Campervan Holiday Essentials

When you’re going away on a campervan holiday, one of the biggest worries you have is that you’ll forget something important, particularly something big or expensive, that you can’t simply replace at a nearby supermarket.

The good news is with careful planning and packing, you can make sure you take everything you need for a relaxing getaway.

So, to help you get your trip off to the best possible start, we’ve put together a complete campervan packing list below.

Just be aware that there might be some items on the list that don’t apply to you depending on whether you’re travelling alone or with your family, where you’re going and what time of year it is. The facilities in your campervan may also impact this.

However, we suggest that you consider every possibility and item on the list, then simply skip over those you don’t need for this specific holiday.

Right, it’s time to book your trip and get packing!

1. Sleeping arrangements:

One of the greatest things about a campervan is that you get to enjoy the camping experience and life on the road whilst feeling safe in the knowledge you have a warm, dry place to sleep and a solid roof over your head. As such, you need to make sure you have the right equipment for sleeping. This includes:

A comfortable mattress or mattress topper
Bedding, including a duvet, pillows and duvet covers
The dog’s bed if you’re taking your furry friend with you

2. Cooking and eating:

It’s unlikely that you’re going to want to eat out for every meal, every day of your holiday. This means that you’re going to need cooking and eating utensils, and you’ll need to make sure that you take enough, depending on how many of you are going away. The essentials include:

Food basics like pasta, bread, tea and coffee. Although you could just stop by your local shop when you arrive, depending on where you are staying and what is around you
Pots and pans
Plates and bowls
Cooking utensils like a spatula, wooden spoon, colander, etc.
Cutlery
A kettle
A portable stove (if there is no stove in your campervan)
A barbecue if the weather is nice and you want to cook outside
A folding washing-up bowl (this is optional but can be helpful for washing up on your pitch or for carrying dirty plates to the nearest sink)

3. What to wear:

Although it might seem obvious, you need to be smart about what clothes you pack when going on a campervan holiday. Yes, you want to make sure you have everything you need, but as you’re going to be living in a smaller space, you also don’t want to overpack. Keeping this in mind, you should take:

Your regular clothes, making sure you have something warm, cool, or waterproof depending on the weather forecast
Extra layers if it’s cold – particularly as campervans can be a little chilly in winter weather
Comfortable pyjamas for the evening
A couple of pairs of shoes, making sure they reflect the activities you’ll do and the weather, for example, flip flops for the beach or hiking boots for long coastal walks
A coat or waterproof, also depending on the weather forecast and whether it’ll be cold, wet or both

4. Toiletries and showering:

You need to make sure you have your usual wash bag with you, along with a few handy extras when camping. What you take will also depend on if you have any bathroom or showering facilities in your campervan, but be sure to consider all of the following:

A towel or two
Toiletries for the shower, including shampoo and soap
Toilet roll
Baby wipes
Toothbrush and toothpaste

5. Your camping set-up:

Whether you’re staying on the same site the entire time or moving between locations, there are several items you’re going to need to perfect your camping set-up. This may depend on the type of campervan you have and how big it is, but here are the basics:

Windscreen cover and pop-top cover (if you have a pop-top, that is)
Drive away awning or gazebo
Electric hook-up kit
Lighting for around your set up and when sitting outside
Ramps or chocks, in case you need them
Comfortable camping chairs and a table
A washing line or dryer if the weather is nice and you plan to do washing while you’re away. This might depend on how long you’re away and how many clothes you pack

6. Technology and charging:

Although you might be going on a campervan holiday to get away and unwind, we live in a digital world, and it’s unlikely that you’ll avoid tech altogether – and you might not want to. This can be especially true if you have younger children who enjoy a bit of screen time or online games. Therefore, you might wish to take some devices with you, and you need to make sure you have all the relevant chargers and accessories, including:

Sat nav
Phone or tablet
Laptop
Headphones
Portable charger for long days out
All relevant chargers, such as phone chargers

7. Just-in-case items:

When you’re away from home and living in a campervan, you want to be prepared for any problematic situations that might arise, such as a breakdown or injury. This could include:

A small fire extinguisher or fire blanket
A first-aid kit
Tools and extras kits for the campervan
Important documents or cards, such as an AA card or relevant insurance documents

8. Entertainment:

Finally, campervan holidays are full of exploring new places, cosy campsite moments and more. But this doesn’t mean there won’t be moments when you need a little entertainment. This could be winding down with a movie at the end of a busy day or playing a game on the beach after your picnic. So, although these might not technically be ‘essential,’ we believe they can make a big difference to your camping holiday:

Games to play in the campervan, like cards or a board game
Ball games or sports equipment
Wetsuits, body boards, surfboards, etc.
Portable speaker or radio
A book or two
Laptop or small travel television

So, there you have it, our complete packing list for your next campervan holiday. You can save this webpage or print out the list to use in the future and make sure you don’t forget anything important for your trip. Enjoy!