Fall Camping Tips for Your Next Oregon RV Trip

Even as the weather turns wetter, the fall still makes an excellent time to go RV camping in Oregon. While colder temperatures and frequent rainfall means some activities become a little more challenging, the scenic beauty of the Pacific Northwest as the leafs fall and the colors change makes camping well worth the effort.

Here are a few fall tips that will help to make your next RV camping in Oregon trip a little more comfortable.

Time to Eat

Whether barbecuing on the grill or using a propane stove top, cooking outdoors becomes a little trickier once fall arrives.

Food takes longer to cook in colder weather when compared to the warmer times of year. This means you may need to pack more charcoal or an extra propane tank to offset the extra cooking time.

Additionally, grilling or cooking outdoors becomes far trickier if raining. You may want to consider packing a pop-up tent or adding a canvas awning to the side of your RV. Whatever your solution, you’ll need some way to keep dry to avoid having to eat a soggy dinner.

Explore New Areas

One advantage of fall camping is that most campsites lower their daily rates. If you’ve been eyeing a certain campsite but have previously balked at paying a high camping rate, you can now probably book that site at a significant discount compared to what you’d pay over the summer.

Availability at certain campsites also improves as the season starts moving towards the fall and winter. Campsites that frequently fill up weeks in advance with reservations during the summer will often have far less demand in the fall.

Pack for the Season

Even if you don’t plan on spending much time outside of your RV, make sure to pack plenty of warm clothes for your trip. Having insulated sweaters, wool socks, winter coats, and hats and gloves on hand will go a long way towards making everyone in the family comfortable during the trip.

The wet weather will make it feel colder than what the temperature actually is, so it’s important to pack clothes that will help to keep the chill away. If you plan on hiking in the rain, consider using hand and foot warmers to keep your extremities from freezing in the wet weather.

Bring the Light

Night comes early in the Pacific Northwest as the long days of summer fade. It’s not uncommon for the sun to set completely before 5 pm, which can make it difficult to set up a tent or any other camping supplies outside. Investing in a quality LED headlight will help to keep you from having to fumble around in the dark as you work to set up your campsite.

Depending on the type of headlight you purchase, you may need to stock extra batteries in your RV. While rechargeable headlights are often more convenient, battery operated headlights can work better in emergency situations where your RV loses power and you can’t recharge any electronics.

Weatherize

If planning on sleeping outside of your RV in a tent, you’ll need to make a few adjustments to keep dry and enjoy your night out under the stars. First, you’ll need a sleeping pad to place underneath your tent. Not only will a pad help to keep you more comfortable, it will also prevent any moisture from soaking through the base of your tent.

Next, make sure to line any backpacks or suitcases with plastic bags to help keep the moisture out of your clothes. Staying dry becomes a lot harder if all of your clean clothes are wet, in addition to what you’re wearing.