A Campervan Packing List- This is a complete checklist for what to bring when renting a campervan. We have had the chance to rent a campervan a few times in different climates. This list will provide you with what to pack when renting a campervan. From cooking supplies, organization tools, showers gear and more tips. Each campervan is different, depending on the rental company, so always double check what is included. This list includes what we always check for and what we always bring along.

What Is Typically Included In The Rental?

Most Rental vans have these items. But each campervan company varies. For example our campervan in Washington State had much more than ours in Iceland had, but both were sufficient. Double check what they provide and bring these items if not included. This list includes what you might want (especially if you plan on cooking most of your meals).

Gas Cooking Stove

Camping Fuel

Collapsible Water Carrier

Pillows, Sheets and Comforter/Blanket (depending on what temperatures you plan of exploring)

Kitchen Tool Set (this was a great kit, that I want to purchase for home camping)

Cups, Plates, Bowls, and Kettle from the GSI Outdoors Collection

Camping Cookware and Pot Set

Pot Holders and Kitchen Towels

Percolator or French Press

Quick Dry Bath Towels, Hand Towel and Wash Cloth

Lighters

Flashlight

Emergency Kit

Camping Folding Table

Camping Chairs

Cooler

A lot of campervan rentals have the option to purchase additional add-ons. This can be anything from chairs, blankets, gas canisters, and more. One thing we always double check on is miles, some offer unlimited and some have limited miles with the option to add more. Always double check this and the miles you plan on driving. It is almost always cheaper to add on miles before your travel than after returning the vehicle.

What To Pack From Home

This is a list of what we almost always pack when traveling by campervan. Regardless of what the rental company provides in the van.

Organization

Packing Cubes

Packing cubes are not only a lifesaver for any type of travel they also help to keep the campervan drawers and storage organized.

Plastic Bags

Plastic bags of different sizes come in many uses. From storing wet shoes and clothes, sandwiches, protecting technology from the rain to food storage. I always bring a few different sizes, from trash bags to gallon and sandwich size ziploc bags.

Bungee Cords

Bungee Cords come in handy to help hold anything down while driving, so gear and packs don’t slide around. A variety of sizes will help in lots of different ways.

Tech Gear

USB Chargers

Most camping sites in the National Parks will not have electric hook up, so charging while on the road is crucial. Make sure you pack a USB Car Charger, even though most cars come with USB ports now.

Battery Pack

A battery pack is also great to have for long hikes or walking around a town or city. You can also use this when campsites don’t have electrical hook ups in the evenings.

Power Inverter

A Power Inverter is necessary only if you need to charge anything that is not on USB ports. For me this is my camera, check out what I bring along on my Camera Packing List. For long camper-van trips I need it but for short trips my batteries will usually last. Just depends on what you plan on charging.

Shower/Bathhouse Gear:

Shower Shoes

Plastic Flip Flops for those shared public bathhouses. I also will sometimes bring Chacos as I can wear them in the shower, they dry quickly. Then also use them at the campsite letting my feet take a break from my hiking shoes.

Mesh Tote Bag

My favorite gear for using public bathhouses is this awesome Shower Bag Tote. It has a string and suction cup so you can hang you toiletries, no shower gels falling off the small shower ledges with this. I love that you can carry the mesh bag during your shower, and then store it in the outer bag to help from getting other items in your suitcase wet.

Toiletries

I also love these fun Travel Shower Gel Containers. Not only can you suction them to shower walls they also are flexible, so no bursting on the plane.

Quick Dry Towel

Another item I never leave without now is a Turkish Towel. Our campervan came with quick dry bath towels but Turkish Towels can be used as some many other things. I have used mine a bath towel, beach towel, sheet, sleeping blanket, picnic blanket, table cloth, scarf and more! My husband and I always have them on us and they pack up small!

Febreze

If spending time in a campervan, hiking and in summer months you are bound to catch an odd whiff. Spraying travel Febreze in our shoes in the evening helps a ton!

Hand Sanitizer

There is not always a convenient place to wash your hands while on the road, we always make sure we have some pack-able hand sanitizer or even wet wipes to clean our hands and surfaces.

Hand Towels

A lot of times small towels might be included in the rental. But I always bring some extra Tea Towels. They are cheap and we use them for cleaning up after cooking, keep the van clean, wiping mud off gear and more.

Cooking/Food:

A perk of a campervan is saying money and time by making your own food. We hit up the grocery store usually a few times to restock. Usually, sandwich materials, peanut butter, fruit, butter, and more. But we do bring a long some of our own food and gear.

Freeze Dried Camping Meals

Backpacker Pantry Meals are our favorite. We always bring a few as they make quick easy delicious meals, easy to pair with some bread and butter to fill you up even more. Our favorites include: Chicken Pad Thai, Risotto with Chicken, Beef Pho and being from Cincinnati I feel like I need to try this Cincinnati Chili inspired pack.

Seasonings

Having seasonings and spices help when cooking on the road, I absolutely love the GSI Travel Spice Holder. It packs easily and is a lot cheaper than buying full spices on the road to never use all of it.

Coffee

I don’t function well without a cup of coffee in the morning. For great real coffee on the road I use these pour-over coffees, they even come with creamer and sugar for if you want to add it to your cup of joe.

Breakfast

Instant Oatmeal is a great morning meal in a campervan, and we always add cinnamon to that spice kit I talked about before.

Food Storage

Plastic Ziplock Bags are great for storing leftover foods, keeping foods safe in the cooler, and so many more reasons.

Others:

Water Bottles

On any type of trip we bring our travel Collapsible Waterbottles. Great for around the campsite, along hikes or even in airports.

Hydration Bladder

Not only do we use Hydration Bladders in our backpacks during hikes they also hold extra water for cooking if you don’t have a water tank in the campervan.