We’ve looked at some of what people consider to be the best RV mattresses to determine which one we think is the best RV mattress for regular use… and here are our faves!
If you’re in a hurry check out our top pick:
Searching for the best RV mattress can be a challenge. It’s not easy to find a high-quality mattress that gives you the maximum amount of comfort, and which doesn’t break the bank.
However, it’s not impossible. With this information, you will be able to find the perfect mattress that will have you sleeping comfortably all night long.
In this article, we’re going to review the following RV Mattresses:
- Live & Sleep Resort Classic Memory Foam Mattress
- Zinus Deluxe Memory Foam 8 Inch Mattress
- Arctic Dreams 10 Inch Cooling Gel Mattress
- Dreamfoam Bedding Doze Plush Pillow Top Mattress
- Best Price Mattress Memory Foam Bed Topper
Best RV Mattress – Quick Answers
1. Live & Sleep Resort Classic – 10 Inch RV Memory Foam Mattress
This mattress has a lot going on for it. It’s a 10-inch model so you know you are getting a mattress that will offer good comfort, especially for sleeping in an RV.
The Live & Sleep Mattress has a pretty straightforward design with 2.5 inches of Premium Memory Foam comfort layer on top, and a 7.5-inch High-Density Support Core Base. It also comes with a soft knit cover.
This Live & Sleep Resort Classic is classified as a “Medium Firm” mattress. It is perfect with an adequate amount of firmness and softness. It is good for back, stomach, and side sleepers. It gives good pressure relief no matter what position you’re in.
The live & Sleep also won points with us because it is CertiPUR-US certified. It guarantees that no harmful chemicals and substances were used in its manufacture.
It comes with a nice 30-night sleep trial which gives you the chance to try it for a month and return it if you don’t like it. It also comes with a 20-year warranty.
The mattress is easy to unpack and set up. It expanded quickly and has virtually no smell.
Overall, we find the Live & Sleep Resort Classic to be one of the most comfortable we’ve tried. It may not be the cheapest but the comfort, the price point, and the risk-free 30-night sleep trial make this mattress a winner in our eyes.
Pros
- Good firm/soft balance
- Very little motion transfer
- Durable premium memory foam for long lasting
- 30 night sleep trial + 20 year warranty
Pros
- We found the included pillow a bit too firm for our liking
2. Zinus Deluxe Memory Foam 8 Inch Mattress
This RV mattress from Zinus is an 8-inch model that has memory foam. While a 10-inch model may offer more comfort, we liked the padding and how the 8-inch model felt while lying down on it.
The Zinus may not be our top pick, but for a more affordable price, it does a comparable job. We thought it felt especially nice compared to the mattress that came with our camper.
The memory foam may take a bit of getting used to if you’ve never used one before, but it shouldn’t take long to get used to.
When you receive it you will have to “air it out” over the course of a day to give it time to fully inflate.
Overall, this is a nice mattress at an affordable price. It’s not too thick and will fit in nicely in most RVs and especially if you need it for an over-cab bed. If you prefer a thicker mattress, this exact product is also available in 10 inches and 12 inches.
Pros
- Gives you comfort at great value
- Memory Foam does its job well
- Easy to set up
- Good for different levels of support when sleeping
Cons
- Does take a while to inflate
- Doesn’t have great support on the edges
3. Arctic Dreams 10 Inch Cooling Gel Mattress
This Arctic Dreams mattress is 10 inches thick and has a great cooling gel feature. If you tend to sleep hot, this mattress may be the one for you.
We like this memory foam mattress because it gives a great mix of comfort and firmness.
It’s easy to unpack and it doesn’t take too long to expand. The manufacturer suggests waiting 24 hours but we gave it a little more than 12 hours and it seemed ready to go.
The bed is truly “medium” and offers a good balance when it comes to the level of firmness. For those of you who enjoy the soft comfort of a traditional pillow top mattress, we think you’ll like this mattress a lot.
Compared to the cost of going all-out for a mattress for your camper, I would definitely take a long look at this model.
For the value, this bed comes in high on our list. You get a true 10-inch mattress that is super comfortable and keeps you cool as a cucumber.
Pros
- Good firm/soft balance
- Very little motion transfer
- Cooling Gel keeps mattress cool
- 10 inches gives a lot of comfort
- Great value for money
- Made in the USA
Cons
- Sinks around the edges
- May be a bit too soft for some
4. Dreamfoam Bedding Doze Plush Pillow Top Mattress
Dreamfoam really has a nice offering here with its pillow-top mattress.
This Dreamfoam mattress is a nice 11-inch model and has foam construction for maximum comfort.
That being said, the 11 inch is more of a medium-soft mattress. We would compare it to being on some type of cloud surface, and while that sounds a bit ridiculous, it really does have a soft feel to it. It provides medium support and is specifically designed for back and side sleepers who prefer a plush top layer.
The downfall of this mattress is probably how soft it is. We could definitely understand heavier people not liking the softness or not getting enough support from it. If two people are using it, the mattress kind of pushes you towards the other person almost.
Pros
- Very comfortable soft mattress
- Made with foam construction
- Affordable price
Cons
- It’s a bit bulky – no handles
- May not offer enough support for some
5. Best Price Mattress 2.5 Inch Gel Memory Foam Bed Topper
Yes, I know, this is not a mattress but definitely a value pick. The Best Price memory foam bed topper isn’t an item that will replace your old mattress. But it is one that could breathe some life into the mattress you already have, and make it a little more comfortable.
You still get the super comfortable memory foam material, at a fraction of the cost.
We liked the fact that this bed topper is gel-infused with good ventilation to keep the whole body cool all night long.
I would be a bit concerned over the durability of this product for the long-term, both in terms of holding up and just as far as comfort goes. However, at this cost, you can get away with simply replacing it if you need to.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Comfortable Memory Foam
- Ventilation allows you to stay cool
Cons
- May not be long-lasting
Types of RV Mattresses
The type of RV mattress is probably the most important thing to consider. RV mattresses come in many different shapes, sizes, and materials. The type of RV mattress normally determines its characteristics.
In general, the most important thing about an RV mattress is the material it is made out of and how it supports you while sleeping. Common types of RV mattresses include:
Memory Foam
Memory foam mattresses are normally focused on comfort above all else. Memory foam is made to hug the contours of the body and, over time, change its shape to better match your physical frame.
Memory foam mattresses can be very useful for alleviating back and neck pain. The sole drawback of memory foam mattresses is that they tend to breathe less than other kinds, meaning you can get hot while sleeping, especially if you move around a lot.
Innerspring
Innerspring mattresses are a bit less technically sophisticated than memory foam mattresses. At their core, innerspring mattresses have a layer of padding supported by metal springs.
These kinds of mattresses tend to be heavier and not as comfy as other kinds, but they are durable and stay springy longer.
Air
As the name would imply, air mattresses are filled with air. They are not very high-quality but they are extremely convenient.
One of the benefits of air mattresses is that you can deflate and store them when not in use, freeing up room inside your RV. The downside is that they aren’t as comfy or durable as other kinds of RV mattresses.
Latex
Latex mattresses are similar to memory foam mattresses in that they are both foams. Latex mattresses tend to be made out of natural rubbers that come from tree sap. They are seen as healthier options with less chemicals used in the manufacturing process.
Although latex is generally not as comfortable as memory foam, it really shines in its breathability. The natural rubber is also very stretchy and resistant to damage and deformation. Latex is most commonly found in luxury mattresses with high price points.
Polyurethane
Polyurethane mattresses tend to be the lowest quality kind of RV mattress. These kinds of mattresses are generally made from materials one would find inside a couch cushion.
While not very comfy, polyurethane is very flame retardant, so they at least are somewhat safe. In general, stay away from polyurethane mattresses unless you really need something cheap.
RV Mattress Sizes
Obviously, the very first thing you should check is how big of a mattress your RV can fit. Even the most comfortable long-lasting mattress is useless if you can’t actually fit it into your RV.
RV mattresses run the gamut of size from the standard 38 x 75-inch twin size to the big 72 x 80-inch king size.
Here’s a list of the most common RV mattress sizes:
| SIZE | DIMENSIONS |
|---|---|
| Twin | 38” x 75” to 40” x 80” |
| Bunk | 28” x 75” to 34” x 75” |
| Full | 53” x 75” or 55” x 75” |
| Three Quarter | 48” x 75” to 48” x 80” |
| Short Queen | 60” x 75” |
| Queen | 60” x 80” |
| Olympic Queen | 66” x 80” |
| King | 72” x 80” |
| Eastern King | 76” x 80” |
| California King | 72” x 80” or 72” x 84” |
| Trailer Bed | 35" x 79" or 42" x 80" |
RV Type
The kind of RV you have will place hard limits on the size of the mattress you can use. Most RVs can be classified into different categories based on their dimensions
Class A
These are the largest motor homes and normally range about 50 feet in length. Class A RVs can fit pretty much any kind of mattress you want.
Class B
The “medium” class of RVs, Class B RVs measure about 30 to 40 feet long. They tend to have smaller interiors than class A RVs. They can fit most kinds of mattresses, except perhaps larger queen and king sizes.
Class C
These are the smallest kind of RV and normally fall into the 20 to 30-foot range. These RVs generally have an over-cab bed and a rear lounge/bed. You may not have enough room in the over-cab for a large size mattress so you should measure carefully to know exactly what size you can fit up there.
Fifth Wheel Trailers
Fifth-wheel trailers are the largest of towable trailers. Most fifth wheels are large enough to fit full beds with mattresses of any size.
Travel Trailers
Travel trailers are fairly long but they are generally narrower and have less living space. Most feature foldout beds that can be used with toppers.
Pop-up Campers
Pop-up campers have less vertical space so avoid thicker mattresses. Instead, you can get a narrow topper that’s comfortable enough but won’t take too much room.
How to Choose the Best RV Mattress
Choosing the best RV mattress can be hard, but it doesn’t have to be. Here’s what to consider before buying a mattress for your RV:
Quality
It goes without saying that a good mattress should last a decent amount of time. Nothing is worse than buying something to have it fail on you within the first year of use.
A reliable way to determine quality is to read customer reviews on the mattress. Manufacturers always tend to exaggerate the quality of their products, so look at what other customers have to say before making your final decision.
Firmness
This really depends on your personal preference. Memory foam mattresses are the softer among the bunch but still offer great support. In general, firmer mattresses keep their shape and spring a bit longer, so it may be a good idea to get a firmer RV mattress if you are planning to use it a lot.
Comfort
As with any mattress, comfort is a big selling point. There is no point in shelling out for a mattress if sleeping on it is uncomfortable. If you are buying online, you can’t really test out the mattress before buying. Once again, make sure to check out other customer reviews to see what people are saying about comfort.
Warranty
Like any product, mattresses sometimes fail. That’s why it is a good idea to check out warranties on products. Ideally, you should choose something of good quality that won’t break but sometimes stuff happens. It is good to have a contingency plan if your mattress unexpectedly fails.
Risk-Free Trial
One very last thing but certainly not the least. If the manufacturer offers a trial period to allow you to try the mattress to see if you really like it and to return it if you don’t, that’s a big plus! Especially when you are buying online.
This gives you peace of mind because if for any reason, you don’t like the mattress, you can return it and get your money back.
Final Thoughts
The best RV mattress will end up being the one that’s the best fit for you.
You need to ask yourself if you want a soft or firm mattress, as well as what kind of ventilation, mattress size, and other factors are important to you.
While all the mattresses here offer a good level of comfort, we think the Live & Sleep Resort Classic Mattress is the big winner. It offers a good balance of firmness and softness and is super comfortable.
We can see why some customers with back issues have reported sleeping all through the night and waking up with no more pain. It’s a great value at the price it’s at and beats the competition through its awesome comfort, the 30-night sleep trial, plus the 20-year warranty. We don’t think you’ll go wrong with this one.
