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. Would you like to buy a new mattress but you are not sure which one is best for you? Go to our best mattresses guide and find a list of great options.
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: Its 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 of 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. If you’re looking for another comfortable option, check out the Serenia 8 inch Memory Foam RV Mattress, which comes in a variety of sizes, from the Short Queen which measures 60 x 75 inches to the Regular Queen that’s 60 x 80 inches. This is a CentiPUR-US certified product so you’ll know you’re getting the best quality for the best price with this product. Add a mattress topper as well if you’re looking for even more comfort. 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 innerspring 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 a 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 comfort 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 shipped 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 a moisture-controlling design. If your RV is heading into warm or humid places, this mattress will help create a comfortable air layer important for 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. Live & Sleep has other great options as well, like the Medium Plush Memory Foam Mattress which has good motion isolation to reduce motion transfer. Its responsive memory foam gives your pressure points great relief while also providing you with cool sleep during those warmer nights. Might you be interested in a mattress that can act as a bed, lounger, or couch? Open our best twin futon guide.
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 who need a good night’s sleep. Fortunately, RV mattresses are available in all the same materials that regular mattresses have, each with its 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 densities 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 cool 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.
