Seasonal camping is a convenient way to enjoy the outdoors this summer without all the hassle of traditional weekend trips. You’ll lease a seasonal spot at an RV park for a three to six month period, set your campsite up once, and enjoy it all season long.
A seasonal lease gives you the flexibility to camp as long as you want, return as often as your schedule allows, and pick your camping weekends on a whim without the booking war and setup prep.
To help you get started planning for the upcoming season, we’ve put together a list of commonly forgotten camping items you’ll want to make sure are on your list.
What to Pack for Seasonal Camping
1. Drinking Water Accessories
You’ll want to come prepared with fresh drinking water hoses as well as water filters for your RV water tank. A lot of campgrounds use well water which is typically safe to drink, but often has a funny taste that can be tough to get used to.
Also, remember to pack a water pressure regulator valve to protect your RV pipes!
2. First Aid
When we think about camping, we think hiking, smores, quality time, and hammock naps. We try to avoid thoughts of bumps, bruises, bug bites, and more serious emergency situations. Here’s to hoping you won’t have to deal with any of the latter, but if you do, it’s important to be prepared.
Here are some ideas for your preparedness kit:
Sunscreen
Aloe Vera
Bug spray
Itch cream
Insect sting relief patches
Allergy medication
Epi-pen if needed
Latex gloves
Tweezers
Fire Extinguisher
Antibiotic cream
Bandages
Gauze
3. Lighting
It’s easy to remember your twinkle lights and other fun campsite decorations, but don’t forget to pack your functional lighting like flashlights, headlamps, lanterns, and extra batteries!
4. Wifi Booster
If you’re planning to spend extended time at your site or maybe even take advantage of a remote work situation, you’ll want to pack a wifi booster to make sure you have consistent access to the local wifi network.
5. Tools
Hopefully your camping trip will be full of good food, laughter, and relaxation… not handy work… but if something does go wrong, you may not be in driving distance to a hardware store.
Here are some common items you’ll want to have in your seasonal camping tool chest:
Mallet - A mallet makes driving stakes into tough ground a breeze!
Pliers
Screwdriver set
Electrical tape
Rope or paracord
Tire pressure gauge
Wire cutter
Multi-bit screwdriver
A set of heavy work gloves
Hatchet or saw
6. Cleaning Supplies
When you lease a seasonal site, your RV becomes your vacation home for the summer. You’ll want to stock up on cleaning supplies to keep your space comfortable and livable for longer periods of time.
Here’s a list of some cleaning supplies you won’t want to forget:
Multi-purpose spray or wipes
Dish soap
Hand soap
Bleach solution
Window cleaner
Sponges (commonly forgotten item!)
Broom, dustpan, and Swiffer Sweeper
Laundry soap
Trash bags
RV friendly toilet bowl cleaner
7. Campsite Entertainment
Don’t spend so much time packing the essentials that you forget the fun stuff! Make sure you’ve got your board games, decks of cards, lawn games, portable speaker, hiking gear, fishing gear, swimming gear, etc.!
8. Power Accessories
Not all campground power sources are compatible with your RV, so you’ll want to do your research and come prepared with power adaptors, extension cords, and surge protectors. To learn more about how to choose the right power adaptors for your setup, check out this helpful RV power guide.
9. Side Tables
You’ve packed your folding tables, your picnic tablecloth and clips, and all the other dining essentials. Now you’ll want to throw in a couple of folding side tables. These will come in handy when you’re spending time around the fire and everyone’s balancing their drink and dinner plate on their laps!
You can also place some mosquito repelling candles on your side tables to keep your fire pit gathering space bug-free!
10. Clothes Line
One of the most underrated camping items on our packing list is a portable clothes line. If you don’t have a washer and dryer in your RV setup, you’ll be able to handwash your clothes and hang them to dry so they’re fresh for the next day.
A clothes line is also helpful for those wet towels and swimsuits!
Bonus Tip
If you’re planning to bring a furry friend with you, you might consider packing a 15’-30’ tie down so they can safely enjoy the outdoors with you at your site.
Tips for Seasonal Camping Success
Whether you head out after work on Friday for quick weekend getaway or you plan to spend a couple of weeks at a time at your seasonal camping site, here are some helpful tips to make sure you have the best seasonal camping experience.
Find the right campground for you
Do your research on different camp sites in your area to find the best one for your camping season.
Do some trial weekends, talk to current seasonal campers, and read reviews. For a comprehensive guide to choosing your perfect spot, check out our blog post 4 Things to Look for in a Seasonal Campsite.
Make your camp site feel like your second home
The benefit of seasonal camping is you only have to setup and pack up once per season so you can really make a comfortable space for yourself without having to lug around gear between trips.
Add things like an outdoor rug, tiki torches, and an RV deck to make your site a comfortable relaxing space. For other fun campsite decorating ideas, head over to our blog post 14 Seasonal Campsite Ideas to jazz up Your Site This Year.
Make your packing list and check it twice
Seasonal camping is one of the best ways to unplug and unwind. The last thing you’ll want to do is head into town for all the things you forgot! Make sure you put together a master list of things you’ll need for your stay and then double check that you have everything before you depart!
For an incredible seasonal camping experience, check out our stunning riverside property at !
