Published March 20, 2023 | Last updated May 11, 2026
Just thinking about spiders in my camper makes the hair on my arms stand up.
I hate spiders. Bugs of any kind inside my camper are a big nope for me. I once found a big spider in my kitchen, and while I worried there might be more, thankfully he seemed to be the only one. My husband, Todd, had to be the hero and get rid of it.
Todd and I live full-time in our fifth wheel, so keeping bugs out is not just a weekend camping issue for us. This is our home. And when your RV is your home, the last thing you want is to open a cabinet, move a towel, or crawl into bed and find an eight-legged visitor.
The good news is that you can do a lot to keep spiders out of your camper. You may never make your RV completely bug-proof, but you can make it a lot harder for spiders to get inside.
How Do Spiders Get Into a Camper?
Spiders can get into a camper through almost any small opening.
Your RV may look sealed up from the outside, but campers are full of little gaps. Spiders can crawl in around doors, windows, slide seals, vents, plumbing openings, electrical openings, storage bays, underbelly gaps, and even tiny tears in window screens.
They can also hitch a ride inside on camping gear, firewood, outdoor rugs, shoes, folding chairs, storage bins, and anything else you bring in from outside.
That is one reason RVs are so attractive to spiders. Campers have lots of dark, quiet spaces where spiders can hide. Storage compartments, basement bays, closets, cabinets, under furniture, behind appliances, and around plumbing lines can all become hiding places.
The goal is not just to kill the spider you see. The real goal is to make your camper less inviting and harder to enter in the first place.
9 Ways to Keep Spiders Out of Your Camper
1. Keep Your Camper Clean and Clutter-Free
Spiders like dark, quiet places where they will not be bothered. Clutter gives them more places to hide.
Vacuum your camper regularly, especially along baseboards, in corners, under furniture, inside cabinets, and around the bed. If you have a fifth wheel, travel trailer, or motorhome with lots of storage, make sure you clean those hidden spaces too.
Pay close attention to:
Cabinets
Closets
Under the bed
Behind furniture
Inside basement storage bays
Around plumbing openings
Behind the toilet
Near the water heater area
Around the furnace and vents
Under the dinette or sofa
If you see spider webs, egg sacs, or dead bugs, clean them up right away. Dead bugs can attract other bugs, and other bugs can attract spiders.
2. Check Your Screens, Windows, and Door Seals
Screens are your first line of defense when you want fresh air without letting bugs inside.
Check every window screen for holes, loose corners, or gaps around the frame. Even a small tear can become an easy entry point for spiders and other insects.
Also check your screen door. RV screen doors take a lot of abuse, especially if you camp with kids, dogs, or a spouse who forgets to close the door all the way.
Look for gaps around:
The main entry door
The screen door
Window frames
Emergency exit windows
Slide-out seals
Pass-through storage doors
Basement compartment doors
If your weather stripping is cracked, loose, or flattened, replace it. A small gap around a door may not look like much to you, but to a spider, it might as well be a welcome mat.
3. Seal Gaps Around Plumbing, Wires, and Vents
This is one of the most RV-specific things you can do.
Campers have a lot of holes cut into them for plumbing, wiring, propane lines, vents, drains, and appliances. Some of those openings are sealed well from the factory. Some are not.
Look inside cabinets and storage areas where plumbing or wires pass through the floor or wall. If you see open gaps, seal them with the proper material for that location.
Depending on the gap, you may need:
Exterior-grade caulk
Expanding foam made for pest blocking
Steel wool combined with sealant
Replacement weather stripping
Mesh screen over vents
RV-safe sealant
Do not block anything that needs airflow, especially around appliances, propane systems, refrigerators, furnaces, or water heaters. If you are unsure, ask an RV technician before sealing around appliance compartments.
But for basic gaps around plumbing and wiring, sealing them can make a big difference.
4. Clean Your Basement Storage Bays
This is easy to overlook.
A lot of RVers keep hoses, leveling blocks, tools, outdoor rugs, folding chairs, grills, and other gear in basement storage compartments. Those areas are dark, quiet, and often close to the ground, which makes them perfect spider territory.
Take everything out once in a while and vacuum or sweep the storage bay. Look in the corners and around the compartment door seals.
If you store outdoor gear in bins, use bins with tight-fitting lids. I would rather open a sealed plastic bin than reach into a dark storage bay and wonder what is living in there.
Also, avoid leaving damp towels, dirty outdoor rugs, or food-related items in storage bays. Moisture and food smells can attract bugs, and bugs attract spiders.
5. Be Careful Where You Park Your Camper
Sometimes spider prevention starts before you even set up camp.
Spiders like brush, wood piles, tall grass, leaves, and low-hanging branches. If your camper is parked right next to those areas, you are making it easier for spiders and insects to move in.
Whenever possible, avoid parking:
Under low-hanging tree branches
Right against bushes
Next to wood piles
Near leaf piles
In tall grass
Beside old sheds or debris piles
Of course, you cannot always control your campsite. Sometimes the pretty wooded site is also the buggy site. But if you have a choice, pick a spot with a little more open space around the RV.
Also, keep firewood away from the camper. Firewood is one of those things that can bring all kinds of bugs close to your RV.
6. Shake Out Outdoor Gear Before Bringing It Inside
Spiders can come inside because we carry them in.
Before you bring camping chairs, outdoor rugs, shoes, firewood, storage bins, hoses, or kids’ toys inside, give them a quick shake or inspection.
This is especially important if the item has been sitting outside overnight or stored under the camper.
Check:
Shoes and boots
Folded chairs
Towels
Outdoor blankets
Pet beds
Storage totes
Grill covers
Firewood bags
Fishing gear
Pool noodles and outdoor toys
It only takes a few seconds, and it might save you from finding a spider later in a place you really do not want one.
7. Use Spider-Repelling Scents Carefully
A lot of people use scents like peppermint, citrus, lavender, cedar, vinegar, or cinnamon to help discourage spiders.
I would not treat these like a magic force field. A peppermint spray will not seal a hole in your camper. But scents may help make certain areas less inviting.
You can try using a light spray around entry points, storage areas, or outside compartments. You can also use cedar blocks or sachets in storage areas.
But be careful with essential oils.
Some essential oils can be harmful to pets, especially cats and dogs. Oils like tea tree, eucalyptus, peppermint, cinnamon, citrus, and others can be risky depending on the pet, the amount used, and how they are exposed.
If you travel with pets, do your homework before spraying essential oils inside your camper. I would avoid spraying anything near pet bedding, food bowls, water bowls, or small enclosed areas where pets spend time.
Also, never spray oils or vinegar on surfaces that could be damaged, and do not spray around electrical components, appliance vents, propane areas, or anything that gets hot.
8. Reduce the Bugs That Spiders Eat
Spiders go where the food is.
If your camper has a lot of flies, mosquitoes, ants, gnats, or other insects, spiders have a reason to hang around.
To reduce bugs around your camper:
Keep food sealed
Take trash out regularly
Wipe counters after meals
Do not leave dirty dishes overnight
Keep outdoor lights off when you do not need them
Use yellow bug lights outside when possible
Clean up crumbs around the dinette and sofa
Keep pet food sealed when not in use
Do not leave sweet drinks sitting outside
This is especially important if you camp in warm, humid areas where bugs are already a problem.
If you reduce the bugs, you reduce the spider buffet.
9. Use Pesticides Carefully If You Need To
I would rather keep spiders from getting inside than spray chemicals all over my camper.
But sometimes you may need pest control, especially if you are dealing with a larger problem or dangerous spiders.
If you use a pesticide, read the label carefully. Make sure it is appropriate for indoor use, RV use, or the specific area where you plan to apply it. Be extra cautious around kids, pets, food prep areas, bedding, and small enclosed spaces.
You can also use glue traps in hidden areas where pets and children cannot reach them. Glue traps will not keep spiders out, but they can help you see if spiders are getting inside and where they may be traveling.
For a serious infestation, I would call a professional pest control company and ask them about RV-safe options.
How to Keep Spiders Off the Outside of Your Camper
Keeping spiders off the outside of your camper is harder because your RV is sitting in their natural environment.
Still, there are a few things you can do.
Keep branches, leaves, and brush from touching your camper. Sweep away webs when you see them. Keep outdoor storage neat. Avoid stacking firewood against the camper. Clean around the steps, hitch area, tires, stabilizers, and storage compartments.
At night, outdoor lights can attract bugs, and bugs attract spiders. If you leave bright lights on all evening, you may be inviting dinner right to your camper.
Use outdoor lights only when needed, or consider yellow bug lights that are less attractive to insects.
Is There a Permanent Solution to Keep Spiders Out of a Camper?
Not completely.
As long as your camper is parked outside, spiders will be around. That is just part of camping.
But you can get pretty close by staying consistent with the basics:
Seal gaps
Fix screens
Replace bad weather stripping
Keep the RV clean
Reduce clutter
Store gear properly
Keep food sealed
Avoid buggy campsites when possible
Inspect outdoor items before bringing them inside
The more you do these things, the less likely spiders are to make themselves comfortable in your camper.
What Smells Keep Spiders Away?
Some RVers use peppermint, citrus, lavender, cedar, vinegar, or cinnamon to discourage spiders.
Cedar is a nice option for closets and storage areas because it is simple and does not involve spraying liquid inside your RV. Citrus or peppermint sprays may also help around entry points, but again, be careful if you have pets.
I would not rely only on smells. Scents may help, but sealing gaps and keeping your camper clean matter much more.
What Keeps Spiders Away at Night?
If you are worried about spiders near your bed, start with the basics.
Keep the area around your bed clean. Do not eat in bed. Vacuum under and around the bed. Check the walls, corners, and windows near your sleeping area. Make sure bedding is not touching the floor if possible.
If your bed has storage underneath, clean that area regularly too. Under-bed storage can become a dark, quiet hiding place if you never open it up and clean it.
You can also place spider traps in hidden areas near walls or under furniture, but only where pets and kids cannot reach them.
I would be cautious about relying on ultrasonic plug-in devices. Some people swear by them, but I would not build my whole spider prevention plan around one. Cleaning, sealing, and reducing bugs are much more reliable.
Do Spider Traps Keep Spiders Out of Your Camper?
Spider traps do not really keep spiders out. They catch spiders after they are already inside.
Glue traps can be useful if you want to know whether you have a spider problem and where they may be coming from. Place them along walls, inside hidden corners, under cabinets, or near suspected entry points.
But be careful where you put them. You do not want pets, children, or bare feet finding a glue trap by accident.
Traps are a backup plan. The better plan is to stop spiders from getting inside in the first place.
What About Dangerous Spiders?
Most spiders are more creepy than dangerous, but some can be a real concern.
Black widows and brown recluses are the two spiders RVers usually worry about most. They like dark, quiet places, which means storage bays, wood piles, shoes, outdoor gear, and cluttered areas deserve extra attention.
If you are camping in an area where dangerous spiders are common, be more careful when reaching into dark storage spaces. Wear gloves when handling firewood, outdoor gear, or items that have been sitting outside.
Shake out shoes, towels, and blankets before using them.
And if you think you have dangerous spiders in your RV, do not ignore it. That is a good time to call a pest control professional.
Final Thoughts on Keeping Spiders Out of Your Camper
I know spiders are good for the ecosystem. I really do.
But that does not mean I want them in my camper.
The best way to keep spiders out of your RV is to make your camper harder to enter and less attractive once they get there. Seal the gaps, fix the screens, clean the hidden spaces, reduce the bugs they eat, and be careful about what you bring inside.
You may never keep every single spider away, but you can make your camper a lot less inviting.
And that is good enough for me.
Related Reading:
– How to Keep Mosquitoes Out of Your RV
– How to Set Up an Outdoor Movie While Camping
– 17 Essential RV Spare Parts to Carry
About the Author:
Terri Nighswonger and her husband Todd have been RVing and work camping for five years with their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Newton, and their Minnie Australian Shepherd, Remi.
They originate from the Midwest but plan to enjoy the West for a few years, wintering in Arizona and summering wherever the road may lead. Writing is Terri’s passion, but she also loves hiking, kayaking, walking her dogs, and anything she can do outdoors.
