The best RV mattresses are the correct size and offer memory foam comfort, strong support, and good heat dissipation. But our top pick, the Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress, goes above and beyond this. Not only is the 6-inch short queen mattress the ideal size for the average RV, but it also comes infused with green tea and castor seed oil to help prevent odors and bacteria growth. It’s also shipped in a box, which means it can be easily carried into any RV.
Zinus’ mattress offers a sturdy five-inch layer of dense base foam for better spine support, which is also great to see in an RV mattress that needs to keep active travelers healthy, well rested and pain free. But we have a number of other excellent foam mattresses that are also perfect for trailers and RVs, so make sure to check the full list!
Top 5 Best RV Mattresses
#1 Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress
Award: Top Pick
WHY WE LIKE IT: This RV mattress short queen model stays fresh longer and is solid foam for great comfort. It’s 6 inches high for easier transport and is infused with green tea to help fight bad odors.
- Best budget
- Natural odor & bacteria defense
- One-inch Memory foam layer on top
- Ships in a box for easy installation
- Mattress may be too short for some users
This Zinus mattress hits all the right notes for a great RV model, and then adds in welcome extra features. The “short queen” size (we talk more about this below after our picks) is specifically for RV bed frames, and the short 6-inch height is designed to allow the mattress to fit in RV spaces – especially when first installed. The mattress has five inches of sturdy, high-density base foam and one inch of memory foam on top for comfort and coolness.
But there’s something else that makes this mattress special: It’s infused particles of green tea and castor seed oil. This helps the mattress naturally repel odors and help prevent the growth of bacteria. This increases longevity and it’s a great feature to have in what can be a confined RV space. Plus, it’s very affordable! Speaking of keeping moisture out, the best rv air conditioner will help and keep you cool.
#2 Zinus Ultima Comfort Memory Foam Mattress
Award: Honorable Mention
WHY WE LIKE IT: The high quality Zinus production makes this mattress durable even with six inches of memory foam. If you love mattresses that cradle your body this is the perfect fit.
- Best for large RVs
- All memory foam for deep restfulness
- Six-inch height for easier transport and space limitations
- Doesn’t dissipate heat as well as other options
Zinus excels at RV mattresses, so it’s no surprise that our runner-up is from the same brand, although this model differs in a couple key ways. First, it’s a full queen instead of a short queen, designed for large RV spaces that have full queen frames for extra room.
Second, it’s designed to contour to your body thoroughly for remarkable support: It’s only six inches high, but made entirely of memory foam. This makes the mattress a great choice for topping a denser base you already have, or just making sure that your limited space is as comfortable as possible. It also comes with a deluxe mattress cover that feels great on top. While outfitting your RV, consider the best rv solar panels as well, so you can power your devices.
#3 Linenspa Hybrid Mattress
Award: Best Medium Firm
WHY WE LIKE IT: This hybrid mattress includes an inner spring layer that makes it feel more like a household bouncy mattress, but at an 8-inch height and designed for compact shipping. A great choice for those with a taste for traditional mattress feel.
- Great traditional feel
- 1.5-inch Memory foam layer
- Compact shipping for easy installation
- Medium-firm may be too hard for some sleepers
Those looking for a little more stability and a deeper mattress for more comfort will love this 8-inch queen model. It’s a medium-firm mattress that uses a hybrid design of inner springs and foam support, plus a layer of memory foam on top for comfortable and coolness. Those who like the feel of traditional mattresses will find this a great substitute for their RV travels.
Of course, even a hybrid spring mattress raises questions about shipping and installation, especially in small RV spaces. That’s why this mattress is still designed to be rolled and shipping in compact form. Take the box in before you open it up, and the mattress will easily expand for quick installation! To keep the air as clean as this mattress is comfy, you’ll also want the best cabin air filter for your RV.
#4 Lucid Gel Memory Foam Mattress
Award: Best Cooling
WHY WE LIKE IT: A mattress made to be cool, with excellent heat dissipation and breathability. It also offers extra support with a 10-inch dual-foam design that’s ideal for deeper bed frames.
- Ideal for deep bed frames
- 10-inch height for extra support
- Breathable cover included
- May be too high for some RV spaces
This larger short queen mattress offers 10 inches of support for RVs that have enough vertical room – and those extra layers are worth it! Not only do you get more support, but the mattress has a 2.5-inch layer of gel-infused ventilated memory foam – incredibly comfortable, and particularly good at regulating temperature to keep you cool.
The mattress also comes with a TENCEL blend fabric cover that’s designed to maximize breathability with moisture controlling design. If your RV is heading into warm or humid places, this mattress will help create a comfortable air layer importantfor good sleep. While we love comfort, don’t forget about the best tire pressure gauge so that your tires are always perfect.
#5 Live and Sleep Resort Classic Memory Foam Mattress
Award: Best Eco-Friendly
WHY WE LIKE IT: This dense, high-quality mattress with a 2.5-inch memory foam top is ideal for those who want a firmer mattress. At 10 inches high and with short queen dimensions, it’s ideal for RV users who want more support.
- Ideal for deep bed frames
- 10-inch height for extra support
- Mattress may work better on adjustable bases
A supreme combination of support and comfort, this 10-inch short queen mattress offers a medium firm feel that’s backed up by a 2.5-inch layer of air-infused memory foam. All materials used are very high quality, and manufactured with as little use of chemicals as possible, while the shipping process is also designed to take up less energy and fewer materials.
The mattress also comes with a poly cotton stretch knit cover that offers protection and comfort – and a memory foam pillow, just in case you didn’t have pillow plans. You don’t even have to use the best portable air compressor to blow it up.
How We Decided
An RV mattress has to be both comfortable and durable for your journeys! We quickly found that memory foam mattresses tended to be the best of both worlds here, so our top picks favor memory foam, as well as additional materials like gel layers that add important support for healthy body posture while sleeping .
Dimensions are also key, as many RVs have strict limitations to the size of mattress they can hold (we talk more about this below for curious buyers). That’s why we chose mattresses that were shorter – 6 to 10 inches high on average – and came in sizes specifically designed for RVs, without sacrificing too many traditional mattress benefits.
Then we awarded extra points for additional features that are ideal for RV situations. That includes materials that help fight odors, ventilated mattresses for extra breathability, mattresses designed to dissipate heat easily while keeping you cool. We also award points for certifications like CertiPUR-US, which is given to mattresses made without chemicals, and USDA Organic certification which shows mattresses are made from natural materials.
Best RV Mattresses Buyer’s Guide
The Most Important Features to Consider
- Materials and Support
Your RV mattress should be made out of high-quality materials that offer enough support, especially for travelers need a good night’s sleep. Fortunately, RV mattresses are available in all the same materials that regular mattresses have, each with their own advantages:- Air mattress: These mattresses with expandable chambers that can be adjusted to control firmness with great accuracy. They should usually be covered with more comfortable layers, and generally take a bit more care than other mattresses to avoid leaks.
- Spring/Coil: A very traditional option, although it’s not as easy to find spring mattresses for RVs since spring mattresses rarely come in customized designs or sizes. People who are used to spring mattresses tend to prefer them. However, they do tend to wear out more quickly than some other mattress types.
- Memory foam: These mattresses use a very high-density foam layer as the base, with a memory foam layer on top. The memory foam can usually come in a variety of density depending on your needs. A nice middle-of-the-road option, and great for fans of memory foam.
- Latex: Latex mattresses also use a dense foam base, but they top it with a latex layer (there are natural latex materials available for this). It’s similar to a memory foam mattress, but may help you stay cooler as you sleep.
- Foam pads: These pads are nice for sleepovers, but not suitable for RVs unless you don’t have any other options. Their one big advantage is that they cost only a fraction of a true mattress.
- Heat Dissipation
RVs are often bought for travel. That can take you to colder locations, where extra blankets are a big help. It can also take you to warmer climates, but overheating in bed is a harder problem to solve. That’s why good heat dissipation is usually a good thing to look for in your mattress selection. As we mentioned, latex mattresses may be better at this than some options. - Weight and Maneuverability
How much does the mattress weigh? This matters a lot because of something called “GTWR” or gross trailer weight rating. That refers to the maximum weight that the RV can support, including absolutely everything on board. Your mattress is probably going to be one of the heaviest things you put on your RV (along with a full tank of fuel, which also counts). Depending on your setup, you may want a lighter mattress to help stay away from your max GTWR. A light trailer will run better and longer than an overloaded one! On this note, maneuverability is also important. The mattress should be flexible enough to easily carry into an RV and fit into the frame – space is tighter here, so extra flexibility is an important feature. - Covers and Protection
If your mattress comes with a cover, it should be breathable and comfortable, as well as easy to clean quickly when necessary. - Longevity
A good RV mattress needs to be able to stand a lot of vibration from the ride, as well as long periods of storage. That makes longevity particularly important, and it’s why spring mattresses usually aren’t as good of an option here, while foam mattresses are often a good choice.
RV Mattress FAQs
Will Large Mattresses Fit Into All RVs?
Always measure your RV mattress before you get a new version, because this can vary according to RVs. Generally, an average queen-sized mattress can fit into many RVs. However, RV mattresses also often need to be shorter than regular mattresses, as well as lighter (see our notes on weight above in Features). Mattresses specifically designed for RVs may also be narrower, have curved edges, or include other custom features even if they are rated a “standard” queen. That’s why it’s important to look for mattresses that are specifically designed for RVs. Then there are the RVs that have built-in bed frames with more unique sizes. There are “three-quarter queen” mattresses that are 48 x 75-inches, and “queen short” mattresses that are 60 x 75-inches. Your current mattress should have these unique sizes clearly labeled(another reason we shouldn’t tear off mattress tags) but a tape measure will also help you out here.
What is the Difference Between an RV mattress and a Regular Mattress?
RV mattresses are usually shorter in height and often shorter in length than a traditional mattress, but they can vary greatly based on the RV’s space. It may be possible, for example, to use a traditional house mattress size model in an RV.Your RV bed frame needs to be the right size for the regular mattress, and it needs to support the right depth, as RV mattresses tend to be shorter than normal mattresses even if other dimensions are the same. You also have to consider the extra weight a house mattress would add to your RV as well. If all of this checks out, then you could possibly use a regular mattress (if you can get it through your RV door).
My RV Mattress is Uncomfortable: How Can I Make It Better?
Remember, the mattress itself is only part of the picture. While we chose mattresses with comfort and support in mind, you can augment even uncomfortable mattresses by adding a memory foam pad (sometimes called toppers) and other supports. Comfortable or neck-supporting pillows can also help a lot! The key is finding pads that will fit your RV mattress - some adjustments may be needed, but memory foam can usually be cut to size if necessary.
My RV Doesn’t Have Enough Room for These Mattresses. What Do I Do?
Some RVs don’t have enough room even for short or three quarter versions. In these cases, you still have several options. You could check and see if a smaller twin version of the same mattress would work in your situation - most of our top picks have multiple size options, including smaller twins. Or if you have even smaller, “bunk” style sleeping arrangement, look for trucker mattresses that are designed for these situations. Finally, some RVs are designed for pull-out beds or expandable futons, and in these cases you not have much of a choice.
How Do You Keep an RV Mattress From Sliding
If your mattress is even a fraction of an inch smaller than the bed frame in your RV, it could slide around a lot. If your frame has side panels or walls, you could pick a couple blankets and stuff them along the sides to stop this. Otherwise, look for anti-slide pads specifically designed for larger objects, which you can commonly find at Walmart, Amazon, and other common locations.
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