The forecast calls for wind, and you’ve got a campsite booked a few hours down the road. Do you leave on schedule, slow down, or sit tight another day?
There’s no single wind speed that works as a cutoff for every rig. But a few forecast details and road reports make the call clearer, and there are signs that it’s time to get off the highway.
In a June 2026 travel advisory, a Wyoming Highway Patrol official said recreational vehicles are among the most common types of vehicles involved in wind crashes. The advisory included a road-camera image of a camper blown over on South Pass while a wind-related weight restriction was in effect.
Is 30 or 40 mph too windy to tow?
Neither number is a safe line. But it helps to know what they mean.
The National Weather Service office in Des Moines makes a useful example. Its Wind Advisory criteria include sustained winds of 30 mph for an hour or frequent gusts of at least 45 mph. The office warns that winds that strong make driving difficult for high-profile vehicles.
Its High Wind Warning criteria include sustained winds of 40 mph for an hour or frequent gusts of at least 58 mph. At that level, the office advises against unnecessary driving, particularly in high-profile vehicles.
Those are triggers for weather alerts, not towing limits. The NWS explains that offices use local criteria, so the numbers where you’re headed may be different.
Check the gusts, not just the wind speed
A steady 20 mph wind is one thing. A 20 mph wind with 45 mph gusts is something else. The National Weather Service’s high-wind safety guidance puts it bluntly:
“One strong gust of wind can be enough to flip one of these trailers onto its side.”
Wind direction also affects the risk. A west wind hits you broadside if you’re heading north or south. NWS Des Moines advises drivers of high-profile vehicles to avoid roads running perpendicular to the wind when possible.
Before you leave, check:
- Gust speeds along with sustained winds.
- Wind direction compared with the roads you’ll be on.
- When winds are forecast to peak and ease.
- Alerts and road restrictions along the whole route.
The NWS hourly forecast lets you compare conditions hour by hour. On a longer drive, check several points along the way, not just where you’re starting.
A heavier trailer can still overturn
The broad side of a trailer is basically a sail. WYDOT identifies enclosed trailers with large vertical surfaces as more susceptible to blowing over, including fifth wheels and other RVs.
Wyoming sometimes closes roads to light, high-profile vehicles based on weight. Even so, WYDOT warns that rigs above the posted weight can still be at risk, because gusts are unpredictable and roadside sensors may not be where the wind is strongest.
Your setup plays a part too. Airstream points to hitch equipment, tongue weight, tires, and speed as factors in sway, and recommends slowing down in wind because the tendency to sway increases with speed. So check the rig before leaving, along with the forecast.
Check who the highway is open to
When you check road conditions, read past the open-or-closed status. Restrictions for light or high-profile vehicles can keep your RV off a highway that passenger cars are still using. WYDOT specifically names travel trailers, fifth wheels, toy haulers, and motorhomes as vulnerable.
Check the state DOT’s road-condition service for closures and restrictions. Wyoming’s 511 service also includes wind information. Your weather app and the road report answer different questions, and on a windy day you’ll want both.
When it gets hard to hold the lane, find a safe place to stop
WYDOT’s advice is simple: if the wind makes your vehicle hard to control, pull into a rest area, parking area, or town and wait it out, no matter what your rig weighs.
It’s a lot easier to pick those spots beforehand than to hunt for an exit with the trailer shoving you around. Watch what’s coming up, too. The NWS warns that bridges and overpasses can be especially dangerous in high winds.
Parking doesn’t end the risk, either. The NWS warns that gusts can overturn parked RVs. During a High Wind Warning, it advises getting inside a sturdy building. Getting off the highway and finding shelter can be two separate decisions.
If the trailer starts to sway
Know your brake controller before you need it, especially where the manual control is and how it feels. Airstream suggests practicing with it in an empty parking lot.
Here’s Airstream’s sway guidance in short:
- Get off the accelerator and let your speed come down gradually.
- Steer as little as possible while maintaining control. Quick corrections can make sway worse.
- Avoid the tow vehicle’s brakes unless there is a danger of collision. If you can do it safely, apply the trailer brakes gently and progressively with the manual controller.
- Once things settle down, stop safely and check tire pressures, how the cargo is loaded, and any signs of mechanical trouble.
Airstream also warns against slamming on the brakes or trying to speed your way out of it. Both make things worse.
Ford gives similar advice on page 9 of its 2026 RV & Trailer Towing Guide. For setups with electric trailer brakes and a controller, it recommends applying the trailer brakes manually during sway and warns that using the tow vehicle’s brakes can increase sway.
Give yourself an out
In its summer advisory for RVers, WYDOT stressed building some flexibility into your schedule for weather delays. Check the forecast before leaving and pick out places where you could stop along the way. It’s easier to change the plan before you’re on the highway struggling with the wind.
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