We have used our outdoor shower option sporadically over our years of RV ownership.  We are also willing to do things now that we might have said no to in our early days of camping.  While we prefer full hookups, I don't want to limit myself to the types of experiences we can have.  The willingness to tip toe over the comfort zone line really opens up so many new opportunities.  So, what does an outdoor shower have to do with new opportunities and camping limitations?

Making the Most of Your Outdoor Shower

If you have an outdoor shower connection on your RV, use it!  We have primarily used it rinse sandy and muddy feet outdoors.  This is a great way to use this option for many trips.  

But, don't limit yourself to a quick hose off after a day at the beach.  The outdoor shower can really come in handy if you are camping without full hookups.  If you have a campsite with water and electric, the only thing that limits you is tank capacity.  Taking showers will overload your tanks in a hurry.  

I know.  What about the bath house?  Will I use them?  Yes.  Do I choose to use them since we have a travel trailer?  No.  Most bath houses at parks where we have stayed have been fine.  However, I just don't want to lug all my stuff over to a bath house to shower, get dressed and lug it back.  The outdoor shower is much more convenient and works just fine!  What do you need?

Add an outdoor shower heat to your hook up to make your shower easier and better for bathing al fresco!

You will need an additional hose to fully use your shower.

Outdoor shower connection

Our travel trailer has an outdoor shower hook up with both hot and cold water.  Most RV's have this as a standard option.  When we first bought our RV, I wondered why anyone wanted this.  Now I know.

Our quick connect hose works fine with our outdoor shower, and I don't mind it.  But, if you want to take a true shower, it is nice to at least have a shower head that you can turn on and off and feel more like a traditional shower.  It is easier to maneuver and control overall.  This is an easy fix and will make it more enjoyable overall.

There are lots of pop up tent options for a shower. Choose something basic that collapses and fits your needs.

Pop up Tent 

Unless you are on a solo adventure, privacy is where most people would shy away from this option.  There are plenty of pop up tent options that are inexpensive and easy to store.  It just provides a privacy tent that you can step into, shower and go.  

Be mindful of measurements for your tent option.  If you are tall, you may not find something that you can fully stand up in?  Sound familiar?  This may mimic the RV indoor shower for some.  See what options are available.  And remember, you aren't buying a luxury set up here.  This is for a practical shower at the end or beginning of your day where you can get clean.  I find that when people get hung up on these things it is because they want the luxury of a home shower or something better.  Be practical and think this way, and you won't be disappointed.  In fact you might lean into it a little more.  

You can explore different options or set ups here.  Some tents come with a designated spot to feed your hose into the tent for showering.  Think about how you practically want to use your shower and what best fits your needs.  There are a lot of options here.  

Unless you plan to use this option a lot, don't burn a lot of money here.  An outdoor shower for us is a one or two times a year camping trip at best for us.  Given that we don't need a lot of gear to make this work, it is worth the investment.  And, I am not going to go all out on a fancy set up either.

We've had a bamboo mat for years that we use to stand on to rinse our feet at the beach or lake. These also work great for a shower.

Bamboo Mat

Finally, get a mat to stand on for showering.  We have a bamboo mat that I bought at Aldi when we first bought our camper. We have used it ever since.  These are inexpensive and keep your feet clean outdoors.  I love having this for rinsing feet or showering.  It it so easy.  Just put it down in the base of your pop up shower tent with your outdoor shower connection, and you have everything you need for a clean and simple shower set up.

You don't really need anything else.  You can lay items outside on a chair just in reach of your pop up tent.  I don't think you have to overly complicate this.  Keep it simple and enjoy the opportunity to shower outside in nature.  I think that is the best part!

A Turkish towel dries quickly and is a lightweight option for the beach or showers.

I will say, that outdoor showers are better if you aren't packed into campsites like sardines.  I don't know that I could enjoy this at a crowded campground.  And, for most campers, an outdoor shower is going to be used somewhere more primitive like a spacious state park or other facility that is similar.  So, if you are automatically thinking about a crowded site over a holiday weekend, I would probably shy away from an outdoor bathing experience.  And, I might do it.  Who knows at my age!  Ask me next year.  I'll be happy to give an update.

Do you use your outdoor shower set up?  If so, I would love to hear how you use this for camping.  I think camping is all about forging your own way and enjoying the opportunities that arise from it.  You can also check out my Amazon Store Front with all of the gear you need for an outdoor shower set up.

Until next time...happy camping!

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