America’s Original RV Newsletter. Since 2001
Issue 1238
Ads have been removed in this newsletter
for our much-appreciated volunteer paid subscribers.
Today’s thought
“Travel is a search for the edges of what we know and what we think we know.” —Kate Harris
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Microwave Oven Day! How thrilling!
On this day in history: 1897 – London becomes the world’s first city to host licensed taxicabs.
AI dynamic pricing hits campgrounds nationwide as rates change by the minute
Campground prices are changing fast, and the trend is hitting campgrounds nationwide. AI and dynamic pricing are now driving campground and RV park rates up or down in real time based on demand, dates, and even weather. Jason Epperson of RV Miles breaks down how these new systems work, where they’re spreading across the country, and what campers can do to avoid paying more than expected. Here’s the story (and video).
Featured news
Starting Jan. 1, 2026, a new national park ID requirement will take effect at many of America’s busiest parks. The change may slow entry lines for millions of visitors. Everyone age 16 and older will need to show a government-issued photo ID at the gate. This is a shift aimed at enforcing new residency-based fees that begin next year. Learn more.
Taylor County is experiencing one of the biggest RV booms in Texas history. The county’s largest project, Elmdale—a 2,313-site RV park—is moving forward alongside another proposed development: the Cottages at The Frontier, a 1,000-unit RV park. Both are being built primarily to house construction crews and executives working on nearby AI and data center projects. But once those jobs wrap up, a big question hangs in the air: Who will fill thousands of newly built RV pads?
If you’ve ever struggled to snag a campsite in a popular Oregon state park, Oregon’s latest move might catch your attention. Facing a multimillion-dollar budget gap and fed up with empty sites caused by late cancellations, the state is weighing a major overhaul of how its parks operate—from refunds to pricing to perks for passholders. And for campers watching from other states: Could these changes be coming your way next? (The answer is yes, probably!)
A new campground near Capitol Reef National Park is on the horizon. It could make finding a legal, level place to park a lot easier along busy Utah State Route 24. The Bureau of Land Management plans to turn the Beas Lewis Flat area into a managed campground. The campground will welcome RV travelers with improved sanitation, clearly marked sites, and protections for the desert landscape under heavy use. Learn more.
Investigators say an RV refrigerator fire likely sparked the blaze that killed three family members early on November 25 in Lexington, North Carolina. Deputy Fire Marshal John Webster of the Davidson County Fire Marshal’s Office confirmed, “The most probable cause of the fire was an unspecified failure of the refrigerator inside the motorhome.” Refrigerator fires are a serious concern for many RVers. Here’s the (sad) story.
We wrote an article last month where we asked, “Is it safe to camp beneath trees during a windstorm? Every year, falling limbs and tree failures damage RVs and injure people in campgrounds. It doesn’t take much wind to take a tree down or its branches.” Now comes word of such an accident that took the life of a young boy. The tragic event should serve as a reminder to others who camp or otherwise spend time in wooded areas.
On December 17 at 8:30 a.m., the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, NC, will mark the 122nd anniversary of the world’s first powered flight. Admission to the park will be free for the day. If you have never visited this historic site, this is an excellent time to do it.
A new RV RoadSigns forecast from ITR Economics confirms that 2026 RV shipments are expected to land in the mid-300,000s. For 2025, shipments are projected to finish between 334,000 and 345,400 units. In 2026, the outlook rises slightly to 332,100–366,000 units, a 2.8% increase over the expected 2025 total. Here’s what all those numbers mean.
RV review
Cowboys, cowgirls and Western fans will love this new Airstream
If you’re a cowboy or a cowgirl, or you think of yourself as one at heart, you might just fall in love with this new Airstream Stetson + 6666 Special Edition Travel Trailer. The interior’s appearance is striking with a warmer feel and a Western theme. Here’s a brief look at this new (and very different) Airstream. Production of the model will begin next month.
News briefs
A fire at National RV Detroit sent smoke and flames shooting into the sky last Saturday afternoon, drawing the attention of drivers on nearby Interstate 94. Inside the dealership, employees and visitors rushed out as a growing blaze consumed part of the building. Eleven fire crews were on the scene by 4:30 a.m. Watch the video—yikes!
Campground Views, founded in 2012 by longtime RVtravel.com friend Mark Koep, is reshaping how RVers plan camping trips. On Tuesday, Koep was featured by Forbes in an article titled “The Founder Behind the Mission to Transform Outdoor Travel.” Nice, Mark!
Ya like birds? Then maybe plan a visit to Bryce Canyon National Park for its annual Christmas Bird Count on Saturday, Dec. 20th. Last year’s volunteers counted nearly 800 birds from 36 species. The event is free, and everyone is welcome, from novice to dedicated birders.
Alaska State Park annual parking decals are now available for $60 for the rest of 2025 and all of 2026. Buy them online.
For 2026, most Medicare enrollees will see their monthly premiums increase by an average of 9.7%. That means the average Medicare user will pay $202.90 monthly, a $17.90 increase from the 2025 monthly premium of $185.00.
Winnebago Industries has been named one of America’s “Most Responsible Companies” by Newsweek for the fourth year in a row.
SPOTTED! A remote camera in southern Arizona captured a previously unknown jaguar, marking the fifth spotted in the region over the past 15 years. Researchers identified the big cat by its unique rosette pattern and say its presence signals continued recovery for the endangered species. The University of Arizona team is now collecting scat for genetic testing to learn more about the jaguar’s sex, origins, and diet.
Grand Canyon National Park will implement water restrictions on the South Rim starting today, December 6, due to significant breaks in the 12½-mile-long Transcanyon waterline. Only dry camping will be permitted. Spigot access at Mather Campground will be turned off, though faucets in bathrooms will still operate.
Amazon is testing self-serve kiosks for product returns inside Goodwill thrift stores, starting with 21 locations in the Seattle area. Amazon already offers the service at Kohl’s and Staples stores.
Lippert is recalling certain hydraulic pump brackets with part number 707427 installed on Forest River Forester and Sunseeker RVs. The pump bracket may fracture and detach. Learn more here.
Ha ha….
Raccoon breaks into liquor store, found passed out in bathroom
A drunken raccoon liquor store break-in in Virginia ended with a trashed shop, smashed bottles, and one very hungover “trash panda” (slang for raccoon). The latter was found snoozing in the bathroom after an apparent late-night whiskey binge. Wait until you see the photos…
NOW YOU KNOW… From the book, Word and Phrase Origins by Robert Hendrickson: Christmas card. “The idea for the Christmas card was conceived in 1843 by Sir Henry Cole, the Englishman who drew the sketch for the world’s first postage stamp, the Penny Black. Cole suggested the idea to Royal Academician John Horsley, who designed the card, which depicted three generations of a family toasting the season with wine. About 1,000 of the cards sold that first year, a figure that would rise to billions.”
Reader poll
What’s going on your perfect hot dog?
TAKE A GUESS: RVtravel.com readers say THIS is the decade when “old age” begins. Is it: Your 60s? 70s? 80s? or 90s? Find out here.
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Stay in this little remote slice of heaven. No RV needed
By J.R. Montigel
Okay. We’ll be honest. We realize this is about a place in Alaska that few, if any, of you will ever visit. But we came across the photo above from the Bureau of Land Management and we knew we had to share it with you. We had to!! Yes, it would have been more appropriate if the cabin were an RV. But, frankly, if given the opportunity to spend a few nights here without my RV, I’d take it. Would you?
Brain teaser
The number 8,549,176,320 is a unique number. What is so special about it?
(Answer in tomorrow’s Sunday RV Travel newsletter.)
Trivia
While Evel Knievel (famous motorcyclist stuntman and daredevil) never actually broke “every bone in his body,” ultimately, the 433 broken bones he suffered during his career earned an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records as the survivor of “most bones broken in a lifetime.”
FREE IS GOOD! At Papa Murphy’s: Now through Monday, buy one Large or Family Size Pizza, get one FREE! Use online code BOGO at checkout.
Laugh of the week
The perfect scam
Scam Interception: How an NYPD Detective Tackles NFL Ticket Fraud
Hilarie, a dedicated Philadelphia sports fan, plans a weekend doubleheader to attend both a Phillies and an Eagles game with a friend. After successfully purchasing Phillies tickets through a Facebook resale group, she uses the same method for Eagles tickets—only to discover the promised tickets never arrive. Meanwhile, the NFL notices a rise in ticket fraud and seeks assistance from the NYPD. Detective Mike McCaffrey identifies the culprit, Nikhil Mahtani, who has defrauded sports fans and stolen thousands of dollars in a massive, multi-state ticket scam spanning five years.
Today in history
Today’s weather forecast across the nation
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Headed on an unfamiliar highway? Learn if it has low bridges you might not fit under.
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RVtravel.com All Star Team
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Why would anyone want to go to 2000 plus site campground? Defeats the purpose of camping.
Answer: The intended occupants (at least initially) are not campers. They will be workers temporarily (couple years?) needing housing in that locale. My guess is after a few years, much of the land would be repurposed.
No, it will wind up a low-income housing park for people with no better choice than to live in rows in a parking lot. Or clueless travelers who think that’s ‘camping’.
Right now they’re trying to find space for all the transient workers building the massive AI centers. After they leave I can see students from the three universities in Abilene moving in. However, on the news one of the proposed cottages officials said when the building boom is over they plan to remove the cottages and repurpose the land.
And another Lippert recall hits the RV world. I was about to replace the “piece of s..t” Lippert Level Leg jacks with Big Foot jacks, but since Lippert bought Big Foot I am looking around for another company.
I can see the AI reservation system increasing prices as the number of available sites in the park decreases. A typical supply and demand increase in prices.
We almost always reserve sites far in advance for planned trips.
I have reservations for two week stays made for May and September of next year. Also have the overnight stops scheduled.
We avoid any holiday or special occasion trips.
Yikes! Can you imagine AI bidding wars?
AAA National Average price for regular gasoline:
$2.96/gallon
Under $3.00/gal. for the first time in over 4 years.
GREAT NEWS FOR RVers so get out and enjoy our marvelous country if you can.
Don’t move to PA. With our exorbitant gas tax, we’re still over $3.30 and going up.
Plus the tax is set to go up.
What I can’t understand is why in NEPA the price of gas is all over the place. By my house the cheapest price is $3.05 gallon. A 20 minute drive I can get gas closer to $2.95 Gallon. Around the same areas some stations want about $3.20 gallon. Many times I go to farmers markets in Allentown or Lewisburg and gas is under $3.00 gallon. Stations around a 30 mile radius get the gas at the same place 15 minutes from my house.
That can’t be! Just 6 months ago DJT said gas is less than $1.99 a gallon. And we all know he’s never wrong. Just ask him.
That story will change the next time he open his mouth.
He changes his mind more often than most people change their underwear.
Triggered.
No doubt Wallace, he stepped in it on that non-factual statement 100% and yes, many other exaggerations as well. He should just let the facts stand as facts on their own instead of padding them, like the fact his energy policy is working and gas is down almost $1.00/gallon over the last 11 months.
Other exaggerations like inflation under Biden was the very worst in history when factually is was only the worst in 43 years. Yup, he steps on his own message quite often. Overselling when the product actually sells itself.