Are you planning an RV camping trip with your friends or family? RVing is a great way to camp. While the prospect of hitting the road in your RV and enjoying a few days of camping is always exciting, the packing and preparation it involves can be a little overwhelming, especially if this is your first adventure in an RV.
To help take the stress out of packing, we’ve compiled an RV camping checklist made up of seven groups of items that you should bring on every trip. While you’ll always be adding things that you wish you would have brought from home to your next trip, this list will get you on your way to packing the essentials.
1. RV Camping Essentials
Okay, so you’re going RV camping. What supplies do you need specifically for your RV? It depends on what came with the RV, but here is a general list. Remember, if you’re new at this, you can always ask the RV rental company what they are providing with the RV and what things you need to provide.
Here is our essential RV camping checklist:
- Tire pressure gauge
- Motor oil and transmission fluid
- Jumper cables
- Surge protector
- Electrical adapters
- Tape
- Shovel
- Flashlight
- Fire extinguisher
- Toilet chemicals
- Sewer kit
- Hose
2. Camping/Outdoor Essentials
Even though you have your RV, you’ll probably still want to do all of the regular camping stuff, like building a fire, and maybe even sleeping in a tent. The following list has some camping and outdoor essentials that you’ll need, including:
- Tools
- Survival gear (just in case)
- Firewood
- Sunscreen
- Bug spray
- Pocket knife
- Flashlight
- Batteries
- Pillows
- Blankets
- Sheets
- Sleeping bag or camping mattress
The following are not essentials, but are still recommended for inclusion in your RV camping checklist:
- Lanterns
- Lantern fuel
- Candles
- Tent (in case you plan on sleeping in one and not the RV)
- Camping chairs
- Outdoor cooking supplies
- Hammock
- Fishing gear
- Sports gear
3. Kitchen/Cooking Supplies
Depending on what your RV comes stocked with, you’ll probably need to pack kitchen supplies from home. This list includes both kitchen supplies and cooking supplies. You can always add to this list, depending on what favourite items you have that you would like to bring along. Here are some essentials:
- Pots and pans
- Cooler
- Ice
- Cooking utensils
- Utensils (forks, knives, spoons)
- Drinking glasses
- Mugs
- Plates
- Bowls
The following are not exactly essentials, but these cooking supplies will enhance your culinary endeavours or at least make your dining experience more comfortable:
- Coffee maker
- Kettle
- Cutting board
- Can opener
- Paper towel
- Napkins
- Dish soap
- Sponges
- Food storage bags
- Airtight food containers
- Aluminum foil
- Dishtowels
- Oven mitts
- Garbage bags (heavy-duty is best)
- Cleaning supplies (disinfecting wipes work wonders and don’t take up too much space)
- Matches (or lighter and lighter fluid)
- Water bottles
4. Food Items
This list is very dependent on the recipes you’ll be making and the food you and your family or friends like. To get you started, here are some food item essentials:
- Spices for cooking
- Margarine or butter
- Cooking spray
- Bread
- Bagels
- Cake mixes (and other baking ingredients)
- Eggs
- Yogurt
- Cream cheese (for bagels)
- Hamburgers
- Hamburger buns
- Condiments (ketchup, mustard, relish, pickles, hot peppers, etc.)
- Canned goods (soup, canned vegetables, chilli, etc.)
- Cereal
- Fruits and vegetables
- Crackers (and other snacks)
- Juice
- Water
- Additional grocery items for recipes
5. Clothing
In addition to all the gear you’ll need for your RV, for camping, and to eat, you’ll also need to pack clothing for yourself. Here are some clothing essentials for RV camping:
- Waterproof clothing (jackets, shirts, pants, etc.)
- Sweaters
- Pyjamas
- Slippers
- Warm socks
- Underwear
- Hat
- Gloves
- Scarf
- Rubber boots
- Shoes
- Hiking boots
6. Toiletries/Personal Items
Don’t forget your toiletries and personal items. Here’s a list of the essentials you’ll need:
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body wash (or a bar of soap)
- Body lotion
- Hair brush
- Shaving cream
- Razors
- Deodorant
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
If you have extra room, you may choose to bring (or leave behind – it’s entirely up to you) the following non-essential items that will make your RV camping experience better:
- Floss
- Makeup
- Makeup remover wipes
- Sunglasses
- Phone charger
- Cell phone
- Advil, Tylenol and personal prescriptions
- Headphones
7. Miscellaneous Items
Some miscellaneous items you can take on your RV camping trip include things like an erasable note board. With this board, you can record things you would like to bring on your next RV trip as you remember them. That way when you get home, you can bring the whiteboard in and add these items to your checklist. By doing this, you’ll have everything you want for next time!
Some other miscellaneous items include:
- Board games
- Cards
- Puzzles
- Books
- Arts and crafts supplies
- Frisbee
- Other outdoor toys
- Pet food
- Treats for pets
- Food and water dishes
- Pet toys
- Leash and harness
- Waste bags
- Pet bed
- Extra towel for pets
- First aid kit
- Camera and accessories
- Alarm clock
We hope this RV camping checklist will help you get everything you need for your trip sorted out. Remember you can always add to remove things to this list. Now that you know what you need for your trip, you can get to packing and you’re one step closer to leaving for your trip. We wish you lots of fun!
