RV Packing List as PDF to Print + Camping Tips

Packing for your camper made easy, so you have the essentials for your vacation.

Here you'll find my RV packing list, where I outline the important gear, essentials, and clothing to ensure your camping vacation is a total success. Who wants to forget important things and have to shop upon arrival?

For the impatient, download, print, and check off the RV packing list directly here:

It's best to download my free checklist and RV packing list as a PDF right away and print it out.

Note: Everything related to the basic equipment for the RV is summarized here. I won't go into detail on the basic items (chairs, tables, etc.) that should be fixed equipment in this article.

In this article, you will find the camping gear that you should have besides dishes, cutlery, and water hoses.

My packing list is suitable for vacations with an RV, campervan, or even a trailer. It doesn't matter if you own one, rent, or borrow from friends. It also doesn't matter if you're traveling in the U.S., Australia, Canada, or Namibia: the camping must-haves are the same everywhere!

Are you still looking for travel inspiration for your road trip? Here you can find my travel reports for road trips where I've traveled with a campervan or rooftop tent.

What You Really Need for RV Camping

Not every item on my checklist always comes along or gets used. Now that I own Vincent the Van, my own campervan, and earn my living as a travel blogger, I often travel as a long-term traveler.

Therefore, this checklist contains practical camping tips for long-term travelers, camping vacationers, or short-term travelers with an RV, trailer, or campervan.

Have fun printing and checking off!

So You Don't Forget the Important Things

Do you know that feeling of having a flash of realization shortly after departure and knowing exactly what you've forgotten? That's happened to me so many times. That's why I've created this packing list for camping with my RV gear to ensure I forget nothing.

Sure, you can buy everything on-site, but it's annoying when you first have to go shopping. Or when you have to spend a lot of money on extra supplies for your camper toilet at a campsite. Right?

Since I Travel a Lot with My Van, This is How I Handle It:

I store the basic equipment (chairs, table, dishes, dish soap, etc.) in the van in March/April and take it out in late autumn. If I plan a trip to the snow or south during the winter months, everything stays in. Except for water.

Before every departure, I check this RV packing list and tick items off.

I also check all the functions of the van: Do I have running water, is the hot water boiler working, how full is the gas bottle, do I have toilet additives, etc., and I also check these off the checklist.

If your RV is parked over the winter, you should remove all food, empty the water tank, open the boiler lever, and blow it out with compressed air (this is important to avoid frost damage. Alternatively, you can activate the antifreeze).

Check off the basic equipment (chairs, table, dishes, dish soap, ...) which I store in the van in March/April and take out again in late autumn. If I plan a trip to the snow or south during winter months, everything stays inside. Except for water.
Before every departure, I check this RV packing list and tick off items.
I also check all functions of the van: Do I have running water, is the hot water boiler working, how full is the gas bottle, do I have toilet additives, etc., and I check these off on my checklist too.
If your RV is parked in winter, you should remove all food, empty the water tank, open the boiler lever, and additionally blow it out with compressed air (this is crucial to avoid frost damage. Alternatively, you can activate the antifreeze).

Some Months Before Departure

Book flight or ferry (depending on destination earlier or later)
Book RV or prepare your own 'fit'
Apply for an international driver's license
Check your passport (is it still valid and does it have enough free pages?)
Apply for a visa in time (if required)

Booking a Campsite

Especially during the peak season, you usually have to book in advance. Especially if you want to stay at recommended and thus sought-after spots. In summer in the U.S. (Alps, Baltic Sea, or North Sea), Ireland, South Sweden, and Norway.

In Iceland, however, you can travel quite spontaneously except for a few exceptions.

One Week Before Departure

In my checklist for the basic equipment, you'll find all the camping essentials that you acquire once and then can consider completed. (except of course, if something breaks). This applies to your own RV as well as for a rented one. Check a week before your trip to see if you have essential accessories like a water thief, water hose, power cable, and adapter (CEE plug adapter). You shouldn't forget about the table and chairs either. I'll address that later.

Things to Do at Home

Scan and make available online. I save all important documents in Dropbox and use the 'Save Offline' function to have everything offline.
Pay open bills or set up direct debits
Empty mailbox & water plants (family, friends, neighbors)
Hide valuables
Empty refrigerator & defrost freezer
Close windows & blinds
Empty trash cans
Turn off heating
Unplug electrical outlets
Arrange for pet care
Save emergency contact numbers

Important Documents and Personal Papers

Identification card or passport
(International) driver's license
Vehicle registration
Green insurance card (for own vehicle)
Roadside assistance
International roadside assistance
Travel health insurance
Vaccination card
Credit card (preferably one with no foreign transaction fees; tips for good credit cards in the U.S.)
Wallet in driver's cabin with coins for tolls, water, electricity, washing machine, and parking meters (50-cent pieces and 1-Euro coins for travel in Europe)
Ferry tickets

Travel Documents for Camping

Useful apps for finding campsites and parking spots (Campercontact, Park4Night, CampingCard, Camping 21 ADAC, Stellplatzradar from Pro Mobil)
Travel guides
Travel diary
Camping maps and discount cards
Vignette
Visa (if required)
Travel health insurance

Basic Equipment for Your RV

Clean the water tank at the start of the camping season
Fill water tank to a maximum of 1/3 (watch the weight)
Check how full the gas bottle is
Is the toilet clean? (Thanks to my composting toilet from Trelino, it's always emptied and clean)
Check water pump
Is the basic equipment complete?
Check tire pressure and tread of the tires
Check oil level and bring oil for refilling
Refill AdBlue (if you also have a diesel vehicle)
Spare lamps (mandatory in some countries)
Sponge with a long handle to clean the windshield
Toolbox
Warning triangle and reflective vests available? (One vest per person)
First aid kit complete and nothing expired?
Small fire extinguisher
Wheel chocks (I hardly use mine)
Bike rack attached? Do I need a sign (mandatory in Italy and Spain)?
For France: Magnet signs for over 3.5 tons for blind spots (mandatory since 2021)
For Ireland and GB: Cover front lights for left-side traffic?

Clothing Packing List

When it comes to the clothing packing list, it mainly depends on the travel destination. I always pack clothes for a maximum of 7 - 10 days. I make sure the clothing is mainly comfortable and durable. I always have a hoodie, a rain jacket, and a thin down jacket with me. Dress according to the 'onion principle'.

Pro tip: Don't pack too much. Only take what you really need! Especially on road trips, you can do laundry on the way. There are always washing facilities at campsites. Comfortable clothing is important. Leave the fancy clothes at home and pack durable and practical clothing that can be easily combined and layered!

Softshell jacket
Down jacket
Underwear (merino)
Jeans / pants (short and long) / trekking pants
Jogging pants
Socks (hiking socks)
Hat / baseball cap / sun hat
Sweater
Rain jacket
Pajamas
T-shirts and tops
Long sleeve
Sunglasses
Belt
Swimwear including flip flops
Dresses / skirts

Kitchen Packing List for the RV

Besides dishes (plates, cutlery, glasses, and pans), I also always bring a small skotti grill with gas cartridges. For the basic camping cooking setup, you can also read this article with all the information about my kitchen essentials.

Here is my basic equipment, food + kitchen accessories:

Washing tub
Dishwashing liquid (biodegradable) and reusable dishcloth
1 dish set with cutlery and glasses per person
Cooking pots and frying pans
Small grill
Salad bowl and containers for fridge storage
Small hand mixer
Small kettle
Colander
Cutting boards
Bottle opener and corkscrew
Kitchen scissors
Peeler
Can opener
Omnia camping oven (the camper's favorite utensil)
Pot holder
Cooking spoon
Paper towels
Trash can and appropriate trash bags (I recommend Wildplastic to protect the environment)
Shopping bag and bags for vegetables
Salt, pepper, standard spices you also use at home.
Vinegar and oil
Water for drinking
Coffee and tea, including coffee/tea filters or strainer
Muesli or porridge
Pasta, rice, couscous (cooks particularly quickly!)
Possibly a few canned goods (e.g., tomatoes, beans, corn)
Dish soap (biodegradable)
Separate foldable tub for washing dishes
Sponges and cloths for washing and drying
Bio waste bags
Nets for hanging fruit and vegetables

Checklist for the Bathroom

I've already listed the most important things in my checklist for basic bathroom and sanitary supplies.

Biodegradable soap (instead of shower gel).
Toilet paper (2-ply)
Toothbrush and toothpaste or tooth tablets
Deodorant cream (no plastic for refilling from Holy Pit)
Disinfectant
Nail scissors and file
Tweezers
Brush
Hairdryer (I have long hair and like to blow-dry it)
Towels (preferably lightweight and quick-drying sports towels)
Biodegradable sanitary additive for toilet. I use microorganisms and 'poop powder' from Goldreimer since I have a compost toilet in my RV.
Important: Shower shoes for the campsite (see above)
Do you have a chemical toilet? Rubber gloves to clean the toilet cassette.
Laundry detergent for washing on the go (I use Ecover eco detergent)
Chemical toilet? Thetford rubber care spray (if the rubber on the cassette breaks, the toilet 'leaks')
Do you use the restroom at the campsite? Then I recommend buying a hanging toiletry bag.
Anything else you personally need (contact lenses, glasses, condoms, ...)

Travel Pharmacy for the RV

Traveling in an RV has the advantage that you can easily carry your essential medications.

I've listed my standard travel pharmacy here. If you're traveling in Africa, make sure to find out if you need to take malaria prophylaxis. Sometimes doctors also recommend broad-spectrum antibiotics. Be sure to check if vaccinations are required before exotic destinations!

These are the medications I always carry:

Tablets for migraines (which I often have with weather changes)
Sinupret (unfortunately, I have a chronic sinus issue)
Nasal spray
Ibuprofen
Wound and healing ointment
Mosquito spray with DEET (most effective also against ticks)
Disinfectant spray
Band-aids
Imodium and Elotrans (diarrhea and stomach issues)
If you're allergic: antihistamines and possibly an emergency kit

Other Useful Camping Equipment

Clothesline
1 blanket for cooler temperatures. I had mine knitted.
Outdoor rug. Lay it out in front of the RV to go inside with clean feet or shoes. Possibly a doormat.
Small hand broom and dustpan
Small handheld vacuum. I love my little Dyson V7.
Small wallet with coins. It's best to keep this in the driver's cabin. You'll need coins to pay for electricity/water at campsites. Also, disposal often requires coins. Toll or parking fees are also often paid with coins.
Foldable boxes for clothing and other items. Keeps the cabinets organized. (Mini foldable box and larger foldable boxes)
Headlamp and/or solar lamp, possibly spare batteries
Camera and accessories (see my gear)

List of Practical Camping Apps

There are now great travel guides, maps, and apps for camping that not everyone knows about. These are excellent for finding a campsite or parking spot, and also places for toilet and water disposal.

Which ones you find practical and useful you'll have to test yourself. At the beginning of my travels in the U.S., I loaded all of them onto my phone and tested them on the go. Please leave me a comment at the end of the article about which app you find best or if you recommend a completely different one!

Campercontact
Camping.info
Park4Night
Promobil Parking Radar
ADAC Parking Guide
iOverlander
ACSI card for discounts at campsites during the off-season
Landvergnügen in Germany
Bauernleben in Austria
France Passion in France
Nortrip in Norway
Pintrip in Denmark
BritStop in the UK (for Ireland, few spots)
España Discovery in Spain
Agricamper in Italy (Note: for Tuscany, spots are far from towns)
Portugal Easy Camp
SVR in the Netherlands

Travel Preparation for Camping Vacation

Here you will find an overview of my best tips for trip planning. This checklist contains everything you need to consider before departure. Since I can't cover all special cases, I've left spaces in the PDF for your own additions.

Do You Have Any Tips for RV Camping Equipment? What Else Needs to Go on the Packing List for the Next RV Vacation?

Did I forget something important? What does your camping gear consist of?

Leave me a comment at the end of the article. I'm curious about what's on your checklist. Feel free to share tips about camping or any other useful apps. I always appreciate receiving information from you.

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Camping Packing List for Your RV Vacation (PDF)

Camping Packing List for Your RV Vacation with PDF to Print