If you’ve RVed for a while, you likely understand the importance of a picnic table cover.
Almost all of the campground picnic tables we’ve seen are made from wood. Wood is porous. That means whatever the last RVer placed on what is now your table has likely penetrated the surface, deposited germs, and/or holds the potential for ruining your camping experience.
If you enjoy eating your meals at your RV site’s picnic table, you need to get a table cover!
They put what on the table?!
While traveling, we’ve seen many things I wish I could unsee. Here are just a few situations where RVers used their picnic table with little consideration for the next camper:
• Mom changing her toddler’s diaper on the table
• Happy anglers cleaning their morning’s catch
• Muddy hiking boots left to dry
• A departing RVer who forgot her dog’s poop bag on the table
• DIYer cleaning his RV wheel bearings at the table
• A camper’s dog atop the table while bathed and brushed
• Nasty words carved into the table
• A smoker using the table to put out his cigarette
• And, yes, an RVer drying his sewer hose atop the picnic table
Nature’s contributions
People aren’t the only ones who potentially contaminate a campground’s picnic table. Mother Nature also contributes. Birds poop, flies land, and nocturnal animals undoubtedly also parade across your table.
On the brighter side
Besides to avoiding germs, there are additional bonuses to keeping your picnic table covered. First, the cover protects you from wood splinters. Covers make meal cleanup quick and easy, too. Just a fast wipe down and you’re done. Table covers come in a variety of colors and patterns and can really brighten your outdoor space.
What to look for
If you’re looking for the best picnic tablecloth for camping (especially to cover wooden picnic tables), here’s what to consider:
• Durability and water resistance. Choose materials like vinyl, coated polyester, or oilcloth that resist moisture and can be easily wiped clean.
• Secure fit. Look for fitted designs with elastic bands, drawstrings, adjustable straps, or clamps to prevent wind from lifting the cloth.
• Size coverage. Most picnic tables are around 6 feet long and 28 inches wide. Ideally, choose a cloth that’s at least 72 inches long or even longer (78–84 inches) if you want overhang. Larger tables, like in some national parks, may need even bigger covers.
• Easy to clean and portable. Smooth, waterproof surfaces make cleanup easy. Many designs pack into small bags for storage.
Recommendations
• LITOCLOTH: This top-rated camping cloth comes with elastic straps and metal clamps. It’s made specifically for RVing and campground tables. Your LITOCLOTH picnic table cover includes a backpack for easy storage and transport. Made from durable oilcloth, these long-lasting tablecloths come in a variety of colors and designs.
• Coghlan’s picnic table cover: Made of ripstop polyester with a drawstring system, Coghlan’s cover fits standard 6-foot tables and packs into an attached bag. Comes in several styles and colors.
• Kenobee picnic table and bench cover set: This table covering has a water- and oil-proof exterior. It’s flannel-lined for comfort, features elastic edges, and is easy to clean.
• Amazon’s Sorfey covers: Sorfey makes affordable, waterproof, and stain-resistant tablecloths. Because the covers feature elasticized edges, they are wind-resistant. You can order from multiple color choices.
And, of course, Amazon has hundreds more picnic table covers, many with fun designs and patterns. Like this one with an RV design from Lippert. How fun!
Do you use a picnic table cover? What’s the worst thing you’ve seen on a picnic table without a cover? Tell me below.
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RVDT2727
It amazes me that people will plop down and eat off a picnic table with no thought of its previous uses. One of the first things I do when occupying a campsite is set up my stove and boil 2-3 gallons of water to pour across the picnic table top and benches. Just throwing a cover on it isn’t going to stop things from getting contaminated, what do you do with the table cloth when you are done? Most people fold it up… Which leads to it being contaminated. Carry on.
Aaron
what Aaron said.
kind of reminds me of the folks who use leather gloves to dump their tanks.
So true!! Just last week, we witnessed a fellow camper bathe her dog on top of her picnic table.
I got tired of my old tablecloths that would get little tears, and the felt would get wet…
I finally bought oilcloth from OilclothAlley.com, where you buy it by the yard. It wears a whole better than any tablecloth. I really like that there is no felt on the reverse side, all that did was collect stuff and stay wet.
Back in the tenting part of our life, we used a site table with a cover. In the 8 years we have been RVing (6 months/year FT + road trips) I am surprised at how seldom we use an on-site table for much more than repacking the RV bays (never any sewer parts!). When we do sit at one, we have a cover. Our current seasonal site supplies a bare concrete patio which is more useful than a picnic table. Chairs & side tables are usually enough. And we have a dining table height bagged roll-up aluminum slat table we use as needed.
I began making picnic table covers almost 35 years ago, after our first season together. Before that, I used newspapers (as my mom did when we had a meal at a public picnic table) and a plastic table cover.
My early ones had straps, now we use mini-bungees that attach to d-rings, so they adjust to all the sizes of tables, and are secure. I’ve used coated ripstop or other outdoor fabric. Washable in camp, and in the washer at home.
Not just for cleanliness, not having the spaces between boards on some is handy, or covering rough surfaces. We no longer eat at the table, mostly used for organizing and packing my husband’s packs.
Ewww yuck to campsite picnic tables and benches. Sit on a bench, then go inside and sit on your bed? Fire making tools and supplies only in that area of our site.
Thank you for the discussion and suggestions, Gail! DW has a cover for the table in the rare instance in which we eat outside. The worst thing is a sewer hose. I think that I saw it happen only once, but, as is often said, “once was enough.” Have a great day and safe travels!
I am still looking for one that is durable and squirrel resistant. They love to tear mine up for nesting.
A church group of teenagers camped next to us last year and proceeded to bring out enough food to completely cover the table. They then took off to have fun in the water. We watched huge white gulls swoop in and eat their fill while pecking and thoroughly inspecting the offering. I have no idea whether they had a table cloth or not. After the birds got through I couldn’t have seen it anyway.
Many picnic tables I see are old and starting to rot. If I were going to use the table (often wet from rain or dew) I might use throwaway plastic party table covers or half of one and throw it away after using. The tables and benches are usually dirty, sandy, greasy, covered with leaves, needles, bird doo-doo, ants, etc. I have a little folding aluminum table to set the camp stove on, or whatever, and that seems to be enough–I can set it next to the outdoor galley. There are so many types and sizes of camp tables and chairs these days, and I prefer one of the smallest tables that folds flat. I once saw a fox on a picnic table stealing food, so they are good for something!
yup…for all of those reasons…