There’s something about RV camping that makes even the smallest upgrades feel like a big win. A better camp chair turns into longer evenings by the fire. A portable grill means lunch at the lake instead of driving into town. A few smart RV essentials can make setup smoother, cleanup easier, and the whole trip feel a lot more relaxed.
The best camping accessories aren’t about overpacking your storage bays or buying gadgets for the sake of it. They’re the pieces that make life at the campsite more comfortable, more fun, and a little more effortless — especially when you’re travelling with kids, cooking outdoors, or trying to stay cool in the middle of a hot Canadian summer.
If you’re wondering what’s actually worth adding to your camping setup, here are some of our favourite types of accessories to shop for, along with a few great finds from the Fraserway RV Parts Store.
1. Comfortable camp seating is never optional
If you spend any amount of time camping, you already know that good chairs matter. They’re where morning coffee happens, where kids dry off after swimming, where you sit around the fire after dinner, and where everyone seems to gather no matter how much space you have at the campsite.
A quality camping chair is one of the easiest ways to make your setup feel more comfortable right away. Look for something sturdy, supportive, and easy to fold away when it’s time to hit the road.
One standout option in our parts store is the Lippert Scout Outdoor Folding Chair. It’s a padded portable camping chair with hard arms and a cupholder — the kind of chair that feels a little more like an upgrade and a little less like “good enough for now.” It’s a great fit for families, seasonal campers, or anyone who spends a lot of time relaxing outside their RV.
If your campsite tends to become the hangout spot, pairing comfortable seating with a portable outdoor table can make a big difference too. A folding camp table gives you a place for snacks, games, prep work, or your morning coffee setup without crowding the RV picnic table.
2. Outdoor cooking gear makes campsite meals way more fun
One of the best parts of RV camping is eating outside. Breakfast under the awning, burgers after a day on the trail, roasted hot dogs for the kids, late-night snacks around the fire — it’s all part of the experience.
That’s why a few simple cooking accessories can go a long way.
A portable grill is one of the most versatile camping add-ons you can own. It keeps heat and mess out of the RV, makes quick meals easy, and gives you more flexibility at the campsite. The Lippert Odyssey Portable Grill is a great example of the kind of compact grill that works well for RV travel. It’s built for cooking on the go and easy to bring along whether you’re heading out for a weekend trip or a longer summer adventure.
For campfire cooking, the little extras matter too. Telescopic BBQ forks or roasting sticks are one of those simple items that always end up getting used — especially if you’ve got kids or you’re a fan of marshmallows, hot dogs, or campfire sausages. They don’t take up much space, but they add a lot to the campsite experience.
And if you’re tired of rummaging through mismatched kitchen gear, a nesting bowl set is a smart RV-friendly upgrade. The Camco Nesting Bowl Set helps save precious storage space while still giving you practical prep and serving bowls for salads, snacks, pancake batter, or whatever’s on the menu that night.
3. Shade and shelter can completely change a hot-weather trip
Sunny camping days are great — until your site has zero shade and everyone is melting by 2 p.m.
If you camp often through the summer, adding a bit of extra shade to your setup can make the difference between a campsite you want to spend time in and one you’re constantly trying to escape. It also helps keep little kids comfortable, gives you a place to eat outside, and creates a better gathering spot when you’re travelling with family or friends.
A pop-up shelter or gazebo is one of the most useful accessories for warm-weather camping. The Lippert Picnic Pop-Up Gazebo is a great example of the kind of setup that works well for patios, campsites, lake lots, and weekend gatherings. It gives you a shady place to sit, snack, or play a game when the sun is beating down, and it’s especially handy if your campsite doesn’t have much tree cover.
For RV owners who like to extend their outdoor living space, an outdoor patio mat is another worthwhile addition. It helps define your campsite, keeps dirt from being tracked inside, and gives kids a cleaner place to sit and play. It’s one of those items you don’t realize you need until you have it — and then you never want to camp without it again.
4. Entertainment for kids doesn’t have to be complicated
Camping with kids is one of the best ways to make summer memories, but it definitely helps to have a few easy ways to keep them entertained between bike rides, hikes, and campground adventures.
The good news is that campsite fun doesn’t need to be high-tech or overplanned. In fact, the best camping entertainment is usually simple, portable, and easy to pull out when there’s a bit of downtime.
Think games that can be played outside, activity gear that gets kids moving, and campfire accessories that turn the evening into an event. Roasting marshmallows is an obvious classic, but even something as small as giving kids their own camping chair, a dedicated snack station, or a shaded play space under the gazebo can make them feel more settled at camp.
If you’ve got a family that likes to spend all day outdoors, it’s worth thinking beyond the RV itself and building a campsite setup that actually works for kids. A comfortable outdoor area with seating, shade, snacks, and a bit of room to spread out goes a long way.
5. RV-friendly kitchen gear helps you make the most of small spaces
RV kitchens can do a lot, but they definitely reward people who pack smart.
Space-saving kitchen accessories are some of the best purchases you can make if you camp regularly. Collapsible or nesting items, durable dishware, compact prep tools, and multi-use cookware all help keep your cupboards organized while making meal prep easier on the road.
That’s where accessories like the Camco Sink Cutting Board really shine. Instead of trying to prep meals on a small counter or already full table, this cutting board gives you extra space by using your sink to the max!
It’s also worth keeping a few campsite-specific kitchen pieces on hand: dish towels, grilling tools, food-safe storage containers, and easy-clean serving items that can move from RV to picnic table without a second thought. Camping meals don’t have to be elaborate, but having the right basics makes everything feel more relaxed — especially if you’re cooking for a group.
6. The best accessories are often the ones that make setup easier
Not every camping purchase has to be “fun” to be worth it. Some of the most appreciated RV accessories are the ones that save time, reduce hassle, and make your campsite feel settled faster.
That might mean a table that folds up quickly and stores easily. It might mean a patio mat that keeps sand and mud outside where they belong. It might mean an extra outdoor storage solution, better lighting, or a few smart tools that make setup and teardown less of a chore.
When you’re shopping for accessories, it helps to think about the friction points in your current camping routine. What’s annoying every time you travel? What always feels disorganized? What would make your site more comfortable when you’re staying for a full week instead of a single weekend?
The best accessory purchases usually solve a real problem. That’s why it’s worth choosing practical pieces you’ll use again and again instead of buying ten “maybe” items that stay in storage.
7. Don’t forget the little things that make camp feel like camp
Not every camping accessory needs to be a major purchase. Some of the best additions are the small comforts that help your RV trip feel a little more special.
That might be a set of fun campsite dish towels. It might be roasting sticks for campfire desserts. It might be a better chair, a more useful table, or a grill that lets you cook dinner outside while the kids run around the campsite.
These are the pieces that make camping feel easy and enjoyable instead of rushed and improvised. They’re also the kinds of items that work across all sorts of trips — quick weekend getaways, big summer road trips, lake weekends, campground stays, and even evenings in the driveway getting your RV ready for the season.
A few smart accessory categories to shop first
If you’re building out your camping kit or upgrading your RV setup this season, these are some of the best places to start:
- Comfort items: quality camp chairs, patio mats, outdoor tables, shade shelters
- Cooking gear: portable grills, roasting sticks, compact prep tools, nesting bowls
- Family-friendly campsite gear: easy outdoor seating, shaded hangout space, kid-friendly campfire accessories
- RV space-savers: stackable or nesting kitchen items, compact outdoor furniture, multi-use accessories
- Hot-weather essentials: gazebos, shade solutions, outdoor living accessories that help you stay comfortable longer
You don’t need to buy everything at once. Even adding one or two well-chosen pieces can noticeably improve your next trip.
