12 Accessories That Make Sustainable RV Travel Easy

1. LED lights

If you’re still using the factory light bulbs in your RV, this is the easiest upgrade on the list. LED bulbs use up to 80 percent less energy than traditional halogen or fluorescent bulbs, reducing strain on your battery bank and the need for trips to a hookup or generator just to keep the lights on. They also don’t generate as much heat as halogen bulbs, which could save you on cooling costs during hot summer trips. 

2. Composting toilet

Though it’s a bigger commitment, it’s worth considering a composting toilet in your eco-friendly RV. Composting toilets separate liquid and solid waste, cutting out the water a standard RV toilet uses per flush entirely and turning solid waste into something you can dispose of responsibly instead of hauling it to a dump station. 

Not for everyone, but a serious upgrade for those who love off-gridding or boondocking on the regular.

3. Low-flow fixtures and a pressure regulator

An unglamorous pair of swaps that pay off fast. Low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators cut your water use without turning your shower into a sad drizzle, and they take about ten minutes and a wrench to install.

While you're at it, add a water pressure regulator between your hose and the campground spigot. Some parks run pressure high enough to blow a seal or spring a slow leak in your lines, and a regulator is a five-dollar fix for a problem you really don't want to discover at 2 AM. 

4. Reusable water filtration system

Skip the cases of bottled water. A built-in or portable filtration system provides you with clean drinking water straight from your tank, so city water tastes better at full hookups, and tank water is safer to drink everywhere else.

5. Biodegradable soap and personal care products

Whatever soap you're using is probably ending up in the ground somewhere near your campsite. Biodegradable soap, shampoo bars, and body wipes break down without causing damage, and the wipes are a small miracle when you're three days into dry camping and there's no shower in sight.

6. Portable recycling bin

Just in case you’re using campgrounds that don’t recycle, you can DIY. A second bin, clearly labeled and kept separate from regular trash, keeps glass, metal, cardboard, and plastic out of the landfill. Compact it down as you go and drop it at the nearest recycling center when you're back in range of one.

7. Enzyme-based tank treatments

Although tank treatments are absolutely nonnegotiable, most traditional tank treatments are basically doing chemical warfare on your holding tank, and some of what's in them isn't great once it hits a dump station either. Enzyme-based treatments do pretty much the same job without the harsh chemicals, and it's a direct swap, no new habits required.

8. Reusable kitchenware

Collapsible bowls, bamboo utensils, silicone stasher bags, reusable storage, and cloth napkins take up almost no space and cut out a steady stream of single-use waste from every meal. Beeswax wraps are a great addition here, too; they replace plastic cling wrap for covering bowls or wrapping leftovers, and they're washable and reusable for months.

9. Refillable propane tanks

Those little disposable propane canisters are convenient exactly once, then they're just trash. A refillable 5-pound tank works with most stoves and fire pits, lasts far longer, and means you're not tossing empty canisters every other weekend.

10. Energy-efficient appliances

Aside from air conditioning, your fridge is probably the single biggest power draw in your RV, so it's worth putting some thought into. An energy-efficient 12V compressor fridge uses a fraction of what an older absorption model uses, which means longer stretches between charges and less strain on your solar or battery setup. The same logic applies to fans, vents, and anything else that runs constantly.

11. Portable solar charger

Not ready to commit to a full solar setup? Start small. Portable chargers top off phones and cameras without touching your main battery bank, fold up small, and give you a taste of solar before you decide whether to go bigger. If you do want to go bigger, we've got a full breakdown of the upgrades worth making in our guide to off-grid RV power.

12. Bikes or e-bikes & rack

Not everything needs an engine. Road or mountain bikes, or even e-bikes, get you into town, onto a trail, or to the grocery store without burning fuel for a two-mile round trip. It's better for the planet, and it's honestly just more fun than circling a parking lot in something the size of a small apartment.

Small swaps add up to big impact

The good news is that adopting a more Earth-friendly RVing mindset isn’t zero-sum. You don't need to do all twelve this weekend. Pick two, see how they fit your routine, and add more when you're ready. Sustainable travel doesn't have to be perfect to make the places you love to visit a little less worse off for you having been there.