43 Dollar store camping hacks for your new (or used) RV. Must have essentials for your first camping trip. Plus a free, printable, essentials shopping list.
It is so exciting to become a new camper family! Hooking the travel trailer up for the first time and bringing it home with a sigh of relief, that after saving up and months of searching for the right one (at the right price) it’s finally yours!
But as good as a deal you got, you realize this camper is empty. Or maybe they left a couple of odd and ends. But it’s not ready for a camping trip yet. And your mind races to figure out all the things you’ll need for cooking, cleaning and everything in between.
Follow me on…
We bought our camper used and the family before us left some great finds to get us started. But we still needed to fill in the gaps. As much as I like quality over quantity, the expenses begin to add up.
Chalks, hoses, leveling blocks, trailer break control switch. Registration, insurance, storage fees!
And still we need the basics for the kitchen and other parts of the camper. The easiest thing to do is to head to the dollar store. Eventually you can find a better this and that, but for now, we want to get camping.
Dollar Store Camping Hacks
You may have some extra kitchen towels to bring into the camper, but having to pack everything and unpack everything, gets tiresome real quick. It’s better to have these things stay in the camper for the long run.
Kitchen Supplies
- Kitchen towels
- Pot holders
- Drawer liners
- Trash bags
- Sandwich bags
- Cutting board/Knives/Scissors
- Cheese grater
- Bottle/can opener
- Utensils
- Sponges
- Spatula/tongs
- Serving spoons
- Tin foil
- Chip clips
When you have kids and pets, dirt is constantly coming into the camper. It’s just part of the camping life. But at the end of the day you’ll want a nice swept floor and clean dishes.
Cleaning
- Dish soap
- Dust pan/broom
- Paper towels
- Garbage can
- Moisture eleminater
- Dish rack
- Cleaning wipes
- Dog poop bags
- Laundry bag
It’s nice to personalize your living space with decor and function. If your camper is older a wall sticker backsplash will give it a more homey feel, and the kids will appreciate having their own push nightlights. You might even want to add a couple of tools to this list, such as screwdrivers and tire pressure gauge.
Utility
- Duct tape
- Door hangers
- Self adhesive hooks
- Push nightlights
- Flashlight
- Storage bins
- Matches/lighter
- Shower liner
- Closet hangers
- Backsplash wall stickers
Outdoor glow sticks are a fun way to spend the night and keep an easier eye out for the kids playing in the tree line. The same is true for twinkle lights around the campsite.
Outdoor Must Haves
- Glow sticks
- Cars/dolls
- Puzzles/coloring
- Bubbles
- Chalk
- Bird feeder
- Solar lights
It’s important to have a few medicine cabinet items on hand at all times. Part of camping includes bugs! Hopefully at a minimum. Although bug spray isn’t on my dollar store list, be sure to pack that along with sun block.
Personal Care
- First aid kit
- Bug bite relief
- Tylenol
These dollar store camping hacks and essentials are your first step to getting on the road without (continuing) to break the bank. Now all you have to worry about is a meal plan and packing your clothes.
Free printable checklist
Once you start camping more packing and meal planning will become like second nature. But until then it’s nice to have a little list to help you along.
So pack up! Book the trip and drive safely. We’ll see you on the road.
Best Wishes! ~Sara
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