The Only RV Travel Day Checklist You Will Ever Need
ByAlyssalast updated
As we enter our third year of full-time RVing, we can say that having a complete RV travel day checklist can make all the difference. As you pack up your RV and prepare to travel down the road, a travel day checklist or departure checklist can give you peace of mind that you won’t be leaving anything behind or risking damage to your RV, tow vehicle, or vehicle in tow.
Some things are hard to forget and some are hard to remember.
One thing that is certain…travel days are full of emotions. Excitement about what is to come, stress about getting there safely and smoothly, and everything in between. It’s kind of a wild ride.
There will be days when you can do it all perfectly without much thought and others when your travel day checklist will be a lifesaver.
No matter what your RV travel days bring, the following checklist can serve as your north star, setting you on the path to a smooth journey to your next amazing RV destination!
Whether you are a new/first-time RVer or a seasoned RV traveler, this checklist can serve as a guide for your smoothest, least stressful RV travel days yet!
Pro Tip: As an RV couple, we have delegated specific responsibilities to each person to help make things as efficient as possible and limit the number of items each person has to remember. Alyssa is in charge of all inside items, as well as the final visual check of the outside of the RV and surrounding campground. Zach is in charge of all outside items on the RV as well as preparing the truck.
RV Departure Checklist
The RV departure checklist is the list of items you should consider when you are leaving your campground, boondocking site, or home and setting out toward your destination.
These items will ensure your RV is ready for travel, that you don’t forget anything, and that you will arrive at your spot without any surprises once you step inside your RV.
Inside the RV
It may be a cliche in the RV world… but the inside of your RV truly is like an earthquake when it is traveling down the road.
Taking the time to secure everything inside your RV before departure can help you avoid stepping into a chaotic mess and massive clean-up once you arrive at your destination.
To start, there are a few that apply to the entire RV:
Close and secure all cabinet doors (we use velcro straps to keep ours shut)
Wipe down countertops
Sweep floors and around all slide-outs to keep them clear from debris to avoid damage when bringing them in
Vacuum floors and rugs
Turn off all faucets
Secure any plants or decorations for travel
Unplug internet routers (like T-mobile home internet or Starlink) and stow safely
If you are a digital nomad or working RVer, break down and/or secure your workstation for travel
Ensure A/C, furnace, fireplace, and water heater are all turned OFF
Ensure all windows are closed and/or locked
Put all window shades in the stow position (we put them up so that they don’t smack the wood, in our Casita they got latched in the down position)
Latch any sliding doors or pocket doors (we have one between our upstairs space and downstairs space)
Put any antennas or satellites on the roof down and in the stow position (this also applies if you have tilting solar panels)
Turn off all fans and close all roof vents
Turn off all lights
Retract awnings (this may be an outside item if your awnings are manual)
Ensure all counters and floors are clear (for us this has included moving our Berkey Water Filter into our truck and rolling up our area rug)
Take in all RV slide-outs (this should be the very LAST thing you do before exiting the RV)
Shut the door and lock it. If you have one, put the RV stairs handle in over the door
Living Room
Put any recliners in the upright position
Turn off and secure TVs (or put them down if on a televator) **may also apply to bedroom or outside spaces
Ensure the electric fireplace is turned off
Kitchen
Secure items inside the fridge (put breakable or spillable items inside drawers, think about how things may move in transit)
Secure fridge doors (we use a DIY PVC pipe “T” to keep our fridge and freezer doors secure
Wash and put away dishes so that nothing is sitting in the sink
Take out the trash (we typically dump any bathroom trash into our kitchen trash to take it all out at once)
Secure dining room chairs
Put dinette or dining table in “stow” mode (ours pulls out to extend when we are set up)
Make sure any pet bowls are empty and secure for travel
Bathroom
Secure shower doors
Clear off bathroom counter, stowing items in cabinets and drawers
Secure medicine cabinet (we have a mirror that needs to be locked into place and a cabinet that needs to be latched)
Take all shampoos and soaps out of the shower and secure them in a cabinet or drawer
Do the GEO method or other black tank cleaning method after dumping to keep tanks clean
Make sure the toilet seat and cover are down (prevent splashing)
Bedroom
Shut washer and dryer doors, turn off water supply hoses
Secure closet doors (we have a sliding door that needs to be locked and latched on the bottom)
Place any larger fragile items on the bed for travel (this is often where we store our T-mobile home internet tower)
Once you have completed your checklist we highly recommend doing one final walkthrough of your RV before taking the slides in!
Tap your cabinets as you walk around to make sure they are all shut tightly, check for anything on the counters or in front of the slides, and make sure all lights and other electronics are off!
Outside of the RV
On the outside of the RV there is also a list of items to work through to get things ready for travel:
Dump the black tank and then close the valve
Dump the gray tank and then close the valve
If you have the option, flush your tanks for optimal cleanliness and performance
Place cover on dump pipe when finished with dumping
Make sure you have a small amount of fresh water in your tank for travel (bathroom breaks, etc.). If you are moving to a boondocking site you may want to fill your freshwater tank
Rinse and put away the sewer hose and sewer hose stand (do NOT use your drinking water/ fresh water hose for this)
Disconnect and put away the water hose
Climb up on the roof and sweep off all slides
Disconnect and reel in the electrical cord (for safety, be sure to flip the breaker before unplugging)
Check all tire pressures
Do a visual inspection of the tires (on one travel day we did have to change one tire before departure)
Put bikes on the back rack and make sure it is secure
Grease hitch
Check tire lugs to ensure they are tight
Take up chocks and blocks
Put away your water pressure regulator
If you used any electrical adaptor (such as a 50amp – 30amp converter) ensure those are put away
Disconnect and put away RV surge protector
Disconnect and put away RV portable water softener system
Ensure all outside compartments are locked
Turn off propane
Put RV stairs up and away and door handle in and secure
Do a tug test to make sure your connection is secure
Retract all jacks
Check to make sure the brakes are working and all brake lights, directionals, and hazards are working
One final visual inspection to make sure all slides are in, compartments are closed and locked, awnings are in, chocks and blocks are away, and there is nothing left outside in your campsite
Pro Tip: You will want to time your inside and outside RV travel day checklist items in an optimal way. For example:
Sweep off the slides before taking them in
Make sure dishes are washed, teeth are brushed, and final bathroom breaks are had before dumping tanks
Don’t unplug the RV from the pedestal until you are ready to hitch up
Tow Vehicle Checklist
While it can be easy to focus most of your energy on the RV before departing on travel day, it is important not to overlook your tow vehicle.
Be sure to:
Check tire pressures
Plug in 7-pin connector for a secure connection to the RV (checking the trailer’s brake lights will let you know this is working properly)
Pack water and snacks for the ride (we typically get this stuff packed up the night before)
Move any delicate electronics into the tow vehicle (we keep our work laptops in the truck with us, just in case)
Set up your RV-safe GPS and ensure you are setting out on the desired route to the correct destination
Have glasses, sunglasses ready, and ID and wallet in the truck
Ensure you have enough fuel. If you will need to re-fuel along the way, plan out your fuel stops. We use the OpenRoads app and their discount program to make this a breeze (and get great savings, too)
RV Arrival Checklist
Arrival day might look different depending on if you are doing a quick overnight stay, boondocking or staying at a campground
While your RV departure checklist provides you peace of mind while traveling between destinations, an RV travel day arrival checklist can help you get set up efficiently so that you can spend less time setting up camp and more time enjoying your next big adventure!
Unhitch truck (this process may look different depending on the type of RV hitchyou have)
Pull out the truck or tow vehicle and park it
Auto-level or level the RV
If on hook-ups, plug in the RV to the pedestal, attach water hose, and set up sewer hose
Take out the stairs
Ensure the area is clear around all sides and take them out
CAREFULLY unlatch all cabinets and check for objects that may have shifted
Set up Berkey or another water filter system and fill it so you can have fresh water ASAP!
CAREFULLY remove locks from the fridge and open, being mindful of objects that may have shifted
Plug in and set up internet devices, routers, antennas, etc.
Put out necessary items on the counters that have been stowed (bathroom items, knife block, coffee maker, etc.)
Set up outside space (rug, lights, chairs, tent, Blackstone, propane firepit, etc.)
Unlatch sliding or pocket doors
Unlatch shower doors and set up shower items
Turn on the water heater (propane or electric depending on your available resources)
Make it yours (set up rugs, plants, photos, lights, etc.)
The most common RV travel day mistakes to avoid
If the long lists of things “to-do” feel overwhelming, that is okay. Travel day can feel like quite the headache at first, but trust us – after a few go-arounds, your travel day checklist will become a routine that flows seamlessly.
And if all else fails, you can also fall back on this list of common mistakes to avoid that will keep you clear of most larger headaches (and many more minor ones) that can happen on travel day:
Forgetting your water pressure regulator at the water spigot
Forgetting your surge protector or power adapter at the pedestal
Forgetting the elbow attachment for the sewer hose
Not checking or monitoring your tire pressures with some form of TPMS(which can lead to a tire blowout)
Leaving cabinets or interior doors unlatched or unsecured
Leaving your awnings out
Taking slides in without moving items out of the way
Failure to do a tug test (which can lead to “dropping” your fifth wheel)
Failure to check trailer breaks and trailer lights
Leaving chairs or outside comfort items behind at the campsite
For more mistake-free RVing check out these resources:
Some of the links on Fulfilling Travel are affiliate links. We may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you if you make a purchase, contributing to the site's upkeep while ensuring our travel recommendations remain freely accessible. Read our disclosure policy to learn more.
Alyssa
Alyssa is the co-founder of Fulfilling Travel. She has been a full-time RVer and digital nomad since 2021, traveling all over the U.S. and Canada. She leverages her coursework in travel writing and her graduate training in psychology to write comprehensive, research packed travel guides. Her guides are authentic and experience driven with the everyday traveler in mind. She is on a mission to help RVers and outdoorsy adventurers plan fulfilling trips in the great outdoors.
