Photo: Terry Bone on Flickr …Licence: (CC BY -SA 2.0)
The best RV outdoor rugs add a nice touch of personality to any campsite.
Let’s take a look at what material is best for an RV patio mat, some of the features available, and also the different types – waterproof, eco, sand-free etc.
I’ve also listed a handful of my top picks.
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Your Outside Living Room
Photo: Terry Bone on Flickr …Licence: (CC BY -SA 2.0)
Although a good RV patio mat always looks great, they serve a purpose too.
You know as well as I do, stepping out of your RV onto a nice clean soft surface is definitely better than damp grass, dusty dirt, sand, pine needles, concrete pad etc.
If you have an awning up, you’ve got yourself your very own outside living room.
My Top Picks
Top Choice
Glamplife Recycled RV Mat
I love the reversible tribal design on the Glamplife RV patio mat. It comes in 2 sizes – 5’ x 8’ and 9’ x 12’. It’s made from thick recycled polypropylene, and seriously durable.
It has reinforced loops on the corners for securing it to the floor, and the binding round the edges is double sewn to stop any fraying.
This rug is really easy to keep clean, highly sun fade resistant and comes with a decent bag for storage.
Pros
Eco Friendly
Fade Resistant
Reinforced Edges
Cons
Stakes Not Supplied
Sand Free Design
CGear Sand-Free RV Rug
CGears’s sand free mat is the first of its kind. It has a unique weave that lets sand and dust fall right through. The mat is very durable but feels soft underfoot.
The mat’s made with military grade materials and has brass eyelets on the corners for staking down. It’s super easy to clean and also fade resistant.
It comes in 4 different sizes and 2 different colors, and packs neatly away in a matching tote bag.
Pros
Sand Free Design
Soft Underfoot
Very Durable
Cons
Higher price
Lots Of Designs
Sand Mine RV Rugs
There are 12 different designs and colors available from Sand Mine. Smallest size is 4’ x 6’, the largest is 9’ x 18’.
It’s made from 100% polypropylene, so it’s waterproof, easy to clean and specially coated to prevent fading.
The mat has heat treated edging to stop fraying, and a loop on each corner so you can stake it down.
Pros
Very Durable
Low Maintenance
Reversible
Cons
Very Lightweight (Definitely Needs Staking)
RV Patio Mat With LED Lights
MontVoo Outdoor Rug With LED Lights
I’ve seen a few of these at campgrounds in recent years. The mat comes in 8 different sizes, with 3 circular options. Made from UV resistant polypropylene in a cool geometric design.
The LED lights are shatterproof and can be powered from the mains or from a powerbank. The mat is reversible, waterproof and easy to clean.
It does come with a carry bag and stakes for the loops in each corner.
Pros
Built in LED’s
Waterproof
Easy Clean
Cons
Needs Power Source
Personalized RV Mats
Personalized RV Door Mats
Here’s a great bit of fun at the entry to your camper.
Personalize the doormat with your name.
Size is – 24” x 16”. Easy clean with a non-slip rubber backing.
Pros
Great Gift Idea
Easy Clean
Durable Non-Slip
Cons
Thin Material
Best Materials For An Outdoor RV Rug
Polypropylene
Polypropylene is without doubt the best material for an RV outdoor rug.
Polypropylene is a type of plastic, a 100% synthetic material, and is highly resistant to UV rays. Won’t fade even after long sun exposure.
Waterproof and will dry very quickly.
Super low maintenance, will resist staining, mildew and mold.
Although synthetic, it’s reasonably soft underfoot.
When it comes to cleaning, a hosing down or a quick sweep is all that’s needed.
Recycled Plastic
Some of the best RV patio mats are made from recycled plastic.
Most plastics that we use as consumers are made from either polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
Both of these materials are excellent for use in an RV rug.
Remember all those plastic bottles you recycled over the years? Your next RV outdoor mat could well be made from a fair few of them.
If you’re interested in being a more eco conscious camper, take a look at the Leave No Trace webpage.
Jute
Jute is a very popular natural rug material.
Unfortunately, a jute rug just isn’t going to cut it on the campground.
It’s a really hard wearing natural material, but not as tough as a synthetic mat.
Jute is very prone to moisture and mold, and will also retain dust and sand. Maybe ok for occasional use on a very dry campground, other than that, I would avoid it.
Removing Creases From A Plastic RV Rug
Photo: Terry Bone on Flickr …Licence: (CC BY -SA 2.0)
Although polypropylene is the best material for an outdoor RV rug, because it’s plastic, if it’s folded for a period of time it will crease.
Getting these creases out can be a pain. Heat is your friend.
I’ve had a bit of success with different methods, so here’s a couple of things you can try.
Blowdryer Method (Best Way)
I find this is easier to do if you peg your mat up on a clothesline (or similar). If it’s a large RV rug you can just do this on the ground.
Use a blowdryer on low to medium heat.
Hold the dryer 6 -12 inches away from the mat and move it up and down the creases (don’t spend too long in one place).
This will take a while, but it works quite well.
Once the creases are out (as much as possible), stake the mat out in the sun for a few hours.
When you’re happy with how it looks, roll the mat instead of folding it again.
This will take up a bit more space when transporting, but you’ll have a nice flat mat when you get to the campground..
Sun Method
Lay your mat out in the sun (the hotter the better).
Stake out the corners.
RV Outdoor Rug Ideas
There are literally of 100’s of designs to choose from, here’s a little inspiration…
Photo: Terry Bone on Flickr …Licence: (CC BY -SA 2.0)
Photo: Terry Bone on Flickr …Licence: (CC BY -SA 2.0)
Photo: Terry Bone on Flickr …Licence: (CC BY -SA 2.0)
Photo: Terry Bone on Flickr …Licence: (CC BY -SA 2.0)
Photo: Terry Bone on Flickr …Licence: (CC BY -SA 2.0)
Photo: Terry Bone on Flickr …Licence: (CC BY -SA 2.0)
Photo: Terry Bone on Flickr …Licence: (CC BY -SA 2.0)
Photo: Terry Bone on Flickr …Licence: (CC BY -SA 2.0)
Photo: Terry Bone on Flickr …Licence: (CC BY -SA 2.0)
Photo: Terry Bone on Flickr …Licence: (CC BY -SA 2.0)
Photo: Terry Bone on Flickr …Licence: (CC BY -SA 2.0)
A decent RV outdoor rug is definitely a nice addition to your campground setup.
My choices are great options, but there are hundreds of designs and colors to choose from.
Anything made from polypropylene will do the job nicely.
Please check out my other equipment reviews.
See how I rate my recommendations here.
