Camping and RVing can be an exciting way to explore the great outdoors and spend time with those you love most.
But when you’re just starting out, organizing your space and making the most of it can be overwhelming. These are the best camper tips and tricks that help you create an efficient and functional use of your space so that you can actually enjoy it!
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After RVing for many years now, these are my tried-and-true organizational strategies that will help you keep everything in order, plus some essential items to make the most of your time and space.
From smart storage solutions to must-have gear, these camper tips and tricks will make your camping experience smoother and more enjoyable. I learned the hard way and hope you don’t have to…efficient use of space is key to ensuring an stress-free trip (or at least less stress, yeah?).
Best camper tips and tricks for organization
It took a few years of camping locally and RVing across dozens of states to figure out these RV hacks – I hope you find them useful for your own camper, too!
Let’s dive in!
1. Use cabinet stands to separate vertical space
Before we took our first extended RV trip from Omaha to the West Coast and back, we invested a lot of time into setting up our space. One of the most important parts of a functioning RV kitchen is maximizing space.
I measured each cabinet and found solutions that allowed us to break up the vertical space, like these cabinet stands. This helps us to maximize the functionality of the kitchen.
In our pantry cabinet, a wooden stand allows us to pack smaller items on the bottom and lighter, taller items on the top.
Pro tip: use a rubber grip or bar on the upper shelf to keep items from falling out after driving.
In a few other cabinets, I added these wire racks which allow me to stack more dishes in an efficient way. In one space I even purchased plastic bins to slide under the racks to divide the space in a functional way.
Don’t forget to measure twice and buy once!
2. Use a condiment caddy
Ok, so when we first got our RV I would continuously forget something. Many times, it was condiments for grilling. But, I found an easy solution – get a condiment caddy like this one and put small condiments in it.
It stays in our refrigerator and when it’s time to load up for an epic RV road trip or for a weekend camping at a local state park, I just take the caddy from the refrigerator and pop it in the RV.
3. Stack towels between breakables
Campers, trailers and RVs rattle when you drive. And everything in it rattles. An easy way we found to keep the noise down in our Class C motorhome, and prevent items from scratching or breaking is to put something soft between them.
I picked up some super cheap washcloths and stack them between pots and pans, glass or ceramic bowls, etc. I feel more confident knowing when we get to our destination that our items aren’t broken.
4. Hand-held vacuum is a life saver!
RVing with dogs and kids is so incredibly rewarding, but there’s a lot of messes on a daily basis. Initially I was hesitant to get a vacuum for the RV, but it’s been so amazing!
Having two Golden Retrievers, we use our hand-held vacuum daily to clean up dog hair, as it seems to be exaggerated in such a small space. It’s also great for crumbs under the dinette, or in particularly dirty destinations and for beach sand.
And after unloading the camper, it makes clean up a breeze!
5. Add puck lights (one of my favorite camper hacks for functionality)
Guys! This is a handy little trick we realized when we created a shoe zone in our RV. Adding a puck light is everything!
We’ve also added puck lights under our sink, where there were heavy shadows and it makes a world of difference when doing dishes. They’re also great for closets, shoe storage, cabinets or any other space that’s dark and hard to see.
This is one of my favorite camper tips and tricks whether you’re new to RVing or just want a more organized and efficient use of your space.
6. Get creative with shoe storage
Speaking of shoes, with a family of 4, we’re typically grabbing several sets of shoes for each adventure and we needed a creative shoe solution. While every RV layout is different, I’d just encourage you to find a way to store your shoes for organization.
My husband actually took our dinette bench out to cut into the base and create our shoe spot, located by the door and under the bench.
I’ve seen many others use a hanging shoe bag on hooks near their door, or little cubbies they’ve installed near the door. Get creative and find a good solution that works best for you!
7. Use non-slip for multiple surfaces
We’ve implemented non-slip shelf liner for many surfaces to help items (temporarily) stick while traveling. This helps with dishes from sliding around, our toaster from banging in the cabinet it’s stored, etc.
We’ve even added the non-slip grip to our refrigerator. These, along with bars help us secure food and drink items while on the road.
8. Maximize space with hooks (one of my favorite RV organizing tips)
An easy solution to using the vertical space in your RV, over the door hooks or these wall hooks! We use door hooks for jackets, purses and light backpacks.
Wall mounted hooks are the home to our hats, which are especially helpful when we are going on hiking adventures like the best hikes in Glacier National Park, or beach hats when we explored the best 30A beaches in Florida.
Don’t be afraid to add door hooks for your cabinets for towels if you need the space, too!
9. Containers for bathroom supplies
Like many RVs, storage in the bathroom is tricky. With a family of four, we each have a small acrylic container for toothbrush, toothpaste, etc. This not only helps each of us to keep our items organized, but also breaks up the small, narrow shelves for other vertical items like sunblock, mosquito repellent or lotion tubes.
This RV hack works for our RV, and depending on your space, you may need to get creative with your bathroom storage, too!
10. Use thin hangers for closets
One of the first things I grabbed when we purchased our RV was thin hangers. I’m always shocked at just how much space it saves! We’ve gone on epic road trips when we needed winter clothes, like a Denver to Albuquerque road trip, which are obviously bulky items, and have had no issues with closet storage.
My husband and I have gone on month-long trips and never run out of closet space. Although, we often make sure at least some of our campgrounds have laundry services. Getting thin hangers is easily one of the most essential camper tips and tricks if you’re looking for functionality!
More camper tips and tricks
Well, the list is half way over. Can you see how these organizational strategies and gear help save time and more functionality? Let’s keep going!
11. Use a collapsible dish drying rack
Not gonna lie here: doing dishes in an RV is a real drag. But, I seriously think the simple act of being able to fold up the dish rack and store it out of the way is such a game changer.
This foldable dish drying rack just pops out when you need it, and folds down when you’re done. Get it out of sight and keep the counters clean so you can reduce clutter in your camper, helping you to stay organized.
12. Create more counter space with a stove top cover
Let’s face it, regardless of the kind of camper you have, there’s probably not enough counter space. RV friends of mine use a sink topper to create workable cutting or chopping space.
In our RV, we use a stove top cover to expand our counter space. Unless it’s rainy or cold, we typically use our Blackstone grill for cooking outdoors. So our butcher block stays on our stovetop and creates usable space for food prep or even storage while we’re parked.
13. Get a clothesline
One of the cheapest, easy solutions for the RV has been our retractable clothesline. It’s something you can use outdoors or inside.
This handy clothesline is easy to attach around something to itself and easily hangs from many surfaces.
While some campgrounds have restrictions with clotheslines outdoors, others don’t. We’ve used ours in the summer outside of Zion National Park while drying towels after a day of river play in Zion with kids.
Or, if we need to do some sink laundry, or even if it’s raining outside and we need to hang something, we’ll find a couple of cabinets we can string our clothesline from and hang towels or clothes to dry.
Certainly one of the best camping tips and tricks that’s affordable, especially if camping with kids.
14. Use a white noise maker
This is a great RV hack for kids, pets, or even if you’re a light sleeper. We use our white noise maker nightly to reduce the amount of outside noise.
This white noise maker is great for masking loud campgrounds, traffic noise, or even while rving with dogs so they don’t bark at outdoor noises.
It helps our kids fall asleep faster, too.
15. Upgrade your lock to a keypad
Once my husband found out how many RV companies use the same lock systems for storage and entrances, he upgraded our simple door lock to this RV lock. It was pretty easy to swap out, too.
One of the best RV hacks is using this lock pad. Not only is it more secure, it’s easy for our kids to get in and out of the RV while we’re traveling so we each don’t have to carry keys on us.
16. Dinette tray with non-slip for the road (another favorite camper tip for organization)
In our motorhome, my two kids typically sit at the dinette while we’re driving. This means that things can easily roll around. However, I had the idea when we first started using our RV to attach rubber non-slip to the bottom of a serving tray.
My kids now use our dinette tray to hold water bottles, snacks, toys or other items securely on the road while we drive. No more worrying about things flying off the table as we move! It’s such a great, functional way to stay organized while on the road.
17. Secure your cabinets
My family’s first Colorado road trip in our RV, we went over a rough part of the road and our cabinets slammed open, and a ceramic plate flew out, damaged our counter and shattered.
Lesson learned: we now secure our cabinets as we drive! Anything from rubber bands to hair ties to bungee cords are helpful in keeping your cabinet doors secured.
We’ve hit other bumps over the years that were equally rough, and our cabinets have come unlatched but the hooks prevented items from flying out.
Not only is this a useful camper tip, but also a good safety measure!
18. Collapsible bucket has multiple uses
With limited space, we found that the more things we could buy in a collapsible version, the better. We use this collapsible bucket for rinsing our dog’s muddy paws, or for cleaning up other messes.
A collapsible bucket is one of those inexpensive items that comes in handy for so many uses!
19. Use bins for clothing (stay organized with this easy organizing method for your RV)
While RVing is amazing, packing for it isn’t always easy. I bought my family storage bins like these for foldable clothes. As adults, it’s perfect for our shorts, swimming suits, socks and undergarments.
My kids even use their bins in combination with duffel bags for their clothing.
They collapse down when you don’t need them, and can easily transport to and from your house to load up.
We find these storage bins easy to access and helps us stay organized. Plus, they’re easy to pull out of a cabinet and pop back in.
20. Under couch storage
While each RV set up is different, I’m guessing you have hidden space you don’t know what to do with. For us, this is under our couch. It’s not super easy to access, but there’s quite a bit of space. To maximize our storage, one of the best camper tips and tricks we executed was to better utilize the hidden area.
So I measured the space and bought two flat storage bins, which hold our extra blankets or bedding. When we took our Banff to Jasper road trip in the summer, we even put light coats in the bins since we didn’t need them daily.
Just get creative and fill your space based on your camper layout and your needs!
21. Save space and keep safe with knives with guards
One of my favorite buys for the kitchen in our motorhome is this knife set with sheathes to cover the blades. I can toss them in a kitchen drawer without having to worry about the blade getting damaged or anyone hurting themselves because the sharp part is protected.
Plus, I love that this set of six knives that I have is color-coded, as I tend to use a few favorites.
I know others with campers who have knives hung on a magnetic strip on the wall, but that makes me too nervous for travel and it seems like just one more thing to put up and take down. These knives work perfectly for my family!
Camper tips and tricks – that’s a wrap!
Well, there you have it! These are the best camper tips and tricks that we’ve found helpful for the way we use our RV. Of course, every camper and motorhome is different, so you’ll just have to find what works for you and in your space.
Hopefully you got some great ideas for your RV. Happy camping!
Related content you might like:
RV Camping Checklist: Printable Packing Lists for Beginners
RVing with Dogs: 33 Practical Tips & Free Essentials Checklist
23 Incredible RV Vacations: Scenic RV Road Trips You Need to Take
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