Entry fees to the park are separate from Lake Mead Mohave Adventures’ fees. For more information, please visit the National Park Service’s fees page.

Scenic RV Camping Spot During Sunset. Class C Motorhome Camper Van. Travel Industry Theme.

Practical and Beautiful: RV Campsite Setup Ideas That Work For You  

So you’re headed out on an adventure in the great outdoors, wheeling around the countryside to enjoy the best of what America has to offer – all from the comfort of your home away from home. Which really hits the nail on the head, doesn’t it? Just because you’re not home doesn’t mean you don’t want life to be homey on the road.

Whether you’re a veteran RV owner or a first-timer with a rental, there are always ways you can spruce up your layout and add some coziness to your travels this year. Let’s talk RV campsite setup ideas to ensure maximum cuteness and functionality from Alaska to Arizona, New Hampshire to Nevada. Here are 10 of our favorites to get you started.

1. Choose the Right Campsite

It takes more than just a few hookups and an onsite shower to make an RV campground great. You’re looking for the right ambiance as well: fabulous views, fresh air, access to lakes and streams, and so on.

We can help you out there. While there are many gorgeous national and state parks to visit in the US, the Lake Mead National Recreation Area is an amazing destination for the RV-inclined. Plus, there are plenty of places to stay along both Lake Mead and Lake Mohave beaches.

Consider Lake Mead RV Village, for instance, along the beautiful shorelines of this sweeping viewpoint. With amenities everywhere, picnic tables along the beach, and close to Las Vegas and the Hoover Dam, it’s a can’t-miss for singles, couples and families.

Echo Bay is another option we never get tired of recommending here at Lake Mead Mohave Adventures. As we like to say, it’s as close to paradise as anglers and boaters will ever get in this lifetime, plus being close to Valley of Fire State Park and the ruins of historic St. Thomas.

The point is, you’ll want to find a fantastic place to stay before you start in on the setup of the century.

2. Keep Trash Far Away and Water Close By

Unlike car camping or backpacking, where utilities are limited and you have to pack the trash in and out, RVing does offer some serious benefits in terms of waste. With a multitude of trashcans nearby and often a more established human presence, RV villages don’t offer the same danger of bears and other creatures.

However, you should still take care to protect your campsite against critters. In places where you expect a large wildlife presence, you’ll want to hang your trash at night. Destinations such as Lake Mead RV Village or Echo Bay, on the other hand, offer amazing site services, so make sure to use them freely.

You’ll also want to keep water close by when you’re in a more wild place. At one of our well-appointed RV parks, though, all you need to worry about is the view! If you want a spot with an amazing lakeside view it’s a good idea to book your campsite early in the year.

3. Ensure Enough Seating

This one’s a no-brainer, yet many a harassed parent has had to scramble over to the nearest convenience store to buy extra folding chairs upon arrival at their campsite. To avoid this, make sure everyone has a chair, then throw in an extra in case Chad manages to set his on fire again.

4. Create a Pinterest-Worthy Patio Space

Pinterest has its uses, and garnering RV campsite setup ideas is certainly one of them. Google that phrase + Pinterest and see what you get! Some of our favorite approaches include:

  • string lights
  • outdoor rugs
  • all-weather throw cushions
  • wicker baskets with blankets
  • discreet shoe racks

… and more. And hey, if you find anything good that we didn’t mention, let us know!

5. Set Up an Outdoor Kitchen

Why bother leaving home for the Great Outdoors if you’re not going to spend tons of time in it? Here’s where the Go Outside movement and the Slow Food movement are a match made in heaven: when you can spend time cooking in an outdoor kitchen, with the breeze at your back and the natural world all around.

Make sure to bring a barbecue, a prep area with shelves and a cutting board, and a washing station for the full effect.

6. Don’t Be Afraid to Decorate

Just because it’s a temporary home doesn’t mean it can’t look good. Cute window treatments, wind chimes and hanging flowerpots are all amazing additions to your site and can add a lovely wildlife element to boot.

7. Fence in the Doggos

Nothing gives you – and passersby – peace of mind like knowing that nobody can charge at anybody. Seriously, let’s keep all charging to a minimum with a portable pet fence that you can throw up around your site upon arrival.

8. Decorate with Potted Plants

Another of our favorite RV campsite setup ideas? Bring Koothrappalli and Wolowitz along for the ride! (Sorry, are we the only ones who name our fiddle-leaf figs after characters from The Big Bang Theory?) They’ll travel safely in the back of the RV, then you can set them out for some photosynthesizing when you arrive, which looks totally extra in the best way.

9. Protect Against Sun with Awnings and Umbrellas

Both awnings and umbrellas are a great addition to your RV campsite setup, and which you choose will depend on your own personal sense of style. Awnings are often easier to throw up but provide more limited shade – plus they have a bit of a 50s how-grandma-used-to-do-things vibe to them. (Of course, retro is in, so … shrug.)

Umbrellas provide more shade out in the yard and ensure that everyone can fit around the table and expect sun protection. If you’re headed somewhere warm, dry and sunny – like Arizona or Nevada – you may even want both.

10. Zap Bugs Bye-Bye

Do you know who’s literally never welcome, anywhere? Mosquitos. Science indicates that even Mother Earth herself would not miss them were they to vanish immediately from the face of the planet. To which we say, how do we put in an order for that?

In the meantime, though, you should consider a bug-proof solution for your campsite. Citronella candles, bug zappers and mosquito nets for your awning all work well. Keep your skeeter-scaring kit packed away neatly in a cupboard or under a sink so you have access to it immediately when needed.

So that’s it! We’d love to hear how you make your camps look good and if you think we missed any amazing RV campsite setup ideas. Feel free to contact us to share them or book a site today!

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