While the days are short and the temperatures are low, you can still enjoy RV camping in the winter. The air in open campgrounds is crisp, the landscape is peaceful, and the air is quiet. What’s more, there are no bugs.
Prepare your RV for winter and enjoy an off-season adventure with these tips.
During the winter, RV camping is a lot of fun! You can enjoy a magical winter RV camping experience with these helpful winter RV camping tips.
Camping in winter has a charm that’s unique to no other season.
The sight of fields of glistening white and snow-lined trees is spectacular. During the quiet, low-crowd season, you feel an incredible sense of solitude, which deepens your connection with nature. You can’t experience the healing properties of a warm, roaring fire any other time of year.
Prepare for colder weather than expected
Winter RV camping requires careful attention to the weather forecasts. Be prepared for temperatures 10 degrees colder. Extreme weather can occur during the winter. There is nothing worse than being stuck in your gear and not feeling warm enough to enjoy yourself.
A great advantage of winter RV camping is that you can easily take extra clothes with you. Take advantage of it! Make sure to pack extra layers of breathable base layers, insulating sweaters, and storm gear.
To stay comfortable in cold weather, wear three layers of clothing. Wear a base layer to wick away sweat. Wear another layer to insulate and retain warmth. Block wind and rain with the third layer.
Prepare an emergency kit
The most important tip for winter RV camping is “be prepared.”. Cold weather makes it imperative to have everything you will need and nothing you will (hopefully) need. Before leaving, review the following list of items you’d rather have than not have in an emergency.
- Flashlight
- A few gallons of water
- Snow shovel
- Hand warmers
- Area map, or GPS device
- First aid kit
- Non-perishable food items
- Portable USB charger
- Water-proof storm gear
- Firestarter
- Spare dry socks
- Goggles or face protection
- Extra pair of boots (alternate shoes each day to let the wet pair dry)
- Duct tape
Keep Your RV Warm
During your trip, your RV will be your home base. Here are a few tips for keeping warm in an RV during the winter!
Pack winter accessories. It’s a great system, but without a connection, the heaters run for only two hours before shutting down and draining the batteries in your RV. Pack a warm water bladder and a microwaveable heating pad or socks instead to keep yourself warm on chilly nights.
Park in the sunshine. Many people prefer the privacy and atmosphere of a shaded spot, but RV camping in winter requires a change of strategy. Your RV will naturally heat up in the day time if you choose a lot with as little shade as possible.
Bubble wrap the windows. Letting heat escape through cracks and air gaps is your enemy! For an easy way to keep out winter winds, grab a cheap roll of bubble wrap and some painter’s tape.
Put down cheap throw rugs. Spend some time digging through your closet or local Goodwill before this winter RV camping trip. Rugs are a very effective form of insulation. It is also more comfortable for your feet during the winter than vinyl flooring.
Use the RV Furnace
There are two reasons for running the furnace! First, it keeps the room warm enough to make it comfortable. The second reason is that it prevents water pipes and other important internal components from freezing.
Get dressed in warm clothing and turn the furnace down to a low setting as you get ready for bed. Propane costs can be lowered and the volume of notoriously loud heating systems can be reduced. Make sure your RV furnace is turned off before actually going to sleep. After running for two or three hours, the furnace blower automatically shuts off. After this, it will shut off and need to be recharged, so make sure you have an electrical connection!
Cook Inside and Eat Up
Cooking inside has two big advantages over cooking outside on your trip. In frigid temperatures, cooking outdoors isn’t as enjoyable as you might imagine. You can still make some fantastic meals by cooking outside in the winter! Furthermore, RV stovetops will heat the interior of your RV. Stay warm and make a tasty meal in your RV if the weather is too cold to cook outdoors.
Consider cooking more often or eating more than usual. As we keep warm, our bodies burn more calories. You shouldn’t worry about taking in more than 3000 calories per day, depending on how active you are. You’re on vacation, so enjoy yourself!