Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and that means it’s time to start thinking about how you will celebrate. Over the years, we’ve celebrated the holiday in a variety of ways. That said, one of my favorite things to do is host Thanksgiving in our RV (or at least at our campsite).
Not sure how in the world to go about that? Here are some of my favorite ideas and suggestions.
Why Celebrate Thanksgiving in an RV?
We live in our RV, so we don’t have much choice but to celebrate the holiday on the road. That said, if you don’t live in your rig, you might wonder what the benefits of celebrating Thanksgiving in an RV might be.
Freedom and Flexibility
First is the freedom and flexibility celebrating on the road affords you. You can choose to eat your turkey on a beach, in a desert, or a snowy forest. And if you get to your destination and discover you don’t love the weather forecast? Well, changing plans is easy when you’re in an RV.
Less Stress, More Simplicity
Making a Thanksgiving meal in an RV might sound stressful, but in some ways it’s actually easier. This is because less space means we have to keep things simple. This means fewer foods to prepare, fewer dishes to wash, and more time to spend together with family and friends.
Shared Adventure
My absolute favorite part of spending any holiday in our RV? The ability to connect with other travelers. Whether we’re making new campground friends or connecting with long-term RV buddies, we always find some amazing people to spend the holiday with.
Staying Warm and Comfortable
Before you make any plans, make sure you and your RV are prepared for late fall camping. After all, late November can get pretty darn chilly and most RVs aren’t made to be used in super cold weather.
Go to your RV and seal drafty windows with reflective insulation and weatherstripping. While you’re there, top off all propane tanks. It’s also a good idea to throw extra blankets, thermal layers, wool socks, and a heated mattress pad into the RV while doing this prep work so you’re all set and ready to take on the cold.
Making Reservations
So what do you need to do for a successful Thanksgiving RV trip? Well, the first step is making reservations and carefully choosing your route. The week of Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel periods of the year. Depending on where you’re headed, you might also arrive at a totally full campground. Because of this, it is important to reserve your campsite early.
- Start researching your ideal campground in late summer or early fall.
- Check for minimum stay requirements—many campgrounds require a three-night booking over holidays.
- Read reviews for information about amenities, road conditions, and available hookups, especially if you plan to cook a full meal.
Consider Alternatives
If campgrounds are full, there are other options. We love boondocking on government-owned lands. State parks are also nice, and we’ve found tons of amazing spots through Boondockers Welcome and Harvest Hosts.
Dealing with Crowded Roads and Busy Travel Days
In addition to crowded campgrounds, you’ll likely encounter some very crowded roads on your way to your campsite. I’ve found that the days leading up to Thanksgiving—particularly Tuesday and Wednesday—are notorious for congested highways, packed rest stops, and long lines at fuel stations.
Travel Early or Late
We like to travel the week before Thanksgiving so we aren’t driving in the heavy traffic. If you can, leave at least a few days before the holiday, or travel on Thanksgiving Day itself. We’ve found that traffic is dramatically lighter then. When it comes to heading back home, I recommend leaving on Saturday rather than Sunday, or waiting until the week after Thanksgiving (which is what we tend to do).
Plan Your Route Strategically
It’s also important to put some thought into your route. Make sure you’re aware of road closures and try to stick to main interstates to ensure the route is RV friendly. It’s also a good idea to avoid backroads that could be icy, steep, or poorly lit.
Pack Patience and Snacks
If there’s one thing I’ve learned while RVing, it’s that travel requires flexibility. This is especially true during the holidays. I make sure to have easy meals, water, and entertainment ready for when we get stuck in traffic jams, and I plan plenty of potty breaks.
Be Weather-Aware
Obviously, you could very well be dealing with snowy or icy weather in late November. This means you will want to pay close attention to weather forecasts and either reroute or postpone your trip should winter weather crop up. Driving an RV through poor weather conditions is never safe.
Decorating Your Campsite for Thanksgiving
Once you arrive at the campsite, you’ll want to start getting things ready for the big day. To be honest, I’ve never been great about decorating. That said, we have spent Thanksgiving with friends who do decorate, and the cozy fall decor really does set the right tone.
Some of the best RV decorating ideas I’ve seen include:
- Battery operated fairy lights
- Mini pumpkins and pinecones
- Seasonal throw pillows and outdoor rugs
- Cute seasonal tablecloths or table runners
Cooking Thanksgiving Dinner in an RV Kitchen
I have to be honest, the first time I thought about cooking an entire Thanksgiving meal in our teeny tiny RV, I was 100% intimidated. That said, I found some tricks, found my flow, and it really all ended up going smoothly.
Plan a Manageable Menu
Pick a few favorite dishes and skip the rest. For us, this means a roasted turkey breast, sweet potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. The choices might be different for your family, but the idea is to keep it as simple as possible while still creating a delicious and traditional meal.
Cook in Advance
If you don’t live in your RV, you might consider cooking what you can cook in advance at home before heading to the campground. You can bake pies and deserts, chop vegetables, and make sauces and gravies to reheat on Thanksgiving day. Doing this will save you some time and energy on Thanksgiving and it’ll make cooking in your RV a bit easier.
Use Alternative Cooking Tools
One of the biggest issues I have had with cooking a big meal in the RV is that I run out of space on the stove really quickly. For this reason, I make sure to employ other appliances. Slow cookers, Instant Pots, grills, convection microwaves, and air fryers can all be helpful.
If you’re using multiple electric appliances, you’ll have to make sure you don’t flip the breaker. Using the 20-amp outlet on the campground pedestal in addition to the outlets in your RV can help with this. I like to run an extension cord from the pedestal and through the window of the RV.
Simplify the Turkey
A whole turkey absolutely will not fit in our teeny tiny RV oven. Instead, we choose to roast a turkey breast. It is also possible to make the turkey in a slow cooker, smoke some turkey legs, roast a turkey tenderloin, or even grill some turkey filets.
Dine Outdoors
We have never had an indoor Thanksgiving while living in our RV. We always take our food and head outside. This allows us to dine with our friends without feeling cramped in our tiny living space. If it will be cold where you are, consider investing in a large Clam tent and setting up an electric space heater.
Sharing the Feast: RV Thanksgiving Traditions
I mentioned above that one of my favorite things about Thanksgiving in the RV has been spending the holiday with our RV community. I highly recommend finding a way to connect with other campers and sharing some fun holiday traditions.
Community Potlucks
I’ve found that a huge number of campgrounds host Thanksgiving potlucks. No, you won’t be hosting at your site, but these events can be a great way to make new friends if you won’t have any friends around.
Campfire Gratitude Circle
In my opinion, campfires are a must-have at any RV gathering, especially in the fall. Why not have a campfire at your Thanksgiving event and use that time around the fire as an opportunity to talk about the things you’re grateful for?
Virtual Celebrations
Sometimes it’s impossible to be with the people you love on Thanksgiving, especially if you have chosen to travel during the holiday. We always make time for a video call with our loved ones back home to let them know we are thinking of them and are thankful for them.
Game Nights
Our family loves a good board game. In fact, we have incorporated family game sessions into most of our holiday celebrations, and I highly recommend you do the same. If your RV friends join in, that’s all the better!
Thanksgiving Hikes
Hiking is easily one of my favorite camping activities, and I find it especially enjoyable during the fall. Therefore, it just makes sense to make a Thanksgiving hike a family tradition. Again, you can always invite friends for an extra fun time.
Thanksgiving Local Events
Traveling in your RV to special events such as parades can also be lots of fun. Why not look and see what is going on nearby where you’ll be?
Outdoor Football Viewing Parties
I’m not a football person. That said, much of my family is, and I know that for some, football is a Thanksgiving staple. If that’s the case for your family, consider setting up a portable projector to watch the game outside of your RV so your campground neighbors can join you.
I said it once and I’ll say it again: I love RV Thanksgiving celebrations. They truly are some of the best Thanksgivings I’ve ever had. Why not give an RV celebration a try this year? I’m betting you’ll love it as much as I do!
