Usually around late September, there’s a moment every RVer knows. Stepping outside in the morning with a cup of coffee, you feel it for the first time in months—the air is different. It’s crisp. After a long, hot summer of battling humidity and swatting away mosquitos, that first cool breeze is like a reward. For many who are new to RVing, it also signals that it's time to flush the tanks one last time, pull on the cover, and say, "See you next spring."
If you call it quits now, you’ll miss out on what seasoned travelers swear is the absolute best time to hit the road. Autumn isn't the end of the camping season; it's the season’s prime. Instead of sweating through a mid-July setup, you’re enjoying the pleasant cool of an October afternoon. The buzzing symphony of insects gives way to the quiet rustling of leaves. For the RVer who just spent their first summer learning the ropes, a little knowledge is all that’s standing between winterizing and discovering the magic of fall travel.
Perks of Fall Camping
So, what's the big draw? Why go through a few extra steps just to keep camping? It’s all about what this colorful season offers back.
• Fewer Crowds, More Serenity: You know how packed and energetic campgrounds can be in the summer. By fall, that's all gone, replaced by quiet serenity. That prime spot by the lake that was booked solid for months? There’s a good chance it’s sitting there waiting for you. You'll find that visiting popular national parks and tourist destinations becomes a much more peaceful experience.
• Nature’s Big Show: You’ll watch the landscape transform into a canvas of brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows. The air is crisp and perfect for hiking—cool enough to be comfortable, but warm enough to remind you that winter is a ways off. The nights are clearer and darker, offering stunning views of the stars.
• No More Sweating it Out: Remember setting up camp in the grueling mid-July heat, with sweat dripping and mosquitos buzzing? That's a distant memory in the fall. You'll enjoy the simple pleasure of hooking up your RV without breaking a sweat, and relaxing outside without constantly battling bugs and humidity.
Getting Ready for Cooler Weather
That peaceful autumn vibe is undeniably worth the trip but enjoying it to the fullest requires a different approach from summer camping. The conditions are different, and an RV that was perfectly comfortable in August needs a few adjustments for October. Here’s what a first-timer should be focusing on.
Waking Up the Furnace & Beating Condensation
The primary source of heat in most RVs is a built-in propane furnace. After it’s been sitting dormant all summer; giving it a test run is one of the smartest things you can do before you actually need it.
• Test Your Furnace: Before that first chilly trip, fire up the furnace for a few minutes to make sure it’s running smoothly. You’ll likely get a brief burning smell—that’s perfectly normal. It’s just the furnace waking up from its long slumber.
• Supplement Your Furnace: While your main furnace is a powerhouse for seriously cold weather, it can be overkill—and a major propane hog—on merely cool autumn nights. That’s where having an efficient, extra heat source comes in handy. A catalytic heater like the Olympian Wave-3 Heater is a game-changer for fall camping. Instead of a flame, it uses a chemical reaction to produce silent, radiant heat. It’s over 99% efficient, meaning it sips propane instead of guzzling it. Plus, since there’s no fan, it's completely silent and uses zero battery power, so it is perfect for quiet nights or camping off-grid. Just remember, like any non-vented heater, you'll need to crack a window or vent for proper airflow when it's running.
• Control Condensation: Cool nights and the warm air inside from simply living and breathing can lead to moisture on cold surfaces like windows and vents. Waking up to wet windows or, worse, a drip from a vent overhead is no way to start the day. To combat this, you can crack a window slightly to let that moisture escape or use a Camco Roof Vent Insulator to stop condensation before it starts. For extra protection in closets and bathrooms, a Camco Moisture Absorber bucket will pull dampness from the air.
Protecting Your Waterworks from the Cold Snap
An overnight dip below 32°F can turn into a trip-ending disaster if your plumbing freezes. The most vulnerable point is almost always your outside water hose.
• The Solution: Leaving a standard vinyl drinking water hose connected when the temperature drops means you could be waking up to a hose frozen solid, risking damage to both the spigot and your recreational vehicle. For any RVer serious about camping in the shoulder seasons, using a Camco Heated Drinking Water Hose is the definitive solution. This product is less of a luxury and more of a critical piece of gear. It has an integrated heating element running the length of the hose, preventing freezing and ensuring a consistent water supply even when the mercury drops.
• The Backup Plan: If you’re caught without a heated water hose and an unexpected freeze is in the forecast, the best course of action is disconnecting your hose from the city water spigot, draining it, and storing it. From there, you'll be using your onboard fresh water tank and water pump for the night. Your RV’s tanks and internal plumbing are generally better protected within the insulated body of the camper.
Dealing with Dwindling Daylight
You’ll notice the sun setting much earlier in the fall, which can sneak up on you.
• Arrive Before Sunset: That leisurely 4pm arrival that worked in June can mean setting up in the pitch dark in October. Plan your travel so you arrive at the campground with at least an hour of daylight to spare—it makes parking, leveling, and hooking up so much safer and easier.
• Keep Lights Handy: Have a good flashlight and a headlamp waiting right inside your RV's door. This simple step means you aren't fumbling for them in the dark when you need them most.
• Light Up a Critical Task: Even with the best planning, you’ll sometimes find yourself needing to connect or empty your tanks when it’s dark out. Trying to manage a sewer hose with one hand while holding a flashlight with the other can be a messy hassle. This is where gear designed for the dark comes in. The Rhino Sewer Hose Extender Pro with LED Flashlight is designed for this exact scenario, featuring a detachable LED on the extender that illuminates the entire connection point—eliminating the hassle of fumbling with a flashlight or second-guessing your seal. It makes one of the most critical jobs of RVing effortless, no matter how challenging the lighting conditions.
Unwelcome Guests: Critter Prevention
You’re not the only one looking for a warm, cozy place to spend the fall. As temperatures drop, mice and other small critters begin their search for winter lodging.
• Seal All Gaps: Before heading out, do a quick walk-around and inspect for any small gaps where critters could enter, paying special attention to where plumbing and wiring enter the RV. Steel wool is a great material for plugging small holes.
• Protect Exterior Vents: It's wise to protect the exterior openings of your appliances. Using Camco's Flying Insect Screens creates a durable barrier that keeps not only bugs but also curious rodents from turning those vents into a front door.
Enhancing the Autumn Experience
Once you've handled the practicalities, it's time to start enjoying the lifestyle. Fall is the perfect time to shift from the fast pace of summer to a cozier, more relaxed vibe at the campsite.
• Embrace the Campfire: In summer, a fire can be too hot to enjoy, but in the fall, it becomes the magnetic center of your campsite—a place for gathering, sharing stories, and relaxing. You can make the experience even better with a set of Camco's Roasting Sticks for s'mores or hot dogs. For areas with frequent burn bans, a propane fire pit like the Olympian Big Red Campfire—or its smaller sibling, the Olympian Little Red Campfire—offers all the cozy ambiance and warmth without the smoke or flying embers.
• Shift to Autumn Feasting: This is also the perfect time to change up your menu. Move beyond grilling burgers and start embracing hearty, one-pot fall meals. A simmering pot of chili, a savory beef stew, or a Dutch oven cobbler cooked over coals just tastes better in the crisp autumn air.
An Invitation to a New Season
If this was your first summer RVing, congratulations. You’ve learned a lot, made some memories, and probably have a few good stories about what not to do next time. But don’t let the changing calendar convince you that the adventure is over.
Experiencing fall in your RV is a different kind of adventure—one that asks for a little more preparation and a healthy respect for Mother Nature. But the payoff is great. It’s enjoying the quiet campground, the stunning foliage, the cozy evening spent inside while a cool rain patters on the roof. It’s the feeling of extending the joy of the open road for another precious month or two. The work is worth the reward. The road is still open—go see what it has to offer.
Happy Fall Camping!
