Essentials for a Family Campervan Road Trip

What we packed (and loved) for our month on the road through France and Spain

As a family, we’re no strangers to camping – but spending over a month in our campervan was a brand-new adventure. From sunny coastal campsites in Spain to forested spots in rural France, we learned a lot about what works (and what really doesn’t!) when you’re travelling as a family of five in a van.

So here’s our list of campervan essentials — tried and tested during our month-long campervan road trip. If you're planning your own getaway and wondering what to pack for your campervan holiday, we hope this helps make your journey smoother.

1. Retractable Washing Line or Clothes Airer

We brought a compact retractable washing line that we could tie up at various campsites. It was one of our most-used items — five towels and countless clothes meant there was always something to hang out.
We also noticed that seasoned campers brought foldaway rotary lines, which are brilliant if you’ve got the storage space.

🧺 Buy one here

2. Foldaway Camping Chairs

With limited space, we left behind our bulky (but comfy!) chairs and packed lightweight foldaway chairs instead. These were ideal for travel, super comfortable, and didn’t take up much room in the van.

🪑 We used these

3. Boot Organiser

Lewis came up with this one! We used a boot organiser for all our cooking equipment – from utensils to pans. It kept everything tidy, accessible, and stackable thanks to its flat lid.

🥫 This one did the trick

4. Outdoor Table (for Cooking)

We did all our cooking on a foldable LOC8 table – separate from the one we ate meals at. Having a dedicated prep space outside made a big difference, especially in the evenings.

🍽️ LOC8 Table via Taylored Campervans

5. Hanging Wash Bag

We kept a hanging wash bag in the same place every day. It rolled up for travel and made it easy to keep all our toiletries organised — no more hunting for stray toothbrushes!

6. Folding Bucket

Our collapsible bucket was great for washing up and came in handy for hand-washing clothes too. In hindsight, two buckets would have been even better for managing laundry and dirty dishes.

🪣 Here’s the one we used

7. Stackable Pots and Pans

Space-saving cookware is a must when travelling in a camper. We brought two saucepans and one frying pan — that was more than enough. Make sure they nest inside each other to save room.

8. Clothes Pods (Packing Cubes)

This was our secret weapon for staying organised! We used packing pods – one per family member. They fit perfectly under the RIB bed and meant no more digging through messy bags.
If you’re travelling in a campervan with kids, these are a lifesaver.

👕 See the pods we used

9. Pop-Up Tent (for Storage)

This was a game-changer. We used a simple 2-man pop-up tent to store our kids’ car seats, an activity box, and various bits and bobs. It freed up loads of space inside the van and helped us keep things organised.

⛺️ View the tent we used

10. Seat Organisers

These have always been a staple in our campervan – they offer brilliant extra storage for books, snacks, chargers, and all the bits that kids accumulate on long journeys.

🪪 Carhartt version here

11. Outdoor Floor Mats or Rugs

With different terrain at every campsite, outdoor mats were crucial for keeping the camper cleaner. We used one at the door and another under our table – it saved our feet (and the van floor!).

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re heading off for a short van break in the UK or planning a full European campervan tour, getting your packing right is key. We hope this list helps you get prepped and excited for your own vanlife adventure!

Let us know what your must-have campervan travel essentials are – we’re always looking for ways to make the next trip even better.