RVing in Spring Weather: What You Need to Know

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Spring is nearly here, and that means it’s time to start planning for spring weather. If you live in an RV full time, this means taking some extra steps to prepare. In this article, I will share everything I’ve learned about RVing in spring weather. Use this info to plan your spring travels and you should be good to go!

Mud is the Real Enemy of Spring RV Travel

First, let’s talk a bit about mud. We’ve gotten stuck in the mud more than once, and anyone who has ever experienced this knows it isn’t a great place to be. Honestly, even if the mud doesn’t trap you, it can allow your rig to sink, making it impossible to stay level and can become a hazard if there is enough to make your campsite slippery. 

Understanding Ground Conditions Before You Park

Not all RV parks are fully paved. In fact, the majority of the campgrounds we stay in have gravel or grass sites, and these can become a muddy mess after a hard rain. 

 

Before committing to a site in a campground with gravel or grass sites…

 

1. Ask campground staff how the ground drains after rain.
2. Avoid low-lying sites near creeks, lakes, or drainage ditches.
3. Be wary of freshly thawed ground that hasn’t had time to compact.

If the forecast includes lots of rain, I tend to prioritize paved or well-packed gravel sites, even if they cost more.

Traction and Exit Planning

Almost every time we’ve gotten stuck in the mud, it’s been because of poor planning on our part. To avoid being stuck, we try to remember to do all of the following before parking our rig:

 

• Walk the site before parking, especially if the ground looks soft.
• Avoid sharp turns on wet grass or dirt.
• Keep your tow vehicle pointed downhill or toward firmer ground.
• Back in only if you’re confident you can pull out later.

We also carry traction mats now. These help us get out of sticky situations and we’ve used them to help a few campground neighbors as well.

Entryway Control

Not only will mud trap you if you aren’t careful, it’ll also find a way inside your rig unless you actively stop it. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to keep the mud outside where it belongs. 

 

We like to…

 

• Use large outdoor mats designed for mud and water.
• Add a second mat just inside the door.
• Keep a dedicated “mud shoe” zone.
• Store towels near the entrance for paws, boots, and gear.

 

I have found that these small steps do a lot to reduce the mess on our RV floor.

Stabilizers and Leveling in Soft Ground

Soft ground doesn’t support stabilizers or tongue jacks well, making it difficult to level an RV. While there is no way to avoid this issue entirely without parking on pavement, you can try the following tricks to keep your rig as level as possible when parked in the mud:

 

• Use wide pads under all stabilizers.
• Avoid over-extending jacks in mud.
• Recheck leveling after heavy rain because ground can shift overnight.

Remember that if the RV starts leaning after rain, it is important to correct it early before your rig’s doors, slides, and seals are stressed.

Moisture: The Silent RV Killer

If you know anything about RVs, you know that water is an RV’s biggest enemy. Given the amount of moisture that tends to show up in the spring, this can be a problem during the springtime months. 

Condensation Management

The quick temperature changes during the spring tend to lead to condensation on RV windows and walls, as well as under the mattresses and inside of cabinets. It’s important that you keep this in check by 1) using a dehumidifier, 2) running roof vent fans whenever you can, and 3) placing a product like DampRid in cabinets. 

Managing Wet Gear

You’ll also need to find ways to manage your wet outdoor gear. We like to designate a drying area with a drying rack inside our Clam tent outside our door. It would also work to put the drying rack just inside the RV door or even in the shower. Just remember that you never want to store wet items in closed cabinets—this is how mold establishes itself.

Routing Around Spring Problem Areas

It’s always important to be aware of the weather as well as road closures and potential road hazards while traveling. We have found this to be especially true during the spring, when a variety of unique challenges can present themselves. 

Flood Zones and Seasonal Closures

Remember that spring snowmelt and rain can flood river valleys, low bridges, rural highways (we’ve witnessed this), and national park access roads. Because of this, it’s important to check state DOT road condition maps before travel. It’s also a good idea to look for seasonal road closures at higher elevations and monitor river levels if you’ll be traveling in an area that tends to flood. 

Elevation Awareness

It may be spring, but that doesn’t mean winter weather is over in all parts of the country. If you’ll be traveling through a high elevation area, there is a chance you might see snow. Traveling in snowy or icy conditions is dangerous—especially in an RV—so you will want to be careful.

 

Remember that mountain passes can close suddenly, nighttime temperatures often get low enough to refreeze runoff, and to top it all off, wind exposure increases in higher elevations, making for an even more dangerous driving experience. 

 

We always pay close attention to the weather forecast and plan routes that give us escape options if conditions worsen.

Severe Storm and Tornado Preparedness

Storms are to be expected during the spring. This shouldn’t stop you from traveling altogether, but you should head into your spring adventures weather-aware and weather-prepared. 

Storm Planning

While tornadoes can happen pretty much anywhere, tornado activity peaks in spring across in the midwest, southern states, and the Great Plains. If you’re traveling in these areas, storm prep should happen before the storms hit. 

 

When checking into a campground:

 

• Ask about storm shelters or solid buildings.
• Identify the nearest sturdy structure.
• Know evacuation protocols.

We try to book campgrounds with storm shelters. If no shelter exists onsite, know where the closest one is and act early to ensure you get there before the storm does. 

Wind is Often More Dangerous than Rain

Rain might be loud, but unless you have a major leak, wind is more likely to actually damage your rig. We’ve seen it completely destroy awnings in a matter of seconds, and high enough winds can shift trailers, break stabilizers, and possibly even tip a rig over completely. 

 

When high winds are possible: 

 

• Retract awnings.
• Bring in slide-outs if winds exceed safe limits.
• Reposition RV nose-into-wind if possible.
• Delay travel.

 

Driving in spring winds is one of the biggest RV risks. It’s absolutely terrifying if you ask me, and I wouldn’t push it.

Tornado-Specific RV Safety

RVs are not safe shelters during tornadoes. Please remember this and get out of your RV and into a storm shelter or the most solid structure available if there is a tornado in the area. If you are driving, avoid stopping under overpasses, as dangerous wind tunnels can be created by the bridge. If no shelter is available, seek low ground as an absolute last resort—and wherever you shelter, be sure to protect your head from flying debris. 

Power Management During Stormy Weather

I can’t tell you how many times we have lost power at a campground because of a spring storm. 

Because of this, we always…

 

• Using a surge protector.
• Keep batteries charged in case of an outage.
• Keep a generator handy.
• Keep our fresh water tank full, as some campgrounds use water pumps, which won’t work if there is a power outage.

Managing Spring Allergies in an RV

Lastly, I want to talk about springtime allergies. I never had problems with seasonal allergies until we started traveling. Since then, I have unfortunately found all kinds of plants I’m allergic to. 

 

I’ve also learned that spring allergies can feel more intense in an RV than in a house. This is because allergens can enter more easily (especially since we love to open our windows). It helps a lot to only open our windows during lower pollen times. Those with severe allergies may want to avoid opening windows altogether and could even choose to leave shoes outdoors and change clothes after spending time outdoors. 

 

To keep the air in our RV as clean as possible, we make sure to clean our air-conditioner filters regularly. Some RVers also use small portable HEPA air purifiers designed for compact spaces. I also use the tips above to prevent moisture from causing mold growth, and I make sure to wash all fabrics regularly to remove trapped pollen and dust. 

 

As you can see, there is a lot to consider when planning spring RV trips. That said, as long as you plan ahead, you can avoid troubles with spring mud, moisture, storms, and allergies. Why not start prepping now?

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