RV Travel in the Summer: Beat the Heat at These Cool Campgrounds and RV Destinations

RV travel in the summer…is it fun or is it miserable? On this week’s episode of The RV Atlas podcast, we are sharing tips to help you beat the heat at cool campgrounds across the U.S. Choosing your destination wisely can make camping more comfortable, even in the midst of a sweltering summer.
One of those people who has time to travel in summer but who hates the heat is Kerri Cox from Travels with Birdy. She is joining us to share some travel inspiration to help you find the best destinations and campgrounds for RV travel in the summer.
Let’s take a look at some great destinations and campgrounds for RV travel in the summer in this guest post from Kerri. Make sure to click play on the media player above or search for The RV Atlas on your favorite podcast app to listen to this episode and hear more!
The Summer Game Plan
Living in Missouri means the heat index can regularly top 100 in July and August, and June is sometimes not much better. And, many RVs cannot cool your interior much more than 20 degrees, so it’s hard to find relief even inside.
In my experience, if you’re looking to beat the heat while RV camping in the summer, you have 4 options:
Meander through the mountains
Wade in the water
Navigate north
Find the forest
Great Summer Camping Destinations in the Mountains
Since it’s generally cooler at higher destinations, mountains make a perfect spot to spend your summer. The higher you go in elevation, the lower the temperatures you may find, with highs in the 60s and 70s in many locations. In fact, it’s possible to still hit freezing temps or the occasional snowy day at some of these destinations, even in midsummer. Pack your layers, and head up the hillside!
EAST: New Hampshire’s White Mountains
While not as high as western mountains, New Hampshire’s White Mountains offer a great summertime retreat, with exceptional state parks, tons of trails, epic views, and scenic drives. Plus, the region is packed with ponds and rivers, making it easy to cool off if you do work up a sweat on a trail.
CAMPGROUND RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS
Both the Lincoln/Woodstock KOA and the Twin Mountain/Mt. Washington KOA are great choices with scenic campsites and lots of amenities.
Timberland Campground is a highly rated spot located along a river and surrounded by the rolling green hills.
CENTRAL: Colorado Rockies
Though the Rockies aren’t technically centrally located, they are relatively easy to reach for many Midwesterners, so I decided they could count as a “central” location for this list. Rocky Mountain National Park is a great choice for your first trip, but there are many fantastic destinations outside the park. As you can see in the photo above, it’s so cold that people are wearing sweatshirts in the summer!
Check out the prior podcasts on Eastern and Western Colorado highlights for some destination and campground recommendations all across the state.
CAMPGROUND RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE COLORADO ROCKIES
Moraine Park Campground in RMNP now has electric hookups, which is a game changer because you don’t have to have timed reservations to enter the park if you’re camping there and you have easy access to the park’s best gems without waiting in line at the entrance gates.
With an elevation near 7,800 feet, Colorado’s Little Switzerland in Ouray is a cool destination, and Ouray Riverside Resort comes highly recommended.
WEST: Glacier National Park
Glacier is definitely an epic destination for a summer RV trip. In fact, you should aim for July or August for the best chance to take one of America’s most scenic drives, as Going-to-the-Sun-Road doesn’t usually open until late June/early July due to snow cover.
Not only do you get the benefit of the mountain elevations and a northern location, you also can actually visit the glaciers, which offer Mother Nature’s natural air conditioning. Make sure to check out this post to find tons of tips: Planning a Trip to GNP
CAMPGROUND RECOMMENDATIONS NEAR GLACIER NP
The West Glacier KOA offe...