The RV Cocktail Hour: Easy Drinks for the Campfire

Okay can we talk about how campfire cocktail hour is literally the best part of RV life? Like, the hiking is great. The scenery is gorgeous. But that golden hour where you're sitting in your camp chairs with drinks in hand, watching the fire, maybe some music playing from a little speaker -- THAT is why we do this.

We're Ashley and Jen, and we have very strong opinions about campfire drinks. We've been full-timing in our Airstream Bambi for two years and we have hosted approximately one million happy hours. Okay not a million. But a lot. We are social creatures and we firmly believe that a good cocktail is an invitation for community.

Our Campfire Drink Menu

The Campfire Mule

Sangria by the Pitcher - This is our go-to when we know we're going to have a crowd. One bottle of red wine (we use Apothic Red because it's sweet enough for sangria and you can find it everywhere), a cup of brandy, orange juice, a can of Sprite or 7-Up, and whatever fruit we have -- sliced oranges, apples, berries. Mix it up in a pitcher (we use a big Nalgene bottle if we don't have an actual pitcher) and let it sit for at least an hour. This batch serves about 6-8 people and costs maybe $15 total. Try doing that at a restaurant.

Jen's Spicy Margarita - Jen is the spicy marg queen. She muddles jalapeno slices in the bottom of the glass, adds tequila (Espolon Blanco), Cointreau, fresh lime juice, and a splash of agave syrup. Shakes it with ice in a Hydro Flask (we don't travel with a cocktail shaker because who has the space). The jalapeno gives it this slow burn that sneaks up on you. Ashley's mom had two of these at a campground in Sedona and started telling stories about her college years that we DEFINITELY were not supposed to hear.

The Lazy Aperol Spritz - For those evenings when you want something light and nobody feels like making anything complicated. Aperol, prosecco (we keep a bottle cold in the fridge for emergencies, and yes this counts as an emergency), splash of soda water. Done. It's pretty and orange and fizzy and it looks like a sunset in a glass. Very photogenic. Very low effort. Our kind of drink.

Hot Toddy (for cold nights) - Bourbon (we like Bulleit), hot water, honey, lemon juice, and a cinnamon stick if we're feeling fancy. This is what we make when we're camping in the fall or at higher elevations and it's actually cold outside. There is nothing -- NOTHING -- better than a hot toddy by a campfire when it's 40 degrees out and you can see the stars. We had these at a campground near Flagstaff in November and we still talk about it.

The Setup

We keep a small "bar box" in our Airstream -- a plastic bin with our bottles, a citrus squeezer, a small cutting board, and cocktail napkins (because we're civilized). The whole thing fits under the dinette seat. We restock liquor at Total Wine whenever we pass through a city, and we always keep limes and lemons in the fridge because they're essential.

Our best tip? Make extra. Whatever you're making, double it. Because once the neighbors smell lime and hear ice clinking, they WILL come over. And that's the whole point, isn't it? Some of our closest RV friends are people who wandered over during cocktail hour and never really left. That's the magic of it. A good drink opens the door. The conversation keeps it open.

Cheers, friends. See you at happy hour.