- camphost7
- Nov 7
- 6 min read
Rolling into the Holidays:
RV Edition
Now that Halloween has wrapped up and the colorful leaves are turning, we’re staring down the two big holidays of the season: Thanksgiving and Christmas!
For many, that means tradition, family, big meals and warm memories. For full-time RVers or people camping seasonally, it means figuring out how to have all that joy when your home is on wheels.
It’s not always easy due to small kitchens, limited space, needing to travel, or choosing to stay put all come into play.
But it’s also so very magical.. Simpler, more intimate celebrations, creative decorations, campground camaraderie, and meaningful new traditions.
Why These Two Holidays Hit Differently in an RV
Thanksgiving kicks off “holiday season.” It’s a time to gather, reflect, and feast.
Christmas often involves more decor, lights, gift exchanges, and tradition.
For RVers, these holidays mean decisions: Do we head home (if family wants it)? Stay in the rig and host smaller gatherings? Travel somewhere festive? The choice depends on energy, space, weather, and how much you want the “holiday feeling.”
Real Ways RVers Do Thanksgiving & Christmas
From what I dug up from personal experience, blogs, and forums - here are some ways people make holiday magic happen on the road:
Decorating
Small trees & tabletop trees. Slim artificial trees that fit in a corner or table. Some use real small evergreen bushes when available or get scented greenery to bring in that pine smell.
String lights & garlands. Around windows, along ceilings, on slide-outs. Battery-powered lights or solar lights are popular so you don't have to worry about plugs or cords.
Stockings & small personal touches. Hanging stockings on cabinet handles, tiny wreaths, stockings, little ornaments that don’t roll when moving. Even changing out pillow covers for something festive.
Scents. Cinnamon, baked goods, pine, vanilla often via scented candles (if safe), plug-ins, or warmers.
Outdoor decorations at the campsite. Lights, wreaths on the door, a festive mat, flags, small inflatables if you have a seasonal site or storage room for them.
Cooking & Meals
Portion control & simplified menus. Many people cut down traditional big meals into smaller portions. Perhaps roast a smaller turkey or turkey breast instead of a full 20-lb bird. Use a slow cooker, Instant Pot, or grill outside to share the load.
Potlucks at campgrounds. Campgrounds that host potlucks around Thanksgiving or Christmas are a beloved tradition. Everyone brings a dish. Less work for any one rig, more community feel.
Travel vs. cooking in rig. Some RVers choose to travel to visit family and use “home base” kitchen setups; others stay put and do all cooking in their RV kitchen. Tradeoffs: travel can be tiring, rig cooking means being smarter with space and equipment.
Gathering & Traditions
Intimate family or “campground family.” When space is limited, couldn’t invite all of extended family, lots of folks celebrate just with their core (kids, spouse, pets). Sometimes neighbors at the campground join in.
Light displays & contests. Many campgrounds run decorating contests or have shared lighting of the rigs and Christmas lights outdoors. It’s fun, neighborhood friendly, and builds community.
Experiential gifts. Because storage is limited, many RVers favor gifts that are experiences such as visits, memberships, outings over items.
Holiday “side-road trips.” Some choose a destination known for festive decor, tree lighting ceremonies, or holiday events, and plan to drive there during Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Common Challenges & How People Overcome Them
Here are some frequent pain points RVers mention and the ways folks solve them.
Challenge | Common Fixes |
Little Space / Crowding | Limit number of guests, rotate gathering times, use outdoor patio if weather allows. |
Small Kitchen & Cooking Capacity | Use crockpots / Instant Pots, cook outdoors (grilling, smokers), pre-make dishes, simplify the menu. |
Power / Electric Load | Use battery-powered lights, solar or generator support, avoid high-heat devices like ovens if possible. |
Storage for Decorations & Seasonal Items | Use compact decor (foldable, multi-use), repurpose items, stash small pieces (lights, wreaths) in bins. |
Travel vs. Staying Put & Weather | Choose campsites strategically (with good amenities), travel earlier to avoid bad weather, or stay near family. |
Feeling of Missing Traditions | Create new traditions, carry favorite recipes or traditions in scaled-down form; make the holidays personal rather than duplicating exactly. |
Ideas & Inspiration: What to Do
Here are concrete ideas you could try this year at Big Tex or wherever you are:
Have a friendsgiving in the campground: invite fellow campers to share sides!
Do a Christmas decoration contest: rigs vote, small prize, potluck afterward.
Organize a cookie swap: everyone bakes a small batch, swap and share.
Set up a hot chocolate bar at your campsite or common area.
Arrange a campfire gift exchange: Secret Santa but you draw names ahead of time so everyone brings smaller gifts.
Drive or walk around looking at holiday lights in nearby towns.
Choose one night for a festive meal, and another for a simple soup or breakfast together.. Share the cooking efforts!
When People Go “Home” vs When They Stay
Sometimes, RVers decide to drive somewhere or park up near family; other times, they stay out in their rig and bring family or friends to them. Here’s what influences that choice:
Distance / fuel & travel time are big deciding factors. Driving halfway across the country just to be at family for a meal can cost more in time, money, stress, than staying where you’re parked.
RV comfort & weather: Cold winter driving, ice or snow, or lack of warm hookups can make travel tough. Sometimes staying somewhere with amenities (electric, heat) feels better.
Desire for space: Staying in your RV gives privacy and familiar surroundings; visiting family means small guest rooms, shared bathrooms, etc. For many, that comfort matters.
Why It’s So Worth It
Despite the challenges, many RVers report that Thanksgiving and Christmas on the road are among their most treasured memories.
Celebrations feel more intentional and meaningful when everything is scaled down.
You appreciate the little things more...Warm light, fragrance of food cooking, laughter in a tiny space.
Community matters: fellow campers, neighbors, people you meet along the way often become part of your holiday.
Flexibility: you can choose where you want to be! Warmer weather, snowy scenes, near family, or somewhere quiet in nature.
You grow new traditions, ones that fit your life on the road, and those often end up being more joyful than trying to replicate “home exactly.”
Tips to Prepare for Thanksgiving & Christmas in Your RV
Here are practical prep tips so you can enjoy the holidays rather than stress through them:
Plan your menu ahead: choose what you’ll cook in the rig vs outside or bring. Simpler is better.
Buy decor early and pack it smartly. Test lights, check batteries, make sure you have hooks, tape, etc.
Check campsite amenities: electricity, heat, kitchen space, community rooms. Some campgrounds have shared kitchens during holiday weekends.
Reserve spots early: if you plan to stay at a campground over a major holiday, book in advance. Many fill up.
Communicate with family/friends about expectations: maybe your gathering is smaller, or gifts are fewer. People tend to understand once they know your space limits.
Have backup plans for meals: bring a backup side dish or dessert, or plan eating out if you don’t want to cook a huge spread.
A Few Real Stories
One RV family decided to stay in their rig near a ski town for Christmas and decorated with mini lights, a tabletop tree, and lit candles (battery or plug-in) to keep the warmth. The smell of cinnamon and baked cookies filling the RV made everyone feel cozy.
Here at Big Tex Campgrounds, we will be having a potluck for Thanksgiving where each family brings one or two small sides, and together they make a full feast. Less individual burden, and lots of shared laughter!
Some RVers love the “go see Christmas lights” tradition: drive or walk around neighborhoods, campgrounds, or towns and bring cocoa; listening to holiday music in the car becomes part of the tradition.
Big Tex’s Holiday Takeaway
Thanksgiving and Christmas may look a little different when your home moves, when your kitchen is compact, or when you can’t squeeze all the family in. But those differences can deepen the joy. Slowing down, gathering small, decorating just enough, sharing with community, holding onto tradition but letting new ones grow... Well that’s where the magic lives.
So this year, once Halloween is behind us, let’s pull out the lights, select the holiday playlist, put up a mini tree, and make the meals we love. Invite neighbors. Share a potluck. Walk under the lights. And remember! Your tiny RV can be as festive, as warm, and as full of love as any big house.
Merry and grateful wishes to you, your family, and every traveler finding a home in the journey.
