6 Best Grills For RV Travel And Tailgating That Serve Multiple Needs
Discover the top 6 portable grills for RVs and tailgating. Our list features compact, versatile models that can grill, smoke, or griddle on the go.
You pull into the perfect campsite after a long day on the road, the sun is setting, and all you want is a great meal without turning your RV into a sauna. The portable grill you brought is more than just a cooking appliance; it’s the centerpiece of your outdoor living room. Choosing the right one is one of the most critical gear decisions you’ll make, directly impacting storage, setup time, and what you can actually cook.
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Key Features of a Versatile RV & Tailgating Grill
The best grill isn’t about a brand name; it’s about a specific set of features that align with how you travel. Before you even look at models, you need to be honest about your priorities. The three biggest factors are portability, fuel type, and cooking versatility. Everything else is secondary.
Portability is more than just weight. It’s about the grill’s packed footprint and shape. A flat, rectangular grill might slide into a storage bay easier than a bulky, dome-shaped one, even if it’s heavier. Consider if it has integrated legs or if you’ll need to sacrifice precious campsite table space to use it. A grill with a built-in stand can be a game-changer.
Fuel type dictates your entire cooking workflow. Propane is the king of convenience—it’s clean, controllable, and readily available. Charcoal delivers incredible flavor but is messy, takes longer to get going, and is often prohibited during fire bans. Pellet grills offer wood-fired flavor with push-button ease, but they require electricity, a major consideration for off-grid travel.
Finally, think about what you actually want to cook. Are you just grilling burgers and steaks? A classic grill with cast iron grates is perfect. Do you dream of campsite breakfasts with pancakes and bacon? A flat-top griddle is your answer. For those who want to smoke a pork shoulder while they go for a hike, only a pellet smoker will do. Many grills offer interchangeable surfaces, but they are often a compromise.
Weber Q1200: The Classic All-Around Performer
The Weber Q series, specifically the Q1200, is the benchmark for a reason. It’s a straightforward, incredibly reliable gas grill that does one thing exceptionally well: grilling. Its porcelain-enameled cast iron grates provide excellent heat retention for a perfect sear, and the durable cast aluminum body will last for years of hard travel.
What makes it so good for RV life is its blend of performance and practicality. It runs efficiently on small 1lb propane canisters but can be easily adapted to use your RV’s main propane tank. The cooking area is generous enough for a small family, and its dome-shaped lid is tall enough to roast a whole chicken—a feat many portable grills can’t manage. Features like the built-in thermometer and electronic ignition just add to the user-friendly experience.
The Q1200 isn’t without its tradeoffs, however. Its clamshell shape, while great for cooking, can be awkward to pack in a tight storage bay. While you can buy a griddle insert, it’s not a dedicated griddle and the performance reflects that. It’s the ultimate dependable workhorse, not a flashy multi-tool, making it perfect for the RVer who prioritizes classic grilling performance above all else.
Blackstone 22" Griddle: Ultimate Cooking Versatility
The Blackstone isn’t just a grill; it’s a complete outdoor kitchen on a tabletop. If your idea of campsite cooking involves pancakes and bacon for breakfast, smash burgers for lunch, and a full Philly cheesesteak for dinner, this is your tool. It fundamentally changes what’s possible to cook outside your rig.
Its main advantage is the 22-inch rolled-steel griddle top with two independent "H" style burners. This design allows for true zone cooking—you can keep pancakes warm on one side while frying eggs on the other. This level of control is something a traditional grill can’t touch. The rear grease management system also makes cleanup surprisingly straightforward.
Living the griddle life is a commitment. The steel top needs to be seasoned like a cast iron skillet to create a non-stick surface, and it requires diligent cleaning and oiling to prevent rust. It’s also one of the heavier options on this list. But for the traveling foodie who wants to cook absolutely everything outdoors, the Blackstone’s versatility is simply unmatched.
Traeger Ranger: Portable Wood-Fired Flavor on the Go
Grill, smoke, and sear on the go with the Traeger Ranger portable pellet grill. The Digital Arc controller maintains precise temperatures, while the included cast iron griddle expands your cooking options.
For those who believe flavor is king, the Traeger Ranger brings the magic of a wood-pellet smoker to the campsite. This isn’t just grilling; it’s true low-and-slow barbecue. It allows you to smoke ribs, brisket, or a pork butt with the same "set it and forget it" convenience as a full-sized backyard unit.
The Ranger’s technology is its superpower. You load the hopper with hardwood pellets, set the desired temperature on the digital controller, and the auger automatically feeds pellets to maintain that temp. This means you can put on a brisket in the morning, go explore for the day, and come back to a perfectly cooked meal. It even comes with a cast iron griddle insert, giving it the ability to sear steaks or cook breakfast.
The huge caveat here is power. The Ranger requires a 120V AC outlet to run the controller and auger. This means you need to be plugged into shore power, run a generator, or have a capable battery bank with an inverter. You also have to store bags of wood pellets. It’s the perfect choice for the tech-forward RVer at a full-hookup site who refuses to compromise on wood-fired flavor.
Coleman RoadTrip 285: The Peak of Portability
Grill up to 20,000 BTUs with three independently adjustable burners for precise temperature control on a 285 sq. in. cooking surface. Features Instastart ignition for easy lighting and quick-fold legs with wheels for effortless setup and portability.
The Coleman RoadTrip series is designed from the ground up for travelers. Its defining feature is the integrated, collapsible scissor-leg stand. You don’t need to find a table; you just pull it from your storage bay, and it unfolds into a stable, freestanding grill in under a minute. For frequent movers and tailgaters, this speed and convenience are revolutionary.
Beyond its incredible portability, the RoadTrip 285 is a versatile cooker. It features three independently controlled burners, giving you more precise heat management than most portable grills. Coleman’s "Swaptop" system allows you to easily switch out the grill grates for a griddle or stove grate (sold separately), making it a true all-in-one cooking station. The small, integrated side tables are also a fantastic touch for holding tools and plates.
The primary tradeoff is in raw grilling power. The stamped steel grates don’t hold heat as well as the heavy cast iron on a Weber, so achieving a deep, steakhouse-quality sear can be more challenging. It’s the classic jack-of-all-trades: it does everything pretty well but isn’t the absolute best at any one thing. For the RVer who values speed, convenience, and flexibility, the RoadTrip is a brilliant solution.
Nomad Grill & Smoker: A Premium Charcoal Solution
The Nomad is for the charcoal purist who appreciates brilliant design and is willing to pay for it. This isn’t a cheap, flimsy kettle; it’s a high-performance cooking instrument built into a rugged, briefcase-style form factor. It’s as much a piece of industrial art as it is a grill.
Its advanced thermal architecture is what sets it apart. The heavy-duty cast aluminum construction is incredibly efficient with charcoal and provides two massive dampers for precise airflow control, allowing for both high-heat searing and legitimate low-and-slow smoking. The outer shell stays remarkably cool, making it safer to use on a wider variety of surfaces. When you’re done, it latches shut, snuffing out the coals and containing the mess.
Of course, this level of quality comes at a premium price. It’s also a charcoal grill, which means you have to deal with buying charcoal, lighting it, and disposing of ash—not to mention navigating regional fire bans. The Nomad is the ultimate grill for the discerning traveler who demands the authentic flavor of charcoal and values exceptional build quality and design over the convenience of gas.
Cuisinart Petit Gourmet: Most Compact & Lightweight
Grill delicious meals anywhere with the Cuisinart Petit Gourmet Portable Gas Grill. Its VersaStand base easily converts from tabletop to freestanding, while the 5,500 BTU burner and porcelain-enameled grate provide even cooking for up to 8 burgers.
Sometimes, space is the only thing that matters. For the van lifer, the overlander in a Jeep, or the RVer with absolutely no external storage, the Cuisinart Petit Gourmet is the answer. It’s small enough to be stored in an interior cabinet and light enough to carry to a picnic table with one hand.
Despite its tiny size, it’s a functional gas grill. It has a 145-square-inch cooking surface, which is enough for about four burgers, and a simple twist-start ignition. The telescoping legs are a clever touch, allowing it to stand on its own without needing a table. It heats up quickly and is perfect for simple, direct-heat grilling for one or two people.
You must be realistic about its limitations. The single burner offers minimal temperature control, and the thin grate doesn’t retain much heat. This is not the grill for slow-roasting a chicken or cooking for a crowd. The Petit Gourmet solves one problem perfectly: it provides a real, flame-broiled grilling experience in the smallest, most portable package possible.
Matching Your Grill to Your Unique RV Travel Style
Ultimately, there is no single "best" grill. The right choice is a deeply personal one that depends entirely on your travel style, cooking habits, and storage constraints. Don’t get caught up in online debates; instead, ask yourself a few key questions. How many people are you cooking for? Do you have access to power? Is setup speed more important than cooking versatility?
Think of it in terms of travel personas. The Weekend Warrior who wants to get set up and relaxing fast will love the all-in-one convenience of the Coleman RoadTrip. The Full-Time Foodie who cooks every meal outside will get the most out of the Blackstone griddle’s versatility or the Traeger’s wood-fired flavor. The Off-Grid Boondocker will appreciate the fuel-sipping reliability of the Weber Q1200, which needs no electricity.
Your grill is a core piece of your mobile living system. It’s an investment in your quality of life on the road. Take a hard look at your RV’s storage bays, consider the meals that make you happiest, and choose the tool that best enables that experience. The right grill makes every campsite feel a little more like home.
The perfect portable grill does more than just cook food; it enables the lifestyle you want to live on the road. It’s the gathering point at the end of an adventure-filled day and the tool that turns a simple meal into a lasting memory. Choose the one that fits your journey, and it will serve you well for miles to come.
