How to Organize Your Camper, RV, or Lake Cabin for a Stress-Free North Dakota Summer
Summer weekends shouldn't start by untangling extension cords, frantically searching for lost towels, or buying duplicate supplies that you forgot when packing. Whether you're heading to Devils Lake fishing, spending weekends at Jamestown Reservoir, or taking in one of North Dakota’s beautiful State Parks, a little organization means you spend more time relaxing and less time looking for stuff.
Small spaces tend to amplify clutter, so you want to find a balance between being prepared and having room to actually be in your space. Here are some tips for organizing your camper or cabin for the summer.
Give Every Person Their Own “Home Base”
One key to RV organization is making sure everyone in the family or group has a designated area to store their belongings. This could be a drawer, cubby, crate, basket, or shelf, as long as each person knows where their space is. This eliminates arguments and makes tidying up simpler because even kids know where things go.
Maximize Storage and Go Vertical
In small spaces like campers, maximizing every inch of storage space is key. This section will include practical tips for doing just that.
Utilize crates
Perfect for:
snacks
games
shoes
fishing gear
sunscreen
They can move easily from camper to picnic table.
Add wire or bamboo cabinet shelves
Some camper cupboards are inefficient, so creative use of wire or other shelving can double usable space without remodeling.
Great for:
dishes
Pantry items
Coffee supplies (a must when camping if you ask me)
Install Command Hooks
Perfect for:
towels
hoodies
dog leashes
keys
reusable bags
This takes advantage of vertical space, allows wet things to dry, and keeps clutter off surfaces.
Wall-mounted dispensers
Great for:
tissue
paper towels
Plastic bags
Mounted dispensers keep these things handy but also off the countertop, and easy to find when you need them.
Institute a Daily Tidy
I talk about the daily tidy pretty often, but that’s because it’s a simple habit that works. Clutter in a small space like a camper or cabin builds up much faster than a big house so you need to be really intentional about tidying. But it doesn’t have to be a big, time-consuming chore. Just 5-10 minutes will pay off big in your mental health and ability to relax and enjoy your weekends.
Put things away before bed to ensure a calmer morning.
Return items to their assigned space. This is easy if everyone has a designated space!
Don't let dishes pile up, since you don’t have much room for piles.
Empty trash daily.
One of the biggest differences between a relaxing camper and a stressful one is spending five minutes tidying every day.
Keep the Right Tools
No one wants to pack up their entire kitchen for a weekend trip to Medora or their favorite lake. Campers and cabins are an area where it makes perfect sense to keep duplicate items. Pots, pans, utensils, and dishes that live only in the camper or cabin will save you tons of time and energy packing.
Here are a couple of ideas of other things it can be helpful to keep in the camper.
Small cordless vacuum
Sand, dirt, pine needles and cracker crumbs happen.
Vacuuming during your daily tidy will help the crumbs not reach the beds and save your sanity.
Air fryer
I always assume people are grilling outside when camping, but not everything works on the grill. The Air Fryer of fairly recent fame is an appliance that can be used for multiple meals. They work great for frozen foods, but are also helpful for reheating leftovers and cooking breakfast foods and vegetables. Don’t forget the liners that fit your model to make cleanup a breeze.
Less cookware means less clutter.
Basic Tools
Rather than packing your entire garage or taking a half-day to find the nearest hardware store, pack a small tote with some basic tools:
screwdrivers
hammer
channel lock
pliers
wrench
vice grip
Don’t forget the duct tape!
Stop Packing the Same Things Every Weekend
In the same vein as the section above, duplicating some items just makes sense, and can be one of the easiest organizing wins when it comes to eating and living away from home.
I suggest keeping duplicates of these items that only belong in the camper or cabin:
cooking utensils
measuring cups
spatulas
dish towels
oven mitts
basic spices
coffee supplies
toiletries
sunscreen
bug spray
phone chargers
towels
Mason jars are a great dual-use container to stock in your limited cupboard space, too, as they can be used for a shaken iced coffee, a jar salad, or a drinking vessel.
Clothing Organizing for Small Spaces
Consider rolling clothing like we were taught to do in suitcases. Whether you have shallow RV doors, crates, or another creative option, rolling (rather than folding) has some benefits. It’s easier to see everything and it saves space while reducing wrinkling.
A separate bin for things like swimsuit pieces, pajamas, and socks can make transitioning between activities easier, not to mention airing out the things that aren’t quite ready for the dirty clothes bin.
Organize Storage Compartments
When we think of RVs and campers, we often think of the inside where there are cool pop-outs and lofted beds. The storage compartments in campers can be easily forgotten and can easily become a cluttered mess.
A friend recommended these heavy-duty storage straps, which work great for:
extension cords
sewer hoses
electrical cords
water hoses
Well-labeled or clear totes for:
outdoor games and toys
grilling supplies
fishing gear
tools
Prepare for Winter Storage
I’m sorry, I know we don’t want to think about North Dakota winters when we’re just trying to enjoy the summer! But everything you use in the summer needs to be stored for winter, and future you will be thankful you took a few minutes to think about it before summer ends.
I recommend well-sealed, airtight totes for linens, paper products, clothing, and really anything you plan to keep in the camper or garage for next spring. Including silica packets can help maintain dryness and prevent mold, mildew, and rust from ruining your stuff over the winter.
Storing your clean, dry items in airtight totes will protect them from dust, mice, and moisture and will help ensure you can jump right into the next camping season.
Bonus Tips
A genius friend told me her family keeps a laundry sorter (but a regular plastic laundry basket could work, too) in the shower for their dirty clothes. When someone needs to shower they temporarily move it out, but once the showering is over, it goes right back. This keeps the dirty laundry contained and ready to be hauled out after the weekend, but doesn’t clutter up the living space.
Create a "departure checklist" posted inside a cabinet so you don't forget to lock windows, turn off propane, empty the fridge, or grab dirty laundry before heading home.
Keep a tote or basket for items that no longer belong in the camper or cabin. At the end of the weekend, bring it back to the house instead of letting clutter accumulate.
Make it Easier to Relax
Whether you're spending weekends at Reservoir, fishing at Lake Sakakawea, or enjoying a quiet cabin in the middle of nowhere, organizing your summer weekend space isn't about perfection. It's about making it easier to relax. A few simple systems mean less packing, less searching, and more time around the campfire.
If organizing your camper feels easy but organizing the house you leave behind doesn't, I'd love to help. Good Help Organizing serves Jamestown and surrounding communities with practical organizing solutions that make everyday life easier.
Ashley Strukel is the owner of Good Help Organizing
Serving Jamestown, North Dakota and surrounding communities with professional organizing, decluttering, move prep, and home systems.
