When it’s time to go out on the road in your RV, comfort isn’t always the first thing on your mind. That being said, for those like myself that spend weeks at a time in an RV, it’s a good idea to not feel unnecessarily uncomfortable.
I find that one of the best things to do in order to make the RV experience more enjoyable is to get a dedicated RV replacement mattress.
So, which is the best RV mattress? Well, there are a lot of options out there for outdoors people like us, and that is why I have created this guide so that the process is made easier.
Best RV Mattress
Image | Product Name | Score |
|---|---|---|
 | Zinus Sleep Master Deluxe Spring 10 Inch Pillow Top RV Mattress | 98/100 |
 | Serenia Sleep 8-Inch Memory Foam RV Mattress | 97/100 |
 | Live and Sleep Resort Ultra 12-Inch Queen Size Gel Memory Foam Mattress | 96/100 |
 | Classic Brands 8-Inch Cool Gel Memory Foam RV Mattress | 95/100 |
 | Perfect Cloud Supreme 8 Inch Memory Foam Mattress | 94/100 |
Classic Brands 8-Inch Cool Gel Memory Foam RV Mattress – Best Cooling RV Mattress
The first mattress that I’ll be featuring is a gel memory foam sleeper from Classic Brands. This is a very comfortable mattress that actually uses a gel to draw the heat away from your body, which ensures a very cool night’s sleep.
Classic Brands placed this foam in the top two inches of the mattress and the layer beneath is made of very comfortable foam that conforms to your body and weight.
This neatly circumvents one of the weaknesses of foam mattresses, which is breathability. The gel layer is designed to provide a breathable surface for a thoroughly comfortable rest.
Pros
- The gel and foam materials are great for back support, which can come in handy during a long period of RVing.
- This bed stays cool even when you’re sleeping in hotter areas.
- Motion isn’t transferred between those sleeping on the mattress.
Cons
- It may be too firm for some RVers.
- The mattress can slope somewhat and deform after extended use.
Opinion
For those that want a cool breathable mattress, the Classic Brands 8-Inch Cool Gel Memory Foam RV Mattress is a great option.
The top is very comfortable and is perfect for anyone that needs a little bit of back support. While it might be a bit too firm for some, I’d recommend this mattress for anyone that needs more support during their night’s sleep.
Serenia Sleep 8-Inch Memory Foam RV Mattress – Best RV Mattress With Short Queen Size
One of the best features of this Serenia Sleep 8-inch mattress is its open-cell design. For those that don’t know, many of the foam mattresses on the market today are closed-cell.
This means that these mattresses don’t breathe as well and don’t disperse weight well either. This open-cell mattress, on the other hand, is very cool to sleep on and really supports the body, even if the person sleeping on it is larger.
Additionally, the cover of the mattress is crafted of stretch-knitting. This stretch-knit design provides a great feeling that makes sleeping on this mattress feel more luxurious.
Pros
- This mattress feels very luxurious. The knit design is reminiscent of European premium-quality mattresses.
- The foam is very supportive; it can even conform to the profile of your hips and shoulders for a much-supported rest.
- Heat dissipation is very well-managed.
Cons
- The mattress could be thicker.
- Even for an RV replacement mattress, this mattress has an odd shape. You may have a hard time finding linens that will fit it correctly.
Opinion
I love open foam mattresses, and this mattress from Serenia Sleep really sleeps well. While it may not quite be firm enough for every type of RVer, it has a cool feel and it is very supportive, even if you’re a larger individual. It’s a bit thinner, but thanks to the supportive design, this isn’t as big of a deal as it could have been.
Zinus Sleep Master Deluxe Spring 10 Inch Pillow Top RV Mattress – Best RV Mattress
The first example of a spring mattress in this guide is a great example that proves that spring mattresses are still viable choices for modern RVing.
This product, from Zinus Sleep, has heightened motion transfer reduction, which means that any tossing and turning that you do won’t disturb your partner.
In actuality, this mattress is also a bit of a hybrid; it uses comfort foam as well as springs in order to form a conforming surface that provides a great overall night’s rest.
The patented iCoil tech used in this mattress is also great for providing a customized level of support for both sleepers.
Pros
- This mattress can be compressed prior to shipping so that it can be unrolled from a box. This makes it very easy to transfer to your RV.
- This mattress has 690 coils, which really provides a very supportive experience. Motion is minimized by the coil and foam structure.
Cons
- The mattress, despite its packed style, weighs about 85 pounds, which can be a bit on the heavy side for a spring mattress.
- This is a VERY firm mattress, which isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.
Opinion
Using a hybrid and foam construction really makes for a very comfortable mattress. It remains cool, has a supportive structure with hundreds of springs, and you won’t be disturbed by your partner’s tossing and turning.
Overall, the Zinus Sleep Master Deluxe is a great option for anyone looking for a little luxury during their RVing.
Perfect Cloud Supreme 8 Inch Memory Foam Mattress – Best RV Memory Foam Mattress
While this product isn’t exclusively designed as an RV replacement mattress, its dimensions of 75 inches by 38 inches are precise to the RV standard.
This is a very comfortable product. In fact, it has three layers; a removable stretch-knit cover that feels very comfortable, an air-flow memory foam layer that is about two and a half inches thick, and a bottom HD base support foam that is a little less than six inches thick.
This tri-layer design is great at providing a well-supported feel; in fact, the middle layer uses a new technology that allows for maximum airflow for a cooler rest.
Pros
- The three layers really combine to form an overall very comfortable sleep.
- The materials conform to your body so that you feel thoroughly supported during your rest.
- It has the ability to comfortably support just about any sleeper. The company says that anyone from 40 to 400 pounds can be accommodated by this mattress.
Cons
- This is only a great option for you if you prefer a mattress that has a very firm feel.
- Over time, the initial firmness has a tendency to go away. After a few years, it may actually become too soft for some RVers.
Opinion
This mattress from Perfect Cloud has a great design that can support a plethora of body types. While I find that it’s a bit too firm for my tastes, some folks prefer this type of sleep.
Just be aware that the firmness reduces gradually. With that said, this is a great choice for those that are looking for a cooler night’s sleep and need reduced motion transfer.
Live and Sleep Resort Ultra 12-Inch Queen Size Gel Memory Foam Mattress – Best Solution For Back Pain
The final product that I’ll be covering in this guide is manufactured by Live and Sleep. This particular RV mattress has a tri-layer design similar to the Perfect Cloud product that I reviewed.
Similar to that mattress, this product has a thicker foam layer at the base, which is comprised of extra thick high-density foam.
The second layer, on the other hand, is a very soft and plush feeling. It’s made of gel-infused memory foam that is designed to feel softer and conform to your body.
The topmost layer is designed to stay cool; it’s made of airflow Visco foam that is designed to stay cool during the night.
Pros
- The cover on this product is very luxurious-feeling. It is knit finely and feels great under your sheets.
- The Visco foam is very breathable, which makes this one of the coolest-feeling mattresses on the market today that’s designed for RV beds.
- This mattress uses fewer chemicals and is 100 percent hypoallergenic.
- The warranty on this mattress is impressive; the company protects the consumer from manufacturer defects for 20 years.
Cons
- It’s very soft; in fact, some people might consider this mattress to be too soft for a good night’s sleep.
- The mattress, once you unpack it, can fail to inflate to its full size.
Opinion
The Live and Sleep Resort Queen mattress is a great option for someone looking for a great night’s sleep in their RV. It has a nice soft feel, manages some excellent support, and is very breathable and cool.
While it can experience some issues in inflation, it still has a very reliable design that’ll feel great when you tuck in.
The Difference Between An RV Mattress And A Residential Mattress
A mattress is a mattress, right? Well, in all actuality, an RV mattress, in most situations, is actually a bit different from your traditional Serta Perfect Sleeper.
In fact, the typical RV mattress isn’t quite the same size as a traditional mattress that you might purchase at a bedding store.
Unfortunately, this typically means that since RV replacement mattresses are more specialized items, you might end up spending a little more cash to get a good RV mattress.
So, what’s the size differential?
Well, in my experience, the typical RV Queen-sized mattress is measured at 60 inches by 75 inches. Compare that to a standard Queen mattress, and you’ll notice a slight difference; the standard queen is usually 60 inches by 80 inches or so.
This means that if you go with a standard Queen mattress, the bed will be slightly bigger than the RV Queen bed.
The same can be said for King-sized mattresses: an RV King-sized mattress usually is about 72 inches by 82 inches. Whereas a standard King is 76 inches by 82 inches, which means that the RV King mattress is actually a little bit narrower than a standard King.
Comfort
Comfort is the reason that your RV has a bed frame at all; so whatever you do, don’t sacrifice comfort, especially if you’ll be RVing for the long haul. Simply put, for just about any brand of RV, the pack-in mattress isn’t really designed for comfort.
When the manufacturer is creating their RVs, they are actually thinking about weight, so the mattress they pick will be lightweight and not at all comfortable.
This is why when I purchase a replacement product, I always look for these stats:
BREATHABILITY
When it comes to replacement RV mattresses, you’ll want some nice breathability. Of the two types of mattresses on the market; coil and foam, you’ll typically find that coil mattresses offer the most inherent breathability.
Fortunately, Foam’s weakness here can be sidestepped by purchasing a top cover that lets airflow a bit. In any situation, breathability will ensure that air can circulate while you sleep on the mattress, which means that you won’t wake up sweaty.
NO MOTION TRANSFER
If you’ll be sharing a bed, then this is a particularly useful feature for your overall comfort.
No motion transfer lets your partner toss and turn (to a degree!) and much of the excess motion won’t transfer to where you’re laying. This way, you’ll get a better night’s sleep.
HEAT DISSIPATION
Similarly to breathability, heat dissipation will make for less sweaty nights.
Typically, you may want to purchase a topper for this, but there are mattresses of both types on the market that have good heat dissipation so that even when you’re parked in a place with a higher temperature, you’ll sleep better.
Types Of Material: Innerspring Or Foam?
As mentioned, there are typically two types of mattresses available: innerspring and foam.
Memory foam has become a fairly popular material for mattresses as of late and there are some key advantages, but that doesn’t mean that innerspring mattresses are a bad choice either.
Let’s take a look at each:
Innerspring
One of the primary advantages to a good innerspring mattress is the weight. Simply put, foam mattresses have a tendency to be much heavier, which means that you bolster the payload of your RV and simply moving the mattress becomes a bit of a hassle.
Innerspring mattresses also have a tendency to be slightly cheaper than foam models, and these types also tend to have better heat dissipation and will be a bit more breathable as well.
Foam
Foam mattresses are very comfortable. They have great no motion transfer and also have the ability to adapt to your body for a more relaxing experience.
Foam mattresses also don’t have metal springs that will rust when you’re parked in a humid area. In addition, with a foam mattress, you will never have a spring pop through.
With that said, I find that you always have to be careful with foam mattresses. They are a lot more flammable than innerspring models, and over time, depressions tend to form on the mattress top.
Do You Actually Need An RV Mattress?
In my opinion, one of these is invaluable to just about any kind of RVer. That being said, if you only take the occasional trip, you could potentially buy a mattress topper for your stock RV mattress.
This will deliver some of the same comfort for a bit less money. Here’s a great video guide that you can use to make even an aftermarket mattress more comfortable.
On the other hand, if you go RVing more than two times a year, I think that a dedicated and far more comfortable RV mattress is a smart investment.
If you’re still looking for info about this type of purchase, Mattress Insider has crafted a great guide with the help of some key RV bloggers.
Final Thoughts
Finding a good mattress for your RVing really can add a degree of luxury to your weekend (or weeks) of roughing it. Each of the products that I’ve selected has an excellent design and will also provide some great comfort.
I am particularly impressed by the warranties on these mattresses as well; each is covered by the manufacturer for at least 10 full years, which is nice.
Out of the products that I’ve covered in my RV mattress reviews, my favorite and the clear winner is the Zinus Sleep Master Deluxe Spring 10 Inch Pillow Top RV Mattress. It has support, comfort, and a level of firmness that I think most will enjoy.
