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Road Trip Campervan Packing Tips
Campervan Cooking, How-To's & Resources
Our campervans are fully-equipped with a bed/dining room and kitchen with sink, stove, and refrigerator. In addition to the Extras we have available for rent (bedding kits, kitchen kits, camp chairs, picnic tables, and more), you may want to bring some more items for your own personal comforts. To help you plan your Escape, we put together a list of suggested items that past renters have recommended packing over the years.
Escape Tip
Suggested Items
- Soft luggage is the name of the game for campervan trips! It makes packing up the van a breeze.
- Read a past renter’s thorough 51 Vanlife Tips of what to pack on your trip
- Previous renters tend to leave a lot of great things behind with us when their trips end! Feel free to pick through them and take what you like when you pick up your van.
Essentials
- Driver’s license
- Credit card
- Cash
- Phone + charger
- Passport
- Annual National Parks Pass- If you plan on visiting 4+ National Parks on your trip, this can save you quite a bit of money. Learn more here.
- A travel buddy!
Cooking
- Coffee maker of your preference – our Kitchen Kit includes a simple coffee drip, but if you prefer something fancier like a French press or Aero press, you’ll need to bring your own!
- A large mug – We provide standard smaller mugs in our Kitchen Kit, but you might prefer your own
- Cooler – While your van includes a solar-powered refrigerator, this can be helpful if you’d like to store larger items such as ice and beverages. For size reference, the refrigerator can fit approximately 24 soda cans.
- Dishwashing liquid, salt, and pepper, cooking oil, paper towels, trash bags, ziplock bags, tin foil, etc. can often be found in our stash of unused past renter gear
- Picnic blanket
Clothing
Our biggest suggestion is to pack layers. Many places–especially in the desert–can be very hot during the day and very cold at night. Packing smartly and bringing different layers is the best way to prepare for these temperature changes. Aside from your basic t-shirts and shorts, we recommend:
- Thick wool socks
- Long pants
- Hat – both a beanie and a baseball cap to block the sun
- Warm jacket
- Raincoat
- Hiking shoes
- Swimsuit
Personal
Aside from your own toiletry items, we recommend:
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Sandals – Good for campground showers and for lounging
- Hand sanitizer
- Insect repellent
- Laundry bag and a small container of detergent (if you’re going on a longer trip, it can be nice to do some laundry at larger campgrounds)
- Towels – You may want one for showering and one for swimming/beaches. Quick-drying towels are best for when you’re on the road.
Other
- First aid kit
- Dashboard mount for iPhone (especially if using it as your GPS)
- Fairy lights and any other decorations you may want for some extra magical flair
- A small battery-powered fan – Nice if you’re going somewhere really hot (we provide heaters in winter months)
- A lantern, flashlight, headlamp – or all three (your van comes with a solar-powered light in the back over the kitchen, but you may want an extra light for the picnic table or for making your way to the restroom at night)
- Bear spray – Canisters can be expensive, but they’re worth it if you come across a bear on the trail!
- Daypack
- Wet wipes
- Water bottle
- Duct tape
- Clothesline
- Small sewing kit
- Aux cable and USB converter (these are also available for purchase for $5 each at our Escape Campervan depots)
- Books
- Playing cards
- Quarters for showering at campgrounds (we also offer a solar shower, see Extras)
- Hammock
We’re happy to help out with any packing questions you may have. Contact us today to learn more.
Not your first rodeo? We want to hear your packing tips!
Book your campervan trip today to get started.