Long-Term Camping Tips for Extended RV Stays

Long-Term Camping Tips for Extended RV Stays
How to adapt from weekend warrior RVing to extended camping.

By: Becca & Brian Roy (@superchargedcamper)

What’s the longest you’ve camped at one location? For most of us, our average campground stay is probably two or three nights—enough for a cozy weekend getaway. But what about staying longer than a month? 

With the plan of utilizing our Winnebago Micro Minnie FLX travel trailer as a basecamp while we hunted for a new home in New Hampshire, we took the plunge and booked a whopping 54-night stay up north. Spoiler alert: we learned a ton about long-term camping—the do’s, the don’ts, and all the clever tips that make a long stay feel like home (or at least a cozy, adventurous version of it!). We’re excited to share what we learned in this article.

From Weekend Warriors to Long-Term Legends

So, how did we go from being weekend warriors to booking more than 50 nights in a single spot? Well, we moved from sunny South Florida to the beautiful landscapes of New Hampshire with nothing more than a campground reservation and high hopes. With the excitement of a fresh start came the adventure of house hunting. 

While we searched for our new home, our camper became our temporary HQ. We found the perfect place to park at Ashuelot River Campground in Swanzey, NH—even allowing us to charge our electric vehicles off of the electric pedestals (essential when you tow with an F-150 Lightning!).

6 Tips for Embracing Long-Term RV Camping

After a two-day road trip from South Florida to New England, we arrived at our new home for the next several weeks. We plugged in, set up camp, and began our first long-term RV adventure. Here are some ways we made our extended camping stay a success …

1. Create Smart Storage Solutions

Packing for a 54-night stay? That’s a whole new ball game. Forget the standard weekend packing list; this time, we needed everything from extra clothing and toiletries to a surplus of snacks, cleaning supplies, and extra parts/tools for the unknown! (Hey, when you’re out there for that long, better safe than sorry!)

One of our best decisions was to invest in some clever storage solutions. We rearranged the camper, tucking rarely used items under the dinette seating (out of sight but easy to grab). Daily essentials got the VIP spots, making our living space both practical and organized. There is no lack of storage in our Winnebago, allowing us to pack for the long term without feeling like we were cramming everything we could into our FLX. 

2. Get to Know Your Campground Hosts

First things first—get to know the owners and staff at the campground. When you’re staying for weeks, these folks aren’t just campground hosts; they’re your neighbors and can be a wealth of local knowledge. The team at Ashuelot River Campground was fantastic—friendly, accommodating, and always ready with tips on everything from local events to the best hiking trails.

3. Create a Cleaning Routine

With such a long stay, keeping our camper neat and tidy was a priority. It’s easy to feel cramped if things start to pile up, so we created a daily and weekly routine. Our collapsible broom and hand vacuum were joined by a steam mop—essential when you have dogs in the RV and are camping for this long! A quick sweep of the floors and tidying up the food prep area each day kept our space fresh and clean. The steam mop got its workout on the floors at least once a week. 

Fresh sheets, clean towels, and a manageable laundry pile became our regular goals. We even developed a habit of turning off the water supply when we weren’t around—because the last thing you want on a long-term trip is a water mishap. We also checked our electrical systems weekly.

4. Follow Good Campground Etiquette 

Long-term camping etiquette is a lot like the short-term kind—follow the rules, and everyone’s happy. Stick to speed limits, clean up after pets, and keep your site tidy. But here’s another tip we picked up: if you’re storing anything outside (think bikes or firewood), keep it covered. It’s not just about protecting your stuff; it’s about keeping the campground looking great for everyone.

5. Be Prepared to Potentially Move Sites

Speaking of etiquette, sometimes, during a long-term stay, you might have to move sites. With other campers staying for various durations, having to move sites could be a possibility, and planning ahead is crucial. We had a site relocation scheduled, so a few days before, we began packing up non-essentials and testing our camper systems. It’s a good thing we did! 

When our slide, stabilizer jacks, and tongue jack refused to cooperate, we traced the problem to a tripped fuse. A quick fix later, everything was back in working order—thanks to some advice from fellow RVers in a Winnebago Community Facebook group!

6. Don’t Forget the Go-To Gadgets

Whether you’re camping for a weekend or a month, some equipment is essential. We highly recommend a water regulator and surge protector. You never know when something out of your control might happen, and these two gadgets are lifesavers. And a pro tip—carry an extra vacuum breaker check valve for quick repairs. A small leak can cause big problems if left unchecked!

Home Sweet Home

In the end, our long-term camping adventure was a huge success. We became even more familiar with our camper, found creative storage solutions, and—most importantly—found our new permanent home. With five days left on our reservation, we closed on our new place and began our next adventure. Not bad for a 54-night stay!