How to Car Camp in the Heat

Not camping is NOT an option. Start with your car:

  1. Tint your windows. This can cut internal temps by up to 50º!
  2. Use reflective material. Place silver reflective material in your windshield and other windows. This will reflect sunlight away from your vehicle's interior.
  3. Park in the shade. Maybe self-explanatory, but if you're going to be away from your vehicle during part of the hot day, make sure you're thinking about where the shade is going to be, not necessarily where it is before you leave.
  4. Crack your windows. Again, self-explanatory, but a half inch crack is all it takes to let some heat escape.
  5. Open your windows at night. Make sure to get window screens to keep the bugs out!
  6. Open your windows at night. Make sure to get window screens to keep the bugs out!
  7. Bring a battery powered fan. Air movement is crucial, and it doesn't take much. You can buy a small battery-powered fan for under $20.

Bring your own shade.

If it's scorching during the day, chances are that you're not going to want to be out running around in that mid-day heat. Give yourself a comfortable camp hang-out spot. There's nothing better than a roof-mounted awning.

These awnings certainly provide shade, but don't forget about that passing cloud. You'll stay dry and comfortable throughout!

SHOP AWNINGS

Keep your food and drinks cold.

A powered cooler will change the trajectory of all your upcoming adventures. Who wants to deal with the nuisance and mess of melting ice? Running on both 12v or 120 AC, you have the flexibility to power your cooler wherever you are. 

There are single-zone versions for refrigerating OR freezing, as well as dual-zone versions for simultaneous refrigerating and freezing in separate compartments. 

SHOP POWERED COOLERS

Hydrate inside and out.

Offered in various sizes, the RoadShower is your trusty sidekick to keep you comfortable and all your gear clean with pressurized water. Let the sun heat the water in the tank, and when the sun goes down, keep an eye on the thermostat and enjoy a perfect-temperature shower in the middle of nowhere!

SHOP ROADSHOWER

STAFF PICKS

Rhino-Rack Batwing Awning

270 degrees of shade and 118 sq ft of coverage

PRODUCT DETAILS

Dometic CFX3 75DZ

Dual-zone cooling down to -7°F

PRODUCT DETAILS

YAKIMA RoadShower 10G

10 gallon portable pressurized water system

PRODUCT DETAILS

Or, just get a rooftop tent!

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