Power and water are two elements that make RV camping more comfortable than tent camping. To harness these elements safely and effectively, you need to know how to hook up water to your RV and be familiar with the important RV power hookup basics. Luckily, we’ll walk you through both easy processes so you can enjoy reliable power and water when you arrive at camp.
It’s not mandatory to connect your RV to shore power first, but we’ll start there because it allows you to turn on key appliances like your air conditioner and refrigerator so they begin cooling while you’re completing the rest of your campsite setup checklist.
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ToggleWhat Is Shore Power For RVs?
Shore power is any power source provided by a campground, RV park, or even an outlet on the side of your friend’s garage. You’ll need to make sure that the power source is compatible with your RV’s internal electrical system. Most RVs will require either a 30-amp or 50-amp shore power connection.
Is My RV 30 or 50 Amp?

To check which electrical service your RV requires, look at the plug on your shore power cord. Thirty-amp plugs have three prongs, and fifty-amp plugs have four. You can also consult the RV manufacturer or a sales professional if you’re searching for RVs that require a specific electrical service. As some modern RVs don’t come with a wired electrical cord, understanding your camper’s power requirements is essential to choosing the correct power cord.
There may also be a warning label next to your power outlet stating the recommended amperage for your camper. Consult the campground in advance to ensure they offer the recommended electrical service for your RV. If not, you may still be able to stay there in a pinch, but you’ll need the appropriate electrical adapter, and you likely won’t enjoy the full functionality of your RV’s electrical system.
Do I Need an RV Power Adapter?

RV power adapters also allow you to plug a fifty-amp trailer into a thirty-amp service or vice versa. Adapters are also available to connect a 30-amp cord to a 110 VAC outlet, in addition to other applications. However, even with an adapter, you won’t get the full amperage that your coach’s power system is built for when connecting to an outlet with a lower-rated electrical service.
That means you CAN plug a 50-amp RV into a 30-amp plug or a 30-amp RV into a 110 VAC outlet, but you’ll need to be very strategic with your power usage. You must be careful not to run multiple large appliances at a time, such as two air conditioning units or the microwave and air conditioner, at the same time. Otherwise, you’ll run the risk of tripping an outlet or breaker (at best) or damaging your electrical system (at worst).
How To Connect An RV To Shore Power

Once you’ve sorted what kind of shore power connection you need, you’re ready to plug in your RV.
Step 1: Park, Level, and Stabilize
Complete parking, leveling, and stabilizing your RV or travel trailer before hooking up to shore power. Ensure your camper is exactly where you want it to be, and check that your power cord will reach the campground’s outlet before parking and disconnecting from your tow vehicle (for towable RVs only).
Here are some additional resources to help you with this step:
Step 2: Turn Appliances and Find Your Power Cord
Ensure your appliances (especially your A/C unit) are turned off, and find your power cord and surge protector. In some RVs, the power cord is coiled up in the same driver’s side compartment as your holding tank outlets. Others will have it in a separate storage area. Check around your RV or consult your owner’s manual to know where your power cord lives.
Technician Tip: It’s also good to shut everything down before disconnecting and storing your power cord when you’re ready to head down the road.
Step 3: Connect the Surge Protector First
Some power cords have an indicator light that turns on when plugged in. This light signals that you’re receiving power, but it doesn’t tell you anything about the quality of your electrical hookup.
That’s why we recommend using a surge protector. This accessory plugs into the electrical stand first. Once you’ve ensured that the breaker to your required electrical service is turned off, connect the surge protector, turn the breaker on, and check the lights or display on the surge protector. These indicate the quality of the electrical service and will alert you to potential issues before you plug in your power cord.
There are many surge protectors with different indicator lights and displays; some even provide info directly to a smartphone via Bluetooth. But on a basic level, they all protect your camper’s electrical system from power surges, shorts, high and low voltages, and other potentially dangerous electrical issues. So use one whenever connecting your RV to shore power or generator power.
Step 4: Plug-In Your Power Cord
Some power cords are hardwired in, so you’ll simply pull the cord out and plug it into the surge protector. Others will require you to connect one end to your RV’s outlet and the other to shore power. With the latter, we recommend plugging into the surge protector before connecting the other end to your RV’s power inlet.
Step 5: Check Your Systems
To check that you have power, go inside and look at your microwave. If the lights are on, you’re connected, but if you’re not getting power, check your trailer’s internal circuit breakers. If you’re still having issues, contact the campground, as they can most likely assist with power management at the park. You can also check the Camping World location directory to see if a nearby location offers mobile RV service.
Now that your RV is powered up, it’s time to ensure you have water for your RV kitchen and bathroom. For starters, it’s essential to understand where you’ll be getting your water: city water or your fresh water tank.
RV City Water Connection vs Fresh Water Tank

City water is general for any external water source at a campground, residence, or anywhere else your RV is parked. Some campgrounds get water from a well instead of the city, but the concept remains the same–you’re hooking your RV up to an externally pressurized water spigot, regardless of the water’s source.
On most RVs, the city water connection is located on the driver’s side exterior wall. This is a threaded connection that your potable water hose screws directly into. The connection to fill your fresh water tank, on the other hand, is a non-threaded opening that you set a hose into when refilling your tank.
Hooking Up an RV to City Water

Because we recommend that most new RV owners book a campground with full hookups for their shakedown trip, let’s begin with the steps for hooking up your RV to a city water connection.
Step 1: Get The Right Water Hose
To begin, find a hose that is drinking water-safe, often referred to as a potable water hose. The hose’s length will tell you how close you need to park to the water source. Most campsite spigots are next to the electric and sewer connections. A 50-foot water hose is an excellent place to start because it’s better to coil up a little extra hose than to come up short.
Step 2: Install a Pressure Regulator
Water pressure regulators reduce water pressure to a safe level for your RV’s internal plumbing. The best place to install one is between your water source and your hose.
Water pressures from city water connections vary dramatically. If you don’t use an RV pressure regulator, the risk of damaged hose fittings or cracked pipes increases. So does the likelihood of having to fix an expensive leak. Screw the female end of the regulator onto the water spigot, and then attach your hose to the male end.
Step 3: Install an Inline Filter
You can also install an inline water filter to your city water inlet before connecting your hose to filter your drinking water. Inline filters offer a male and a female end to screw right into your water hose and the city water connection. You can even attach your pressure regulator to the male end before connecting it to the water source.
These filters reduce the number of chemicals and contaminants that enter your RV’s plumbing. Because water quality standards vary from region to region, they are the best way to improve your water quality when traveling in an RV.
Under-sink filters and whole RV filtration systems are also great if you want to skip this step when hooking up to city water. Learn more about these filters and other methods to get clean drinking water in your RV.
Step 4: Install a Connector On Your RV
Now that one end of your hose is fitted with a regulator and filter and connected to your water source, it’s time to connect the other end of your RV. It’s a good idea to use a 90-degree connector or a flexible hose fitting.
If you connect your hose directly to your city water inlet, the weight of the hose can damage the inlet over time. This is why many city water inlets start to leak. Installing a 90-degree of flexible fitting takes the pressure off that inlet and maintains a leak-free connection.
Technician Tip: Once you have a pressure regulator, filter, and connector in place, go inside and partially open one of the faucets in your kitchen sink. This will reduce potential issues with excessive water pressure if your pressure regulator malfunctions.
Step 5: Turn on the Water
Then, turn on the city water, and your RV should be equipped with running water. Check all your faucets for adequate water pressure and make sure water isn’t dripping from the connection points at either end of your water hose outside.
If it is, shut the water off and check the O-rings on your hose and water pressure regulator. They should be present and in good condition to prevent leaks.
Here are a few more resources to help you further use and understand RV water systems:
- How To Fill an RV Fresh Water Tank
- How to Sanitize Your RV Fresh Water Tank
- How Long Does Propane Last In RV?
Now you’re ready to perform the final step of setting up an RV campsite: hooking up your sewer hose. Learn how to hook up and empty your RV holding tanks properly at a dump station here. From there, it’s time to kick back and enjoy the camping experience in comfort!
Do you have any questions or tips for hooking up an RV to power and water? Share them with your fellow RVers in the comments below.
Author
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Tucker Ballister is our Content Strategist. He grew up RV camping in a Fleetwood Bounder with his parents and has lived and camped in two motorhomes and two travel trailers to date. His current RV is a 2025 Campsite Ultra 26BW, which he loves taking on adventures from his home base in Western North Carolina. Check out more of his RV adventures, gear reviews, and outdoor advice at thebackpackguide.com.
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Hi, I have an rv I am using with water the first time. I hooked up my garden hose to city connection and water starting leaking out from a hose underneath the rv. I went inside and there was water all over the floor. Why did the water not go into the tank?
Hi Matt!
I’m really sorry to hear about your experience! Is this a new RV? I actually just ran into a new RV owner on a road trip who told me a very similar tale. For him, the issue was a fitting on the inside of the city water inlet that hadn’t been tightened properly by the manufacturer. This may, or may not, be the case in your situation, but the best way to find out is to have your RV inspected by our technical service team. Here’s where you can contact them: https://rv.campingworld.com/service
A couple additional notes:
I strongly recommend acquiring a water hose that’s rated for potable drinking water, such as those you can find here: https://www.campingworld.com/maintain-rv/fresh-water/fresh-water-hoses. A standard garden hose isn’t meant to provide safe drinking water for your RV.
You should also be utilizing a water pressure regulator and water filter when connecting to city water. You can learn more about them in these tutorials:
https://blog.campingworld.com/learn-to-rv/why-you-need-a-water-pressure-regulator-for-your-rv/
https://blog.campingworld.com/learn-to-rv/how-to-get-clean-drinking-water-in-your-rv/
Hope that helps!
Hola mi rv colem no sale el agua de la ciudad no se que hacer me gustaría que me dieran una solución gracias
Hola,
¿Puede contarme más sobre los pasos que está tomando para conectar al agua de la ciudad?
¿Ha utilizado antes la conexión de agua de la ciudad sin problemas?
¿Se ha preparado el RV para el invierno?
I see 30 amp and 50 amp surge protectors on here, on the hyperlink. Is there anything I should know as far as using them? And how do I determine which to use? Which surge protector is the best and simplest to use, not wanting to add an app to my phone for it?
Hi Mary,
The right surge protector amperage depends on whether you have a 30-amp or 50-amp travel trailer. Here’s our article with tips for choosing an RV surge protector: https://blog.campingworld.com/learn-to-rv/how-to-choose-an-rv-surge-protector/
Let me know if you have any follow up questions!
When charging the 12 volt battery on my 2021 17′ Casita to what position should the switch key on the inside Rv panel be? 12 o’clock or 3 o’clock?
Hi Steve,
According to the Casita website, the user should rotate the switch counterclockwise to the 6 O’Clock “off” position for storage, and clockwise to the 10 O’Clock “on” position for use. If the switch was installed differently at the factory or following service work, just know that the red key can be removed in the “off” position but not in the “on” position. Anytime the unit is being used in any way, including towing or battery charging, the battery disconnect switch must be in the “on” position.
Let us know if you have any follow up questions!
Hola mi rv colem no sale el agua de la ciudad no se que hacer me gustaría que me dieran una solución gracias
Hola,
¿Puede contarme más sobre los pasos que está tomando para conectar al agua de la ciudad?
¿Ha utilizado antes la conexión de agua de la ciudad sin problemas?
¿Se ha preparado el RV para el invierno?