6 Best Gas Grills For RV Awnings That Nomads Swear By

There’s nothing quite like pulling into a campsite, extending the awning, and firing up the grill as the sun sets. It’s a core part of the RV experience, turning your temporary patch of land into a proper home. But the wrong grill can turn that perfect evening into a frustrating mess of grease, uneven heat, and bulky storage problems.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you!

Choosing Your Perfect RV Awning Gas Grill

The first thing to accept is that there’s no single "best" grill; there’s only the best grill for you. The central tradeoff you’ll face is between cooking performance and portability. A heavy grill with cast iron grates will sear a steak beautifully but will be a pain to haul out of your storage bay, while an ultralight model might be easy to carry but struggle to stay hot on a windy day.

Before you even look at models, get honest about your priorities. Your decision should be guided by a few key factors:

• Mounting vs. Freestanding: Do you want a grill that hangs off your RV’s side rail to save precious table space? Or do you prefer a freestanding model you can place anywhere in your campsite for more flexibility?
• Size & Weight: Every pound and every cubic inch matters. Measure your intended storage bay and consider how often you’ll be willing to lift the grill in and out.
• Grill vs. Griddle: This is a fundamental choice. Are you dreaming of burgers and steaks with perfect char lines, or do you see yourself making pancakes and bacon for breakfast and stir-fry for dinner?
• Propane Source: Will you rely on convenient but wasteful 1lb disposable canisters? Or do you plan to tap into your RV’s onboard propane system for a more permanent setup?

Many nomads buy a grill that’s too big, thinking they need to be ready for a party. The reality is that a smaller, more efficient grill that you use five nights a week is infinitely better than a massive, feature-rich beast that’s too much of a hassle to set up. Think about your average meal, not the one-off cookout.

Weber Q1200: The All-Around Favorite Grill

If you see a portable grill at a campground, there’s a good chance it’s a Weber Q. This grill has earned its reputation as the gold standard for a reason: it’s a fantastic balance of portability and real-deal grilling performance. It’s the reliable workhorse that just plain works, every single time.

The magic is in the details. The porcelain-enameled cast iron cooking grates provide excellent heat retention and deliver a serious sear you won’t get from cheaper grills with thin wire grates. The Q1200 model includes folding side tables, a built-in thermometer, and a reliable electronic ignition, making it feel more like a scaled-down version of a backyard grill than a flimsy camp stove. With 189 square inches of cooking space, it’s the perfect size for feeding two to four people without being excessively bulky.

The main tradeoff with the Weber is its slightly awkward shape and weight. At around 30 pounds, it’s not the lightest option, and its clam-shell design can be a bit bulky to pack in a tight storage bay. While you can set it on any stable surface, many users opt for the separate (and also bulky) collapsible stand. It’s a dedicated grilling machine, so if you’re looking for griddle or stove-top versatility, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

Blackstone 17" Griddle: Versatile Camp Cooking

The Blackstone griddle represents a completely different approach to outdoor cooking. Forget grill marks; this is about a massive, even-heated flat-top surface that can cook almost anything. If the idea of making diner-style smash burgers, a full bacon-and-egg breakfast, or sizzling fajitas under your awning appeals to you, this is your tool.

The 17-inch tabletop model is perfectly sized for RV life. It provides a generous 267 square inches of cooking space while remaining compact enough for easy storage. The real genius of the Blackstone design is the patented rear grease management system, which funnels all the drippings into a catch-can for incredibly easy cleanup—a huge advantage in an RV where water is a precious resource.

Of course, the primary tradeoff is that it is not a grill. You will never get that flame-kissed, smoky flavor from a flat-top. It’s a different style of cooking entirely. But for many nomads, the sheer versatility of being able to cook anything from pancakes to Philly cheesesteaks on one surface far outweighs the lack of traditional grilling capability.

Camco Olympian 5500: Mounts to Your RV Rail

For the RVer who prizes an uncluttered campsite, the Camco Olympian is a game-changer. Its defining feature is the included mounting bracket that lets you hang the entire grill directly on your RV’s side mounting rail. This frees up your entire picnic table and keeps your cooking station neatly contained within your awning’s footprint.

This grill is designed from the ground up for the RV ecosystem. It’s made of stainless steel for durability and is engineered to connect directly to your RV’s low-pressure onboard propane system with a quick-connect hose. This eliminates the need to carry separate propane tanks or disposable canisters, streamlining your whole setup.

Be realistic about its performance, however. The Olympian is a good grill, but it’s not a great one. It doesn’t get as screaming hot as a Weber, and its heat distribution can be a bit uneven. You’re trading top-tier cooking performance for the unmatched convenience of an integrated, space-saving design. If your primary goal is to save space and simplify your setup, it’s an excellent choice.

Coleman RoadTrip 285: Stand-Up Portability

The Coleman RoadTrip is the ultimate "all-in-one" portable cooking station. Its brilliant design features a fully integrated stand with wheels that collapses down for transport. To set it up, you simply pull it from your storage bay like a piece of luggage, unfold the legs, and you’re ready to cook in seconds. No need to find or clear off a picnic table.

Versatility is the other major selling point. The RoadTrip 285 features three independent burners for precise temperature control and has swappable cooktops (sold separately) that let you switch from grill grates to a griddle or a stove grate. This allows you to grill burgers one night and boil a pot of water for pasta the next, all on the same unit.

That convenience comes at a cost, primarily in size and weight. Even when folded, the RoadTrip is one of the largest and heaviest options on this list, and it will demand a significant chunk of your storage space. The all-in-one design is also a potential point of failure; if a leg or wheel breaks, the entire unit is compromised. But for those who want maximum convenience and a true stand-up grilling experience without a separate table, it’s hard to beat.

Magma Newport II: The Marine-Grade RV Choice

If you’re a full-time RVer who grills several nights a week and you’re tired of replacing cheaper grills every few years, it’s time to look at what the boaters use. The Magma Newport II is a marine-grade grill built to withstand the harshest saltwater environments, which means it will laugh off anything the RV life can throw at it. It’s an investment in a tool that is designed to last a decade, not just a season.

The entire grill is constructed from mirror-polished 18-9 stainless steel, making it incredibly resistant to rust and corrosion. Inside, it uses a combination of an infrared radiant screen and a convection heating design that provides intense, even heat across the entire surface while minimizing flare-ups. This is a pure, high-performance grilling machine.

This level of quality doesn’t come cheap. The Magma is the most expensive grill on the list, and that price often doesn’t even include the mounting hardware, which is sold separately to fit various applications. It’s a specialized tool for serious grilling, and it lacks the multi-functionality of a Coleman or Blackstone. But if you want the absolute best in durability and pure grilling power, the Magma is in a class of its own.

Cuisinart Petit Gourmet: Compact & Efficient

When every single inch of storage space is critical, the Cuisinart Petit Gourmet shines. This grill is the perfect solution for van lifers, truck campers, or anyone in a smaller travel trailer where a Weber Q would be a luxury. It’s designed to be incredibly small and lightweight without feeling completely disposable.

Its briefcase-style carrying handle and folding legs make it exceptionally easy to transport and set up on a small table. Despite its tiny footprint, the 145-square-inch cooking surface is surprisingly capable, easily handling four burgers or a couple of steaks. It’s the definition of a small but mighty grill.

The compromises are obvious but acceptable given its purpose. The thin metal and single burner mean it can struggle in cold or windy weather, and the overall build quality isn’t meant for heavy, daily use over many years. This is not the grill for entertaining a crowd, but for a solo traveler or a couple who needs a simple, effective, and incredibly space-efficient way to grill, it’s an outstanding choice.

Awning Grill Safety & Propane Hookup Guide

Grilling under your awning is fantastic, but you are still dealing with fire, intense heat, and flammable gas right next to your home. Always maintain a safe distance between your grill and your RV sidewall. Heat from the back of a grill can easily damage fiberglass or warp vinyl decals. Likewise, ensure there’s plenty of clearance between the open grill lid and your awning fabric.

Understanding your propane source is crucial for both convenience and safety. You have three primary options:

• 1lb Disposable Canisters: Simple and portable. They are great for weekend trips but are expensive and environmentally wasteful for full-time use.
• External 20lb Tank: A common setup. You use an adapter hose to connect your grill (which has its own regulator) to a standard propane tank like the one for a home BBQ.
• RV Onboard Propane System: This is the most integrated option, but it requires the right equipment. Your RV’s propane is already regulated to a low pressure. Most portable grills also have a regulator. You cannot use two regulators in a line. You must use a special low-pressure quick-connect hose and, in most cases, remove the regulator from your grill itself to get a proper flame. Failure to do this will result in a weak, unusable flame.

Finally, always practice good grill hygiene. Before you connect your propane, do a quick visual inspection of your hoses for cracks or damage. After connecting, brush some soapy water on the connections; if you see bubbles forming, you have a leak and need to fix it immediately. A clean grill is a safer grill, as it prevents dangerous grease fires.

Ultimately, the best RV awning grill is the one that gets used. Don’t get caught up in having the biggest or most powerful model. Choose the grill that genuinely fits your storage space, your cooking style, and your willingness to set it up, and you’ll be rewarded with countless memorable meals on the road.