We all love our epic summer RV trips, but the truth is, most of us are RV weekend warriors. We’re squeezing in as much campground time as possible in between work, family commitments, sports, and other activities. Maybe that’s why our previous weekend warrior content is some of our most popular stuff, both on the podcast and the blog.
So we’re back with more.
On this podcast episode, we are focusing on packing and food tips. Plus, we’ll throw in some reminders for the RV weekend warrior tips that are absolute favorites.
Segment One: Food Made Easy for the RV Weekend Warrior
Last year we did an entire episode with tips and tricks for food planning and prep for quick weekend trips. You can check out the episode here. This year, we decided to do something a little different.
Online grocery shopping services and meal delivery services have exploded recently. A lot of folks have started to use these options to make weekend camping trips a true break from the busyness of daily life. So over the course of the last eight or nine months, we tested a bunch of these services out. In this segment, we offer complete reviews of our favorites.
Amazon Fresh
Last fall I used Amazon Fresh for every single weekend camping trip we took. It was flat out amazing. I’d place my order to be delivered on Friday, and place the Amazon Fresh bags right into the camper or truck. I literally ordered only the things we needed for camp meals, and dealt with none of the shopping, bagging, unbagging, and packing.
Of course, I fell completely in love with Amazon Fresh, and then they broke up with me.
Yup. They stopped delivering to our zip code, and I had a minor (not so minor) meltdown. In fact, I don’t even like talking about it. But since you may be able to order via Amazon Fresh, I had to bring it up in all fairness.
Instacart
Instacart is what I’m using now when I simply can’t squeeze a trip to the grocery store in before a camping trip. It’s convenient, user friendly, and reliable. I always can get my groceries in an hour or two. Because it’s linked to a local grocery store that isn’t my absolute favorite, though, the selection is not the cat’s meow. I do love it in a pinch and have always had great customer service.
Other Grocery Options
More stores than ever are offering express pick up services through apps. Walmart now has a grocery app you can order from, and schedule free pick up. I have heard from tons of folks using this on their way to the campground! Some Walmarts are also offering grocery home delivery for a fee.
If you find yourself stressing about grocery shopping either before a weekend trip or after (cough, school lunches on Monday!), check out some of these options and find a good fit for your family. The bottom line is that technology has made a lot of things easier and we should embrace it!
Meal Kit Delivery Services
We also tested a bunch of the meal kit delivery services this year, and really had a great experience. Now, if you are one of those people that wants ‘authentic’ camp food, this probably isn’t a good fit for you. But a lot of people out there just want to relax and enjoy time at the campground. Not having to think about what to make for dinner can be a huge bonus.
If you try one of these services, I highly recommend choosing menu options that are campground friendly. I looked for grilled meat and veggie options for the most part. You can listen to the podcast episode to hear our complete review of each of these brands:
Dinnerly also offered our listeners a discount code for your first box. Use RVFTA to get free shipping!
Segment Two: Packing for the RV Weekend Warrior
One of the most common things we hear from our listeners is that it takes them too much time to pack and unpack from quick weekend trips.
We get it.
We’ve been doing this for 8 years, and as working parents with young kids, it’s HARD to hitch up and pull out of the driveway without a little bit of stress.
But here’s what we have learned: if you want to keep the stress level down, keep it simple.
It’s that easy.
Sometimes the RV makes it too easy to pack too much stuff. You don’t have to bring ALL THE THINGS on a quick weekend trip. Keep it simple. Keep it relaxing. The following tips will help you do that.
Packing Cubes
We’ve heard from hundreds of listeners that these have been a lifesaver for ease and organization. They also help keep us from overpacking. Every person in the family has a color coded set of three packing cubes. You can watch the Live broadcast of this podcast episode to see a demo. We have a packing checklist that we follow, and have put it together in a PDF that you can download here!
Pack for Layering
We learned early on that you don’t need a lot of clothes on RV trips, you just need the right ones. We tend to spend more time outside when we are camping, so our clothes need to take us from chilly mornings to warm afternoons. No matter the time of year, we pack layering options (long-sleeved tees, pants, sweatshirts, etc.). There’s no reason to not have the right clothes no matter the weather.
Always Pack Rain Gear and Bathing Suits
Another lesson that we learned is to always have both rain gear and bathing suits on hand regardless of what the weather report says. Proper rain gear makes being outside fun even in drizzly conditions. We have also found that sometimes swimming opportunities pop up where least expected. We now keep a set of rain jackets and bathing suits in the camper at all times.
Build a Capsule Wardrobe
I used to pack sooooo many clothes for an RV trip. At the end of the trip, I would unpack dozens of clothing items that I never even wore once. We all really end up wearing the same clothes over and over again. These are the clothes that we love, are comfortable in, and suit our lifestyle. This year I challenged myself to pare down my wardrobe and only keep the clothes that I actually loved. Yes, I used the Marie Kondo method, and it actually worked. It is so much easier to pack now that I only have clothes that bring me joy. Corny…but true.
Keep a Set of Clothes in the RV
Now we don’t do this, but plenty of our listeners do. If you are super duper organized, try putting together a camper wardrobe to make your weekend trips as easy as possible. You will have to make sure to be disciplined about washing, folding, and returning the clothes to the RV. Otherwise, this method could lead to some tricky situations.
Segment Three: The Best of the Best RV Weekend Warrior Tips
We finished out this episode with a quick roundup of the tips that have been most helpful to folks in the RVFTA community. Listen to hear how these tips have transformed our own weekend camping experiences:
- Camp close to home.
- Find local camping buddies.
- Prep one thing a night in advance of trip.
- Take a vacation day or half day on Friday or Monday.
- Pay for a late check out on Sunday.
- Unpack fast and furious when you get home and make the kids help!
- Sunday night is pizza night (or Chinese!).
If you are an RV Weekend Warrior in need of a little bit more training, make sure you dive into some of our other resources. Weekend camping trips are the perfect way to decompress from the hectic pace of life and reconnect with our loved ones. Let’s make these quick getaways as relaxing and fun as possible!
See you at the campground,
Stephanie + Jeremy
