Safety first: Grills use propane (LP gas) and open flame. Only grill outdoors, never inside your RV, tent or under an awning, and keep the grill well away from RV walls, slide-outs and anything that can burn. Follow your grill’s manual and your RV owner’s manual, check campground fire rules, and if you ever smell propane, turn the gas off and get help from a qualified RV technician. See our full disclaimer at the end of this article.
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The best portable grill for most RVers is the Weber Q 1200N: it heats evenly, packs into a small storage bay, and can be set up to run on your RV’s own propane with the right hose. If you’d rather have a flat-top griddle, pick the Blackstone 17″ Tabletop Griddle. If you want a grill made to plug straight into your RV’s quick-connect propane port, look at the Camco Olympian 5500 or the budget Flame King RV mount grill. For the lightest option, the Cuisinart Grillster weighs about 13 pounds.
Below we compare all five, explain how to hook a grill up to your RV’s propane, help you choose between a grill and a griddle, and share easy veggie meals that taste great at the campsite.
Our Top Pick: Weber Q 1200N
Even heat, a sturdy cast-iron grate and a compact size that fits most RV storage bays. RV owners praise it more than any other portable grill.
Best Portable Grills for RV Camping at a Glance
| Grill | Best for | Type | Propane | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weber Q 1200N | Best overall | Tabletop grill | 1-lb cylinder; adapter hose for bigger tanks or RV line | About 200 sq in of cooking space, built-in lid thermometer |
| Blackstone 17″ Tabletop Griddle | Best griddle | Flat-top griddle | 1-lb cylinder; RV quick-connect adapter available | Great for stir-fry, pancakes and veggie burgers; easy cleanup |
| Camco Olympian 5500 | Best for RV propane | Grill with side-mount option | Comes with RV quick-connect hose | 12,000 BTU (British thermal units, a measure of heat output; higher means more heat); mounting rail sold separately |
| Flame King RV Mount Grill | Budget RV-mount | Grill with mount and stand | RV quick-connect hose sold separately | 12,000 BTU, about 214 sq in, carry bag included |
| Cuisinart Grillster | Lightest and smallest | Tabletop grill | 1-lb cylinder | About 13 lb and 146 sq in; push-button ignition |
The 5 Best Portable Grills for RVs
1. Weber Q 1200N
Weber’s Q 1200 family is the portable grill line RV owners recommend most. Its porcelain-enameled cast-iron grate holds heat well, so vegetables get proper grill marks instead of steaming. Folding side tables give you a spot for a plate and tongs, and the lid has a built-in thermometer. The Q 1200N is Weber’s updated version of its long-popular Q 1200, with a slightly bigger cooking area of about 200 square inches.
- Even heat across the grate
- Compact and easy to store
- Can run on a bigger tank or RV propane with an adapter hose
- Heavier than the smallest tabletop grills
- Adapter hose is an extra purchase
2. Blackstone 17″ Tabletop Griddle
A griddle is a flat steel cooking top instead of grill bars. Nothing falls through, so it’s ideal for chopped peppers and onions, veggie fried rice, tofu scramble, pancakes and smash-style veggie burgers. Many RVers say cleanup is easier than a grill: scrape, wipe and store. Flame King makes an RV quick-connect elbow adapter for the 17″ and 22″ Blackstone griddles if you want to run it from your RV’s propane.
- Cooks small, chopped veggies without losing them
- Simple to set up and clean
- Great for breakfast and stir-fry
- No grill marks or smoky flavor
- The steel top must be seasoned (oiled) to prevent rust
- Some owners find it bulky in small storage bays
3. Camco Olympian 5500
The Olympian 5500 is built for RVs. It comes with a quick-connect hose that plugs into the low-pressure propane port many RVs have on the outside wall, so you don’t need small throwaway cylinders. You can stand it on its legs, set it on a picnic table, or hang it on your RV with a side-mount rail (sold separately). Owners say its 12,000 BTU burner heats fast and evenly, and the lid has a thermometer.
What reviewers say: At the RV parts store etrailer, the Olympian 5500 averages about 4.6 out of 5 stars from 59 customer reviews, with owners praising its strong heat and lack of hot spots. MotorHome Magazine’s hands-on review called it a pleasure to use, pointing to the even heat across the whole cooking surface, the quick heat-up and the temperature gauge built into the lid. The most common complaint from owners is that the lowest flame setting is still fairly hot, so delicate foods need watching. (Amazon has only a handful of reviews for this listing so far, so we looked at these larger sources.)
- Plugs straight into an RV quick-connect port
- Fast, even heat
- Several ways to set it up
- Some owners say it lacks a true low setting
- Needs a separate hose to use a 1-lb or 20-lb tank
- Side-mounting puts heat close to your RV’s wall
4. Flame King RV Mount Grill (YSNHT500)
Flame King’s grill slides onto a rail mounted on your RV, and its bumper-mount arms double as a ground stand. It has a 12,000 BTU burner, about 214 square inches of cooking space and a carry bag, and it’s made to run on your RV’s propane system. To connect it, Flame King recommends its 48″ quick-connect hose; for a regular propane tank, use its quick-connect regulator hose.
- Lower cost than most RV-mount grills
- Mount or stand on the ground
- Carry bag included
- Connection hose is sold separately
- Check that the hose fittings match your RV’s port before buying
5. Cuisinart Grillster (CGG-059A)
At about 13 pounds, the Cuisinart Grillster is easy to carry from a van or small camper to a picnic table. Its 8,000 BTU burner heats the 146-square-inch grate to about 600°F, it lights with a push button, and the grate is dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup at home. That’s enough space for veggie burgers and corn for two to four people.
- Very light and compact
- Push-button ignition
- Dishwasher-safe grate
- Smaller cooking area
- Runs on 1-lb cylinders
What about the Coleman RoadTrip 285? It’s a popular stand-up grill, but in RV owner forums it gets more complaints than the picks above: uneven heat, weight, rust after a season or two, and trouble running well on some RV propane setups. We left it off our list for those reasons.
Grill or Griddle: Which Is Better for RV Camping?
| Grill | Griddle | |
|---|---|---|
| Best foods | Corn on the cob, veggie kabobs, veggie burgers, grilled fruit | Chopped veggies, stir-fry, fried rice, pancakes, tofu scramble |
| Flavor | Grill marks and a light smoky taste | Even browning across the whole surface |
| Cleanup | Brush the grate, empty the drip tray | Scrape, wipe and re-oil the top |
| Small foods | Need a grill basket or skewers | Nothing falls through |
If you cook a bit of everything, a grill plus a vegetable grill basket covers most meals. If you mostly make breakfasts and stir-fries, a griddle is the easier choice.
How to Connect a Portable Grill to Your RV’s Propane
Many RVs have a low-pressure propane quick-connect port on the outside wall, usually near the door or the outdoor kitchen. Using it means no more small throwaway cylinders. Here’s how it works:
- Grills made for RVs (like the Camco Olympian 5500) come with, or are designed for, a quick-connect hose that plugs straight into that port.
- Tabletop grills and griddles (like the Weber Q 1200N or Blackstone 17″) are made for 1-lb cylinders. To use RV propane, you need a conversion hose or adapter made for that exact grill. Use only parts the grill maker or a trusted propane brand lists for your model.
- Check the fittings. Quick-connect fittings aren’t all the same size. Compare your RV’s port with the hose before buying.
- Do a leak check every time you connect: brush soapy water on the joints with the gas on. Bubbles mean a leak, so turn the gas off and fix it before lighting.
Not sure? Propane fittings and pressures matter. If your RV doesn’t have a quick-connect port, or you’re unsure which hose fits, ask a qualified RV technician. Never modify a grill’s regulator or gas valve yourself.
Easy Veggie Meals for Your RV Grill
A portable grill turns simple produce into a camp dinner everyone looks forward to. A few favorites:
- Corn on the cob: grill in the husk or wrapped in foil, then finish with lime and a pinch of chili.
- Veggie kabobs: peppers, zucchini, red onion and cherry tomatoes on steel skewers, brushed with olive oil and herbs.
- Veggie burgers: cook on a clean, oiled grate or a griddle so they don’t stick.
- Grilled tofu: press firm tofu, slice thick, marinate, and grill a few minutes per side.
- Foil-packet potatoes: diced potatoes, onion and garlic with a little oil, sealed in foil.
- Grilled peaches or pineapple: a quick, sweet dessert straight from the grill.
Must-Have Grill Extras for RVers
- Vegetable grill basket: keeps chopped veggies from falling through the grate. See a grill basket on Amazon
- Stainless steel kabob skewers: reusable, no soaking needed like wooden skewers. See skewers on Amazon
- RV quick-connect propane hose for Blackstone griddles: lets the Blackstone 17″ griddle run from your RV’s low-pressure propane port instead of 1-lb cylinders. Check that it fits your griddle model and your RV’s port first. See the quick-connect hose on Amazon
RV Grill Safety Tips
- Never grill inside your RV, a tent or any enclosed space. Grills give off carbon monoxide (CO), a gas you can’t see or smell.
- Not under the awning. Heat and flare-ups can melt or burn awning fabric. Set the grill in the open, away from the RV, slide-outs, trees and dry grass.
- Check campground rules. Some parks and public lands limit grills or open flames during dry seasons (burn bans).
- Use a stable surface: a level picnic table, stand or the grill’s own legs.
- Let it cool fully before packing it into a storage bay, and store 1-lb cylinders outside the living area.
- Keep water or a fire extinguisher nearby, and never leave a lit grill alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best portable grill for an RV?
For most RVers, the Weber Q 1200N. It heats evenly, stores easily and can be adapted to bigger tanks or RV propane. If you want a grill designed to plug into your RV’s quick-connect port, choose the Camco Olympian 5500.
Can I hook a portable grill up to my RV’s propane?
Yes, if your RV has a low-pressure quick-connect port and you use a hose or adapter made for your grill. Grills built for RVs plug in directly; tabletop grills need the right conversion part. Always do a soapy-water leak check.
Is it safe to grill under an RV awning?
No. Heat and flare-ups can damage or ignite the awning fabric. Set your grill in the open, away from the RV.
Is a griddle or a grill better for camping?
A griddle is better for chopped vegetables, stir-fry and breakfasts, and cleans up faster. A grill is better for corn, kabobs and that smoky grilled flavor.
What size grill do I need for RV camping?
For two to four people, around 146 to 200 square inches of cooking space (like the Cuisinart Grillster or Weber Q 1200N) is plenty. Bigger families may want a larger grill or a griddle.
Related Guides
- RV camping tips
- Best motorhome upgrades: 10 worth doing
- RV safety tips: how to stay safe on the road and at camp
- RV water heaters: how they work and easy maintenance
Acronyms Used in This Article
- BTU: British thermal unit (a measure of heat output)
- CO: carbon monoxide
- LP: liquefied petroleum (propane)
- RV: recreational vehicle
Disclaimer
The information provided is for educational purposes only. Before using any grill or propane connection, read the manufacturer’s instructions and do your own further research so you are fully confident in each step. If you are ever unsure, consult a qualified RV or propane professional. Readers are responsible for their own safety, and PreciousRV.com accepts no liability for any injury, loss or damage. Product details can change, so check the current listing before you buy. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Facts checked in November 2026. Featured photo: Lablascovegmenu on Flickr, CC BY 2.0.
