Caravan in Arizona, August, with 5yo and 8yo? Am I crazy?

[NearlyAlwaysInsane]

Anyone had experience of renting a large caravan - the type they use in the US, not the full-size massive RV but the large 4-5 person caravans with kitchen and air con - in the USA in the summer?

Have seen that they are slightly more expensive than large car rental for the 2 weeks we need it. But we're going to Arizona (hot!) in August (!) and was wondering if a.) the heat and b.) being cooped up the two of us plus our kids is just asking for a breakdown-inducing holiday??????

Have been to AZ in May and that was hot enough. Spending August in a caravan for your entire holiday, just no. I would look at staying in hotels for part of your two weeks there. You also need a proper bed and bathroom. The children would perhaps like use of the swimming pool and you could have a break from cooking in a small space.

What’s making you want to go to Arizona in August? I was at a school there for a few months in the winter once, and we were in shorts and T-shirts the whole time. The students who went out in the summer said it was like being in a furnace all the time. You’d really want to be somewhere with aircon, shade and a pool to cool off, if you had to be there at all!

AZ in August is unbearable. I had to work there for a few months and it was regularly in the 50s and the tarmac, where there was any, melted. The air con just about made it managable.

It’ll be horrific. Do you have to go there at all? It’s not like you can spend much/any time outdoors because it is really that bad so if it’s a forced thing like visiting family then I would at least get a nice hotel. But if you can go somewhere else by any means you can- take that rental car and drive!!

Presumably you'll only run the air con while you're driving? In which case what about at night or whenever you're parked up? 🥵

I don't think you are aware of how how the desert can get, are you?

OMG no!! People in AZ spend their summers indoors, shuttling from air conned space to air conned space. I can't imagine how horrific it would be with a 5yo and an 8yo! Don't do it.

God no, I found Arizona heat and dry air just unbearable, it would be utterly miserable.

This ^

It is crazy. You don't go outside in the summer in the desert. Americans that live in the desert all have air con and live indoors all summer.

Nope x a million. Just getting out of an aircon car takes your breath away. I love dry heat, but AZ in August, no.

Yeah sounds like it's not the best option. Although AZ is not all low-lying scorching desert (I know....have been there before) the idea of spending days upon days in a tin can doesn't appeal. I also get it re the heat, but I'm a bit more used to desert environments I guess......have been / stayed in a lot of deserts, including in the height of summer in parts of the world where air con is non-existent and indoor temps can stay above 35-40.....at night. Not nice but doable. But I did that w/out kids.

Is there a specific reason you're going to AZ? I get what you're saying about you've done it before and it was doable but do you really want something which is just doable for a family holiday? They're supposed to be enjoyable! You may be able to cope but are the rest of your family?

Why though, that’s more point? Are you choosing this or handling the cards you’ve been dealt, so to speak?

https://azstateparks.com/summer-camping