RV Outdoor Gear: Chairs, Tables, and Campfire Essentials

When you arrive at a site, the first thing you do is step outside — and the space around the rig is where you spend most of your relaxing, cooking, and evenings. Indoor-outdoor living is the point of an RV, so outdoor gear matters as much as what is in the cabinets. The basics are cheap, reusable, and store in a bin: chairs, a table, and light. Most renters get these wrong by buying too little and standing around, or too much and filling storage with gear they never use.

Photo by Ben Mack on Unsplash

Camping Chairs

A comfortable chair is the most-used outdoor item.

• Folding camp chair: lightweight, padded seat and back.
• Recliner or rocker: for long evenings; nice if space allows.
• Kids’ chairs: small chairs children actually sit in.
• Carry bag: keeps chairs from rattling in storage.

Quality matters more than for home patio chairs — cheap frames break on uneven ground. One good chair per person is enough.

Table and Surface

• A small folding table extends your prep and eating space.
• A camp tablecloth or liner keeps food off rough surfaces.
• A tailgate table or a hitch-mounted shelf adds counter space by the door.

Campfire and Light

• Check the site for a fire ring; bring firewood from a local source (never transport it across state lines — it spreads pests).
• A screen ring contains sparks where required.
• Lantern or awning lights extend the evening; string lights on the awning are popular.
• Headlamps for each person beat a single phone light for setup after dark.

Comfort and Weather

• A rug or mat at the door cuts dirt tracked inside.
• An awning screen keeps bugs out while vented.
• A pop-up canopy for shade in the desert; a tarp for rain elsewhere.

What to Skip

Heavy “camp kitchens” with stoves you do not need (the RV has one), and oversized furniture that eats storage. Pack the essentials, run a trip, and add only what a real need shows. See also the RV camping accessories guide.