Good sleep is crucial for health, improving mood, immunity, injury prevention, and weight management. It’s not just about quantity but also the quality of sleep, which is significantly influenced by your mattress, particularly in an RV. To enhance your travel experience, whether it’s hiking or skiing, a quality RV mattress is essential for restful sleep and readiness for adventure.
To assist you, we’ve compiled a list of the best RV mattresses, complete with a buying guide and answers to common questions, helping you find the ideal mattress for your road travels.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall
The Sleep Adventure 10-Inch Cooling RV Mattress
Best Firm
The Dynasty 10-Inch Gel Memory Foam RV Mattress
Best Hybrid
The LINENSPA 8-Inch Innerspring Hybrid RV Mattress
Best Overall
The Sleep Adventure 10-Inch Cooling
The Sleep Adventure ten-inch cooling RV mattress offers a comfortable memory foam experience, ensuring a restful sleep. It’s a product of a family-owned business specializing in adventure-focused mattresses, all made in the USA with domestically sourced materials.
The mattress is Certi-PUR certified, ensuring no harmful materials like fiberglass are used. Its graphite-infused memory foam provides cooling, making it suitable for various climates. Customizable dimensions are available for RVs, and it tends to be on the firmer side. Key features include Certi-PUR certification, breathable and soft cover, American-made quality, and a 30-day trial with a ten-year warranty.
Pros
- Cools you down while you sleep
- High-quality materials
- Order a custom size for your specific needs
Cons
- It might be a little too firm
Best Firm
The Dynasty 10-Inch Gel Memory Foam
The Dynasty ten-inch memory foam RV mattress, established in 2007 and renowned for its quality, features a top layer of cooling gel memory foam and a firm, durable base. It’s known for providing exceptional comfort, even on warmer nights. The materials are Certi-PUR certified for safety and longevity. However, it might be too firm for those who prefer a softer mattress.
Key features include medium firmness, cooling gel memory foam, and a machine-washable cover.
Pros
- Cool topper for hot nights
- Machine washable cover
Cons
- Some people have said its too firm
Best Hybrid
The LINENSPA 8-Inch Innerspring Hybrid
The Linenspa eight-inch short queen hybrid mattress combines memory foam with springs, offering both bounce and cushioning. This unique hybrid design is a blend of traditional spring mattresses and modern memory foam technology. However, it has limited size options and some users find it softer than expected.
This mattress, noted for its value and comfort upgrade from standard RV mattresses, is Certi-PUR Certified and offers a medium-firm feel with various thickness choices.
Pros
- Great value
- Bouncy and soft
Cons
- Some have said it’s a little soft
The Travel Happy 6-Inch Custom Graphite Gel Memory Foam
The Travel Happy six-inch custom RV mattress is designed for the unique size requirements of RVs, converted vans, or vintage school buses. Offering custom sizing options through Amazon, it’s a comfortable alternative to standard RV mattresses.
This mattress is noted for its medium-firm feel, though some find it a bit too firm, likely due to its full memory foam composition and flat base support. It features two inches of graphite gel memory foam for cooler sleep and is Certi-PUR Certified, ensuring safety and quality.
Pros
- Very comfortable especially compared to the mattress that the RV came with
- Cooling graphite-infused memory foam
Cons
- It’s pretty firm
The FoamRush 4-Inch Bunk
The FoamRush four-inch bunk mattress is unique for its versatility, suitable for RV bunks or as sofa cushions. It features cooling gel-infused memory foam and can be customized by cutting the foam to fit specific needs. While great for children, its thinness might be less comfortable for adults. It’s an affordable, Certi-PUR certified option, though some users report durability concerns.
Key features include medium firmness, cooling memory foam, and multipurpose use, like for golf cart seats or sofa cushions.
Pros
- Cooling gel
- You can DIY customize it
- Cheap
Cons
- Not very thick
- Some people have said that the materials fall apart easily
RV Mattress Buyer’s Guide
When shopping for an RV mattress, consider these extended guidelines:
- Accurate Measurement: Measure your RV’s mattress space thoroughly. RVs have unique dimensions, so it’s vital to get the size right. Check both the product’s dimensions and customer reviews for sizing accuracy. Remember, returning an incorrectly sized mattress can be costly.
- Comfort Preference: Pay attention to your body’s needs. Reflect on your current sleeping experience – do you prefer a firm or soft mattress? Note that RV mattresses may feel different from home mattresses due to the absence of slats or box springs. Reviews can provide real-life insights into the mattress’s firmness and comfort.
- Material Quality: Prioritize mattresses that are Certi-PUR certified, ensuring they are free from harmful materials and fiberglass. The quality of materials is crucial for health and comfort.
- Visual Appeal and Thickness: Consider the look and thickness of the mattress in relation to your RV space. A thicker mattress might seem more comfortable but could overwhelm a small space, especially once bedding is added. Conversely, a thinner mattress might be more practical but check if it complements your RV’s aesthetic.
- Durability and Longevity: Investigate the durability of the mattress. An RV mattress should withstand the rigors of travel and frequent use.
- Ventilation and Heat Regulation: If you’re camping in varying climates, consider how well the mattress regulates temperature and maintains airflow.
- Ease of Cleaning and Maintenance: Look for mattresses that are easy to clean and maintain, especially in the compact environment of an RV.
By considering these factors, you’ll be better equipped to find an RV mattress that suits your space, comfort needs, and lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you put a regular mattress in an RV?
Yes, but make sure it will fit before you try to squeeze it through your RV’s tiny door. RV mattresses and regular mattresses are only different because of the size requirements, which is the following question on this list.
What is the difference between a regular mattress and an RV mattress?
As mentioned, the only difference is size. Most RV mattresses are shorter or skinnier to allow for more living space in your camper.
How thick should an RV mattress be?
There are no universal requirements for the thickness of an RV mattress. It’s important to measure your space and think about what it will look like with all the bedding on top of it. If you get a thicker mattress, it’s often more comfortable, but that’s also not always universal.
Some fold-out beds or bunks might require a specific thickness. The only way to know for sure is to measure.
What size are RV mattresses?
Just like the thickness, there is no universal size for RV mattresses. It’s specific to the manufacturer or the space. Again, make sure you measure.
When shopping, you will often see sizes like short queen or short king. These will most likely fit in your RV; however, read the product dimensions to ensure accurate results. Also, like the Sleep Adventure or the Travel Happy, some brands will offer a custom sizing option if you can’t find an RV mattress that fits your needs.
Sleep Well Knowing You’ve Made the Right Purchase
There are so many benefits to sleeping peacefully through the night. You’ll feel better mentally and physically. You’ll be able to do more, see more, feel more, and love more.
So, don’t lose sleep because you made the wrong purchase. Look into our number one choice, the Sleep Adventure ten-inch cooling RV Mattress. I promise you won’t regret it! Also, if you want to learn more about really committing to the RV Life, look into Full-Time RV Living.