RVers have a love-hate relationship with bottled water. It’s a familiar sight in many RVs—a case of water bottles tucked away in storage, ready for the next stop.
For some, it’s about peace of mind. There’s something reassuring about knowing exactly where your water comes from, especially when you’re traveling across different regions where water quality can vary greatly. You might not always trust the water hookups or local supplies, but a sealed bottle provides consistency and safety.
For others, it’s all about taste. Let’s face it: Tap water can taste different everywhere you go. But with bottled water, you know what you’re getting—every time. Whether you’re boondocking in the desert, parked at a busy RV resort, or camping near a pristine lake, that bottled water offers the same refreshing taste you’ve come to expect.
Now, we’d like to know your take on this. Do you buy cases of plastic water bottles when you hit the road? We’re talking about those large bulk packs you find at Costco or your local grocery store. Do you always keep them on hand, stock up just occasionally, or avoid them altogether?
Cast your vote and let us know! And if you’ve got more to say, we’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Why do you choose bottled water (or not) for your RV adventures? Have you found a great alternative? We appreciate your input.
We travel with bottled water in the RV. Feel that local tap water will upset pet’s system. Don’t need a sick pet within the small space of the RV.
This is also a major part of our hurricane supply. Be Prepared or be sorry.
I finally stopped buying the case of water bottles due to toxicity, and waste. I Purchased several 1-gallon BPA Free type bottles with stainless steel screw on lids. I refill at a local water store with my 5 gallon BPA free jugs with reverse osmosis or alkaline water, then transfer to the 1-gallon bottles with my dispenser at home. Yes, this may be less convenient, but I care about the waste in plastics in our landfills, and terrible water! Of course, I have a water bottle I use (same type) for my daily hiking and biking activities.
We buy the bi 4L water bottles instead. Because they are much stronger, we take them home and reuse them next trip with water from home.
Only when we run out unexpectedly, or due to a lengthy trip, then we buy the small plastic bottles.
It all has to do with not having the kids get sick while on holidays. We boiled water before, but it didn’t solve the problem entirely.
The second half of the question should be do you recycle your bottles?
I can’t my county stopped its recycling program.
Even if you do, very likely it still goes to a landfill…or into the ocean.
Some studies suggest only around 5% is recycled while the National Association for PET Container Resources, an industry trade group, says up to 21%.
I have a weird metabolism. Tap water just makes me thirstier. I use purified water from Publix or Dollar General. Use in drinks like watering our juice, coffee, tea, just plain drinking water. But use tap water for cooking /washing dishes.. So smaller bottle/multipacks for driving or beside bed and gallons out by electric kettle or in fridge. Yes, I know massive thirst is a diabetes symptom, yes, I’m a well controlled Type 2 diabetic, I’ve needed to drink massive amounts of waters since my early 20s I’m now 74.
When a house I was renting was changed from wonderful well water to city water, the chemicals in the city water broke down all the old sediments and minerals deposits in the pipes making it unsafe to drink, just like Flint Michigan! I bought a Berkey Water Purification System to make the water safe for drinking. When I traveled to Florida for an extended camping trip, I brought the Berkey with me. I had always bought water while in Florida in the past. Now, thanks to my Berkey, I haven’t bought water in years! I have a Berkey go (the small version), that I take with me in my camper van. I make it a point to collect water from local ponds, creeks, lakes, streams, just because I can.
In my humble opinion, single use plastic ought to be outlawed.
Not incessantly taxed, not incinerated into soot and certainly not baled at a “recycling” center to be shipped to India for dumping. Outlawed.
There was a day when the lead solder tin cans were the norm and not considered harmful. These plastic bottles are in that same category but with better lobbyists and equally misinformed consumers.
I totally understand portability of potable water. Use containers made with materials designed for multiple uses, not just one and done. The planet is choking on plastic.
A great memory from childhood is walking down the road to the store picking up glass Coke bottles (they were tough) and turning them in to get enough money to get a cold one from the cooler. What was wrong with glass soda and milk bottles (left on the doorstep! 😉 )
We buy bottled water for my wife to take her meds. The rest of our water usage is carbon filter at the RV park spigot to Pur Water filter pitcher to Zero Water filter pitcher for brewing coffee.
We always carry water in each vehicle so we buy one or two cases per year. Even when the bottles freeze they don’t burst so we always have water available if needed.
We live in a town that had an electric plant and a chemical plant. Our water, is sometimes clear with little squiggly things floating in it or a shade of brown or green. A majority of the time the water smells of bleach. Yes, we only drink bottled water except for ice tea and coffee where the water is boiled.
If we buy water it’s in gallon bottles which if in a campground with good water we refill. Chlorine treated water can have the taste removed by loosening the cap and expose it to sunlight. We sometimes buy a case of 12oz bottles when having gatherings but don’t like to. Only a tiny percentage of plastic is actually recycled, the rest is usually shipped to 3rd world countries where it ends up in their landfills or just dumped someplace until a storm washes it into the oceans.
I never buy disposable water bottles, instead I use a Brita water pitcher with filter, both at home and while camping. It’s easy to fill from any potable water source. There are small ones that will fit in the refrigerator, and larger countertop ones. I also keep several hiking water bottles 1/2 full in the freezer, which helps keep the freezer cold and are ready to top off for a hike.
“The researchers found that, on average, a liter of bottled water included about 240,000 tiny pieces of plastic. About 90% of these plastic fragments were nanoplastics. This total was 10 to 100 times more plastic particles than seen in earlier studies…”
https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/plastic-particles-bottled-water
“Twenty-four brain samples collected in early 2024 measured on average about 0.5% plastic by weight”
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/aug/21/microplastics-brain-pollution-health
The very reason we won’t drink any bottled water!
A Zero water filter system is the way to go if you have problem water…especially in the Southwest.
Thank you, RV Travel! 🙂 Bought? Once that I can recall, so rarely. We also got one as a bonus/for free from our grocery store. The dealer from which we bought RV #1 gave us bottled water in clear, but very sturdy bottles. We have reused those for 8 years and going. Thanks again and have a great day! 🙂
We invested in a Travel Berkey and it was the best decision we made for filtered water. Fit perfectly on the RV counter and we emptied it for relocating. Much easier than carrying the 2 and 5 gallon refillable bottles we use to deal with. And the water is delish too. Yes, the filters can be costly but their usefulness is prolonged by occasionally scrubbing them (no detergent). Wal-Mart online carries the filters at a lower price than we’ve found elsewhere
Carry one case under bed for emergency use. I have been a full timer for 8 years and don’t understand fear of freshwater tanks. Do flush and maintenance regularly and there should be no problem. We have a double filter system and a water quality tester to check quality of campground water. Bottle water isn’t green and Berkeys are crazy!!
Yes, but not for us. We put out water, Gatorade, snacks and chips for the postal carriers, delivery drivers and others who work in and around our home. We refill our water bottles at home and when we were on the road.
We had an RO system installed for the whole RV years ago and have never had the need to buy bottled water.
Yes, we buy water in plastic bottles from Sam’s Club and Walmart. Mostly during May thru October to take along camping.
Otherwise, we drink tap water from our well.
Have 6 cases on hand right now. Haven’t you heard? It’s hurricane season. Power goes out and the well won’t run. Stored in the RV so can run if necessary. So far, I feel like one of the luckiest people in the world.
I’m glad to hear things are going well for you, Kelly, and that you’re prepared in case they take a turn for the worse. Good luck! And have a good night.🤗 –Diane
We made it thru Helene quite well. Neighbor lost their retirement home in the Big Bend and buddy lost everything but his truck only because he evacuated in it. Still battened down because it seems there are others on the way. I guess that is what we pay for no cold and no snow. Fingers crossed.
Thank you for the update, Kelly. I’m so sorry to hear about the devastating losses of soooo many people, and especially those who lost their loved ones. It’s just difficult to fathom a catastrophe so huge. Like I’ve said before, I’m very content staying in the Pacific Northwest with our usually “boring” weather. Take care.🤗 –Diane
I have a back-up generator for my well when the power goes out.
I have a generator too, but not automatic. If the storm is still going, I don’t want to get out there in the wind and rain hooking it up to the house. I don’t have a transfer switch yet. Some years back I had the only operating well in our neighborhood and neighbors were coming over to me to get water. Yep, fill the bathtub and every container in the house and have bottled water. and easily fixed rations on hand, and hope things get back to normal before the food runs out. lol
We carry a case (or most of one) in our truck. It’s a preparedness thing.
I bought a case one time. I refill the bottles with my filtered well water.
I use empty 6 pack carriers and place the bottles into them. I store the 6-packs under the bed storage areas.
All it took was getting sick from a campground in Idaho’s water supply.
One in the RV for emergencies…but when my granddaughter opened one a couple of months ago it tasted horrible. I drink double filtered park water or tank water.
And a couple under the spare bed at home for the same reason. I have 12 gallon jugs filled with water for emergency flushing, cooking and dogs. Jerry cans in truck.
A year ago my neighbor had a broken outdoor pipe. She had no water for the dogs or toilet, I took her some. A few weeks later a friend was visiting her and took some empty jugs over and the friend asked quietly “why is she bringing you empty jugs?” and my neighbor answered “because I was stupid and didn’t have emergency water, you need to do that.”
We have a filter under the sink and run that water into a Pur pitcher. The resulting water is as good as any bottled water, and better than most.
When traveling in Rv we buy water in plastic bottles to drink. When at home we use a Brita Filter for our tap water to drink.
We use our Brita dispenser at home, where our water is usually high in chlorine taste, and in the camper. We seldom take a case of bottled water, space would be an issue, but we may take some. We’ve been in a couple of campgrounds where even filtering the tested/safe water hasn’t made it taste OK. I occasionally camp with a very fussy water drinker, so I take some bottled water for her. On a recent trip, we actually toted enough water for most of a week, in Aquatainers in the truck, because there had been water supply issues earlier at the campground.