Where do you go when summer hits the Southeast

[BigBlueOx_TRD]

Southeastern Overlanders,
Where do you all head to when the Temps climb here in the Southeast. We're located in the foothills of NC and when that summer humidity sets in... Lawwwwd. It is just too unpleasant for tent camping here. We are thinking of making a run back to GWNF in VA/WV soon, but curious if anyone has any good places they recommend within a days ride.
As always, Happy Trails to you!
-Babe

 

[Cypress]

When the heat and humidity sets in, I hook the XJ up to the back of the RV and use it as a base camp while exploring the surrounding area. I'm too old to enjoy sleeping in the heat for the sake of using a tent.

 

[BigBlueOx_TRD]

When the heat and humidity sets in, I hook the XJ up to the back of the RV and use it as a base camp while exploring the surrounding area. I'm too old to enjoy sleeping in the heat for the sake of using a tent.

Now that's a Base Camp! You have got it all figured out, my friend. Very nice idea. Ha ha!

 

[Wellspring]

Go North! A good days ride will get you to NY state. Continue on to the Adirondack Mountains, or the White Mountains of Vermont. I know as I live north of Asheville, I have done that trip more times up I-81 than I can count. I was in Landrum SC yesterday, and the temp was 85. Back home in the Blue Ridge Mountains where I live at an altitude of 3,400 ft above sea level, it was 30 degrees cooler.

 

[BigBlueOx_TRD]

True. One of my best friends lives upstate NY in Moravia. Beautiful country up there. I may see if he's down to go a little more remote than his normal RV camp grounds.
Hope you enjoy your summer. Thanks for the idea.

 

[Tundracamper]

When you figure something out, let me know. The N GA mountains provide some reprieve. However, those can get real busy in the summer. There are options further north. However, those don’t work for a quick weekend trip. As I get older, I find I go less and less in the summer - certainly because of the heat, but mainly because of the hot humidity!

 

[Boostpowered]

Use the heat to your advantage, everyone else is thinking the same thing so if you can handle the heat and humidity stick it out right where you are there will be less people.

 

[Tundracamper]

Use the heat to your advantage, everyone else is thinking the same thing so if you can handle the heat and humidity stick it out right where you are there will be less people.

The days aren’t so much a problem as the night. I have a hard time sleeping when I’m hot. Perhaps I’m too used to the A/C.

 

[BigBlueOx_TRD]

When you figure something out, let me know. The N GA mountains provide some reprieve. However, those can get real busy in the summer. There are options further north. However, those don’t work for a quick weekend trip. As I get older, I find I go less and less in the summer - certainly because of the heat, but mainly because of the hot humidity!

I've been wanting to check out the Georgia Traverse. We are thinking in the fall though.

 

[BigBlueOx_TRD]

Use the heat to your advantage, everyone else is thinking the same thing so if you can handle the heat and humidity stick it out right where you are there will be less people.

The days aren’t so much a problem as the night. I have a hard time sleeping when I’m hot. Perhaps I’m too used to the A/C.

THIS! I cannot sleep if my area is above 70F. We bought a Dewalt fan in 2019 and it's been a very big help. If you've got the new lithium tools, I highly suggest the $100 for the fan (tool only). Also as a good side note, Lowes honors online competition. We got ours for $70 thanks to an Amazon Prime match.

 

[BigBlueOx_TRD]

Use the heat to your advantage, everyone else is thinking the same thing so if you can handle the heat and humidity stick it out right where you are there will be less people.

The only problem here in NC is everyone is still going to places like Uwharrie and ridin. They're used to embracing the suck. Now, granted, maybe they all don't stay and camp. But, still makes for a crowded day.

 

[Tundracamper]

THIS! I cannot sleep if my area is above 70F. We bought a Dewalt fan in 2019 and it's been a very big help. If you've got the new lithium tools, I highly suggest the $100 for the fan (tool only). Also as a good side note, Lowes honors online competition. We got ours for $70 thanks to an Amazon Prime match.

Yep, I’ve got a Ridged fan that will run two nights on low on a 4 Ah battery. Love it. I still don’t bother camping when the daytime temps start approaching 90. The humidity is just too much.

 

[Chuckem12]

I live all the way down in South Florida so I completely understand.... humidity is a daily thing here. Even beach camping gets wayyy hot and crowded sometimes. The sell these little fans for the tents and if I do go beach camping I load up on about 3 or 4 fans per tent....I'm not a fan of being hot while I sleep.

 

[BigBlueOx_TRD]

I live all the way down in South Florida so I completely understand.... humidity is a daily thing here. Even beach camping gets wayyy hot and crowded sometimes. The sell these little fans for the tents and if I do go beach camping I load up on about 3 or 4 fans per tent....I'm not a fan of being hot while I sleep.

You ain't lyin. I lived in Daytona for 6 months while in college and it was like being back in NC. Everyday it was hot, then 2pm it would rain, then humid as could be and hot. Not camping weather at all. Sometimes it wasn't even beach weather. Just ew

 

[Kevin108]

A rooftop tent with all the windows open and a battery-powered fan have let me sleep comfortably throughout the summer nights. Altitude is your friend and camping by water will help a lot.

 

[Flipper]

In Florida and Southern summer camping has one option for us, AC. I removed a rear window in our van, made a fiberglass blank and mounted a 55OO BTU AC unit. Had a custom cover made for it. It will run off our Yamaha gen/inverter while boondocking. The Yamaha is so quite if you put it behind a tree about 50’ away you can’t even hear it. I can get this thing so cold it’s like winter and sleep like a baby. Outside we use a cheap pole fan from Walmart aimed at the picnic table. Usually hit the Glades in Jan when there are no skeeters. And the Keys and coastal State Parks several times thru summer when the crowds are gone and the water is the crystal clear for diving, snorkeling, and exploring the backcountry. You just have to dodge the hurricanes. North to western NC and Tenn. in early spring and late fall from late Sept to mid Oct. when the brush starts thinning out for bushwacking, the fall leaf change and no people.

 

[BigBlueOx_TRD]

In Florida and Southern summer camping has one option for us, AC. I removed a rear window in our van, made a fiberglass blank and mounted a 55OO BTU AC unit. Had a custom cover made for it. It will run off our Yamaha gen/inverter while boondocking. The Yamaha is so quite if you put it behind a tree about 50’ away you can’t even hear it. I can get this thing so cold it’s like winter and sleep like a baby. Outside we use a cheap pole fan from Walmart aimed at the picnic table. Usually hit the Glades in Jan when there are no skeeters. And the Keys and coastal State Parks several times thru summer when the crowds are gone and the water is the crystal clear for diving, snorkeling, and exploring the backcountry. You just have to dodge the hurricanes. North to western NC and Tenn. in early spring and late fall from late Sept to mid Oct. when the brush starts thinning out for bushwacking, the fall leaf change and no people.View attachment 200957View attachment 200958

That. Is. AMAZING!

 

[DRAX]

Head north! Not sure how far you're willing to drive, but the summer weather up in the Adirondacks is decent as well as the coast of Maine. Not sure what overlanding options there are, though, as when we were there last we stuck to pavement.

Being in Illinois, it gets pretty gross here as well due to the corn fields. We headed to Silverton, CO area last summer and it was perfect. Next month we're heading to MT. Those are a bit far for you, though.

 

[Flipper]

Beautiful country. We used to camp on the Islands at Lake George. Great diving.