America’s Original RV Newsletter. Since 2001
Issue 1247
Ads have been removed in this newsletter
for our much-appreciated volunteer paid subscribers.
Today’s thought
“The traveler sees what he sees. The tourist sees what he has come to see.” ―Lawrence Durrell
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Fettuccini Alfredo Day! To celebrate, we’ve cooked up a few delicious recipes for you.
On this day in history: 1940 – The second full-length animated Walt Disney film, “Pinocchio”, premieres. (The first was “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”.)
Featured news
Love’s plans to open 23 new RV Stops in 2026, bringing the network to more than 140 camping locations. It will also begin selling RV tires and batteries this spring—available at 79 locations that have truck care and RV hookups. Read more.
The Starlink Mini has dropped back to $299, matching a deal RVers responded to strongly the last time it appeared. If this sounds familiar, you’re not imagining things. If you skipped the deal before because you weren’t ready, you might want to consider purchasing now, because availability is the big variable here.
Speaking of Starlink… A recent Starlink privacy policy update says the company may use some customer data to help train AI tools. While not tied to message monitoring or direct surveillance, the change is prompting privacy questions among RVers who depend on the satellite service for daily connectivity.
A new proposal in Washington, D.C., aims to significantly expand dedicated truck parking nationwide, adding hundreds of facilities over the next several years. The plan is designed to address a long-standing shortage of safe, legal parking for commercial drivers—but because trucks and RVs rely on the same rest areas and roadside stops, the changes could have immediate impacts for RVers, as well.
A fatal RV fire in Pennsylvania has been linked to a portable space heater. Authorities say the blaze spread rapidly through the RV, and despite rescue efforts, a woman died. The tragedy highlights the heightened fire risks associated with space heater use in RVs. Here’s the story, and a word of caution.
If you’ve been keeping an eye on the used RV market and wondering whether things are finally calming down, the short answer is yes. Not crashing. Not rebounding wildly. Just… settling. After years of sharp swings—first the buying frenzy, then the pullback—the used RV market has slowed into a steadier rhythm that gives shoppers more time, more choice, and more leverage than they’ve had. Continue reading.
Strange wildlife encounters are happening across our national parks… A coyote swimming to an island prison. Tropical parrots turning up in the desert. Wolves strolling past stopped traffic as if the road were theirs. These moments are rare, unpredictable, and part of what makes America’s parks endlessly fascinating. And yes, these wildlife sightings are true.
The Missouri Route 66 Centennial Commission, in partnership with The Road Ahead Partnership, has announced the full schedule for the National Route 66 Centennial Kickoff Celebration. Springfield is internationally recognized as the Birthplace of Route 66 and will host the three-day national event April 30–May 2, 2026. Here’s what you can look forward to.
Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow on Monday, February 2nd, Groundhog Day, which means the little furry meteorologist has predicted six more weeks of winter. Meanwhile, for our friends in the North, it seems your groundhogs (and lobster) have a different outlook…
A brutal polar vortex pushed temperatures well below freezing this past week. It’s been below freezing for several days in a row! Plummeting temps caused the mist that rises from Niagara Falls to freeze on contact. The result? Huge ice mounds and otherworldly frosty plumes. But did the falls really freeze, like much of the internet is claiming? Find out here.
Automakers like Ford and Stellantis have shifted their strategy from fully electric pickups to extended-range electric models, which use a gasoline engine to charge the battery and extend driving range up to 700 miles. EREV pickups are designed to address concerns over limited range and long charging times that challenged the adoption of earlier EV trucks.
New column! Beyond the headlines with Tony Barthel
RV news analysis for February 1–7
First column begins today
BATTERY RISKS • BIG BOX RV SALES • PRIVACY CONCERNS • MORE
Tony Barthel’s Beyond the Headlines delivers a weekly deep dive into the RV news that matters most to RVers. His first roundup, today, tackles battery controversies, big-box RV sales partnerships, space heater risks, and data privacy concerns—all through the lens of real-world industry experience. Don’t miss the week’s biggest stories, with Tony giving you the insider scoop and the truth beyond the headlines.
RV review
2026 Panoramic RV Perspective Class B: A small van that includes everything
The 2026 Perspective Class B might just change how you think about compact campers. This van-style RV is best suited for a single traveler or a couple who love year-round capability without the hassle of a bulky rig. The Perspective is roomy enough to live in for extended trips but still nimble on winding backroads and easy to park in tight spots. Check it out.
News briefs
As of yesterday, all Florida driver’s license examinations will be administered only in English. Previously, exams for most non-commercial driver licenses were offered in multiple languages.
South Badwater Road in Death Valley National Park is open again following months of closures from extensive flash flood damage.
The campgrounds at Missouri’s Weston Bend State Park and Lewis and Clark State Park will reopen May 1 with new and updated services, including a shower house and many sites with full hookups. Reservation info.
California drivers could see higher gas prices now that Valero shut down its Benicia refinery weeks earlier than planned. The facility has supplied about 9% of the state’s gasoline.
Nine in 10 Americans believe we’re in a “cost-of-living crisis,” according to a new survey of 5,000 Americans conducted by Talker Research. The situation will worsen in 2026, according to 46% of those surveyed.
Officials say plans are in place to humanely trap and remove the coyote that recently swam to Alcatraz Island if it does not leave on its own. Park staff intend to relocate the animal to a more suitable habitat outside San Francisco, likely near its original home range.
In honor of George Washington’s birthday, Florida State Parks will offer free admission from Friday, Feb. 13, through Monday, Feb. 16.
Grand Design is recalling certain 2026 Solitude fifth wheel trailers and Lineage motorhomes equipped with ThermaHeat Tank Pads. The water tanks’ heating pads may experience high resistance and fail, possibly due to improperly attached electrical
terminals within the heating pad. Learn more.
… Speaking of Grand Design recalls, here’s yet another one. This time it’s for certain 2025-2026 Lineage motorhomes. The seat base on the driver and front passenger seat may have been improperly tightened, causing the base to become loose. Not good! Read about it here.
If you think rattlesnakes are bad, at least you don’t live in Indonesia, where the world’s longest snake (a reticulated python) was just discovered, measuring 23 feet and 8 inches in length.
RANDOM RV THOUGHT: You plan healthy camp meals. Then smell someone grilling burgers. Plans change fast.
Reader poll
If the speed limit is 60, how fast will you typically go when driving/towing your RV?
Polls from the past week:
- Are you excited about your life?
- Do you color your hair?
- How old are you?
- Have you recently quit associating with someone over differing political beliefs?
- Do you think you’ll ever become a full-time RVer?
Upcoming RV shows & seminars. Click here.
Brain teaser
A man wanted to encrypt his password but he needed to do it in a way so that he could remember it. He had to use seven characters consisting of letters and numbers only (no symbols like ! or <). In order to remember it, he wrote down “You force heaven to be empty.” What is his password?
(Answer in tomorrow’s Sunday RV Travel newsletter.)
Trivia
Taos, New Mexico, is home to the mysterious Taos Hum—a low-frequency sound that some residents and visitors have reported hearing since the early 1990s. Only about 2% of people can hear it. Scientists have yet to understand its source. Have you heard it?
Laugh of the week
Saturday sillies
The perfect scam
A $7.5 Million Lie: PCH Sweepstakes Scam Targets Veteran
When Manny, an Air Force veteran living in Las Vegas, loses his wife of 62 years, he turns to playing Publishers Clearing House online games to help ease his loneliness. He is thrilled when, one day, he receives a call from Publishers Clearing House informing him that he has won a $7.5 million prize, but first he must pay fees to release the prize money. The scam continues for months, draining Manny’s savings, until Manny’s daughter receives a call from an FBI agent. The story has a hopeful ending as local media and businesses come to Manny’s aid.
Today in history
Today’s weather forecast across the nation
THIS MAP UPDATES TWICE A DAY
Visit Current National Radar Weather Map
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
Click here for information about our staff and how to contact us.
The new Lompoc RV park looks pretty sparse and a challenge to back a long trailer in. Think I will skip that one. 😂
My thought exactly! It looks nice enough, but any new construction that features sites perpendicular to the access drive just shows a lack of understanding of how things work.
What’s scenic about the Lompoc RV campground?! Definitely something to skip.
I know someone who fell for the PCH Sweepstakes Scam and lost a few thousand dollars before we stopped her.
Spoiler alert: u4h2bmt, he’d just have to remember any capital letter he used
Not supposed to post the answer dude. Plus, U R wrong!
Hi, Gary. I was going to delete Tim’s answer, but since it’s wrong I decided to leave it.🤣 Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Re: “RANDOM RV THOUGHT” hamburgers are healthy!
Congratulations to the entire RVTravel team for having a profit that was at a minimum, $100,000,000.00 higher than the profit of The Washington Post, in 2024. That is impressive. Job well done, Happy Trails ✌️😎.
Wow and double Wow! Where did you find that Cancel? Are you talking dollars or value? Ha!
WAPO lost >$100 mil. in 2024. Regardless that detail, RVTRAVEL.COM is the better publication of the 2 for content, honest journalism and importance, plus now even for the P&L and balance sheet it appears.
✌️😎
The Lompoc park has pads at 90 degrees to the direction of travel. Evidence the designers and builders never towed or drove an RV. They should have made the pads at 45 degrees to the direction of travel. SMH because the Lompoc area is an interesting area.
29% of all traffic fatalities are caused by speeding vehicles that kill almost 12,000 people a year. Think about that the next time you feel the speed limit doesn’t pertain to you. 12,000!!! In addition the “speed limit” is not a requirement the speed you “have” to go. If the speed limit is 65….it’s ok to go 60 if you want. People just need to slow down. Unless it’s an absolute emergency, there’s just no reason to speed.
Thanks for Tony’s new column. I always enjoy the info he provides!