10 Essential Camper Gadgets To Make Life On The Road Easier

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Life on the road sounds simple until you're knee-deep in mud with a flat battery, a dead phone, and no idea where the nearest gas station is. That's when you realize a few well-chosen essential camper gadgets can do much more than just make life easier; They can actually save your entire trip. Camper life freedom depends on having the right gear when you need it most. You definitely don't need a drawer full of gimmicks or a rooftop full of overpriced equipment that looks good but doesn't do much. What you do need are solid, reliable camper tools that work without fuss when you need them — the essentials you'll use without thinking, or curse when you forget them.

When your stove won't light or your lights won't work, it's not just annoying. For many vanlifers and RVers, it messes with the whole rhythm of the day. That's why the gadgets listed here aren't just nice-to-have accessories. They're problem-solvers, space-savers, and sanity-preservers that make your off-grid camper setup work like it should. So, it isn't about buying more stuff. It's about choosing the right stuff. Whether you're a weekend warrior or a full-time boondocker, here are the best camper accessories and must-have gadgets that make life on the road significantly easier.

GPS devices for camping have evolved from luxuries to essentials, and the Garmin RV 795 GPS Navigator is an RV GPS system that SlashGear included in a list of gadgets perfect for RV living in 2024. It remains a top-tier choice for campers thanks to its 7-inch touchscreen, preloaded maps of North America, and ability to create routes based on your camper's specific dimensions and weight. This prevents encounters with low overpasses, awkward turns, and other hazards — something that standard GPS apps can't do.

Voice control functions work well enough for hands-free use, and you can connect to the Garmin Drive app for live traffic updates. The on-screen data is customizable. However, it can only display one additional piece of information at a time (like arrival time or distance remaining) beyond the basic map view. This could be seen as a limitation compared to Garmin's bigger models, but it does keep the dashboard less cluttered.

Satellite view arrival planning is another useful feature. Marking the exact entrance you want to use at large parks or travel plazas will help avoid the awkward situation of pulling into the wrong gate and having to U-turn your 30-footer. Additionally, if your camper lacks a modern infotainment system, you also get Bluetooth media controls and hands-free calling. The RV specialists at RV Miles found that the device handled voice prompts, lane guidance, and routing duties smoothly, and thought it especially helpful when navigating unfamiliar terrain.

A combination of the Jackery Explorer 500 power station and SolarSaga 100 bifacial solar panel offers off-grid energy for van life. They work together as a lightweight charging solution for full-time campers, weekenders, or anyone powering gadgets at campsites without hookups. Together, they form the Jackery Solar Generator 500 bundle, which British-based camping gear review site Camping Secrets praised for combining solar generation with compact energy storage in a way that's both rugged and reliable.

The Explorer 500 packs 518 watt-hours of energy and supports pass-through charging that allows you to charge the unit while it powers your devices. With a 500W AC outlet, three USB-A ports, two DC ports, and a 12V car port, it covers the basics for phones, lights, coolers, and small appliances. The SolarSaga 100W panel recharges the power station in roughly 9 hours under solid sunlight. Its bifacial design captures light from both sides to boost conversion efficiency by up to 30%, and it includes USB-A and USB-C outputs for direct small-device charging. The panel also features built-in kickstands on either side and is waterproof and dust-proof for outdoor durability.

For continuous high-wattage demands like a kettle or mini oven, you'll need to upgrade to a higher-capacity station. The Jackery Explorer 1500 handles high-draw appliances and supports more solar input, meaning you can pair it with multiple SolarSaga 100W or 200W panels for faster recharging.

There's very little fuss about the Grayl GeoPress Purifier Bottle. It requires no pumping, and there's minimal waiting time. You just fill the bottle, apply downward pressure to push the inner cartridge down, and you're good to drink. It's a solid bottle and one of the best water purifiers for camping. It cleans around 24 oz of water using electroadsorption, activated carbon, and layered filtration to remove viruses, bacteria, protozoa, heavy metals, and chemicals. That's everything from norovirus to microplastics, and you can use it with pretty much any water source other than saltwater (including brackish water). You can source from streams, gas station sinks, or even muddy puddles, and it provides you with hydration in just 8 seconds.

However, at between 12 and 20 ounces when empty (depending on size), it's not ultralight, and Forbes noted that it does take a bit of force to push down the inner filter. But the effective filtration is worth the effort. There's no need for time-consuming bag squeezes or sipping through a straw for ten minutes. As soon as you've driven down that cartridge, you can sip clean, fast-flowing water directly from the wide spout. SlashGear has already mentioned the Grayl GeoPress as something you'll want to bring on your next day hike, so it's an excellent gadget to have around the tent or camper and one you'll definitely take on any fishing or hiking excursion. The filter lasts for 65 gallons, the build quality is rock solid, and you can even add electrolyte mixes without messing up the cartridge.

If you're living the camper life full-time or just out for a weekend jaunt, a compact dash cam can be one of those underrated gadgets you'll be glad you brought along. The Garmin Dash Cam X310 is one of the best dash cams for campers and RVs. It records in crisp 4K HDR and includes convenient smart features like voice control in multiple languages, GPS tagging, and an integrated polarizing lens that helps to cut out glare through the windshield. 

The camera powers on and records automatically when your vehicle starts. Video looks clean and sharp on the 2.4-inch touchscreen day or night, and you can access clips through the display or use the Garmin Drive app on your smartphone or tablet. Remote features like parking alerts and live view require a paid Garmin Vault subscription and a hardwired connection to your fuse box to enable notifications to your phone when the motion sensor is triggered. This might prove its worth if you've ducked into a motel room overnight or you're getting a coffee at a sketchy rest stop. 

TechRadar likes how easy the dashcam is to use and highlights the high-quality recordings, magnetic windshield mount, and compact build as standout details. It's impressively small given what Garmin has packed in. That said, some driver assist features aren't especially smart, and the price might feel a little steep compared to Garmin's older models. However, you do get better hardware, sharper specs, and a noticeable bump in performance and design for your outlay.

The SOTO Windmaster Stove's concave burner head, recessed flame design, and 4Flex pot support prompted SlashGear to name it as one of the best stoves for camping and backpacking back in 2023. It's perfect for using on a windy day and is a gadget you'll want on hand in less-than-ideal conditions when making coffee on a fishing trip. The stove runs on isobutane propane canisters and pumps out up to 3,260 watts, which is enough to boil two cups of water in no time. 

It also simmers well, which is surprisingly rare at this price and size. That means you can also throw a pan on and sauté veggies or make eggs on a whim, and it can also handle larger cookware, should soup be on the menu at any point. The pot supports are detachable, too, meaning you can switch to a lighter TriFlex design if you want to cut weight. But the stove is not silent. The burner does make a bit of noise, and outdoor gear review site OutdoorGearLab noted that the control valve could offer more resistance for precise flame adjustments. Still, that same review praised its "excellent simmering capability" and proclaimed it was one of their favorite small canister stoves.

Compressor fridges use motors and refrigerants to generate and maintain cold air. They are far more reliable than thermoelectric coolers and are perfect if you're off on an adventure in the height of summer. When you're parked in the heat of the day and want to keep meat frozen, drinks cold, and leftovers safe for tomorrow, a unit like the Dometic CFX3 won't break a sweat — and neither will you with all those deliciously cold beers. This model has enough range to deep-freeze food down to –7°F and maintains stable temperatures even when unplugged for extended periods. It can preserve food overnight if you lose power, while cooling is both fast and quiet, with simple controls on the unit itself or through the phone app.

The CFX3 runs on AC, DC, or solar power and features built-in battery protection to prevent draining your camper battery. With reinforced corners, solid handles, and a lid sturdy enough to sit on, the build quality is impressive, too. OutdoorGearLab tested the 45L model and found the storage practical, though you can choose from sizes ranging from 25L all the way up to 100L. However, you will need a bit more space than competing fridges with the same capacity require, but its freezing performance and ease of use make the extra footprint worthwhile.

SlashGear previously chose the MPOWERD Luci Pro Outdoor 2.0 as a tech gadget for every hiking enthusiast. Despite BioLite's rebranding of the product, we think it's still an essential gadget. The BioLite Luci Charge 150, as it is now called, is perfect for camper vans and small setups. It hangs inside the camper or under the awning and has an inflatable shell that floats in water — perfect if it accidentally drops in the river during a fishing trip. The IP67 rating also protects it during sudden downpours or when you're showering in dimly lit campground stalls.

The lantern collapses down flat for easy storage in drawers or bags, but it's the 150 lumens from 10 cool white LEDs that matter most. That's enough light for cooking, checking gear, or walking to the toilet block at night. Solar charging takes 12 or more hours to reach full capacity, which gives you around 50 hours of light. But if that length of time tests your patience, you can speed things up using the USB-C input.

The unit also includes handy USB-A and USB-C outputs for emergency phone charging if you get stuck in the wilderness, and, at just over six ounces, it's easy to carry. The BioLite Luci Charge 360 weighs more due to its bigger battery and higher LED count, but it offers up to 110 hours of runtime on a full charge and features warmer LEDs and a softer matte finish for more relaxing lighting in the evening.

On top of a good lantern, a headlamp for campers is another essential lighting solution, and one that offers a more focused beam for situations like fumbling around in the dark with tent zips or doing some emergency repairs in dim light. The Black Diamond Spot 400-R is a solid pick for these types of night jobs because it's reliable, bright, and not overkill. 

It throws out up to 400 lumens, which is more than enough for campground tasks, short hikes, or checking your setup after dark. You'll get about 4 hours on full brightness, or up to 225 hours if you keep it on low, and the beam reaches 100 meters. The latter is ideal for when you're out walking the dog, bursting for the bathroom at 2 a.m., or just need a clear view around the camper.

There's also a red light mode to save your night vision, which is useful when trying to keep things low-key or when you want to avoid blinding others in the van. It's IP67 waterproof, so rain, splashes, or even a dunk in a stream won't be the end of it, which also makes it a cool gadget for adventure tourists. But best of all, it's comfortable enough to wear for hours, and even if you're lying down with it on, it won't dig into your head.

When you're off-grid on camper adventures, you need reliable energy sources. You also need a dependable backup. And if that backup is portable, all the better. The Anker Prime 20,000mAh Power Bank (200W) may be bulky and on the heavier side for a device of its type, but you can still slip it into a daybag, and it won't take up much space in the camper. It easily fits in a drawer or gear bin and is one of the few battery packs you can find that is powerful enough to fast-charge a MacBook Pro while juicing your smartphone at the same time.

The two USB-C ports and single USB-A give a total output of 200W. That's more than enough for a laptop, tablet, and any other gadget you need topped up when you don't want to drain your primary power source. It takes just over an hour to fully charge with a 100W charger, and it has a small display that is anything but a gimmick. Digital Camera World noted that it conveniently shows charge levels, speed, and estimates of how long the battery will last or take to recharge. 

It's easily one of the best power banks for campers, thanks to its features and reliability. And, while you're unlikely to be taking any flights during camper trips, if the time ever comes for you to take a regular vacation, this power bank is also TSA-approved. The only real drawback is the price. It is toward the pricier end of the scale for a portable charger, but the power it provides will prove its worth.

Of course, you don't want to drain your camper battery when parked, but a 12V inverter does give you another backup solution. It also allows you to preserve the energy stored in your primary battery sources when driving. For campers on a budget, the BESTEK 300W Power Inverter simply makes sense. It hits the sweet spot between practicality and price by delivering 300 watts of continuous AC power via two standard outlets and two USB ports, all at a price that comes in at less than $30. 

Like most budget inverters, it outputs a corrected sine wave, which is fine for general use but not ideal for sensitive electronics. Still, it has enough power delivery to keep your laptop and phone going, making it a solid solution that won't break the bank or hog space. It also holds its output without getting too hot or acting erratically and comes with a built-in fan that kicks in under load to keep things cool. It may not be particularly silent, but it isn't that distracting either. However, you won't want to run heavy-draw appliances on this, and some of the internals, such as the soldered-in fuse, might cut a few corners. That said, it's about the size of an iPhone and tucks neatly into a glove box or drawer.

We scoured reliable sources such as OutdoorGearLab, RV Miles, and RV Life, as well as blogs like CampingSecrets and forums like irv2.com and Reddit, to find out what gear camper enthusiasts were recommending. We consulted tech specialists for professional reviews of more technical gear and included a couple of items that have been used personally. We ensured all the picks we chose were top-rated on Amazon, and we used software to ensure products with suspicious review patterns were filtered out, thus ensuring all our recommendations are of the highest quality.