Covered vs. Uncovered RV Storage

Published on 10/23/2026
RSS

Uncovered RV storage is an open parking space with no roof, and it usually costs far less than a covered spot. Covered storage adds a roof that blocks sun, hail, and falling snow. At AA Personal Storage in Parowan, Utah, all RV parking is uncovered, and a 10x30 space rents for $30 a month (as listed in October 2026).

Deciding between covered and uncovered RV storage comes down to three things: what you're storing, how long it sits, and how much you want to spend each month. This guide compares the two side by side, explains what a Parowan winter actually does to a parked RV, and shows how to protect a camper on an open space so it comes out in spring ready to roll. If you also need an enclosed unit for camping gear, our full storage unit size guide covers every size we rent.

What Is the Difference Between Covered and Uncovered RV Storage?

The difference is the roof. Covered RV storage puts your rig under a carport-style canopy or open-sided shed, while uncovered RV storage is an outdoor parking space open to the sky.

  • Uncovered (outdoor) storage: a marked parking space on gravel, dirt, or pavement. Your RV is exposed to sun, wind, rain, and snow.
  • Covered storage: a space under a roof, usually open on the sides. The roof blocks direct sun, hail, and snow on top of the RV, but wind, cold, and blowing dust still reach it.
  • Enclosed (indoor) storage: a fully walled garage-style bay with a door. It gives the most protection and usually costs the most, and many facilities have long waitlists for it.

AA Personal Storage in Parowan offers uncovered outdoor Boat/RV/Trailer parking. We don't have covered or indoor RV storage, and vehicles aren't allowed inside our enclosed storage units.

Covered vs. Uncovered RV Storage: Side-by-Side Comparison

Uncovered storage wins on price and availability, and covered storage wins on sun and hail protection. The table below sums up the tradeoffs.

Factor Uncovered RV storage Covered RV storage
Roof over the RV No Yes, usually open sides
Typical cost Lowest. At AAPS, $30/mo for 10x30 and $40/mo for 12x40 (October 2026) Usually several times the uncovered rate. One nearby Parowan facility listed covered RV storage at $120/mo when we checked in October 2026
Sun (UV) protection None without a cover Good on the roof, partial on the sides
Snow on the roof Yes, you'll want to clear heavy loads Mostly blocked
Hail protection None Good
Wind and blowing dust Exposed Still exposed on open sides
Height limits None from a roof Canopy height can rule out tall fifth wheels and motorhomes with roof gear
Availability Usually easier to find Often limited or waitlisted
Best for Seasonal storage, tight budgets, trailers, boats, toys Long-term storage of high-value rigs, or owners who rarely visit

Pick uncovered storage if you use your RV every season, you're willing to use a good breathable cover, and you'd rather keep the difference in monthly rent. Pick covered storage if your rig is new or high-value, it will sit for years at a time, or hail and UV damage worry you more than the extra cost.

How Much Does Uncovered RV Storage Cost in Parowan?

At AA Personal Storage in Parowan, Utah, uncovered RV parking costs $30 a month for a 10x30 space and $40 a month for a 12x40 space, as listed on our Rent page in October 2026.

Space Size Monthly rate (October 2026) Availability (October 23, 2026)
Boat/RV/Trailer Parking 10 ft x 30 ft $30 Only 2 left
Boat/RV/Trailer Parking 12 ft x 40 ft $40 Waiting list

A few things to know before you rent:

  • Month to month. There's no long-term contract, so you can park for one winter and leave in spring.
  • $50 reservation fee. It holds a space for 25 days and is credited toward your move-in charges. If you don't move in within 25 days, the fee is non-refundable.
  • Outdoor spaces aren't paved. The facility has asphalt up to every enclosed unit, but the outdoor parking spaces are not paved.
  • 10% military discount. No proof is required. Just mention it when you rent or call.
  • More than RVs. The same spaces hold boats, utility and cargo trailers, travel trailers, and snowmobiles and ATVs.

Check the Rent page for current rates and open spaces, since availability changes.

Is Uncovered RV Storage Safe in a Parowan Winter?

Yes, as long as you winterize the RV and protect it from sun and snow. Thousands of RVs in southern Utah spend the winter outdoors. The damage that does happen usually comes from skipped prep, not from the open sky itself.

Here's what a Parowan winter brings. Parowan sits at about 6,155 feet. Long-term averages from the Western Regional Climate Center's Parowan station show average lows of about 34°F in October, 24°F in November, and around 16°F to 17°F in December and January, and December through March each average roughly 10 to 11 inches of snow.

That climate creates four main risks for an RV on an open space:

  1. Frozen plumbing. Water left in lines, the water heater, or traps can freeze and crack fittings. This is the biggest and most expensive risk, and a roof does nothing to prevent it. Follow our guide on how to winterize your RV before the first hard freeze.
  2. Sun and UV. High-elevation sun is strong even in winter. Over time it fades paint and decals, dries out roof membranes and seals, and cracks tire sidewalls.
  3. Snow load and melt. Snow piles on the roof, then melts and refreezes around seams, vents, and slide toppers. Water that gets past a cracked seal is how most roof leaks start.
  4. Wind. Open valley wind can flap awnings, loosen covers, and push grit into seals.

A roof helps with sun and snow, but frozen pipes, wind, mice, and dead batteries depend on your prep either way.

Should I Cover My RV for Winter Storage?

Yes, if it's parked on an uncovered space. A breathable, fitted RV cover is the cheapest way to get most of the sun and snow protection of covered storage.

Not all covers are equal:

  • Use a breathable cover made for RVs. It sheds water and blocks UV while letting moisture escape, so condensation doesn't get trapped against the finish.
  • Skip the plastic tarp. A tarp traps moisture underneath and rubs the paint and decals every time the wind moves it.
  • Get the right fit. Buy by type and length (travel trailer, fifth wheel, Class A, Class C). A loose cover flaps and wears through faster.
  • Strap it tight. Run every strap under the frame, and check the cover after a big wind or snowstorm.
  • Pad the sharp corners. Put a little padding over gutter ends, ladders, and roof AC shrouds so they don't tear the fabric.
  • Cover the tires too. Tire covers block UV, which is a main cause of sidewall cracking on RVs that sit all season.

How to Protect an RV on an Uncovered Space

The best protection is a winterized RV, a breathable cover, tire covers, a maintained battery, and a quick visit after big storms. This checklist covers the rest.

Before You Park

  • Winterize the plumbing. Drain the tanks and water heater, bypass the heater, and blow out the lines or run RV antifreeze through every faucet and trap. See our RV winterizing guide for the full steps.
  • Inspect the roof and seals. Look for cracked sealant around vents, skylights, and seams, and touch it up now.
  • Clean it out. Remove all food, wipe the fridge and prop the door open, and empty trash. Food is the top reason mice move in.
  • Seal entry points. Check for gaps around plumbing and wiring where rodents get in, and close them up.
  • Handle the battery. Pull it and store it somewhere it won't freeze, or keep it charged. A fully charged battery resists freezing far better than a dead one.
  • Close up. Retract slides and the awning, close vents, and shut the blinds to cut UV on the interior.

When You Park

  • Level it and chock it. Park level so water drains off the roof, then chock the wheels on both sides.
  • Protect the tires. Inflate to the pressure your tire maker recommends for storage, and put on tire covers.
  • Cover it last. Put the RV cover on after you've parked and leveled, and cinch every strap.

During the Winter

  • Visit after big storms. Clear heavy snow from the roof with a soft brush or foam roof rake from a safe spot, and re-tighten the cover. Don't climb a snowy RV roof.
  • Check for mice. Look for droppings or chewed material when you stop by.

Because AA Personal Storage is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, you can stop by after a storm on your own schedule, day or night. The facility has 24/7 video surveillance and nighttime visibility.

Where Should I Store the Camping Gear?

Keep loose gear out of the RV over winter. Bedding, camp chairs, bikes, coolers, and fishing gear are safer, drier, and less tempting to mice in a small enclosed unit.

At AA Personal Storage in Parowan, a 5x10 unit rents for $40 a month and a 10x10 unit for $65 a month (as listed in October 2026). All units are ground level and drive-up with asphalt to the door. See what fits in a 10x10 or compare a 5x10 vs 10x10 storage unit to pick the right size.

Remember that propane tanks, gas cans, and other flammable materials can't go in a unit. See our FAQ for the full list of items we don't allow.

Why RV Owners Park in Parowan

AA Personal Storage sits at 450 N 600 W in Parowan, just off I-15, which makes it a short drive from across Iron County:

  • Cedar City is about 20 miles south on I-15, and our open spaces often cost less than RV storage closer to town.
  • Brian Head is about 12.7 miles up UT-143, handy for cabin owners who store a trailer, snowmobiles, or ATVs off the mountain.
  • Enoch, Paragonah, and Summit residents are a quick trip away, without the HOA or driveway limits many neighborhoods have on RV parking.

You can rent online without meeting anyone. Once you rent, you'll get move-in instructions by email or text. We accept Visa, Mastercard, and Discover, and you can pay your bill online. If you'd like extra coverage for your belongings, see our Tenant Protection plans.

Frequently Asked Questions About Covered vs. Uncovered RV Storage

What is the difference between covered and uncovered RV storage?

Covered RV storage parks your RV under a roof, usually with open sides, which blocks direct sun, hail, and snow. Uncovered RV storage is an open outdoor parking space with no roof. Uncovered storage costs less and is easier to find. AA Personal Storage in Parowan, Utah offers uncovered Boat/RV/Trailer parking only.

Is uncovered RV storage worth it?

For most owners who use their RV every season, yes. Uncovered storage often costs a fraction of a covered spot, and a breathable cover plus tire covers blocks most sun and snow damage. At AA Personal Storage in Parowan, a 10x30 uncovered space is $30 a month as listed in October 2026.

Should I cover my RV for winter storage?

Yes, if your RV is parked outdoors. Use a breathable, fitted RV cover, not a plastic tarp, which traps moisture and rubs the finish. Strap it tight under the frame, pad sharp corners, and add tire covers. Check the cover after big storms and clear heavy snow from the roof from a safe spot.

How much is uncovered RV parking in Parowan, Utah?

At AA Personal Storage in Parowan, Utah, uncovered Boat/RV/Trailer parking is $30 a month for a 10x30 space and $40 a month for a 12x40 space, as listed in October 2026. Rentals are month to month, and a $50 reservation fee holds a space for 25 days and is credited toward move-in.

Can I store a boat, trailer, or snowmobile in RV parking?

Yes. The outdoor Boat/RV/Trailer parking at AA Personal Storage in Parowan holds RVs, travel trailers, boats, utility and cargo trailers, and snowmobiles and ATVs. All outdoor parking is uncovered and not paved. Vehicles are not allowed inside the enclosed storage units, so every vehicle goes in an outdoor space.

Can I get to my RV any time at AA Personal Storage?

Yes. AA Personal Storage in Parowan, Utah is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so you can pick up your RV or check on it after a storm whenever it suits you. You can rent online without meeting anyone and get move-in instructions by email or text.

Reserve Your RV Parking Space in Parowan

Ready to park for the winter? Rent an RV parking space in Parowan online in a few minutes. Our 10x30 spaces are limited and the 12x40 has a waiting list, so check the Rent page for what's open right now. Need an enclosed unit for the gear too? Compare every unit size in our hub guide.

AA Personal Storage is at 450 N 600 W, Parowan, UT 84761, just off I-15 and about 20 miles north of Cedar City. Get directions to our facility, call us at (435) 447-4777, or email hello@aapersonalstorage.com.