How can I stop my motorhome or campervan from overheating in hot weather?

Keep a close eye on your coolant level (only check when the engine is cool), and check engine oil, brake fluid and power-steering fluid more often than usual. Heat makes engines work harder, so fluids are used up faster. It’s also worth checking belts and hoses, as extreme heat can make them crack.

How often should I check my tyre pressure when it’s hot?

Tyre pressure can rise in warm weather because the air inside expands. Check your tyres before you set off and again during long journeys, especially if you are covering a lot of miles in direct heat.

What’s the best way to keep the van cool when parked up?

Aim for shade whenever possible, but if that’s not an option, use reflective screens, close sun-facing blinds, open windows on the shady side and lift the skylight to release rising heat. A portable 12V cooling unit can help too.

How can I sleep comfortably in the heat?

Opt for breathable bedding like cotton or silk liners. If you know a hot night is coming, chill your sheets or place reusable freezer blocks in a towel before bed. A simple flannel dipped in cool water on your forehead or neck can also help.

Should I avoid cooking inside the van in very hot weather?

If you can, yes. Cooking indoors raises the temperature quickly. Cook outside under shade, use your awning or a parasol, and enjoy lighter cold meals. Remember that small fridges work much harder in the heat, so avoid over-filling them.

How can I stay cool while driving?

Air conditioning and open windows will use more fuel, but comfort comes first in extreme heat. Plan shorter drives, schedule regular cool-down stops and choose routes with scenic places to pause. Driving closer to sunrise or sunset can also help.

What’s the best way to plan stops during hot weather?

Use a road trip itinerary or map to pinpoint rest spots, shady places, beaches, cafés or viewpoints where you can cool off. If you are staying overnight, check for height restrictions beforehand so you don’t end up circling in the heat.

Why does my fridge struggle when the weather is very hot?

Camping fridges are often ‘coolers’ rather than full refrigerators. They normally cool to around 10–20°C below outside temperature. On very hot days, that can still leave the inside above 10°C. Keep the door closed as much as possible and avoid overloading it so the cool air can circulate.

Stay cool, safe and comfortable when travelling in hot weather.

How to keep your cool (on a hot night) in a motorhome or campervan

Check fluids, tyres and vehicle condition more often in the heat.
Park smart with shade, airflow and simple cooling tricks.
Plan shorter journeys with well-timed stops and cooler driving times.

Summer road trips in a campervan or motorhome can be wonderful, long evenings, scenic stops, and the freedom to roam. But when the temperature climbs, even the best adventures can feel a bit uncomfortable without a little planning. Hot weather affects both you and your vehicle, so it’s worth knowing a few simple tricks to stay cool, calm and comfortable on the move. Whether you’re winding along coastal roads, settling into a peaceful campsite or tackling a long drive between stops, these tips will help you look after your van, keep your living space bearable, and enjoy every warm, sunny mile.

With temperatures continuing to rise this week and as the summer stretches out ahead, it’s worth considering how to keep cool, for your comfort and enjoyment out on the road.

Maintenance in Hot Weather

Looking after your motorhome or campervan in hot weather will ensure your get the best performance you can from your vehicle, as well as aiming to keep you safe and comfortable.

1. Check Your Fluids and Conditions

As you keep yourself topped up with cold drinks and ice creams, don’t forget to keep your motorhome or campervan’s fluids up too. Your vehicle is at greater risk of overheating in hotter weather, as it will work harder, using more fluids to keep the engine cool and working as it should. The fluid levels could decrease at a higher rate as a result. The most important thing is to check the coolant when the engine is cool, as if the coolant level is too low, there is a greater risk of overheating.

Check before you go and frequently if you are stacking up the miles in the heat.

· Coolant

· Motor oil

· Brake fluid

· Power-steering fluid

· Windshield wiper fluid

Check tyre pressure

Heat exposure can cause your tyres to expand and this in turn can affect your tyre pressure. Frequently check the tyre pressure as often as you can to ensure your tyres are at the correct pressure for your vehicle.

Book an inspection

Extreme hot weather can damage belts and hoses by cracking or blistering them. Get a professional to check them over for reassurance that they don’t need to be replaced, or to replace them if they have become damaged.

Comfort When Parked Up

2. Keep out the heat

The obvious recommendation is to park in the shade, but this may not be possible on a site or in a car park. However, there may be a tree you can utilise at the very least.

· Use reflectors such as silver screens to reflect the sun from the windows. Externals are probably better than internals – but use what you can! Close the blinds or curtains facing the sun.

· Park where possible with sun on one side as much as possible and open the windows on the shady side only. Open the skylight too as this will let heat out as heat rises but also help create a through-breeze.

· If you’re budget can stretch to one, get a portable 12v air conditioning unit. Check out Buy it for Van Life’s guide to the best 12 volt portable air conditioners, even though the article is a few years old, the advice is sound overall.

3. Ice, ice baby

Think ahead if you know it’s going to be a scorcher before you go, keep your cool with some advance preparation.

· Take a cotton seat for loose, thin bedding and a flannel or small towel. Preferably have a cotton sheet below you as well as over the top of you – as cotton is known for its natural, breathable qualities. Even better, a silk sleeping bag liner or silk sheet is even better than cotton as it is a moisture-wicking layer.

· If you get a chance, pop your sheets in a sealed bag and in the freezer before you go and / or wrap a frozen bottle of water / freezer blocks in the centre of the bundle, which will help make your first night comfortable.

· Pack freezer blocks and use them wisely! Wrap a flannel around the blocks before bed to put on your forehead or pillow. If you’re at a campsite which offers the facilities, you can swap or freeze your blocks again each day.

4. Food and cooking

It makes sense not to cook inside and make the interior even hotter! Rethink your meals!

· Make sure you cook under shade to keep yourself cool and ensure there is enough ventilation.

· Warmer weather is the perfect opportunity to get the barbeque out.

· Use what you can for a parasol, awning etc to keep the sun off whilst you eat.

· Enjoy cool, fresh foods, especially delicious if you can shop local from a nearby farm shop, or market for example.

· Be patient with your fridge, if you have one, even if it’s on an electric hook-up, it will be working hard! Keep the door shut as much as possible and try not to jam it full of food so the cool air can circulate.

· Camping fridges are often classed as “coolers”, which means they will cool to around 10-20 degrees lower than the ambient temperature outside. In very hot weather, this can mean the temperature is 10 degrees or more inside. Therefore, be prepared that your food will not remain as cold as you’d like and may quickly go off.

Keeping your Cool Behind the Wheel

We know we recently blogged about fuel-efficient driving, and we said using air conditioning and having your windows down are not fuel-efficient ways to drive – but needs must if you need to keep cool. There are other ways to keep your cool too.

5. Plan to your advantage

Plan ahead so you know where you can take a rest and cool down. Use maps or road trip itineraries such as UncoverBritain.com to check out the best places to stop. Click the image right to read more about the benefits of membership.
Take shorter journeys, stop more and if you can, add more overnight stays to break your journey. Check out overnight stay maps with our directory.
Know where you’re parking and make sure it’s not height restricted so you’re not driving around needlessly in the heat, getting frustrated. Use a parking places app to plan in advance.
Consider driving towards sunset when the temperature should start to drop.
Try to relax and take it in your stride. Remember, the journey is as important as the destination on a road trip.

Keep a close eye on your coolant level (only check when the engine is cool), and check engine oil, brake fluid and power-steering fluid more often than usual. Heat makes engines work harder, so fluids are used up faster. It’s also worth checking belts and hoses, as extreme heat can make them crack.
Tyre pressure can rise in warm weather because the air inside expands. Check your tyres before you set off and again during long journeys — especially if you're covering a lot of miles in direct heat.
Aim for shade whenever possible, but if that’s not an option, use reflective screens, close sun-facing blinds, open windows on the shady side and lift the skylight to release rising heat. A portable 12V cooling unit can help too.
Opt for breathable bedding like cotton or silk liners. If you know a hot night is coming, chill your sheets or place reusable freezer blocks in a towel before bed. A simple flannel dipped in cool water on your forehead or neck can also help.
If you can, yes. Cooking indoors raises the temperature quickly. Cook outside under shade, use your awning or a parasol, and enjoy lighter cold meals. Remember that small fridges work much harder in the heat, so avoid over-filling them.
Air conditioning and open windows will use more fuel — but comfort comes first in extreme heat. Plan shorter drives, schedule regular cool-down stops and choose routes with scenic places to pause. Driving closer to sunrise or sunset can also help.
Use a road trip itinerary or map to pinpoint rest spots, shady places, beaches, cafés or viewpoints where you can cool off. If you're staying overnight, check for height restrictions beforehand so you don’t end up circling in the heat.
Camping fridges are often “coolers” rather than full refrigerators. They normally cool to 10–20°C below outside temperature. On very hot days, that can still leave the inside above 10°C. Keep the door closed as much as possible and avoid overloading it so the cool air can circulate.