What to Pack for Your First Motorhome Trip: The Complete Checklist

A good motorhome packing checklist saves you from two things: bringing too much and forgetting the essentials. Over the years at Heath's Motorhome Hire, we have seen people arrive with a car boot full of unnecessary kitchen equipment (we supply all of that) and then realise halfway to Whitby that they forgot a phone charger. This guide covers everything you actually need to bring, what your motorhome already includes, and what experienced motorhomers quietly slip into their bag that most beginners overlook.

What Your Motorhome Already Includes

Before you start packing the kitchen sink, check what comes with your hire vehicle. At Heath's, every motorhome in our fleet is supplied with bedding (duvets, pillows, and fitted sheets), a full kitchen kit (pots, pans, plates, bowls, mugs, cutlery, chopping board, tin opener, corkscrew), outdoor chairs and a table, a first aid kit, and a fire extinguisher. You do not need to bring any of this. We also provide a freshwater hose, an EHU cable, and waste containers — the infrastructure essentials that first-timers often worry about sourcing.

What we do not supply, and what you will need to bring, falls into a few clear categories.

Kitchen and Food

Your motorhome has a fridge, a gas hob, and in most models a small oven or grill. What you need to add is the consumable stuff:

• Washing-up liquid, a sponge, and a tea towel (or two — things take longer to dry in a motorhome)
• Kitchen roll — endlessly useful for spills, wiping surfaces, and improvised napkins
• Bin bags — small ones that fit in the motorhome's bin, plus larger ones for campsite disposal
• Cling film or reusable food covers
• Salt, pepper, cooking oil, and any spices you regularly use
• Tea bags, coffee, sugar, and milk for your first morning — arrive at a campsite late and the nearest shop might be closed
• A sharp knife if you are particular — the supplied ones are functional but not chef-grade

Plan your meals loosely before you go. A motorhome fridge is smaller than you are used to at home, so buying fresh ingredients every couple of days from local farm shops and village stores works better than trying to load up for the whole week. This is actually one of the joys of motorhome travel — you end up discovering brilliant local producers you would never otherwise find.

Bedroom and Bathroom

Bedding is provided, but bring your own towels — bath towels, hand towels, and a flannel if you use one. A small hand towel by the sink is easy to forget but makes a big difference. You will also want:

• Toiletries in travel-size bottles where possible (space is limited in the bathroom cabinet)
• Toilet roll — your motorhome will have some, but bring extra. You will get through more than you expect
• A headtorch — invaluable for late-night trips to the campsite toilet block, and far more practical than using your phone as a torch
• Earplugs — campsites are generally quiet, but early-morning birdsong or a neighbouring generator can catch you out
• Pyjamas and slippers or flip-flops for padding around the motorhome

Clothing and Outdoor Gear

This is where most people overpack. A motorhome wardrobe is not a hotel wardrobe — you have limited hanging space and a few drawers. The key principle is layers:

• Base layers that wick moisture
• A decent fleece or insulating mid-layer
• A waterproof jacket that actually keeps rain out (not a fashion raincoat)
• Waterproof trousers if you plan to walk in the Dales or Moors — they take up almost no space and make a miserable walk enjoyable
• Walking boots or shoes, broken in before your trip
• Wellies — campsite grass gets muddy, car parks get muddy, fields get muddy. Yorkshire is muddy
• Flip-flops or sandals for campsite shower blocks and warm evenings
• A sun hat and sunscreen — sunburn in a motorhome with no shade is deeply unpleasant

Pack roughly one outfit per day, plus one spare. Larger campsites often have laundry facilities, and a mid-trip wash means you can pack lighter.

Safety and Practical Items

Most of these are small items that take up no space but solve real problems:

• A torch (in addition to the headtorch) — useful for checking hookup connections in the dark
• A basic tool kit: a multi-tool, cable ties, duct tape, and a tyre pressure gauge
• A high-visibility vest — required in some European countries and useful if you break down
• Phone chargers and a USB adapter for the 12V socket
• A portable phone battery pack — useful on long walks away from the motorhome
• Your driving licence, booking confirmation, and any campsite booking references
• Breakdown cover details — check your policy covers motorhomes

If this is your first motorhome trip, we walk you through all the vehicle systems during the handover at our Pontefract depot. You will know where everything is and how it all works before you drive away.

Entertainment and Comfort

• Books, cards, and board games — evening entertainment when the wifi is patchy and the pub is a drive away
• A Bluetooth speaker for music while cooking
• Binoculars — surprisingly useful for coastal walks, birdwatching, and identifying landmarks
• A paper road atlas or OS map — phone signal disappears in large parts of the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors
• A camping mat or picnic blanket for sitting outside
• String and pegs for a makeshift washing line

If You Are Travelling with Children

Everything above, plus:

• Car seats appropriate for your children's age and size (we have ISOFIX fittings)
• Colouring books, sticker books, and small toys for rainy afternoons
• A nightlight — motorhomes can be very dark at night, which unsettles some younger children
• Favourite cuddly toy or blanket — do not forget this one
• Snacks for the journey — hungry children and slow roads are a bad combination
• Wet wipes — the universal parenting tool

For more tips on travelling with little ones, see our guide to family motorhome holidays.

If You Are Travelling with a Dog

• Dog bed, food, bowls, lead, poo bags, and any medication
• An old towel specifically for drying muddy paws
• A crate, harness, or barrier for safe travel in the motorhome
• Dog treats for rewarding good behaviour in a new environment

All of our motorhomes are dog-friendly — we just ask that you bring a cover for the seating.

Your Printable Motorhome Packing Checklist

Here is the condensed version you can screenshot or print:

Kitchen: Washing-up liquid, sponge, tea towels, kitchen roll, bin bags, cling film, cooking oil, salt, pepper, tea/coffee/milk, sharp knife

Bathroom: Towels, toiletries, extra toilet roll, headtorch, earplugs

Clothing: Layers, waterproof jacket, waterproof trousers, walking boots, wellies, flip-flops, sun hat, sunscreen

Safety: Torch, multi-tool, cable ties, duct tape, phone chargers, USB adapter, driving licence, booking references, breakdown cover

Comfort: Books, games, cards, Bluetooth speaker, binoculars, paper map, picnic blanket, washing line

Children: Car seats, toys, nightlight, favourite comfort item, snacks, wet wipes

Dog: Bed, food, bowls, lead, poo bags, towel, crate/harness

The golden rule of motorhome packing: if in doubt, leave it out. You can buy almost anything from a supermarket or outdoor shop en route. Overpacking makes the motorhome feel cramped and cluttered, and you will spend the week stepping over bags. Pack for the trip, not for every hypothetical scenario.