The Ultimate Motorhome Packing List: What to Actually Bring (and What to Leave Behind!)
(Without Overthinking It!)
One of the joys of travelling in a motorhome is that you can leave behind the stress of traditional holiday packing. With this motorhome packing list, you won’t forget the essentials—or overpack. No more cramming everything into a suitcase, sitting on it to get the zip shut, and praying you haven’t forgotten your toothbrush. And best of all—you don’t have to unpack and repack at every stop. Your home travels with you!.
If you live in your van full-time like we do, you’ll probably have most of your daily essentials already onboard—things like your phone charger, toiletries, and favourite mug are just part of everyday life. But whether you’re heading off on a weekend escape or a long-term adventure, it’s still helpful to have a solid packing list so you’re prepared, but not overloaded.
After lots of trial and error, we’ve figured out what’s actually worth bringing and what just takes up precious space. So here’s our no-nonsense list of what to pack for a motorhome trip—with a focus on practical, space-saving, and genuinely useful items.
📄 Important Documents (Don’t Leave These Behind!)
Before you even think about bedding or coffee, make sure these are sorted:
- Driver’s licence(s)
- Passport(s) (especially if travelling internationally)
- Vehicle insurance and breakdown cover
- V5C logbook (registration document)
- MOT certificate (if applicable)
- Travel insurance
- Pet documents (passports, rabies certs if applicable)
- Copies of all key documents (either printed or saved digitally)
- European travel kit checklist (breathalyser, warning triangle, etc. depending on country)
🏠 Living & Sleeping Essentials
(AKA: Making it Feel Like Home)
- Duvet, sheets, pillows
- Spare blanket or throw
- Quick-dry towels
- Fan or portable heater (depending on season)
- Laundry bag or basket
🍽️ Kitchen Must-Haves
(Because you can travel with good coffee and pasta!)
- Lightweight plates, bowls, cutlery and cups
- 1 x frying pan, 1 x saucepan, and essential utensils
- Chopping board & sharp knife
- Food storage tubs or silicone zip bags
- Coffee maker (French Press or AeroPress = space-saving hero)
- Basic pantry items (oil, herbs, tinned goods, tea, sugar)
- Collapsible colander & bowl
- Dustpan & brush
- Lighter / matches
- Scissors
- Tin opener
- kettle
- measuring jug
- Corkscrew / bottle opener
- Cleaning items: washing-up liquid, cloths, tea towels
🚿 Bathroom Bits
- Toiletries bag with everyday items
- Cassette toilet chemicals
- Toilet paper (motorhome-safe)
- Flip-flops for campsite showers
- Small first-aid kit
- Clothes pegs & washing line
🧴 Personal Care
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Suncream & Aftersun
- Lip balm with SPF
- Deodorant
- Razor and shaving cream or gel
- Nail clippers and tweezers
- Hairbrush or comb
- Period products
- Makeup
- Hand sanitiser and face wipes
- Bug spray & relief
- Pain killers & medicine
- Wet wipes
🛠️ Vehicle & Outdoor Gear
- Hose + tap connectors
- Electric hook-up lead + adapters
- Levelling ramps
- Spare fuel can
- Jump leads + tyre inflator
- Spare bulbs, fuses, and tool kit
- Torch or headlamp
- Hi-visibility vests
- Maps (just in case your sat nav fails!)
- Warning triangle (for breakdowns)
- Water & waste containers (if applicable)
- Mat for your door (helps keep dirt out!)
🔌 Tech Essentials
- Power bank(s)
- Phone charger
- USB chargers + cables
- Wi-Fi device or local SIM
- Bluetooth speaker
- Kindle or e-reader
- Offline maps or sat nav
- Portable solar panel or power station – We use one from ALLPOWERS to keep our devices topped up when we’re off-grid. It’s been a game-changer for wild camping and staying powered up anywhere.
🪑 Outdoor Living & Extras
- Foldable camping chairs and table
- Awning or sunshade
- Reusable shopping bags
- Bug spray & citronella candles
- disposable gloves (always a good idea)
- Picnic blanket
- A good book or two
- Collapsible bucket & funnel
- Games/cards for rainy days
❌ Things We’ve Learned Not to Pack
- Too many clothes (seriously, you’ll live in your comfies)
- Anything “just in case” that’s never used
- Full-size kitchen appliances
- Bulky extras that don’t store flat
- More than 2–3 pairs of shoes each
Final Thoughts
Packing your motorhome is less about ticking boxes and more about knowing how you like to live and travel. This motorhome packing list is a great place to start, whether you’re just beginning van life or refining your setup after many trips.. Over time, you’ll refine your setup and figure out your “essentials” vs. your “nice-to-haves.” And remember—if you forget something, chances are you can grab it on the road. That’s the freedom of van life!
✅ Grab Your Free Motorhome Packing Checklist!
Want a printable version of this motorhome packing list to take with you? We’ve got you covered! Head over to our Resources Page to download your free copy.
Make packing easy, stress-free, and road trip ready!. Over time, you’ll refine your setup and figure out your “essentials” vs. your “nice-to-haves.” And remember—if you forget something, chances are you can grab it on the road. That’s the freedom of van life!
