RV Camping in the Fall

I love RVing in the spring AND summer, but my FAVORITE time to camp would probably have to be fall! Fall RV camping is actually the PERFECT time to camp. What is it that I love so much about fall RV camping? I’m SO GLAD you asked!!!

REASONS TO GO FALL RV CAMPING – THE WEATHER

First on my list: cold mornings and evenings!

Evenings are often cold enough to have a fire. I’m not a huge fan of being hot, so it’s gotta be COLD for me to enjoy a fire, but anything below 70 degrees will do!

There’s just something SO RELAXING about sitting around a campfire with friends and a guitar, singing songs we love, or talking about life and memories or talking about nothing at all. Brew a pot of coffee (or make some hot cocoa for those of us pretending to be adults), make some s’mores, and just watch the flames dance around the firepit!

Mornings are often MYSTICAL in the fall, too. This is ESPECIALLY true when the days are still warm enough that the water hasn’t cooled off enough yet causing fog to rise off ponds and lakes (there’s a lot of RV parks near water in Arkansas).

The cool, crisp air is invigorating…and it’s a great time to either snuggle up with your honey and sleep in late, or throw on a hoodie and yoga pants and take a brisk walk!

EMPTY CAMPGROUNDS

If you’ve read more than one of my posts, you most likely know I’m somewhat of an introvert. I would be JUST FINE pulling into a COMPLETELY EMPTY RV park and keeping it that way for the whole weekend (you don’t have to add me to your prayer list…I am actually very sociable, too…you’ll see when we meet someday)!

It’s not unusual to find fewer and fewer people at RV campgrounds after school starts, but NOTABLY so after Labor Day.

Fall RV camping reservations become MUCH easier to make once the school crowd clears out. There is just simply not as much competition for RV camping once the kids go back to school.

FALL FOLIAGE

Another great reason for fall RV camping is to enjoy fall foliage! Arkansas kind of turns colors a little later than a lot of places. If you’re an RVer, you can follow the foliage by camping farther north one weekend and move farther and farther south as the weeks continue!

I’m sure all states are similar. Go as far away as your budget and time allow, and enjoy the changing scenery. Plan your trip to coincide with fall festivals to get the most bang for your buck!

This is the time of year we love to go to Mountain View to enjoy their musicians in the square!

THE WEATHER AGAIN!

Ok, I’m not just being silly here, but the first time I said it, I was talking about the cold. I also love fall because of the warm!

Fall is a great time to hike, bike, or otherwise just enjoy outdoor activities! It’s not too hot (as it often is in the summer), nor is it too cold. You can play outside all day without really ever getting too uncomfortable, or just feel like you need to live in a lake or river float!

It’s a great time to layer up and peel off layers as the day lingers on! We often do float trips on into fall because the water is still warm enough to get in the water and the water is usually rising to acceptable levels going into the rainy season.

FALL FESTIVALS

Is this cheating? I mean, I’ve mentioned fall festivals…but this is another completely separate reason to LOVE fall RV camping!

Some local ones we hate to miss are:

• The State Fair – LOVE the smoked turkey legs and classic rock bands!
• Bluegrass Festival – who doesn’t love some bluegrass in the fall?
• Chili cookoffs – or other foodie types of competition
• Fall Fest in Byrant – happens right down the street from home, so it’s not really a camping trip for us…but if you’re not from here, it’s great for fall RV camping!
• World Cheese Dip competition – need I say more?
• Music Fest in El Dorado

FALL RV CAMPING TIPS

Now that you’re convinced to take that fall RV camping trip, here are a few things to remember.

• Make sure your propane tanks are full or that you have a reserve tank with you. You DO NOT want to get caught without propane in your RV on those chilly fall nights!
• Pack extra layers! Warm days can fool you into packing too lightly which makes for a MISERABLE RV camping trip! Of course, that is one of the nice things about having an RV…if in doubt, PACK IT! Bring short sleeves, long sleeves, hoodies, beanies, gloves, and extra warm socks.
• Bring an extra blanket or two for snuggling in around the fire!
• DO NOT bring firewood! Your best RV camping practices are to use indigenous firewood to keep tree diseases and fungi from spreading. You can almost always buy firewood directly from the RV park, or at a mom and pop store nearby. *BE AWARE OF LOCAL BURN BANS BEFORE STARTING A FIRE!
• Try using some RAINBOW COLORED FLAMES PACKETS! This adds some fun to the fire!
• BRING YOUR INHALER IF YOU HAVE ASTHMA! I often forget this one, but my hubby has a mild case of asthma. Campfires often cause his asthma to act up…which is otherwise not too bad.
• Make sure you have hot chocolate, coffee, or hot tea bags in the camper! This is a GREAT time for cozying up with a hot cup of anything!
• DON’T FORGET THE S’MORES! Ok, if you’re not into that, maybe you should consider your humanity…just kidding…but who doesn’t love s’mores?
• Bring hiking shoes! Hiking is a year-round activity, but it’s especially fun in the fall when the days are warm and afternoons are cool.
• If you have one available, it never hurts to bring a walled canopy to still be able to function outdoors even in the rain.
• Don’t forget the bug spray! The bugs are often still out in the daytime. You’ll want to be sure and have a plan for battling them!

That’s all I’ve got for fall RV camping!

Do you love RV camping in the fall? Tell me about your memories, I’d LOVE to hear them in the comments!