Parade Magazine: Keep Calm And Camp On!

It’s safe to say that RVing is having a moment. With travel limitations due to COVID-19, the RV lifestyle has been booming over the last year and continues to be one of the hottest new travel trends. According to the RV Owner Demographic Study from Ipsos, RV ownership is at a record high with 11.2 million households owning an RV in 2021. Recreational vehicle travel is not only relaxing but a good opportunity to connect with family while enjoying the beauty of the outdoors, or going on a fun road trip across the United States.

Whether you’re renting or already own an RV, recreational vehicle travel is way more enjoyable when you’re prepared and properly packed with the right essentials. That’s why we rounded up the top 20 RV must-haves for your next adventure. So don’t stress, and scroll down to discover the best RV products suggesting from camping experts around the world, including Brenda Puckett, owner of Queen Bee RV Inspection, Janine Pettit, founder of girlcamper.com, and more.

RV Must-Haves

Here at Parade.com, we’re all about sharing products we love with our audience. When you make a purchase on an item seen on this page, we may earn a commission, however, all picks are independently chosen unless otherwise mentioned. 

1. Hamilton Beach 1.7-Liter Electric Kettle, $29.99 at Kohl’s

Yes, the Hamilton Beach Electric Kettle for $29.99 is perfect for making a much-needed quick cup of tea or coffee while you’re driving for hours on the road, but it can do so much more. Brenda Puckett says she uses her electric kettle “for washing a few dishes (if I don’t feel like waiting for my water heater to heat up), for cleaning, even for a quick sponge bath when I want to wipe off bug spray or my feet before bedtime!” Talk about tons of uses.

2. HEETA Waterproof Dry Bag, $17.99 

A waterproof sports bag is so important to have during all of the activities you do while RVing. The $17.99 HEETA Waterproof Dry Bag averaging at 4.7/5-stars on Amazon is a top pick. “I knew I had to snag it for kayaking, hiking, and swimming at the beach when I just want to keep sand and water away from my phone and valuables,” Puckett advises. “It’s transparent so you can easily see what’s in the bottom.”

3. Solar Lantern Lights Outdoor SUNWIND Waterproof Solar Table Lamp

Check out these solar-charged fairy light lanterns on Amazon and add a little ambiance to your campground at night. “These are solar-charged and make my heart sing when I see them kick on at sundown,” explains Puckett. The best part is that they’re weatherproof so you don’t have to stress about taking them back inside your RV each night.

Lisa Carra and her husband Mike from Wilbraham, MA, started RVing five years ago. Traveling at least two weeks every year in their 5th-wheel travel trailer, Carra tells Parade.com that she has two suggestions when shopping for RV essentials. For a clean RV and good night’s sleep, these are the products she swears by:

4. V7 Motorhead Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner, $299.00 at The Home Depot

Head over to Home Depot if you’re looking to keep your RV mess-free during your travels. “I like to be barefoot in the camper but don’t like feeling the sand and dirt we track in,” explains Carra. “The cordless Dyson vacuum helps me keep it clean and also keeps the fur from our yellow lab under control.”

Check out the rest of the article from Parade here.