Putting Comfort in RV Camping

The campfire is an important part of the RV experience. It is the replacement for the hearth of the home, the social center and the gathering place. A glowing fire and people sitting on logs surrounding it, toasting marshmallows or enjoying another campfire treat, possibly telling scary stories and sipping on a warm beverage is the iconic fall camping scene.

Honoring this tradition does not have to be uncomfortable. To the contrary, adding a little comfort to the campfire setting ensures that everyone will have fond memories and not a sore back. Your family can end the day relaxing and enjoying the warmth of the season and still feel pampered.

The campfire and the area directly outside your RV are your patio, and the right outdoor furniture can make the difference. Of course, you are living in your RV so the ultra-comfortable patio sets you enjoy at home are too cumbersome to load into the RV for the trip to the campground. But there are alternatives that are much better for you than balancing on a log, straddling a tree stump or sitting on a hard wooden bench.

When choosing campfire chairs, opt for higher quality ones that offer the portability you need and the comfort you seek. There are less expensive options, but sometimes you get what you pay. That discount store buy may fall far short on the comfort scale. There are many new innovative designs that can fit the bill and involve ergonomic design, such as inflatable loungers and zero-gravity reclining chairs, among others. Some of these even include an attached table or cup holders.

When choosing chairs, look at the manufacturing specifications. What is the weight limit? Can the material be cleaned easily? How easy is it to fold or unfold? Is it light weight or more on the heavy side? Don’t make a hasty decision. An uncomfortable chair or one that does not meet your needs can put a damper on the camping trip. Also consider whether a child-friendly chair should be included. A chair that is just right for the younger campers ensures both safety and happy times for everyone.

If you have already set up the awning, that is a second consideration in the comfort camping. During the day the awning keeps things shady and comfortable and at night, it is a convenient place to hang lights or lanterns or provide shelter from rainy weather. If you don’t have an awning, a tarp can serve the purpose, and while it is not a “campfire” essential, having a covered place to retreat to when raindrops fall is always better than retreating inside. You are, after all, camping for the outdoor experience.

Consider including some durable ground cover. An outdoor rug works well under a canopy or awning, but a few easy to clean and weather resistant runners can keep the ground chill at bay and keep the inside of the RV a little cleaner. A ground cover can also stop your chairs from digging into the ground. Make sure that these are placed a safe distance away from the fire and that they do not present a trip hazard to those enjoying the campfire.

Cut down on chores by covering the campground provided picnic table with an outdoor table cloth. This washable and reusable table covering is easy to wipe down after a meal, adds a little color and pattern to outdoor dining, and saves skin from splinters or rough patches on the table itself. Include table cloth anchors in your setup bag to prevent the table cloth from blowing away when you are not there.

Here are some other elements to make the campfire and outdoor living more enjoyable:

• Bug repellent or insect zappers: Go natural with citronella candles. This is a good option if the buzz of an insect zapper will annoy you. Whether it is from the glow of the ultraviolet light that draws mosquitoes into the electronic zappers, or the warm candle flame and aromatic scent of citronella, eliminating the annoyance of bugs around your campsite at night helps improve the mood and keeps campers bug-bite free. Of course, you can always go the traditional route and spray everyone down with bug spray, but that does nothing to add to the ambiance.
• Adding some string lights or lanterns is welcoming and inviting for guests. It also helps people better navigate their environment. Lights can be battery operated or powered by solar cells. There are many options for campsite lighting, from traditional to fanciful. Choose ones that contribute to the experience and be respectful of neighboring campers by not using extra bright or too many lights.
• Have the right campfire and outdoor dining essentials. This may include a grill for cooking over the campfire, skewers for hotdogs or toasting marshmallows and appropriate cookware for the grill or fire. Don’t forget to choose dishes and glassware that can be reused, which is better for the environment than plastic or paper plates and red plastic cups. Make sure the dishes and glasses are shatterproof and unbreakable. A broken glass at a campsite can be a hazard no one wants to encounter.

One of the reasons people RV is the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and still have some of the comforts of home. The inside of the RV has what you need to feel pampered. Don’t stop the comfort at the door. Make the outdoors part of your relaxing environment by making the time spent there safe and a place of contentment.