Milo the AwesomeDog and I spend lots of time RV camping. When we started traveling together I packed waaaaay too much stuff for him, which made getting ready to go camping a big ordeal. I’ve since streamlined the packing process. Now, I only bring what he needs and it just takes a couple of minutes to throw his stuff in the camper.

Here’s my RV camping packing list for Milo:

Obvious things

• Food
• Poop bags
• Food and water bowls

Comfortable housing

I keep him with me almost all the time. When I’m sitting at a picnic table or relaxing in front of a campfire Milo rests in an exercise pen. I can attach a tarp to one side of the pen in case I need to shield him from unruly kids or dogs, and I have a fabulous reflective sunshade that keeps him cool on hot days. I’ve recently started bringing an electric fan that I set just outside his pen. It does a great job of keeping the mosquitos away.

• x-pen
• sunshade
• tarp
• strong fan to keep the bugs off

Hiking, swimming, and kayaking stuff

I take him kayaking with me, and so he needs a lifejacket. And he carries his own snacks and water on long hikes, so he needs his backpack too. Sometimes I run his short leash through my belt and sometimes I hold it, but I find that all we need is one 6-foot leash.

• 6-foot leash
• his backpack
• his life jacket

Safety

I always keep a copy of his papers in my vehicle, and when we’re camping I write my cell phone number on his collar with a Sharpie in case he loses his tags. I also bring a flyer with his picture and my phone number on it (just in case). Finally, I keep a canine first aid kit in the trailer, which I supplement with Benadryl, because Milo occasionally eats bees, and a tick remover.

• Papers and tags
• Proof of vaccinations
• Lost dog flyer (just in case)
• First aid kit
• Benadryl
• Tick Twister

Fun

In addition to his toys, I bring cans of wet dog food and a couple of Kong chew toys. I have a freezer in my trailer, and I make him frozen Kongs so he has something to do on rainy days.

• Tug toy
• Water retrieve toy
• Land retrieve toy
• Kongs
• Cans of wet dog food for easy frozen Kong filling

De-skunking potion ingredients

I always keep the ingredients for a de-skunking wash in my trailer. I’ve never had to use them, but I have a friend who had to make a long drive home with a very skunky dog, and I never want to be in that position.

• hydrogen peroxide
• baking soda
• dish soap
• disposable tarp

I bring fewer things for Milo than I used to, and we still have a great time.

Here’s Milo at campsite 220 at Grundy Lake Provincial Park. He’s in his 48-inch Precision X-pen. This pen is a bit pricey, but it’s worth it. It’s a safer and more comfortable option than a tie-out. The black wire blends into the background and the pen has a walk-through door that is easy for people and not just dogs to use. It is simple to set up and is sturdy. 

RV dog camping checklist

• Food
• Poop bags
• Food and water bowls
• x-pen
• sunshade
• tarp (for privacy)
• strong fan to keep the bugs off
• 6-foot leash
• his backpack
• his life jacket
• Papers and tags
• Proof of vaccinations
• Lost dog flyer (just in case)
• First aid kit
• Benadryl
• Tick Twister
• Tug toy
• Water retrieve toy
• Land retrieve toy
• Kongs
• Cans of wet dog food for easy frozen Kong filling
• hydrogen peroxide
• baking soda
• dish soap
• tarp (disposable and for containing skunky things)