April Showers: What to Do on a Rainy Day in Your RV

Everybody hopes that their camping trips will all be sunny and bright. Let’s face it though, if you camp often at all (and you should), you’re going to run into a rainy day once in a while. The good news? Camping in the rain doesn’t have to be miserable. In fact, there are a few ways you can make it an extra special experience.

Here are our favorite things to do while RV camping in the rain. 

Things to Do Indoors

Let’s start with the things you can do inside your RV. These activities are perfect for those days when the rain is coming down hard or is accompanied by lightning, so being outside simply isn’t an option. 

Have a Movie Marathon

First on our list? A movie marathon. If you’re stuck inside all day, your favorite movie series—or a series of movies you’ve never seen—is the perfect way to pass the time. 

Make sure to bring some popcorn in case an unplanned rainy day movie marathon needs to happen. If you plan to stream movies, make sure you have a reliable way to connect to the internet. (Starlink works pretty much anywhere without too many trees, but mobile hotspots can also work in places with cell signal.) 

Not sure a reliable internet connection will be available at your campsite? You might want to download the movies you hope to watch before leaving home. 

Some of our favorite movie marathon themes include:

• Harry Potter
• Lord of the Rings
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Star Wars
• Jurassic Park
• Indiana Jones
• ’80s favorites
• Disney classics

Break Out the Board and Card Games

Board and card games are the perfect way to keep the whole crew entertained, even in a small space. We appreciate that board games help people connect and that they might even offer a fun challenge on an otherwise dull day. 

Obviously, the ideal place to play games is at the dining table. That said, if your RV doesn’t have a table or if the table can’t accommodate everyone, it might be better to set up on a bed, on the floor, or outside in a Clam tent if the rain isn’t too heavy. 

Some of our favorite board and card games for RVing include:

• SET
• Five Crowns
• Sushi Go!
• Boggle
• Farkle
• Chronology

All are small and portable, but offer hours of amusement. 

Listen to a Book (or Podcast)

Our family absolutely loves reading stories aloud. Unfortunately, this isn’t something many people make time for in the busyness of everyday life. Why not use the time you can’t play outside to enjoy this age-old activity with your loved ones?

You can have an assigned reader, take turns reading, or listen to an audiobook—or if a book isn’t your style, you could even listen to a podcast together instead. When you finish listening, be sure to take the time to discuss what you’ve heard and see what your family members think about it. 

Some of our favorite family read aloud books include:

• Harry Potter
• Paddington Bear
• Anything by Rohld Dahl
• Pippi Longstocking
• The Chronicles of Narnia
• Little House on the Prairie

Of course, you’ll want to make sure you pick something your crew will enjoy, so use their tastes and interests to guide your choices. 

Get Crafty

Rainy days are the perfect time to get crafty. Whether you prefer coloring (adult coloring books are so pretty and relaxing), crochet, painting, or sculpting clay, crafting is sure to pass the time and you’ll end up with a cool creation to boot!

If you’re planning a messy craft (and especially if kids are involved), make sure to put something down over your RV furniture to protect it. We like to stock up on plastic tablecloths from the dollar store for this purpose. 

Looking to start a new hobby? Woobles crochet kits are a good choice, and drawing and painting lessons can be found on YouTube. 

Make Indoor Repairs

Rain is hard to avoid all the time, and the same can be said of having something break on your RV now and again. The problem is, nobody wants to spend valuable camping time fixing these broken things, nor does anyone want to pull the RV out of storage to make repairs while at home. 

Obviously, you won’t be able to make any repairs to the exterior of the RV while it’s raining (although you really do need to keep up with those if you want your RV to last). That said, you can totally make indoor repairs to the rig while you wait for the storm to pass. 

Try to have the tools and parts needed to make repairs on hand so that when the rainy weather rolls in, you can get to work and be finished by the time the sun comes out again. Not only will you have a fully functioning RV again, you won’t miss out on any of the outdoor fun!

Cook a Yummy Rainy Day Meal

In our opinion, one of the very best things about owning an RV is the fact that you can cook your favorite foods wherever you go. And if you enjoy cooking, then all the better!

For those amateur chefs out there, rainy camping weather is the ideal time to try out a new recipe without missing out on any of the usual camping fun. If you hope to cook during rainy weather, make sure you plan accordingly.

Find the perfect recipe and shop for ingredients before you leave home, as grocery stores aren’t always easy to access from campgrounds. It’s also a good idea to make sure your RV is stocked with the necessary supplies to make the meal. 

Things to Do Outdoors

A little bit of rain doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t go outside. It just means you have to find ways to stay dry or be prepared to get wet. There are plenty of ways to enjoy the great outdoors while the rain is coming down. Here are some of our favorites. 

Go for a Stroll

Going for a walk is always a nice outdoor activity, and if it’s only sprinkling, walking in the rain can actually be extra fun. This could be a full-fledged hike or a simple stroll around the campground. Either way, have the kids don their rain boots so they can do some puddle jumping, and make a point of taking some deep breaths so you can fully appreciate that lovely rainy smell. 

When you’re finished with your rainy walk, head inside, get dried off, and enjoy a warm beverage together. There really isn’t anything more relaxing!

Have a Water Fight

If you’re going to get wet anyway, you might as well go all out! Why not use the rainy weather as an excuse to have a full-fledged water fight? Break out the water guns or the water balloons and engage in a silly battle that is sure to become a family core memory.

Water guns are easy enough to come by, and putting out a large bucket of water makes it easy to refill when the water runs out. If you decide to go the water balloon route, invest in reusable water balloons to cut back on mess, cut back on waste, and have a fun toy you can use over and over again throughout the summer. 

Make Mud Pies

Have little ones in tow? In that case, a water fight might be too intense. Instead, consider setting up an “outdoor kitchen” on your picnic table and using the rainwater to make mud for mud pies.

Work together to gather rocks, sticks, leaves, and other odds-and-ends to decorate the pies. Try making handprints on the tops of your pies or practice writing letters in the muddy treats. When you’re finished, put the pies away until the sun comes out and then leave them out in the sunshine to dry. 

Take in the Sights and Sounds

Of course, you could also use the rain as a time to relax and reflect. There’s nothing quite like sitting under your RV awning and enjoying the sounds and smells of the rain dripping from the sky. Grab your favorite snack or beverage, bring along someone you enjoy spending time with, set up your chairs together, and take a little while to slow down and witness the beauty of nature. 

There you have it, 10 awesome things to do while camping in the rain! We recommend deciding which options appeal to you most so you can stock up on the supplies needed and be 100% ready when the next rainstorm comes along to try to ruin your camping trip.

As long as you have the right things, your trip absolutely won’t be ruined, because you’ll be equipped to have a blast, even in the wettest weather!