I almost always pack our meals on tow days.  It saves time and provides some good variety in our diet!

Stress-Free RV Meal Planning for Long Trips: Simple Back-Up Meals That Make Travel Easier

Long trips in the RV are some of my favorite memories—open roads, cozy campsites, and those slow, simple moments with the people (and pups!) I love most. But nothing takes the fun out of a travel day faster than feeling like you have to go out to eat because you're exhausted, hungry, and out of ideas.

That’s exactly why I’ve learned to build flexibility into my RV meal planning. A few easy back-up meals can completely shift the mood of a long trip. Less scrambling. Less stress. More relaxing. And way more time to enjoy the adventure.

If you are somewhere that has seasonal or regional items, make that part of your plan.  We picked up steamed shrimp on our last trip and enjoyed them with some new potatoes that I cooked in our crockpot!

Why Back-Up Meals Make Long RV Trips Easier

We eat out sometimes on the road, but having a few quick easy RV meals ready to go helps us stay flexible and budget-friendly. A good back-up meal:

• uses simple ingredients
• cooks quickly
• doesn't require a grocery run
• feels comforting after a long day
• saves money and reduces stress

It’s amazing how much more enjoyable the day feels when you know dinner is already “handled.”

Veggie dogs are another favorite.  Pair these with tater tots and a salad or fruit and you are done!

My Favorite Easy RV Back-Up Meals

1. Soup + Grilled Cheese

The ultimate no-fuss comfort meal. Keep canned soup and bread on hand, melt some cheese, and dinner is ready in minutes.

2. Pastina + Peas

One of our long-time camper staples. A box of pastina, a little butter or olive oil, broth, garlic, lemon and parmesan cheese makes a delicious comfort meal.  On the side add frozen peas warmed through with salt, and pepper—and you have a warm, simple dinner in 20 minutes.

3. Corn Dogs + Tater Tots

Not fancy, but always a hit. Add a salad and fruit, and you’ve got a balanced meal with almost no prep.

4. Crock Pot Meals

Perfect for long adventure days. Prep earlier, and dinner is waiting when you get back to camp.

Sometimes I do a steak night at the campground.  Any leftovers are used with eggs for breakfast!

Buy Groceries As You Go

You don’t have to pack a week’s worth of food before you ever leave home. On longer trips, I only plan three to four meals for a seven-day stretch. Between leftovers, eating out here and there, and the back-up meals I keep on hand, we never run out of food—and we never waste it.

We also love shopping local:

• fresh seafood at the beach
• produce from mountain markets
• regional specialties wherever we're traveling

A simple plate of fresh fish, veggies, and a salad is one of our favorite “taste of the region” meals.

Manwich another easy thing to have on hang.  Grab a can and keep it in your pantry.  You can have ground beef in the freezer or pick up some on your travels for an easy meal!

Make Tow Days Easier with Picnic Meals

On tow days, we stick to extremely simple meals. Picnic-style lunches—sandwiches, fruit, chips—are easy and keep the whole day flowing better.

For breakfast on tow days, we keep it light:

• cereal
• yogurt + fruit
• pancake in a mug
• leftover pizza (yes!)

Want something sweet?  Keep things on hand to make a singular cookie.  I do this and increase the recipe slightly and have warm cookies with a movie at night!

Less Is More

Food takes up space fast in a small RV, so I lean into a simple, less-is-more approach. Plan only what you need, keep flexible staples, and pick up groceries along the way.

RV cooking should feel manageable and grounding—not stressful. I cook on the road just like I do at home, and that familiarity makes travel feel stable, calm, and enjoyable.

You can find some of my favorite menus and recipe links here.

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And yes, we still go out?  You have to enjoy the local foods in New Orleans so we did a mixture of eating out and dining in!  Its a great balance!

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