2026 has arrived, and I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to fill it with tons of RV adventures! Not sure what to expect when RVing this year? In this guide I’ll walk you through essential gear, practical tips, insurance and paperwork essentials, campground trends, budgeting guidance, and my best bits of advice for RVing in 2026.
Essential RV Gear for 2026
Let’s start with the things you won’t want to leave home without. These are items that we have been using, as well as some we plan to acquire in 2026. In my opinion, the items below are the best options on the market currently.
Practical Starter Kits
If you are an RV beginner, you will need to stock up on the most basic supplies. You can of course put together your own collection of RV must-haves, but I think these preassembled kits are pretty nifty:
- Camco RV Starter Kit Box — A compact starter kit with camping essentials to get you ready quickly.
- Valterra RV Basic Starter Kit K88102 — Another excellent basic kit focused on water system components.
Navigation & Planning
The right navigation and planning tools can very quickly take a trip from stressful to relaxing. When we first got on the road, we made all sorts of route planning mistakes because we didn’t have the right tools. These days, we make sure to use an RV-specific GPS to choose our route and make solid plans for where we’ll spend the night. Because of this, we haven’t had any big travel problems in a very long time.
The tools I like to use for route planning and planning stops include Campendium, RV Life Campgrounds, and RV Trip Wizard. I find that I am able to plan excellent, RV-friendly routes and stops using these tools. That said, many people prefer to have an RV-specific GPS to work with. If that’s your style, I recommend the Garmin RV 795 GPS RV Navigator, which uses your rig’s dimensions to plan safe, personalized routes.
Comfort & Livability
Obviously, it’s important that you are comfortable in your tiny home-on-wheels. While most of what you need is included when you buy an RV, there are a few items I simply would not travel without.
Replacement Mattress
The first thing I replace in every RV we buy? The mattress. If you’re still sleeping on a stock RV mattress, 2026 is the year to change that. It’s a game changer.
RV Patio Mat
Our RV patio mat is another game changer. This thing is awesome because it helps reduce the amount of dirt and debris tracked into the rig, meaning less time spent cleaning and more time spent having fun.
Instant Pot
We adore our Instant Pot. This thing is absolutely perfect for cooking easy, delicious, one-pot meals in our RV. I love that it has both a pressure cooker and a slow cooker feature, and that I can make an entire meal without getting a load of pots and pans dirty.
Espresso Machine
Okay, this one is kinda silly, but the truth of the matter is that I simply wouldn’t travel without our espresso machine. I love starting my day with a good latte, and we are often in the middle of nowhere with no access to a coffee shop. Our Delonghi Dedica espresso machine solves this problem with the push of a button.
Countertop Dishwasher
RVing in 2026 requires a lot less work than it did in the past. Countertop dishwashers are one of the reasons why. These things are more efficient and affordable than ever, making it easy to do dishes no matter where you roam.
Corelle Dishes
Speaking of dishes, I love, love, love our Corelle dishes. For the longest time, we used plastic dishes because I was afraid anything else would break during travel (or just as likely, in the hands of our kids). That said, we made the switch to Corelle a couple years ago and they have held up beautifully. They’re also lightweight, which we RVers know is a major bonus!
Air Fryer
Our Instant Pot cooks about half of our meals. The other half? We cook those in our Instant Pot-brand air fryer. This little guy sits on our countertop and works to bake, roast, or fry as needed.
Dehumidifier
Especially in winter, RVing in 2026 without a dehumidifier is just crazy talk. If you don’t have one, get one.
Splendide Washer and Dryer Combo
Like a dishwasher, a clothes washer and dryer can take your RV life to the next level. The Splendide vented washer/dryer combo is the way to go.
Wall Mounted Toothbrush and Toiletry Holder
This is one of those silly little things, but it made life so much easier that I simply have to include it. It holds toothbrushes, toothpaste, our hairbrush, and more — and most importantly, it keeps all that stuff off our tiny countertop.
Over-the-Door Storage
In a similar vein, we absolutely love our over-the-door storage solutions and have used them in every RV we’ve owned. Adding these pockets to all of our doors means we have a bounty of storage space that wouldn’t exist otherwise.
Shark Vacuum Cleaner
To be honest, I hate having carpet in RVs. That said, our current rig does have carpet, so I have had to learn to deal with it. Our Shark vacuum cleaner is an excellent investment if your rig happens to have carpet too.
Solar Setup
The most recent addition to our RV was our solar setup. Guys, this has been absolutely incredible. We have a couple of lithium batteries, a few solar panels, and a pure sine wave inverter, and we are able to have electricity anywhere.
Starlink Internet
Last but not least, I have to mention Starlink internet. There is no way I would travel without Starlink these days, especially if we were headed off-grid.
RV Paperwork, Insurance, and Legal Must-Knows
Next up: the important paperwork and legal stuff. Yes, it’s boring, but there are some important things you should get out of the way before you hit the road in 2026. Fortunately, these things remain mostly unchanged from previous years, so if you’ve been RVing for a while, you can probably just keep doing what you’re doing.
Registration & Titles
Obviously, you’ll need to make sure your RV and tow vehicle are properly registered. The rules for motorhomes may be different than the rules for trailers depending on where you live.
Insurance Essentials
RV insurance is an absolute must-have and it is very different from standard auto insurance, so you’ll want to do your research.
Some key points to keep in mind:
- You’ll want liability coverage, collision/comprehensive, roadside assistance, and coverage for personal belongings inside the RV.
- Full-time or near-full-time travelers often need different coverage than occasional weekend users. Progressive is a good choice of companies for this.
Roadside & Breakdown Coverage
In addition to whatever roadside assistance is provided by your insurance company, I also recommend investing in RV-specific roadside assistance through Coach-Net or Good Sam. Ours has saved our backs more times than I care to count.
Tolls & Permits
I try to avoid driving on toll roads with the RV. That said, sometimes it’s simply unavoidable (I’m looking at you, New Jersey). In these cases, I love having an EZ-Pass, which covers many of the toll roads in the country. For other toll roads, we tend to rely on plate pay options.
Campground Trends for 2026
We all know things change. This is just as true in the world of RV campgrounds as it is anywhere else. Here are some of the changes I have observed in recent months and where things will likely be headed in 2026.
Campground Costs & Availability
Campground fees have been increasing sharply, with full-hookup sites often going for $90–$150 per night in popular areas. On top of that, many campgrounds fill months in advance. Fortunately, there are ways to cut back on these costs (more on that below).
EV Charging & Infrastructure
With more RVers bringing electric tow vehicles or considering electric RVs, campgrounds are adding EV charging stations and improved utilities to attract guests.
Hybrid Parks & Glamping
Campgrounds are reinventing themselves with hybrid models that mix traditional RV sites with glamping options, tiny houses, and resort-style services, broadening appeal.
Digital Connectivity
Reliable Wi-Fi and business-class connectivity (including Starlink in some cases) are becoming more prevalent. This is excellent news if you don’t have an internet setup of your own.
Regulations & Overnight Stops
The old days of spontaneous overnighting at Walmarts or Cracker Barrels are rapidly disappearing in many areas. This means fewer quick, free overnights, so you’ll need to carefully plan your route with legal overnight stops in mind.
Strategies for Savings
As mentioned above, the cost of campgrounds has increased dramatically. Unfortunately, this isn’t the only RV ownership cost that has risen. In fact, pretty much everything is more expensive than it was in 2025, and I don’t see an end in sight. For this reason, it is more important than ever that we travel on a budget.
Here are some of the ways we save money while still having plenty of amazing adventures.
Camping Memberships and Free Campsites
I never, ever pay full price for a campsite. I use memberships such as Harvest Hosts, Boondockers Welcome, the KOA Valu Card, Passport America, Good Sam, and Thousand Trails to find free or discounted sites. I also like to use Campendium and Free Campsites to find freebies, and we do plenty of boondocking, especially when out west.
Reciprocal Memberships
I travel to see and do things. Unfortunately, most attractions cost money. We try to seek out free things to do, such as hiking trails and playgrounds. That said, keeping ASTC, AZA, NARM, and “America the Beautiful” reciprocal passes on hand means we can visit museums, zoos, and national parks all across the country for next to nothing.
Cooking in the RV
Eating out is a fun way to experience a new place. That said, we simply cannot afford to do this regularly. Instead, we will plan to have one special meal out in order to try the local fare, and otherwise we cook in. Putting something in the slow cooker to return to after a day of adventures is a great way to make cooking in the RV easier.
Off Peak Travel
We will often plan travel in off-peak seasons to snag lower campground rates and better availability. I find that I actually much prefer exploring a place during the off season, as there are fewer crowds and the vibe tends to be more relaxed.
Gas Apps
Gas apps such as GasBuddy are awesome for finding the cheapest gas in a particular area. I also really like Upside for getting rewards on gas purchases.
Hopefully this info helps you dive into a new year of RVing with confidence. I know I’m already planning my next trip! What about you?
