Hosting the Holidays in Your RV

If you’re going to be RVing for the winter holiday season, you must spend a little time preparing for the special day. No matter how many friends and family are joining you at the campsite to celebrate, it’s a smart idea to take time to prepare for extra guests.

Here are some tips to make the holidays camping in your RV a major success.

Decorate Your RV

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If you were in a house for the holidays, you’d probably spend some time decorating to set the mood. You should do the same for your RV. Decorations can do wonders to get you in the holiday spirit. No matter what you celebrate during this time of year, make time to outfit your RV accordingly.

While you can’t do things like a full-size Christmas tree, you can still decorate with outdoor patio lights, window decals, throw pillows, some holiday snacks—like candy canes—and more. Don’t forget to do something on the outside, too. You can add a wreath to your door or put up some string lights outside and around where you’re parked.

Less is more when it comes to decorating to celebrate the holidays. You just need a few simple touches to transform your RV and impress guests when they arrive.

Interested in reimagining what the holidays in your RV could look like? Camping World Design Centers help RVers plan and complete interior design projects! Think of a Design Specialist as your personal holiday helper.

Assess Your RV’s Space and Seating

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Before you have company over to your RV, make sure to think about the space you have available and how to utilize it. Here are some pre-holiday hosting questions to ask yourself:

Do you have enough hooks and hangers for everyone’s coats? Are there enough seats for everyone inside your RV? Do you have enough camp chairs for everyone around the fire? Do you need folding camp tables for prepping or serving food? Are you ready to shift from food serving to entertaining guests with games as the evening progresses?

If you’re in an area of the country that’s not too cold, consider having some accommodations outside. Deploy your awning, if you have it, and put out some comfortable camp chairs for people to sit on. Have a roaring campfire or a portable firepit that will make sitting outside enjoyable, even if it is a little chilly.

Prepare Your RV for Guests

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Once you’ve assessed your space and know how everything will work, it’s time to prepare for your guests. Get plenty of household supplies like toilet paper, napkins, paper towels, and disposable cups. Make a list of all the food and serving plates and utensils you need. Don’t forget food storage for all those holiday leftovers too.

A day or two before guests arrive, it’s time to clean the inside of your RV and eliminate unnecessary clutter. If your RV has generous pass-through storage, use that space to free up room for visitors — storing away anything you don’t need while people are over. You can always bring those items back into your RV once the holiday gatherings are over.

Ask People to Contribute

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Cooking a holiday meal for guests in a small RV kitchen can feel daunting. One of the best ways to reduce stress and ensure everyone has a good time is to ask guests to contribute. Even if they just bring dessert or appetizers, it can really help.

Another smart idea is to ask people to bring their own beverages and coolers if needed. This will save tons of space in your RV refrigerator, allowing you to best utilize what space you do have. Most people won’t bat an eye at bringing something, and many will be happy to contribute.

For the main course, consider doing something smaller than a huge turkey unless you have a sizeable outdoor camping grill that can handle it. Many RVers that host the holidays go for something smaller like a ham or a chicken. Cooking for a crowd using a smoker is a real treat.

Most side dishes can be prepared a day in advance and re-heated during your holiday gathering. If you focus on dividing up the big meal into smaller, manageable tasks and ask for help when you need it, everyone should have a wonderful time.

With the right preparation and approach, your holiday gathering should be merry, bright, and full of quality time with loved ones. Once you have the hosting under control, here are some unique gift ideas to help organize an incredible gift exchange this holiday season.

Have you hosted the holidays in your RV? How did it go? Leave a comment below!