The Best Campervan Campsite Checklist
Embarking on a campervan adventure is an exciting way to explore the US & Canada, providing the freedom to roam while enjoying your basecamp: a home on wheels. Vanish campervans come with many of the top creature comforts that outdoor enthusiasts recommend: bedding, first aid kit, lots of water, durable cookware. If you’re booking sites to stop at along your journey, though, you may want to go through our checklist below so that not only will you have a smooth and stress-free campervan experience, you’ll have a well-organized campsite setup, too. Whether you're a seasoned road-tripper or a budding camper, our comprehensive campsite checklist will equip you with everything you need for an unforgettable journey. From must-have’s to optional amenities, this checklist will make your campsite feel like an oasis.
So, hold onto your marshmallows, fellow travelers — before you hit the road, you must master the art of the perfect site setup. Let’s go through the checklist and make sure that you’re not left wanting more out of the campsites you’ve booked along your route.
How to Book the Right Site
Picnic table: If possible, find a site with a cozy outdoor lounge area — sometimes it’s nice to have a space outside the van to dine in nature. A cozy outdoor lounge area is the cherry on top of an already fantastic adventure, and sets the stage for get-togethers with friends from nearby sites.
Wide open space: Make sure to check the dimensions for your spot, since you’ll need to clear about 20ft length-wise for your camper.
Fire pit/fire ring: A fire pit or fire ring are really essentials to any perfect campsite. Nobody wants to have to do the campfire-calculus of digging one of their own out of the ground, so just keep it simple and book a site with one built-in.
Family amenities: If you’ve got little ones who can’t go a single summer day without jumping in the pool, you might want to stay on the lookout for campgrounds that offer pool access to guests.
Check reviews: You’ll want to check the reviews for the campground before you book your site. Hipcamp is a great resource for finding private campsites and customer reviews of campgrounds, as well as Google Maps — be sure to check reviewers’ photos to get a good idea of your space.
Electric hookup (Optional): If you plan on using an exorbitant amount of electricity during your stay — some campers like to setup outdoor string lights for campsite parties — try to find a campsite that has an electric hookup to power all of the camper’s bells and whistles. Usually, these hookups are limited to RV sites, so not every site your campervan fits in will have one.
Camp store (Optional): If you’re like me and you forget to pack the little things (toothpaste, firewood, sunscreen), then you may benefit from booking a campsite at a campground with a camp store. Otherwise, you could be looking at long travel times to the nearest gas station or convenience store.
Get Started Searching Yesterday!
The best campsites at state and national parks get booked early on in the season, so you’ll need to keep some key dates — like when reservations open up for your particular campground — on your calendar. Depending on when and where you’re looking to setup your campervan oasis away from the city, you might have an easier time getting a last-minute site from traditional campgrounds, but if not, you should try looking for sites that check the boxes most important to you — everyone’s travel style is a little different!