What You Need to Know About RV Mattresses

If your RV interior doesn’t feature a bed, you might as well drive a car around the US. Your RV bed is critical to your road trip comfort, but there’s a lot you need to know about RV mattresses to make your RV bed the most comfortable bed ever.

It all starts with a quality mattress selection, and you might think you already know mattresses because you’ve probably slept on them for most of your life. RV mattresses are a little different, and here are some helpful tips you should know.

Are RV Mattress Sizes Different?

Many RV mattresses are different than standard residential sizes. A queen RV mattress in an RV differs from a residential queen mattress. This means you can’t make any assumptions when shopping for an RV bed.

Other sizes are sometimes the same as their residential counterparts, such as twin and full (aka double) beds. King-size beds in RVs are usually narrower than residential mattresses. Here’s a breakdown of RV mattress dimensions: 

Some of these dimensions match what you’d find in a mattress store. For many RVs, shorter beds are preferred to provide space to move around the bed on either side. 

When buying a new mattress for your RV, start by measuring your old mattress. If you’re already short on space to maneuver around the bed, see if a short version offers smaller dimensions than your current mattress. 

Then, stop by your local Camping World Design Center to speak with a specialist about the type of mattress that’s best for you and your RV.

Can You Put a Regular Mattress in an RV?

Mattresses can be quite heavy – a residential queen-size mattress can weigh as much as 150 pounds. In contrast, most RV mattresses are thinner and lighter, which is important because they typically rest on a sheet of ⅜” plywood (sometimes thicker or thinner, depending on the RV manufacturer). 

The platform underneath your RV bed may not support the weight of a standard mattress. Consult your RV manufacturer to determine the maximum mattress weight your bed platform can support. Remember, it must support the weight of the mattress and all those sleeping on it.

Foam mattresses tend to be more lightweight than innerspring mattresses, which is why you’ll find many RV mattresses made of memory foam or gel foam. Hybrid designs provide the feel of an innerspring mattress with comfort layers of memory foam on top. Your best bet is to compare mattress weights, regardless of their construction. 

Can You Move the Mattress Easily?

You might not think about moving your mattress once you get it into your RV, but RV bedrooms are often tight quarters. This means you won’t have as much room to make your RV bed as you do at home. 

You may need to maneuver your mattress around to add or remove bed linens. It’ll be much easier to do so with a lighter mattress. Beyond that, lighter RV mattresses will be easier to maneuver into your RV once you dispose of your old mattress. 

You’ll need a mattress that flexes enough to navigate the narrow hallways in your RV. Many RVs have at least one tight turn before you get to the bedroom. That means you need a mattress that can swing that. Foam mattresses can be bent or stuffed basically anywhere. 

Don’t count innerspring mattresses out, though. Many of them can hang a tight corner pretty easily. Get a friend to help, and you should be able to maneuver the mattress into the right place in your RV. Just don’t go too stiff because the last thing you want is a mattress you can’t get in your RV.

How Often Should You Replace an RV Mattress?

Most RV mattresses should be replaced about every eight years. However, it’s important to remember that these mattresses aren’t necessarily designed for full-time use. The more you travel in your RV (and sleep in your bed), the more often you’ll need to replace your RV mattress. 

If you can’t remember how long you’ve had your RV mattress, just consider its comfort. Have you noticed a change in your sleeping patterns? Do you sleep much worse in your RV than you do at home? If you answer yes to either of those questions, it may be time for an RV mattress replacement. 

Lastly, a note that most of us don’t like to think about – your RV mattress accumulates “stuff” over time. We’re talking about dust, dead skin, sweat, and other things that come off your body or make their way into your RV when camping. 

Replacing your RV mattress regularly is important for your health. Older mattresses can be breeding grounds for bacteria, so replacing your mattress regularly is vital to healthy, happy RV road trips. 

Can I Add a Mattress Topper to an RV Mattress?

If you want to make your RV mattress more comfortable without buying a new one, consider getting a mattress topper. A mattress topper can completely transform the feel and comfort of your RV mattress. 

Most people think of mattress pads and toppers to adjust the firmness level of an RV bed. They are certainly useful for softening your bed, but they can also reduce motion transfer, improve heat transfer, and provide pressure relief. High-density mattress toppers are just one of many RV bedroom accessories that can improve sleep.

Explore Camping World’s complete selection of RV mattress toppers.

What is the Best RV Mattress from Camping World?

If you need help deciding which is best for you, consult a Design Specialist. With over 46 locations nationwide, Camping World Design Centers help RVers plan and create custom interior design projects unique to their RV. 

Explore brands like CozyWay and Brooklyn Bedding to take your RV bedroom to the next level.

Here are some of our favorite RV mattresses: 

Cozyway Gel Memory Foam Restore Mattress

• Available Sizes: Queen/Short Queen, RV King
• Thickness: 12” 

Cozyway’s Restore mattress utilizes gel memory foam to help your body maintain a comfortable temperature throughout the night. The infused gel wicks heat away, and the memory foam distributes pressure without transferring motion, meaning you’ll feel less when your partner climbs out of bed for a midnight snack. 

Discover all the benefits of this gel foam mattress.

Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid Mattress, Firm

• Available Sizes: Queen/Short Queen/Olympic Queen, King/Short King/RV King, RV Bunk
• Thickness: 11.5” 

Brooklyn Bedding’s firm mattress is available in just about any size you need to improve sleep quality on your RV adventures. The hybrid design features eight inches of individually encased coils that provide excellent edge support and minimize motion transfer. The remaining 3.5 inches are comprised of high-quality foams that offer breathability, buoyancy, and best-in-class comfort. 

Find out more about this hybrid RV mattress.

Cozyway Medium Firm Renew Mattress

• Available Sizes: Queen/Short Queen, RV King
• Thickness: 8” 

Cozyway’s Renew mattress is designed to offer therapeutic relief for side sleepers, snorers, early risers, and everyone else. Constructed from eco-friendly polyurethane foam, this mattress makes it easy to find a comfortable position, so you wake up feeling refreshed and renewed for the day ahead. 

Check the price point of this Cozyway RV mattress.

Cozyway Medium Firm Bunkie Mattress

• Available Sizes: Bunk
• Thickness: 4” 

RV bunks aren’t always equipped with the most comfortable stock mattresses. If your kids struggle to get quality sleep in your bunkhouse travel trailer, upgrading to Cozyway’s Bunkie mattress could be the perfect solution. It’s designed for bunks with rails and measures 72” L x 29” W. 

Upgrade your RV bunks with this mattress or explore other bunk bed conversion ideas.

Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid Mattress, Soft

• Available Sizes: Queen/Short Queen/Olympic Queen, King/Short King/RV King, RV Bunk
• Thickness: 11.5” 

For those that like a softer mattress, Brooklyn Bedding adapts the foam insertion on this mattress for a more plush feel. You still get the eight-inch engineered layer of pocketed coils, but the thickness of the memory foam layers on top of the coils changes. You can add a cooling bed cover for better temperature regulation when camping in hot climates.

Learn more about this RV mattress.

Searching for more than a mattress – maybe even a new RV? Camping World can handle the entire selling and trading process for you.

What’s most important to you in an RV mattress? Share your sleeping preferences in the comments below!