig for Four-Season RV Camping
I think being in an RV in winter is pretty much the coziest thing ever. You just need a few things in place to keep your basic comfort needs met.
- Invest in Space Heaters. A small space heater can go a long way in an RV. We find this small portable one does the trick for us. Without it, we were too cold in the mornings to get out of bed! I love the automatic shut off feature on the heater. I probably wouldn’t use a heater in such a small space without this feature. And I definitely wouldn’t use any kind of propane camping heater. They do make propane camping heaters, but I think they are meant to be used outside, where the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning isn’t really a thing.
- Beef Up Your Bedding. This is especially important if you don’t have access to a heater of any kind. My favorite four-season RV camping essential: a puffy blanket. It’s warm, but light and airy. I never feel stuffy or sweaty, but I’m always perfectly warm under it, no matter how cold it is.
- Maintain Propane Safety. If you find yourself cooking indoors often, don’t forget to open your windows and maybe even your door if you’re using a propane stove. We sometimes use an induction hot plate to supplement using so much propane indoors.
Step 3: Keep Your RV Pipes Warm
If you’re in subfreezing temperatures, you may want to think about taking precautions to keep your lines from freezing. It only takes 24 hours of sub freezing temperatures for the pipes to freeze.
- Keep a space heater on.
- Keep your faucets on a slow trickle if necessary.
- Open the cabinet doors under your sinks to keep the warm air circulating.
- Install some heating pads on your tanks if possible.
- If the tanks are above the floor level, you can wrap a blanket around them to help with insulation.
- Invest in RV heat tape for your pipes.
- Consider investing in an RV with a heated underbelly. A heated underbelly will keep your lines, fresh water tanks, and holding tanks from freezing.
- If you are investing in a four seasons camper, make sure there is sufficient insulation, in addition to the heated underbelly. Closed cell rigid foam insulation is the best option for RV walls.
Breaking Out When the Weather Gets Tough
- If you have kids, hit up the local library! (This is always great for homeschooling your child while you travel.) You can learn so much about the history, natural science, and key attractions of the place you are visiting at the library. I find librarians to be the easiest people in the world to talk to. They can offer local knowledge, and even some hidden gems and attractions in the area.
- Go to a museum or aquarium! Even the tiniest towns are usually equipped with some sort of museum or local attraction.
- My favorite rainy day event: thrift store shopping.
Even when the weather takes an ugly turn, go outside anyways! My guess is that the reason you’re interested in four-season RV camping is that you love adventure. So, bad weather shouldn’t stop you from exploring. Get your cold weather or rain gear on and take a hike! This summer in the RV, after weeks of wet weather, we discovered a fascinating biproduct of summer rain: mushrooms! Mushroom hunting has become a top activity for our family. At first, we just looked. But after discovering dozens of different species in only a week’s time, we decided to start foraging. (Here’s a great book on how to forage for mushrooms without dying.) The bottom line: Four-season RV camping is awesome, because nature is awesome. And when you’re out there every season, you see things folks at home never will.
