Last Updated on March 9, 2026 by PorchLightReading
Pack like a pro with this ultimate RV camping checklist with free printable. Including outdoor gear, bathroom, bedroom, kitchen essentials, pets, kids and more! Perfect for first time and family campers.
I nearly wanted to give up after the first few times of camping. The honeymoon stage of owning a new (to us) camper quickly faded away and stress took over.
Stress and timelines. That’s all I saw.
If we camp on Friday that means I need to grocery shop on Thursday. And that means I need to do the laundry on Wednesday so the kids will have clean clothes for school the next Monday. But then I can also pack their favorites to take with us on Friday morning. Don’t forget we need an easy dinner idea for when we get back on Sunday and lunches for Monday morning.
And so it continued.
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- Table of contents: RV Camping checklist with printable
- Outdoor Camping Checklist: Comfort, tools, and gear
- Bathroom Checklist: Essentials, makeup, first aid, and must haves
- Camper Bedroom Checklist: Essentials, electronics, clothes, other
- Kitchen and Pet Checklist: Essentials, cleaning, pets, extras
- Free Camping Checklist Download/Printable
- Most forgotten RV camping items
It was a lot of planning and staying on top of things. The mental load of lists I had to remember never seemed to end! Because it wasn’t just the groceries or laundry, it was literally thinking an entire week ahead of schedule and still needing to do the normal daily tasks.
I guess some people might wing it, but that’s just not my style.
So to the benefit of everyone, I’ve created an ultimate RV camping checklist printable with free downloads. I hope it helps you as much as it’s helped our family.
RV CAMPING CHECKLIST WITH PRINTABLE
Now, if this is your first time camping you’ll find that a lot things need to stay in the camper. Equipment such as chocks, water hose, leveling blocks ect.
I’ll do my best to fill in the gaps but this is more of a list of things you need to pack every time you go camping, and not the supplies that always stay with the camper.
Camping Outdoor Gear
When it comes to outdoor essentials for camping you’ll have plenty that stays with the camper. Some of those include: Drinking water hose, leveling blocks, 50/30 adapter, snap up lever, surge guard, equal-i-zer (Amazon must have) with hitch spring bar lift handle and more depending on the type of camper you have.
But you’ll still have a list of things you need to pack each time.
Camping Comforts
- Camping chairs
- Hammock
- Outdoor rug
- Canopy tent with mosquito netting (Amazon find)
- Tarp
- Shatterproof string lights (Amazon find)
- Umbrella
- Outdoor table ( This adjustable outdoor table is perfect! We use it at it’s highest level for a cooking work station and on lower levels for board games. It folds in half and is easy to store.)
Camping Tools
- Firewood
- Hatchet
- Kindling
- Gloves
- Extension cord
- 2 Way radio
- Lighter
- Drill
- Flashlight
- Duct tape
- Socket set
- Headlamp
- Rope
- Screw drivers
- Pocket knife
- Mosquito repellant (we use this Thermacell which repels mosquitos without spray)
Outdoor Gear and Extras
- Kayaks / Canoe
- Paddles
- Lifevest
- Water shoes
- Fishing gear
- Snorkels / Goggles
- Hiking backpack
- Camelbak ( Don’t forget a hydration backpack for the kids! Let them carry their own water for a change.)
Outdoor Kitchen Essentials
- Drinking water
- Marshmallow sticks
- Tablecloth
- Griddle / Dutch oven
- Tongs / Oven mitts
- Grill / Charcoal
- Lighter
Kids Toys and Must Haves
- Bikes / Bike lock
- Helmets
- Scooter
- Slackers Swing Set (This Slackers swing set can be set up between the trees! Perfect for hours of fun.)
- Chalk
- Bubbles
- Beach toys
RV Bathroom & First Aid Camping Essentials
Bathroom essentials can get a bit tricky to pack since there are many things that can’t get packed up until the day you leave. (Such as toothbrushes and makeup.) I’ve forgotten my eyeliner more than once but we’re camping, so I’m the only one who really cares.
However, when it comes to kids Tylenol and bandaids, those are things that have to come with us. Because getting them at the store when we really need them, won’t work.
Camper Bathroom Checklist
- Hand towels
- Shower towels
- Beach towels
- Soap / Tissues
- Shampoo / Conditioner
- Razor / Shave gel
- Feminine hygiene product
- Face wash / Makeup remover
- Contact solution
- Contacts / Glasses
- Deordorant
- Toothpaste / Toothbrush
- Q-tips / Cotton balls
- Tweezers / Nail clippers
Makeup
- Lotion / Primer
- Foundation
- Eyebrow pencil
- Eyeshadow / Eyeliner
- Contour / Concealer
- Mascara
- Chapstick
- Lip liner / Lipstick
- Blush / Makeup brushes
- Hair brush / Hair dryer
- Hair ties / Products
First Aid Necessities
- First aid kit
- Thermomater
- Tylenol / Medicine
- Bandaids
- Anti itch cream
- Aloe gel
- Sunblock
- Mosquito repellant
Must Haves
- RV toilet paper
- Toilet treatment / Antifreeze
- Laundry soap / Quarters
I’ve included a hair dryer on this list not just for drying hair on chilly evenings, but I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I’ve used it to dry everything! Kids shoes after they’ve fallen in the creek, wet socks, wet dogs, water we’ve spilled in the camper and towels can’t get to it, and the list goes on.
RV Bedroom Essentials
When it comes to the camper bedroom some things just stay put. Our foam mattress topper with mattress protector, comforter, closet organizers, and hangers all stay in the camper.
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Other things need to be brought back in, and although forgetting a pillow for our old knees won’t kill us, it will make us sad.
RV Bedroom Checklist
- Sheets
- Pillows
- Blankets
- Sleeping bags
- Closet organizer ( This closet organizer is amazing! and is perfect for small camper closets)
- Hangers ( Rv friendly hangers for small spaces)
- Books / Magazines
- Cell phone charger
Electronics
- Laptop
- Tablet
- Nintendo
- Movies
- Portable Bluetooth speaker
- Charges (laptop, tablet, ect.)
Clothing
- Socks / Underwear
- Pajamas
- T-Shirts / Shorts
- Sweaters / Pants
- Swimsuit / Coverup / Goggles
- Coat / Raincoat
- Water shoes / Hiking boots
- Sneakers / Sandals
- Sunglasses / Baseball hat
- Winter
- Coat / Gloves / Scarf / Hat / Boots
Other
- Deodorant / Lotion
- Sunblock / Mosquito repellant
- Laundry bag
- Medicine
- Diapers / Swim diapers
Kitchen Essentials and Pet checklist
Now there are a ton of little things that go into the kitchen so if you’re in need of a complete camping kitchen supply list, check out my article 47 RV Kitchen Supplies, where we have a printable list of the most essential things for an RV kitchen.
Essentials on the list include plates, knives and cutting boards. But you’ll also want to keep on hand/in the camper a can opener, trash bags and many more little things.
Camper Kitchen Essentials
- Drinking water
- Cooking oil
- Spices
- Coffee / Creamer / Sugar
- Milk / Orange juice
- Eggs / Bread
- Condiments
- Lighter
- Create a meal plan (Dinner meal plan and printable!)
Cleaning
- Dish soap
- Sponge
- Trash bags / Sandwich bags
- Paper towels
- Tin foil
- Cleaning wipes
Other
- Toaster
- Coffee maker
Camping Pet Essentials
- Dog food / water bowl
- Poop bags
- Dog bed / Toys / Bones
- Flea and tick meds
- Collar / Leash
- Kennel / Towels / Meds
Kids Toys & Extras
- Glow sticks
- Chalk / Bubbles
- Bike / Helmet
- Frisbee / Football
- Baseball / Glove
- Magnifying glass
- Binoculars
- Coloring supplies
- Boardgames / Puzzles
- Lake floats
- Remote control car / batteries
- Legos / Uno
- Mancala / Scrabble
Create a Meal plan
Creating a meal plan for our camping trips has been a game changer. We pack our groceries according to the meals we will be making. Now I know some might say to just go grocery shopping when you get there, but that doesn’t work for our family.
- It takes time away from camping/setting up when we first get there.
- There might not be a grocery store nearby and we would rather not pull into the parking lot, with a camper, that we are unfamiliar with.
- It creates too many doubles. Why would I buy more ketchup when I have some at home? Buying doubles of condiments you already have doesn’t make sense to me.
- We want to use the vegetables and food we have at home so it eliminates food waste and saves money.
Ulitmate RV Camping Checklist Printable
The images above are great for downloading onto your phone to have a quick reminder but if you’d like to print something to have on hand, I’ve made a more printer friendly version.
These will print nicely on regular printer paper and you can either cut them with down the center with scissors or leave them as is.
Camper Checklist Outdoor & Bathroom Printable 1
Camper Checklist Bedroom & Kitchen Printable 2
Most Forgotten RV Camping Items
We’ve all been there. One time we forgot our lighter, another time we forgot our sheets! That was less than ideal but lucky for us we keep extra blankets in the storage under the dinette table.
- Can opener
- Sewer hose support
- Extra batteries
- Extension cord
- Lighter/matches
- Paper towels
Although I can’t help you do the laundry or pack the kids lunches for Monday morning, I do hope that this RV camping checklist helps ease some of the mental load of remembering all the little things.
Be sure to write in the lines provided some of your own camping necessities. That way this essentials checklist will be customized to your specific needs.
Oh! And if you’re wondering what we eat as a quick dinner when we get back the night before school and work, the answer is spaghetti or frozen chicken nuggets and french fries. Are they the most exciting dinners? No, but they are ready in less than 20 minutes and if you use paper plates you are winning at saving time!
One more thing. Now since we’re going through all this trouble, be sure to make a few peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on Thursday evening and throw them in the freezer. (Bonus use circle pastry cutters to cut off all the crust and make them fun sized.) That way Monday lunches are all set with a cheese stick, carrots, and juice box.
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