Most RV campers keep a separate set of dishes just for their RV, and a cool trick is to pick a different color from your home dishes so they don’t get mixed up. Since RV dishes need extra protection during travel days, you’ll want some smart storage ideas to keep them safe and secure.
You can find most of these products on Amazon, and just click the links to check out more details.
Here are a few ways to store dishes in your RV, but not every idea will fit your setup, so check them all to find what works best for you.
For example, what’s great for our pop-up camper might not suit a big Class A motorhome with more cabinet space, and a stationary RV parked for months has different needs than one that’s always on the move.
1. Collapsible Food Dishes (with lids)
These silicone food storage dishes are awesome because they collapse to save space in your tiny RV kitchen, making them a super smart way to store dishes.
They’re made of silicone, not ceramic, so they won’t break on travel days, which is perfect if you’ve got kids, and you can use them to store leftovers in the fridge, heat them in the microwave, eat from them, then clean and collapse them to tuck away in your cupboard—each set comes with three containers and lids.
You might find them at a local store, or you can check them out on Amazon where they come in different colors too.
2. Plate and Cutlery Organizer (All in one RV dish storage idea)
This Eltow organizer is designed for picnic or party dishes, but it’s also a handy way to keep your RV kitchen neat.
It’s perfect for plastic dishes, with spots for dinner plates, salad plates, stackable cups, bowls, and cutlery, so you can see if it fits your RV setup by checking the details on Amazon.
My sister uses something like this in her 5th-wheel trailer, not for her regular dishes but to hold paper plates and cutlery for outdoor meals. It’s super handy for always being ready for a picnic or a meal by the campfire.
A holder like the Picnic Plus Entertainer hot and cold casserole carrier is awesome for picnics and outdoor meals. It’s sturdy, easy to carry, and perfect for tailgating, potlucks, or campfires, so you’re always ready for a meal outside.
3. Upright Dinner Plate Holder
These plate holders stand upright and can hold 6 dinner plates.
You can stick them in your camper cupboard with double-sided tape to keep them from sliding.
They’re really popular on Amazon and come in two sizes.
This one’s the 11-inch version, but there’s also a 9-inch one for salad plates.
4. Camco Plastic Stack-a-Plate Organizer
The Stack-a-Plate organizer, made by Camco, a top RV accessory brand, is super handy.
It has a non-slip grip on the bottom to stay put while you’re driving, but you can add double-sided tape if you want it extra secure.
The set includes two organizers: one for dinner plates and one for saucer plates.
The small one holds plates up to 7.25 inches, and the bigger one fits plates up to 10.25 inches.
These can help keep your plates from sliding around when you hit the brakes.
Check out more details on Amazon.
5. Vertical Dishes Organizer (set of 2)
RV folks really like this set for keeping their cabinets tidy.
The bigger rack holds larger dinner plates, while the smaller one is great for saucers, soup bowls, or cereal bowls.
You can put these racks right in your cabinets, or pop them into a plastic basket to pull out at mealtime and store back when you’re done.
Lots of Amazon reviews come from RV owners sharing how they use these racks for their camping dishes.
Check the current price on Amazon.
6. Bamboo Dish Rack to hold plates (and more)
This bamboo dish rack can work as a drying rack, or you can keep it dry and use it to store dishes in your RV cabinets.
On travel days, watch out—plates might slide unless you stash them in a cupboard and wrap them with dishcloths.
It comes with two racks.
Think this could work for you?
Check out more details on Amazon.
7. Stackable Cup/Bowl Holder
These cups are awesome because they’re big enough to use as bowls too. That means you can cut down on extra dishes by using them for both.
Right now, I’ve got them on my counter, but if you want to use something like this in your RV, you can get “nail-in clips” (like the ones for securing wires to wood). Just nail a clip over the bottom of the stand and into your cabinet to keep it in place.
Stackable Coffee Mug Set
Like I said, I got my big mugs second-hand, so I’m not sure who made them.
But I found a similar set on Amazon—a stackable set of four 15-ounce coffee mugs.
They’re great for keeping your coffee cups neatly stacked in one spot, so you don’t have mugs taking over your whole cabinet.
If you like the sound of my set, you should check these out.
They’ll keep your cabinets organized, and the cups look pretty cool too.
Check current price on Amazon.
8. Extra Shelf to hang under Kitchen shelves or under table
You can add more storage in your RV kitchen with these handy wire shelves that slide onto an existing shelf or table.
They’re made by Cambond and are pretty cool.
If they don’t fit in your cabinets, you could try sliding them under the RV kitchen table if you don’t use it for sitting much.
Check out more details on Amazon.
9. RV Kitchen Cabinet Shelf
A kitchen cabinet shelf like this one is awesome for saving space in small cabinets. It lets you use the vertical space better.
You can adjust it to fit different cupboard sizes, stretching from 15.75 inches to 30 inches wide, so it should work in your camper cabinets.
It’s great for both your home or RV. If you use it in your RV, you might need some adhesive or putty to keep it from sliding on travel days.
It’s perfect for plastic dishes or if you put protectors between your plates.
Check out this popular cabinet shelf on Amazon by clicking the link.
10. Use non-slip Shelf Liner
A friend of ours puts non-slip shelf liner under her dishes and between some of them to keep things in place.
I’m curious if the bowls might still slide around, though?
They mostly camp at easy-to-reach campgrounds right off the highway, so they’re not doing any crazy off-roading.
It works for them. Think this could work for you.
Click for more details on Amazon
Get Plastic Dishes (to avoid breaks)
If you’re worried about ceramic plates or glass cups breaking on travel days, you might want to check out plastic dishes.
Melamine dish sets, like the one I’m talking about, are tough and resist chipping or breaking. Just a heads-up, though—don’t put melamine in the microwave or oven.
The Gibson Home Soho Grayson Square Melamine Dinnerware Set is a cool 16-piece set in grey, perfect for four people. Imagine using these for your outdoor camping picnic dinners!
If you like how these look and want more details, click the link.
I hope you liked this rundown of cool RV dish storage ideas!