Campervan Packing List Pack Smart, Not Heavy

What Rentals Usually Include

Check your booking confirmation, but here's what's typical:

Clothing

Layer-based packing works everywhere. Campground dress code: nobody cares.

• → Base layers: 3-4 t-shirts, 2-3 pairs of shorts/pants. Merino wool or synthetic beats cotton — dries faster and doesn't smell as quickly.
• → Warm layer: Fleece or puffy jacket. Evenings cool down fast in the mountains. Even summer nights in the Pacific Northwest, Scottish Highlands or New Zealand can drop to 5-10°C.
• → Rain layer: Waterproof jacket. Not optional in the UK, Pacific Northwest, New Zealand or northern Europe. Cheap ponchos are useless — invest in a real rain shell.
• → Footwear: One pair of hiking shoes/boots, one pair of sandals/flip-flops for campground showers. That's it. Two pairs of shoes handles everything.
• → Sleepwear: Comfortable clothes for cold nights. Vans cool down fast after sunset even in summer.

Kitchen Essentials to Bring

Even with included kitchen gear, bring these:

• → Sharp knife. Rental kitchen knives are universally terrible. Bring one good knife.
• → Dish soap, sponge and a small towel. These are rarely included. A tiny bottle of soap lasts the whole trip.
• → Spices. Salt, pepper, oil and a few favorites. Rental kitchens have none. Buy small containers at the grocery store on your first day.
• → Reusable water bottles. One per person. Fill up at campgrounds. Saves money and plastic.
• → Coffee solution. French press, Aeropress or pour-over cone. Don't rely on finding good coffee in remote areas. Bring your own beans.
• → Trash bags. Large garbage bags for trash. Small ziplock bags for food storage. Rental vans rarely have bins.

Gear and Accessories

• → Headlamp. Better than a flashlight — keeps your hands free. Essential for nighttime bathroom runs and cooking after dark.
• → Power bank. A 20,000mAh power bank charges a phone 4-5 times. Critical if you're dry camping without shore power.
• → First aid kit. Bandages, antiseptic, pain killers, antihistamine and any personal medications. Campground pharmacies don't exist.
• → Sunscreen and bug spray. Both disappear fast and cost double at campground stores.
• → Paper maps or downloaded offline maps. Cell service disappears in mountains, national parks and rural areas. Download Google Maps or Maps.me offline areas before your trip.
• → Camping chairs. If your rental doesn't include them, bring lightweight folding chairs. Sitting outside your van in the evening is half the experience.

Often Forgotten

What NOT to Bring

• ✕ Too many clothes. You'll wear the same 3-4 outfits on rotation. Campgrounds have laundry. Pack half of what you think you need.
• ✕ Hard-sided suitcases. They don't fit in campervan storage. Use soft duffel bags or backpacks that compress and stuff into odd-shaped compartments.
• ✕ Full-size pillows. They take up too much space. Bring compressible camp pillows or use clothes stuffed in a pillowcase.
• ✕ Unnecessary electronics. A laptop, tablet AND e-reader is too much. Pick one entertainment device. You're outside most of the day anyway.