Packing List for RV Camping and Road Trips

Packing for any vacation can be a huge task, but packing for camping trips sometimes feels like a totally overwhelming task, even when you’ll be camping in a motorhome, camper trailer or other RV. I’ve found that making a packing list for RV camping relieves my mind of the many things I don’t want to forget. I also like the peace of mind that comes as I check off the list and load up.

I love the convenience of having a kitchen, and eating whenever and wherever we want. Gone are the days of wondering where we will eat next or packing our cooler under the feet of our children in the car. I very quickly became accustomed to having a fridge, freezer, stove and kitchen table on the go! BUT packing food for a family is ¾ of the packing checklist so I’ll post my food ideas and checklist separately.

I’m sure this packing list for RV camping trip is not exhaustive, but here is the basic list I use for trips in our motorhome with our family of seven.

Bedding:

• Sheets (Queen sheets for the master bed. Make sure to have sheets for the couch and table if you plan to convert them into beds. I just use queen size flat sheets for them.)
• Pillows for everyone
• Blankets and/or Sleeping bags for everyone
• Tent (if some of your group wants to sleep outside)

Toiletries:

• Bath Towels
• Hand Towels
• Wash Cloths
• Shampoo and Conditioner
• Hand Soap
• Toothpaste and Brushes
• Hair Brush
• Hair Dryer
• Lotion
• Sunscreen
• Kleenex
• Medications/Prescriptions
• Vitamins/Supplements
• First aid Kit/Band-aids (We keep this in the motorhome.)

Cleaning Supplies:

• Wet Wipes (I LOVE these for quick wipe down of the kitchen floor, table, and kids.)
• Disinfectant wipes
• Toilet chemicals (these are probably already in the RV too.)
• Toilet paper (Be sure to use RV and marine toilet paper!)
• Paper towels
• Garbage Bags (We keep our dirty laundry in garbage bags and find them very useful!)
• Laundry Detergent/Dryer Sheets/Quarters (I pre-scoop the detergent into sandwich size zip-lock bags.)
• Dish Cloths and Rags
• Dish towels
• Paper plates, cups, and bowls. (Even though the kitchen checklist is here paper goods are important enough to me, with such a big family and no dishwasher, to mention both places.)

Outdoor Equipment

• Flashlights/headlamps and Batteries
• Portable BBQ and Propane
• Mosquito repellent
• Fire starter
• Table cloth and clips
• Camp Chairs
• Beach Towels
• Jackets (Maybe coats, remember the temperature changes A LOT when you change elevation.)

Entertainment and Toys:

• Computer/accessories
• Phone and charger
• Camera and charger
• Movies (DVD’s)
• Music (CD’s)
• Games/Cards/Crayons
• Field Glasses/Binoculars
• Bikes
• Swimming Suits and Beach Towels
• Sporting Equipment (For us it is balls and Frisbees. You might want to bring your fishing gear or golf clubs.)
• Glow Sticks (These make awesome night lights if you are traveling with kids.)

Hook-ups: (These should already be in the motor home. If you are renting make sure you know how to use them all.)

• Electrical hookups
• Sewer hookups
• Disposable gloves
• Drinking water hose
• Back-flush hose
• Tool kit

Paper Work:

• RV Owner Manual
• Insurance Papers
• Vehicle Registration
• National Park Pass
• Itinerary and camping reservations

Misc:

• Extra vehicle keys
• Walkie-Talkies (Cell phones don’t usually work in remote locations.)
• ID/Credit Cards
• Membership Cards (Costco usually has great prices on gas.)
• Travel guide/maps (Remember, your cell phone won’t always work.)
• Books/Magazines

Good luck! Just remember that packing is the hard part of any camping or road trip!  Hopefully this packing list for RV will make it a little easier.  It will all be worth it once you are on the road exploring the world!