How to Shade Your RV Campsite

As we near the Fourth of July holiday, temperatures are skyrocketing across the country. It will make for some hot days and nights on camping trips, to be sure. 

One great way to keep cool in your RV this summer is to find or create shade in which your RV can be parked. Items that shade your RV help to block radiant heat from the sun. While the actual temperature in the shade is the same as in the sun, a shaded area can feel about 10 to 15 degrees cooler.

So what can you do to provide shade for your rig and keep things cool?

Use your natural surroundings 

There’s nothing better than relying on nature to help keep your campsite cool, and trees and shrubs do just the trick. If you can, park your RV so a cluster of trees or tall shrubs are positioned on the western side of your rig. This will help block ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun during the afternoon and early evening, when the sun is moving into the western part of the sky, which is also the hottest time of day. 

Use an awning 

Awnings are expandable rolls of canvas that attach to the side of an RV. Available in many colors and patterns, awnings can look great and provide a significant amount of shade for your outdoor living space and rig itself. Your rig may come with an awning already, but there are also portable options you can buy and set up. 

Hang tarps or shade sails

Another way to create shade around your rig is to hang tarps or shade sails. Secure one side to the top of your RV and tie the other side around nearby trees or poles. Or, you can stake the other end of the tarp or sail into the ground to create an angled shade.

Add hanging or retractable UV-blocking sun shades

An awning or other shade placed at a horizontal angle is great, but you can enhance your shade even more by adding retractable sun shades around the awning. These shades are typically made of a UV-blocking mesh-like material, so are lightweight and effective. They can be hung around your awning so they extend straight down to create a tent-like structure.

How do you shade your rig? What methods have worked best for you? Let us know in the comments or contact us today!