Tips for staying cool during the summer months
There are many reasons we could find ourselves on a campground, whether it’s for fun or for a family function. While we can’t always plan for some of the things that arise when we go camping, we should plan for what we know will happen. When it comes to camping in the summer months, we know there’s going to be heat to contend with. While the heat isn’t negotiable, the temperature you have to deal with certainly is. By following a few basic tips, you can enjoy your campsite more, and beat the heat while camping.
Embrace the water
Camp near a body of running water. If the water is stagnant, you’re going to have an issue with mosquitoes, but running water will help cut the heat, and the breeze that comes off the water adds a nice cooling effect to the air.
If you can’t camp near water, try misting your area regularly. This is the same idea as sweating, as the water evaporates, it cools. You can spray yourself with a bottle, spray your tent, or even spray your campsite. If you can get your hands on a handheld fan with a mister, you will enjoy the cooling effects of evaporation and windchill!
Avoid direct sunlight
While we all know the value of shade on hot days, we don’t often think about getting more than ourselves into the shade. Shade works great for RVs and tents as well. Allow the trees to catch the rays and shelter you underneath. Trees help cool by evaporation. The dew and water collected on their leaves and needles dries up in the sun and pushes the cooling air down.
Tear down the tent!
We know, putting a tent up is often a struggle, but leaving it up in hot conditions isn’t going to do you any favors when the night comes, and you want to sleep. To avoid baking through the night in a sauna you’ve created by closing your tent up, take it down every morning and store it in the shade, so it doesn’t trap all the heat.
Look to your clothing
Wear shoes with plenty of ventilation, or even trade in shoes for flip flops if you’re lounging and not hiking. Keep the sun off your head by wearing lighter hats with good ventilation, wear lighter, breezier clothes made of natural fabrics that don’t hold in the heat. Let yourself sweat and don’t wipe it off. Make sure you pack a lot of lighter colors because dark colors absorb the heat while lighter colors reflect it and keep you cooler.
Where’s the wind coming from?
When the wind blows, it cools us down. This tip may mean changing the direction your tent is facing, but it could help keep you cool at night. Before you turn in, turn your tent to face the breeze and open your tent to the air. While you don’t want to leave your door open, you can open all the mesh areas to bring the air in. If it’s not going to rain, make sure to take the weather guard off the top of your tent.
Hydrate yourself
You want to sweat, and to sweat, your body needs hydration. Summer heat often makes us tired or gives us headaches, but that’s mostly because it’s dehydrating our bodies. Don’t go anywhere without water. Water helps regulate our internal temperatures and wards off the negative impacts of heat.
Avoid the sleeping bag
Sleeping bags are best kept for when you need to trap your body heat in. Instead, try using a cushion that’s cool, doesn’t trap in the heat, and is comfortable. Cover up with a sheet or an extremely light blanket if you must cover up when you sleep. Also, consider placing a bag of ice in your bedding a little while before going to bed to help everything cool down enough to make sleeping comfortable.
Camping is a major activity through the summer, and you want to make sure the campgrounds you’re choosing are ones you can enjoy and feel comfortable camping at. Find the campground of your dreams wherever you find yourself by using the campground search feature on our website!
