First-time RV camping checklist

Before you leave: pick an easy first park

Book a full-hookup site at a private park or KOA within two hours of home, ideally a pull-through so you never have to back in. Stay two nights, not one, so you have a full day to learn the rig without packing up. Our guide on how to choose an RV park covers the rest, and RV parks near me will find candidates fast.

Gear checklist by category

Hookups and utilities

• Shore power cord (30- or 50-amp, matches your rig) and a 25-foot extension
• Dogbone adapters: 50-to-30 and 30-to-50, plus a 15-amp household adapter
• Surge protector or EMS (Progressive Industries, Hughes Power Watchdog, Southwire Surge Guard)
• Drinking-water-safe hose, 25 feet, plus a water pressure regulator (45 to 55 psi) and an inline filter
• Sewer hose kit with clear elbow, sewer hose support, nitrile gloves, and a separate rinse hose in a different color
• Tank treatment (enzyme type) and RV-safe toilet paper
• Full propane tanks, checked with a bathroom scale (a 20-pound tank weighs about 37 pounds full)

Leveling and setup

• Leveling blocks (Camco or Andersen levelers for trailers; motorhomes with jacks still need pads under the feet)
• Wheel chocks, two per axle side minimum; X-chocks for tandem-axle trailers
• Small bubble level or a phone level app; a Bluetooth level like LevelMatePRO is a luxury that pays for itself
• Hitch lock, tongue jack pad, and a bottle of hitch grease if you tow
• Outdoor mat, two camp chairs, and a headlamp for setting up in the dark

Tools and safety

• Tire pressure gauge rated to 120 psi, a 12-volt compressor, and a lug wrench that actually fits your lugs
• Basic tool kit, duct tape, zip ties, fuses in every size on your panel, and a multimeter
• Fire extinguisher (checked), smoke and CO detector batteries tested, propane detector working
• First aid kit, roadside flares or triangles, work gloves
• Roadside assistance membership: Good Sam, AAA RV, Coach-Net, or FMCA. Standard auto coverage often will not tow a 30-foot trailer.

Inside the rig

• Bedding sized for RV mattresses (RV queen is 60 x 75 inches, shorter than residential)
• Nesting cookware, one good knife, a cutting board, collapsible colander, and dish tub
• Paper towels, trash bags, a small broom, and non-slip shelf liner for every cabinet
• Command hooks, a shower squeegee, and a shower head with a shutoff to save gray tank space
• Printed copies of your reservation, insurance, and rig dimensions taped inside a cabinet door

Arrival procedure, in order

1. Check in at the office and get the site map, gate code, and quiet hours. Ask which side the pedestal is on.
2. Walk the site before pulling in. Look for low branches, the pedestal and sewer inlet location, soft ground, and where your slides and awning will land. Decide where the rig needs to stop so the utilities reach.
3. Position the rig with a spotter. Agree on hand signals first. Windows down, radio off. Small corrections beat one big one.
4. Level side to side first, then front to back. Trailers: drive the low side onto blocks, chock both sides, then unhitch and raise or lower the tongue jack until level. Motorhomes: chock, then run the leveling jacks with pads under the feet. A refrigerator with an absorption cooling unit needs to be within about 3 degrees of level to work.
5. Electric. Breaker off, plug in the EMS, plug in the cord, breaker on, check the reading. Details in our 30 vs 50 amp guide.
6. Water. Regulator on the spigot, filter, hose, then the city water inlet. Open a faucet inside before turning the spigot fully on.
7. Sewer. Elbow into the inlet, hose to the rig, hose on the support sloping downhill. Gray valve may open; black valve stays closed. See full hookups explained.
8. Slides out, then awning. Check the outside for obstacles and the inside for anything on the floor before extending each slide. Retract the awning if wind picks up or you leave for the day.
9. Turn on the water heater only after you confirm it is full of water (run the hot tap until it flows). Firing an empty electric element ruins it in seconds.
10. Set up outside, put the mat down, and sit in the chair. You have earned it.

Daily habits at the site

• Empty the gray tank before it fills; a slow shower drain is the warning sign.
• Keep the black tank closed and dump it only when at least two-thirds full.
• Lock the door and stow valuables when you leave; put the awning in.
• Read the park's rules on quiet hours, pets, and speed. Our etiquette guide covers the unwritten ones.

Departure walk-around

Most first-trip damage happens on the way out. Print this list and physically touch each item as you go around the rig in the same direction every time.

1. Inside: cabinets latched, fridge door locked, shower door secured, TV and loose items stowed, roof vents closed, lights off, water pump off, water heater off.
2. Slides in, awning in and locked, antenna or satellite down, steps retracted.
3. Sewer: valves closed, hose rinsed and stowed, cap on the outlet, elbow out of the ground inlet.
4. Water: spigot off, hose drained and stowed, city water inlet cap on.
5. Electric: breaker off, cord unplugged, EMS stowed, pedestal cover closed.
6. Jacks up or blocks removed and stowed, chocks removed after the rig is hitched (trailers) or the brake is set (motorhomes).
7. Hitch: coupler latched and pinned, safety chains crossed, breakaway cable attached, lights and brake controller tested with a helper.
8. Tires visually inspected and pressures checked cold, lug nuts torqued on a new trailer's first few trips.
9. Walk the site one last time for pegs, chocks, the dog's bowl, and trash.
10. Stop at the dump station if the site had no sewer. Our dump station guide has the steps.

Once the first trip goes well, everything gets easier: try a state park campground with water and electric, then a night with no hookups. Each step teaches something the next one needs.

Frequently asked questions