Summer Safety Tips for Your RV Vacation
Summer is peak RV season in the Ozarks, and it brings its own risks: heat, sudden storms and busy lakes. These tips help keep your vacation safe.
RV · Originally published June 23, 2015 · Updated November 2026
Long days, warm water and full campgrounds make summer the busiest RV season around Table Rock Lake and across southwest Missouri. The same season brings heat that's hard on people, pets and tires, plus thunderstorms that can build fast. Here's how to stay ahead of the most common summer problems.
Heat and your tires
Hot pavement, heavy loads and low air pressure are a bad mix. An underinflated tire flexes more, builds heat, and is more likely to fail on a long highway run.
- Check tire pressure in the morning before you drive, while the tires are cool, and set it to the RV maker's recommendation.
- Look for bulges, cracks or uneven wear at every fuel stop.
- Stop and check if you feel a vibration or pulling.
Keep people and pets cool
An RV can heat up quickly in the summer sun. Park with shade on the side that gets the afternoon sun when you can, use awnings and window covers, and keep plenty of water on hand.
Be very careful about leaving pets inside. Air conditioning can fail if campground power trips or a generator shuts down. If you must leave a pet, use a temperature monitor that alerts your phone, and don't leave them for long.
Watch the sky
Summer storms in the Ozarks can bring high winds, hail, lightning and heavy rain in a short time.
- Turn on weather alerts on your phone, or bring a weather radio.
- When you check in, ask where the nearest sturdy shelter is. An RV is not a safe place to ride out a tornado or severe straight-line winds.
- Retract awnings when you leave the site or when wind picks up.
- Avoid campsites in low spots next to creeks during heavy rain, and never drive through a flooded low-water crossing.
Ready.gov has practical guidance on preparing for severe weather and building an emergency kit.
Propane, carbon monoxide and fire
- Test your carbon monoxide, propane and smoke detectors before the trip.
- Keep a fire extinguisher where you can reach it and check that the gauge is in the green.
- If you run a generator, keep the exhaust pointed away from your RV and your neighbors' windows.
- Keep campfires small, follow any burn bans, and drown the fire completely before bed.
On and near the water
If the lake is the reason for the trip, water safety matters as much as RV safety. Make sure everyone has a properly fitting life jacket, and keep kids within reach on docks and swim beaches. In Missouri, anyone born after January 1, 1984 must complete an approved boater education course to operate a vessel on Missouri lakes. If you're bringing your own boat or personal watercraft, see our page on Table Rock Lake boat insurance.
A quick insurance check for summer
- Wind, hail and falling limbs are generally covered under comprehensive on an RV policy that has it.
- If you tow a trailer, remember your truck's policy generally covers liability while towing but not damage to the trailer itself. The trailer needs its own coverage. See travel trailer insurance and towing.
- Ask whether your policy includes liability for when you're parked at the campsite, and coverage for your belongings inside the RV.
Talk to a local agent
Heading to Branson and Table Rock Lake this summer? Call us at 417.865.4800 or request a quote below, and we'll review your RV insurance before you go.
Common questions
Is it safe to stay in my RV during a severe thunderstorm?
For ordinary rain, usually yes, but an RV does not protect you from a tornado or very high winds. Know where the nearest sturdy building is and go there when warnings are issued.
Does RV insurance cover hail damage from a summer storm?
Hail damage is generally covered under comprehensive, subject to your deductible. Check that comprehensive is on your RV policy.
Do I need boater education to drive a rented pontoon on Table Rock Lake?
In Missouri, anyone born after January 1, 1984 must complete an approved boater education course to operate a vessel on Missouri lakes. Ask the rental marina what proof they need.
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Written by Auto Insurance Express. Reviewed by Philip Edwards, founder. Philip has run independent insurance agencies in southwest Missouri since 1997. More about the agency.
General information, not advice about your specific policy. Coverage, exclusions and eligibility are determined by the policy forms and endorsements your insurer issues, and state rules change. Confirm details with us before you rely on them.
