Keep Cool and Enjoy the Outdoors While RVing This Summer

This article may contain compensated links, please read our disclaimer for more information.

Summer is here, and that means it’s hot outside. Obviously, traveling in your RV is great because you can head north to escape the worst of the heat and use the AC wherever you roam. That said, nobody wants to be stuck inside all day trying to keep cool. The good news? There are ways to stay cool outdoors, even in the middle of summer.

Here are my favorite ways to enjoy outdoor summer fun while staying comfortable during the hottest part of the year.

Use the Campground Pool

The first and most obvious solution? Head to the campground pool. So many of the RV parks we stay in have swimming pools available for guests to use, and we definitely make sure to take full advantage. Next time you need to have fun outside, but it just feels too hot, don your swimsuits and head to the campground pool.

Take a Waterfall Hike

I love hiking, but during the summer, it can feel impossible to get myself to head out onto a trail. The solution I’ve found? I entice myself with a way to cool down at the end of the hike. Usually, this is a waterfall that we can walk or swim under, but we’ve also done creek hikes. Just make sure you go in prepared to get wet. I like to carry a towel in my backpack.

Relax in the Shade

I’m always surprised by the difference some shade can make on a hot day. If you want to be outside, but don’t feel like doing much of anything, find a shady spot in the trees, set up a portable fan and a hammock, and relax with a cold drink and a good book. I could spend hours doing this, and really, as long as I am in the shade and have air moving around me, I rarely feel too hot.

Head to a Swimming Hole

I grew up in Oklahoma. I had heard about “swimming holes”, but I’d never really played in one until we spent the summer in the northeast several years back. We discovered a little swimming hole tucked back in the woods in Vermont and absolutely fell in love. The trees all around meant we had plenty of shade, and the water was cool and refreshing. We spent the rest of that summer seeking out swimming holes and little creeks to swim in.

Have a Popsicle Party

Feeling social? Why not plan a popsicle party? Popsicles are cheap enough that you can fill the RV freezer without spending a fortune and invite all your campground neighbors. If there are a lot of people coming, consider asking everyone to bring a box of popsicles. This will give you more variety and encourage sharing and swapping. Set up lawn games to add to the fun. To keep everyone as cool as possible, you might also create your own DIY mister.

Enjoy a Water Gun Fight

Another fun, easy social activity that will keep everyone nice and cool? A water gun fight. Water guns are relatively inexpensive, so keeping a few on hand shouldn’t be a problem. And no, this doesn’t have to be a kids-only activity, I’m a full-grown adult, and I love a good, old-fashioned water gun fight.

Note: While water gun fights are totally cool, I do NOT recommend a water balloon fight in a campground. Picking up the balloon pieces at the end is never fun, and if pieces are missed, it can be bad for the environment.

Go Underground

Of course, you could just escape the sun by heading underground! I love caves, and I will visit one every chance I get. We’ve been in big caves like Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, and those are great. That said, we have also had an amazing time going on hiking adventures to tiny, little hidden caves. We have found these in a few places by using the All Trails app, and they always feel like an extra cool adventure.

Time it Right

Finally, it’s important to understand that it’s all in the timing. Heading outside in the middle of the day is never going to be fun in the summer months. Instead, get up early for that epic hike or plan your picnic for the late evening when things start to cool down. Really, there have been days when we haven’t even started our outdoor fun until after dinner. We’d eat dessert outside with friends, sit around a campfire, or stargaze, getting fresh air without all the heat.

As you can see, there are lots of ways to enjoy the great outdoors this summer without suffering. Add these options to your summer bucket list and then get out there and start having fun. I know you’re going to have an amazing summer!
There’s a lot to think about before you take your RV back out after being stored for a period of time. Fortunately, it’s all pretty straightforward and shouldn’t take too long, meaning you’ll be in tip top shape and ready to hit the road in no time.

Fulltime Families is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.