Campsite Air Conditioners certainly have their pros and cons, but in this blog we’ll be covering some alternatives that you should consider before hooking up that mighty AC. If you can’t escape the need for a portable Campsite Air Conditioner, we provide some product recommendations to help you stay cool while in your camp.

Summertime is one of the best times of year to camp, unless you are camping in a hotter climate. Hot days means hot nights, which makes feeling comfortable in your rooftop tent difficult.

Luckily, we have some tips and tricks for keeping your rooftop tent cool. From fans to portable air conditioners, there are many options for controlling the temperature in your tent. Below we’ve put together our best advice for those hot summer nights.

Temperature Regulating Bedding

Nothing is worse than tossing and turning on a hot summer night. Once you start sweating, sheets and blankets can begin to stick to your skin – gross! 

Before dropping some coin on a campsite air conditioner, start with the bedding to see if that helps. Many brands make sheets with fabric that is breathable and moisture-wicking. Sheets using bamboo, eucalyptus, cotton and tencel are great for keeping your body cool.

Amazon has affordable cooling bamboo sheets that are a favorite among campers. If you would like a more luxury option Slumber Cloud makes a temperature regulating sheet set that comes in a variety of colors and sizes.

Cordless and Battery Powered Fans

Circulating air throughout your rooftop tent is crucial for keeping the temperatures low. Consider picking up a battery powered fan – a consistent breeze can make all the difference.

Instead of jumping straight to a campsite air conditioner, our LED Camp Fan can help cool you down in two ways; 1. pulling the heat out of your tent if it's been sitting deployed out in the sun all day and 2. personal fan at night to keep you cool in warmer climates.

Portable A/C

A campsite air conditioner unit is a bigger investment, but you will definitely see the benefits. An air conditioner is a sure fire way that you can keep your rooftop tent cool – even in the most intense heat.

 A small alternative to a full a/c system is this mini evaporative cooler fan. An evaporative cooler requires water to produce cooler air, so it would just require refilling every few hours. An evaporative cooler does add humidity to the air, so it wouldn’t be a great solution for humid climates.

Larger campsite air conditioners do require more power, so factor that in when weighing your options. A small but mighty A/C that is a favorite amongst campers is the ClimateRight 2,500 BTU Air Conditioner and Heater. This A/C can easily cool or heat 400 cubic feet. 

For a more advanced portable A/C unit, check out the Zero Breeze Mark 2. Definitely more of an investment, but unlike a swamp cooler, it’s actually an air conditioner and dehumidifies the air. Pulls less power than traditional air conditioners with an output of 2,300 BTU’s. Zero Breeze makes a battery that can power the unit for 3-5 hours but it’s also compatible with other portable batteries.

Set Up Time and Camp Spot Location

The time of day when you set up your rooftop tent makes a huge difference in temperature regulation. It’s best to set up your tent at dusk when the weather is cooler and close up your tent right away in the morning to avoid heat getting trapped inside.

Another trick to consider is where you park your vehicle. If you can, park in a shady spot so your tent isn’t directly in the sun. If shade is hard to come by, consider adding an awning to your camping set up. Always have shade readily available.

Shop our awnings >

Camp Near Water

If possible, find a camp spot near a river, lake or even the ocean. Water is nature's coolant, camping by a body of water helps keep the campsite cool. A natural cool breeze comes off the surface of water – extremely helpful for those hot days.

Being near a body of water you can swim in is helpful for cooling down your body's internal temperature. Consider taking a deep before bed to help cool you off before jumping into your rooftop tent. 

There are tons of campsites across the US where you can camp right near water. There are some beautiful lake camping spots right near our HQ in Denver. Chatfield State Park has a large lake big enough for power boats and has 197 camping spots. Perfect for summertime camping.

Proper Ventilation

All of our rooftop tents have multiple vents to encourage air flow throughout the tent. On our hardshell tents, we have large vents under the aluminum tops so air doesn’t get trapped and cause condensation. 

All of our tents have large windows that can be zipped all the way open or down to the big screen to create a cross breeze. The tri-layer insulation on the tent can help trap cool air in when properly ventilated. 

Try to keep ventilation open as much as possible in the evenings. Circulating air throughout the tent will keep the temperature low and help keep you much cooler.

Stay Cool This Summer in your Rooftop Tent

Don't let the heat stop you from getting out there this summer. Always remember to drink lots of water – hydration is crucial for hot weather.

Looking for more ways to outfit your rooftop tent? We have tons of rooftop tent accessories that can help you build out your tent for any climate. 

Best Rooftop Tent Accessories >