How to Stay Cool in a Camper, RV or Van

Recently the Pacific Northwest saw an unprecedented heat wave. Portland metro area hit 115 degrees Celsius. As global climate change becomes more and more severe, scenarios like this are going to become more common. If you’re traveling in an RV or van, how do you stay cool?

Move somewhere Cooler

I ran away to the coast when it was over 100 in Portland. As I wrote this, I was listening to a cold coastal creek make its way to the Pacific Ocean, in a little valley with a slight breeze and plenty of shade. At 4pm I put some long pants on because I was getting chilly. It was 111 in Portland, just a two-hour drive away.

My home has wheels and I can move it to cooler weather when things heat up. Especially here in Oregon where there can be a 30-degree difference between inland and the coast. I’m just a few hours away and it feels like I’m in another climate. Of course, I’m not the only one who had the idea to come to the coast. I’m thankful I planned ahead and made reservations. When I saw that an unprecedented heat wave was coming, I got online and started looking for spots on the coast because instead of the 100s, the highs were going to be in the 60s or 70s. Reservations at the Oregon coast can be hard to come by in the summer months. I couldn’t get more than one night in any one campground, so I had to drive up and down the coast. That in itself was enjoyable. One of the nights I ended up sleeping in a casino parking lot, which wasn’t pretty, but at least it was cool.

Sometimes you can’t drive away from the heat, so what can you do when things heat up and you’re camping?

Park in the Shade

The best way to stay cool in your RV is to not let it heat up in the first place. If you can find a shady spot, take it! Like your car, your RV or camper heats up exponentially in the sun. Many campground websites will list whether a site is in full or partial shade. You can also call ahead and ask for a shady spot. And while you’re in the shade, cover the windows. I use reflectix on all of my windows. Put your awnings out and sit outside in the shade. Open windows to get a cross breeze going and look for any unexpected sources of heat. For example, my roof vent, when open provides a slight breeze, but often lets in enough sunlight that it totally overrides any relief the breeze may have provided.

Get Wet

Water will help cool your body temperature. Get a cheap spray bottle and mist yourself. Put your feet in a stream or even a bucket of water. Wet a bandana and put it on your neck. If you’ve got a freezer in your vehicle, freeze some ice packs and place on different parts of your body. Cooling your wrists and feet can make a huge difference. Some people put ice in their bras on hot days. It works!

I spent a couple of the hot days on cool coastal lakes. I waded in the water, took my kayak out and let Olive stand around with the water lapping against her belly.

Stay Cool in Your RV by Getting a Breeze Going

A breeze will cool you down. If you can’t sit outside in a breeze, make one yourself. With a breeze, moisture on your skin will evaporate quicker, cooling you down.  A small battery operated fan such as this one can help whether you’re inside or out. Add a small misty to it and you’re sure to cool down pretty quickly.

Get into air conditioning if you can

Staying cool inside your RV isn’t always an option. Squeaky has an air conditioner up front as part of the van and another one in back, the “house AC.” In order to run the house AC, I have to be plugged into shore power or have my generator running. The generator can be loud and disruptive to other campers, although I did run it the one night I spent in the casino parking lot. The air conditioner will only realistically reduce the temperature by 20 degrees. So if it’s 90 outside, the inside of the van is likely to be over 100. An air conditioner will only bring it down to about 80 or 85. That’s definitely not cool enough to sleep comfortably and definitely too hot for Olive. When you’re traveling and it’s hot, go to a restaurant, coffee shop, library, movie or mall if you have access. Just don’t leave your pets in the vehicle.

Drink lots of water

Stay hydrated in hot weather. Even if you’re just sitting around, your body is sweating and losing electrolytes. Remember to drink plenty of water, eat some salty snacks or an electrolyte replenishing drink like Emergen-C.

Limit activity

Likewise, limit your activity, if you can. Hot days are great days to sit around with your feet in a pool or stream and read a book.

Make Your Own Air Conditioner

If you don’t have air conditioner, one way to stay cool in your RV is to make one. If you’re into DYI, you can make a swamp cooler (link to video). I haven’t tried this, but know that they work best in areas with low humidity.

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