What Made Two Weeks in a Small RV With Kids Easier
We spent about two weeks living in a smaller rental RV with our two kids while I was pregnant. I am not an RV expert, and this is definitely not a complete RV packing list. These are just the things we did that made the limited space easier to live in.
What helped most was giving everything a place. In an RV, a jacket or a pile of shoes takes up a noticeable amount of the space you have. A few simple systems made it much easier to keep things organized and comfortable.
We used Command hooks to get things off the surfaces
Command hooks were huge for maximizing the storage we had. We used them for headlamps, jackets, bags, and kitchen towels—basically all of the things we wanted to be able to grab without digging through a cabinet.
They also let us use wall space instead of filling the counters or piling things on the seats. In such a small space, that made a noticeable difference.
We packed our clothes in fabric storage boxes instead of luggage
For this trip, luggage would have been a terrible idea. We did not have extra room to store suitcases after unpacking them.
Instead, we packed our clothes into fabric storage boxes and labeled them before the RV ever arrived. When we pulled the RV up to our house, we loaded the boxes directly into it. They fit perfectly in the storage above the bed, so there was no unpacking from suitcases and then trying to figure out where the suitcases should go.
This was probably one of the most useful choices we made because the boxes worked as both our luggage and our clothing storage.
We brought bedding that made the beds feel like actual beds
Comfy bedding is not where I would try to save space. We brought a proper duvet and our favorite pillows for the main bed, and they were key to making it comfortable to sleep in at night.
I did put the duvet in spare linens instead of bringing my expensive duvet cover. That gave us the comfort without making me worry about what was happening to my nice bedding inside a rental RV.
We did not make the same choice for the small convertible bed that my husband, Sebastian, slept in. We originally layered a bunch of throw blankets, but they just were not enough at night. We ended up buying a comforter at Target during the trip. If I were packing again, every bed would get a proper comforter or duvet from the beginning.
We contained the dirt at the door
With kids going in and out, dirt builds up fast. We kept a bucket outside for shoes so we were not bringing every pair into the RV. We also had a mat outside the door, which we could store in one of the RV's exterior compartments.
Inside, we had RV slippers. This was less about organization and more about making the RV feel comfortable. Having something clean and easy to slip on inside was a small thing, but it made a big difference to me.
We did a quick floor reset every night
We brought a small handheld vacuum and a dustpan, and using them every night was key to keeping the RV tidy. A quick vacuum of the floor—and even the kids' car seats—helped keep the mess from building up. It also helped prevent crumbs from attracting ants, which can become a big issue during the summer if you are not careful.
In a house, crumbs and dirt can spread out. In an RV, you notice them immediately. The small vacuum earned the space it took up.
We kept the laundry setup small
We brought a compact laundry bin rather than a full-size hamper and stored it in the small closet. It gave dirty clothes a place to go without taking over the RV.
I also packed a small amount of powdered laundry detergent because some of our campsites had laundry available. It gave us what we needed without bringing a large container.
We used one shower caddy for the bathroom
The shower caddy kept our body wash, toothbrushes, and other bathroom items together. Loose toiletries could get jumbled while the RV was moving, so keeping everything contained was key. When we drove, I left the caddy on the floor of the shower, then brought it out when we needed it.
It kept everything organized and accessible without leaving toiletries loose around the small bathroom. We also brought a bath mat for the small bathroom.
We kept kid entertainment intentionally small
We also did not bring a ton of toys. Each thing we packed had to give us more than a few minutes of use without taking up much space.
We brought a Toniebox, an iPad with movies and shows downloaded ahead of time, coloring books and pages, and two five-minute-story books. Bringing two bedtime books instead of ten gave us variety without filling a cabinet with books.
For toys, we packed one small plastic storage box with monster trucks and construction vehicles. The kids could play with them inside, but they were also great for playing in the sand and outside.
That was it. Keeping the selection small made it easier to contain, and the things we chose worked in more than one setting.
What I would do differently next time
I would bring a second caddy for the front area of the RV. We had loose things like the Bluetooth speaker, charging cords, adult snacks, and hand sanitizer that would have been easier to find—and easier to keep off the surfaces—if they had one designated place.
I would also bring body wipes so we could freshen up without relying only on showers, plus actual shower shoes or flip-flops for the campsite showers. The sandals I ended up wearing were not the best once they got wet. A microfiber hair towel also would have been helpful for soaking up water from my hair without using another full-size towel.
The other thing I wish I had brought was a portable nightlight or small dimmable lamp. Early in the morning, if the kids were still sleeping, I used my phone or one of the RV lights to make coffee. The sleeping areas had blackout curtains, but a small, soft light would have been much less invasive than navigating with my phone or turning on the “big light.”
So to sum it up...
None of these things are complicated. Most of what helped us came down to using the space we had, containing things that could quickly become messy, and making it easy to reset the RV at the end of the day.
The hooks, fabric clothing boxes, proper bedding, shoe bucket, small vacuum, compact laundry bin, bathroom caddy, and intentionally small toy setup were the things that stood out most. Together, they made the limited space easier for us to live in.
Planning your own RV trip?
I also put together the full list of what we packed, what I would bring next time, and the few things I would only add if there is room. Read my RV trip packing list with kids.
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