In a nutshell

  • Since we travel a lot in our RV, we’re true packing pros. Our RV packing list is designed for a Scandinavia trip in summer, but most of it applies to any destination.
  • Only pack the essentials — space in a motorhome is more limited than you’d think. And always secure everything properly before you drive so nothing goes flying.
  • A clothesline, wash basin, biodegradable dish soap, and basic cooking utensils are absolute non-negotiables for us on any camper van trip.

Our Packing Tips for the RV

The most important tip upfront: space is tight in an RV — so whatever you do, don’t overpack!

Even though a motorhome offers plenty of storage and clever built-in systems, getting to certain items can sometimes be a real hassle. You either have to partially disassemble the bed or go outside and unload half the trunk.

Pack so that your clothes fit into the overhead compartments above the bed and everything you need regularly is within easy reach.

Rent a camper Norway
The doors and storage compartments have a push-in knob — when pressed in, the door stays shut while driving

Our tip: Always bring a travel bag so that, in the unlikely event of a breakdown or accident, you can grab your most important belongings and go. You can stow it all the way in the back at the bottom — ideally you’ll never actually need it. We’ve been using the Dakine Split Roller for years.

Buy the Dakine Split Roller online

Heads up: Before every drive, make sure everything is properly secured so nothing goes flying around. It’s a real safety issue!

How to Write Your RV Packing List

To make sure you don’t forget anything, start writing your packing list a few weeks before your trip. You can keep adding to it and adjusting as you go.

Our tip: Instead of one long list, we prefer several shorter lists organized by topic — it’s so much easier to manage:

  • Documents
  • Travel essentials
  • Clothing & shoes
  • Outdoor clothing
  • Toiletries
  • Travel first aid kit

This gives you a much better overview of everything you want to bring on your camper van trip.

By the way: if you’re traveling with kids, we’ve also put together a dedicated packing list for family vacations.

Our motorhome packing list as a pdf download

motorhome packing list

Practical Travel Essentials on Our RV Packing List

Let’s kick things off with the travel essentials that have proven either incredibly useful in the motorhome or seriously boost the comfort factor on the road.

Travel Essentials Checklist

Specifically for Norway or colder seasons:

Travel Pillow

If you’re picking up your RV at your destination, bring a travel pillow with you on the flight. Otherwise you can just pack your regular pillow from home.

The Third of Life travel neck pillow is great if you occasionally have neck problems. If that’s less of an issue for you — or if you’re a side sleeper who likes a fluffy pillow — we’d suggest the Therm-a-Rest travel pillow. It packs down even smaller and is especially well suited for travel.

Wash Basin and Dish Soap

Without a wash basin, nothing gets done! Okay, slight exaggeration. But the dishes have to get washed somehow.

Campgrounds almost always have sinks for washing up. Even just for carrying dirty dishes over to the sinks, a collapsible basin is super handy — and you can wash up directly in it too.

Please always use biodegradable dish soap — especially if you’re washing up at the RV and disposing of gray water in nature. Also make sure to always dump wastewater several meters away from any water source.

Buy a collapsible wash basin online

Water Canister

A water canister lets you keep a few liters of drinking water in reserve for nights when you’re not staying at a campground. Really useful when you’re off-grid.

Buy a water canister online

Doormat, Hand Brush & Dustpan

You wouldn’t believe how quickly the floor of a motorhome gets dirty.

A doormat goes a long way toward keeping the worst of it outside. But since dirt is pretty much unavoidable, definitely bring a hand brush and dustpan too — that way you can easily sweep up crumbs and sand whenever needed.

Kettle

Depending on where you rent your RV, a basic set of dishes and cooking utensils may be included.

But the selection is usually pretty minimal, and there’s often no kettle. You’ll need one if you want to pour boiling water into a thermos or a cup. A pot with a good pouring lip works as an alternative.

Buy a kettle online

Multi-Tool

A camping trip without a multi-tool? Not an option. Something always needs to be repaired, cut, bent, or tightened. With a multi-tool, you basically have everything in one.

The Leatherman Wingman is one of the more compact models and weighs just 200 grams. Perfect for on the go.

Buy a multi-tool online

Day Pack

We pretty much always bring a backpack for grocery runs or day trips into town. It’s great for stashing a rain jacket, camera, and a bottle of water.

Further down we’ve also covered our hiking day packs. If you bring one of those, you don’t necessarily need a separate one.

Buy a day pack online

Tarp

Never heard of a tarp? No worries. It’s basically a simple waterproof sheet that can serve as a rain shelter. You can also use it as a picnic blanket or set it up to create extra shade.

A tarp is super lightweight, packs down tiny, and is incredibly versatile. Just toss it in your backpack.

Buy a tarp online

Camping Packing List: Clothing & Shoes

This part of the motorhome packing list depends a lot on your personal preferences and your destination. In Norway, for example, you need to be prepared for all kinds of weather.

Clothing and Shoes Checklist for Men

  • 2 x long pants (jeans)
  • 2 x shorts
  • 2 x thick hoodies
  • 1 x lighter sweater
  • 7 x T-shirts
  • 10 x boxer shorts
  • 10 x socks
  • 1 x swim trunks
  • 2 x sleep shirts
  • 1 x belt
  • 1 x sneakers
  • 1 x flip flops (especially for the showers at campgrounds!)

Clothing and Shoes Checklist for Women

  • 2 x long pants (jeans)
  • 1 x leggings (also great to layer underneath in cooler temperatures)
  • 2 x shorts
  • 2 x thick hoodies
  • 2 x lighter sweaters / long-sleeves
  • 7 x T-shirts
  • 10 x underwear
  • 2 x bras
  • 10 x short and/or long socks
  • 1 x thick wool socks
  • 2 x sleep shirts & pants
  • 1 x belt
  • 1 x scarf
  • 1 x beanie
  • 1 x sneakers
  • 1 x flip flops (especially for the showers at campgrounds!)
  • 1 x Birkenstocks

Outdoor Clothing for a Camping Trip in Norway

This section of the camper van packing list is especially relevant if you enjoy hiking or if your RV trip is taking you further north.

With the right gear, the cold is only half as bad. The key is being able to layer up. The so-called layering system is essential for outdoor activities.

Outdoor Clothing Checklist

For Men

For Women

Outdoor/Rain Jacket

A good, weather-resistant jacket is non-negotiable in Norway. And one that’s multifunctional is even better. We have 2-in-1 jackets from The North Face — they have a fleece inner jacket and a waterproof outer shell. Everything can be worn together or separately, depending on the weather.

Buy the North Face 2-in-1 jacket for men online

Buy the North Face 2-in-1 jacket for women online

Hiking Clothing

You really only need this if you’re actually planning to hike. In that case, we’d recommend waterproof or at least water-resistant hiking pants for Norway — or a pair of rain pants.

Trekking shoes are great for shorter hikes or when the grass is wet. Get properly fitted when you buy them so they feel right from day one and you don’t end up with blisters.

Buff: Multi-Purpose Neck Gaiter

Buffs are genuinely useful in just about every situation. They come in different colors, for different temperatures, with or without fleece, and with or without UV protection.

In summer, a Buff with UV protection is the obvious choice. The material is supposedly cooling too, though it also works well against wind and in mildly cold conditions.

Julie also has a Buff made from thin merino wool. It’s honestly great for all weather conditions — wool keeps you warm in the cold and cool in the heat.

Buy a UV protection Buff online

Buy a merino wool Buff online

Hiking Backpack

If you’re planning to do some hiking, you should definitely bring a hiking backpack. A 30-liter day pack is perfectly sufficient. The main thing is making sure you have enough water, a few snacks, and rain gear if needed.

Julie has had a Deuter backpack for years — that exact model is unfortunately no longer available, but you’ll find a similar one via the link. Daniel uses the Gregory Zulu 35-liter. It offers plenty of storage space without a bunch of annoying straps or zippers, and the ventilated back panel makes a real difference on longer hikes.

Buy the Gregory Zulu hiking backpack online

Buy the Deuter hiking backpack online

Toiletries Packing List

When it comes to toiletries, everyone has their own favorite brands and products — totally understandable.

We’ve listed our own items here. Go through them and add whatever you need or cross out anything that doesn’t apply to you. That way you’re sure not to forget anything.

Toiletries Checklist

  • Toiletry bag (super useful in the camper too — everything stays neatly packed and you can easily carry it to the campground bathrooms)
  • Shampoo, conditioner, and body wash
  • Toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss
  • Nail file & nail scissors or clippers
  • Tweezers
  • Hairbrush — small & compact
  • Deodorant
  • Razor
  • Sunscreen SPF 30
  • Lip balm with SPF
  • Face moisturizer
  • Tampons

Don’t stress too much if you forget something, though. You can find almost everything you need once you’re there — just maybe not your favorite brands, or at a noticeably higher price.

Travel First Aid Kit

For the first aid kit, the most important thing is remembering any medications you personally take — whether that’s birth control or a prescription. We’ve listed the general over-the-counter essentials here.

Travel First Aid Kit Checklist

Prescription only

  • Broad-spectrum antibiotics (only for emergencies and if you’re traveling for an extended period)

For the hiking backpack:

What Documents Should You Pack?

There are some important documents you should always have with you on vacation — and that’s just as true for an RV trip. Here are the key ones.

Travel Documents Checklist

  • National ID or passport (depending on your destination)
  • Driver’s license
  • International driver’s license outside the EU
  • Credit cards
  • Health insurance card (within the EU)
  • Proof of your international health insurance
  • Booking confirmation for your RV (if you’re not driving from home)

Do I Really Need a Credit Card?

In most countries — especially in Scandinavia — you can pay by card pretty much everywhere. It’s really the easiest way to handle money on the road.

If your credit card also lets you withdraw cash for free, you’ll save yourself the hassle of exchanging money. There are several great travel credit cards out there designed exactly for this.

The best travel credit card for international use

Do I Need International Health Insurance?

If you’re only traveling within the EU, your regular health insurance is usually sufficient. Through the European Health Insurance Card on the back of your insurance card, doctors can typically bill your insurer directly.

However, some services are not covered by standard health insurance — a medical evacuation, for example.

We always recommend taking out separate travel health insurance. It usually costs less than 20 euros per year but gives you real peace of mind in a worst-case scenario.

Read our international health insurance comparison