How to Make the Most of Bad Weather While Camping
Bad weather can be a challenge while camping or RVing, but it doesn’t have to ruin your trip. It’s important to make the most of the less-than-perfect weather while it’s happening. Planning ahead is crucial for keeping a positive attitude.
Stay prepared - pack rain gear or coats, waterproof your RV or tent, and always have a few umbrellas handy.
Stay dry - set up camp in a dry, sheltered area and use a tarp to create extra protection from rain, snow, or wind.
Stay active - just because it’s raining or snowing doesn’t mean you can’t still have fun. Go for a hike, play games, or do a puzzle to pass the time.
Stay warm - wear layers, use blankets, and sleeping bags to stay warm, and heat up some hot cocoa or soup to warm up from the inside.
Stay entertained - bring along books, games, and other indoor activities to keep you entertained.
Stay positive - bad weather is a temporary inconvenience, and it’s important to stay positive and make the most of your trip.
Here are a few ideas for making the most of bad weather while camping and RVing:
Indoor games: Bring board games, card games, and other indoor activities to keep everyone entertained. If you haven’t played Loteria (Mexican bingo) then you are seriously missing out on hours of fun! When we play with a big group everyone adds $1 to the pot at the beginning of each round and whoever wins gets the pot!
Reading: Bring books, magazines, or e-readers to keep yourself and your family occupied during rainy or snowy weather. Or read a new book aloud for everyone to hear and talk about.
Movie time: Bring a portable DVD player or streaming device to watch movies or TV shows. This is what my family loves to do! Right now we’re introducing our kids to all the fantastic 80’s and 90’s movies we loved as kids, so there’s always something to watch.
Dream: Watch YouTube and dream up fantastic ideas for your next big family vacation. Start planning it now while everyone is together!
Cooking: Rainy or snowy weather is a great opportunity to try out new recipes and cook hearty meals.
Hot drinks: Bring hot chocolate, tea, or coffee to warm up and enjoy while sitting inside.
Music: Bring a portable speaker and enjoy your favorite music or podcast while inside. There are so many great podcasts these days - from National Parks to kid’s storytime.
Photography: Take advantage of the bad weather to capture unique and interesting photos of the landscape.
Explore the area: Look for indoor activities nearby, like a museum or an indoor water park.
Spa day: Take a hot shower in the RV and pamper yourself. Keep a few special items on hand for such an occasion.
Organize: Use the bad weather as an opportunity to organize and clean your RV. Honestly, this is what I do when the weather sucks. I go cupboard by cupboard and decide what stays or goes, make a list of what we need more of, and if something doesn’t work in a certain spot I find a new one.
Do Laundry: It sounds less than ideal, but getting chores out of the way when the weather is bad leaves you with more time for fun stuff when the weather improves! Trust me, I did not want to be doing laundry in the rain at Yellowstone, but one afternoon I found myself doing exactly that.
Bad weather can put a damper on camping and RVing trips, but it doesn't have to ruin the fun. I hope we helped you discover a few creative ways to make the most of rainy, snowy, or windy weather with ideas for indoor games, reading, movie time, cooking, hot drinks, music, photography, exploring nearby indoor activities, a spa day, and organizing. Be prepared for any weather with these tips and make your next camping or RVing trip a memorable one, even in the bad weather.