Hot Weather Camping Hacks to Help You Stay Cool This Summer

Tent on a river - Summer Camping Tips

How to stay cool camping in summer – summer family camping trip tips

For many of us, summer is the ultimate camping weather. Tent camping throughout the summer months allows us to enjoy the beautiful sunshine, the fun outdoor activities, and quality time with the family.

But with all that sun and outdoor activities that we take part in while camping, staying cool can be tricky. Mid-summer days can heat up quickly, and the moaning and complaints can start; so how do you prepare for the heat?

How do you stay cool while tent camping? We’ve put together a list of camping hacks to help you stay cool on your camping trip this summer. These simple tips will make your camping trip more enjoyable and less miserable due to the heat.

This post is part of our Outdoor Family Adventure series

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Choose The Correct Location

Like with many activities, location is key when it comes to camping. You certainly don’t want to pitch your tent or choose a spot where the sun beats down the entire day. Instead, you want to find some shade to help you stay cool.

To help you stay cool, put up your tent in a shaded area or in a location where it is shaded throughout the day.

If you can’t avoid the sun, one way to help keep it cooler is to take the tent down and keep it in a shaded area when it’s not in use. Then in the evening once the sun has started to go down and the temps start to lower a bit, you can put the tent up for the night.

Camp Near the Water

When we aren’t camping and it is hot outside, one of our favorite things to do is to head outside and enjoy the pool. While you don’t have a pool to take a dip in when you are camping, you can try to find a camping location that is near a river, lake, or some type of body of water.

That nice cold water will be refreshing and will help cool your body down when the temps start to rise. You may even get lucky and be able to enjoy the nice breeze that comes from the water throughout the day. For some extra fun, you can even take some water toys so that the whole family can join in on the fun.

Camping & Hiking

Fluid Intake Is Important

When it comes to what you drink, you are going to want to be sure you drink plenty of water and choose drinks that will help replenish your electrolytes.

Since heat makes you sweat, staying hydrated is important for your health. If the temps are higher and it is warmer outside, you want to make sure that you’re drinking plenty of healthy fluids.

Take an insulated bottle with you to help keep your drinks cold. If you can take a cooler, put some ice in it to keep your drinks cool.

Choose a Tent That Will Help You Stay Cool

Before you head out on your camping trip, look for a tent that is made specifically to help you stay cool when camping in hot weather.

A tent made from canvas material will be more breathable and help you stay cooler. There are many tents available today that will help not only provide protection from the elements but are specifically made to help let the air circulate.

A tent, like this Oileus X-Large 4 Person Beach Tent will help provide shelter from the sun and give you some shade. It has an awning for extra shade and two windows that will allow the air to circulate and provide ventilation. It’s also roomy and spacious which will give you plenty of room to be comfortable while camping.

Another tip when it comes to your tent is to remove the rain fly. While the rain fly is there to help keep the water out, it also keeps the air in. If you don’t need the rain fly, you can remove it so that it provides you with more airflow.

A Tent Fan Can Help Give You a Breeze

A simple battery-powered tent fan, or one that is rechargeable, can help you stay cool when you are camping. It will push out and help circulate the air.

You can find tent fans that attach to the tent itself so that you can keep it off the ground. If you don’t want to go with a tent fan, a simple hand fan will work too. Either way, creating your own breeze can help you stay cool during the day and at night.

Wear Clothing That Will Help Keep You Cool

You know how in the summer we wear light-colored clothing to help keep us cooler. It’s no different when you’re camping. When you’re picking out your camping outfits, choose the lighter-colored clothing to help reflect the sun. Darker clothing will just absorb the sun making you warmer.

You also want to choose breathable fabrics. Loose clothing will also help keep you cooler. Some of the most popular fabrics to help you stay cool are moisture-wicking clothing, bamboo, linen, and cotton. 

A sun hat or a wide-brimmed hat of some kind can also keep you cool and protect your head from the sun. You can also wear a hat or bandana that has been soaked in water. Put these on your head or around your neck to help keep yourself cooler. You may find that you’ll need to rotate them around once your body has gotten used to the cooler temps they provide.

Get a Hammock

When camping, sleeping up off the ground can help let the airflow around you. Sleeping in a hammock can help you stay cooler at night. If you have the option of a hammock, go for it. Not only will you be up off the ground, but the higher you are up off the ground, the more of a chance you will get for a breeze.

Staying Cool While Camping Will Help You Have a Better Trip

When it comes to camping in the warmer weather, it is important for you to stay cool. Not only will you be more comfortable while you are enjoying the outdoors, but it will also help make sure that you avoid any unnecessary health risks that can arise from the hot weather.

Stay cool, stay hydrated, and have fun while you are camping! Enjoy the outdoors and the beauty that nature has given us while you make memories.

More For Your Summer Camping Trip

Ready to head off on a summer camping trip with the kids? You may also appreciate these guides to prepare for your outdoor adventure:

Signing up to the Globetrotter Community you can download the complete family camping checklist

Camping vacation check list - free printable

Camping ideas for the rest of the year:

With thanks again to Shelley for sharing her outdoor adventure hacks. You can also read her advice on the best hiking gear for hitting the trails with family and tips for making hiking fun for small kids.

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Tent camping in the heat
a tent lit up at night - camping your cool camping in the heat

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