America’s Original RV Newsletter. Since 2001
Issue 1253
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Today’s thought
“Live your life by a compass, not a clock.” —Stephen Covey
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Corn Dog Day!
On this day in history: 1928 – Charles Lindbergh is presented with the Medal of Honor for the first solo trans-Atlantic flight.
Featured news
The headlines are starting to sound familiar. Fuel prices are climbing, oil markets are jittery, and some analysts are warning that high gas prices could put a dent in RV travel this year. Today marks the official start of spring, and prices at the pump have continued to climb, by 28 cents since last week.
A new RV dump station locator is getting attention after a recent industry news release touted a cleaner interface, broader coverage, and tools to help RVers quickly find places to empty their tanks. On the surface, it sounds just like what RVers need, but when we checked it against real-world locations we already know, the results didn’t always line up.
Chiricahua National Monument in Arizona feels like one of those places you hesitate to talk about. The roads are quiet, and campsites can still be found. You feel like you have the place to yourself. But that may not last. A bill to redesignate Chiricahua as a national park has already passed the U.S. House, pushing the idea further than it’s gone in years. If it clears the Senate, this could become Arizona’s fourth national park.
The headlines are hard to ignore, especially as national park safety concerns start creeping into the conversation. Last week, one ran this way: “National Park Service Job Cuts Blamed For Murders Around Utah National Park: ‘Should’ve Been A Safe Place’”. A violent crime tied—at least loosely—to national parks. It’s enough to make any RVer pause. But step back for a moment, and a different picture comes into focus. The real concern isn’t what those headlines suggest. Here’s why.
A 23% increase from last spring, more than 34 million Americans plan to take an RV trip, according to the newly released Spring Travel Intention Survey from the RV Industry Association. As travelers prioritize affordability and flexibility, RVing offers the freedom to explore on their own terms. Here’s what spring RVers are prioritizing this year.
If Big Bend National Park has been on your radar, the chance to experience the Chisos Basin as it is now is running out. Beginning May 1, 2026, the National Park Service will close the entire Chisos Basin area for about two years to carry out major construction. Learn more.
Speaking of Texas… For the first time in more than 25 years, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is opening the gates to a state park in North Texas. Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, located between Abilene and the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, offers Texans 4,871 acres of former ranch land to hike, bike, fish, and explore. Check it out.
To continue to meet the needs of its visitors, Washington State Parks is increasing some fees in 2026 and early 2027. The fee increases include the Senior Off-Season Pass, non-resident reservation fee, and roofed accommodation fees. Here are the price increases.
Camping World lawsuit headlines are suddenly everywhere. If you’ve seen them, you might be wondering what just broke and whether it affects RV buyers. Short answer: Nothing suddenly “broke.” But something has been shifting. After Camping World’s stock took a couple of sharp hits following recent earnings reports, a familiar chain reaction kicked in. Investors who lost money began filing claims, and law firms quickly followed. Continue reading.
A Texas RV fire involving fireworks presented a safety lesson in dramatic fashion this week. In northwest Harris County, what began as a fire involving an RV didn’t stay contained for long. The fire spread to a nearby shipping container full of fireworks, and suddenly, explosions were popping off across the scene. This is nuts (and scary!).
RVers have been living with small-scale solar for years. Now, a similar idea is starting to move into the residential world. Plug-in solar, a simplified way to generate a bit of your own power at home, is gaining traction in Western states and beyond. But it’s more complicated than just setting a panel on the porch and plugging it in.
Beyond the headlines with Tony Barthel
RVs are getting cooler, RVing is less cool, and some cool RVs
RV A/C tech is finally getting an upgrade—but that’s just one part of a bigger story. This week’s headlines dive into new cooling systems shaking up the industry, growing frustrations among RVers, a surprising new law on fifth wheel length, and what the future of RV design could look like. Click here to read Tony’s weekly news analysis.
RV review
2026 Coachmen RV Freedom Express Select 249SE— “One of the best no-slide campers ever”
After more than 17 years around RVs, Josh the RV Nerd at Bish’s RV calls the 2026 Coachmen RV Freedom Express Select 249SE one of the best no-slide couple’s campers he’s ever seen. This trailer leans into classic camping roots, but it still brings modern essentials: a private rear true-queen bedroom, a tall 6’9″ ceiling, and a front lounge that feels wide-open, thanks to full front window coverage. Check it out.
News briefs
The National Park Service recorded 323,014,305 recreation visits in 2025, including 13,016,577 overnight stays and more than 1.38 billion visitor hours. Despite a 43-day partial government shutdown, parks remained largely accessible—and 26 parks set new visitation records.
Did you know? The average national park visitor spends 4–6 hours inside a park.
More than half of campers (52.2%) took at least one RV or trailer trip in 2025, according to The Dyrt’s 2026 Camping Report. Campgrounds are responding to demand, with 51.6% of expanding properties adding more RV sites, compared to 27.4% adding tent sites and 21% adding glamping options.
A new Washington law signed March 16 will standardize how fifth-wheel trailers are measured, ensuring they comply with the state’s 46-foot limit. Backed by RV dealers and the RV Industry Association, the change aims to provide clarity and certainty for manufacturers, sellers, and buyers.
Authorities in California’s San Joaquin County are investigating the abrupt closure of Carson Pass RV in Lockeford after multiple customers reported financial losses and missing RVs. At least one couple says they are out $10,000 after leaving their trailer with the dealership to sell, only to find the business closed and their RV gone.
In case you missed it… What if RV influencing didn’t start with Instagram or YouTube—but 50 years ago? In Episode 590 of the RV Podcast, Mike and Jennifer Wendland share the story of a true road-life pioneer and sit down with RVtravel.com founder Chuck Woodbury for his candid take on how it all began and where it’s headed today.
Washington’s National Park Fund has awarded a record $2.28 million in grants to support Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic national parks. The funding will back more than 40 projects, including conservation, research, volunteer programs, and visitor improvements, as donors step up amid rising visitation and limited federal resources.
Oregon State Parks will host Spring Whale Watch Week March 21–29, with volunteers and rangers stationed at 15 coastal sites to help visitors spot migrating gray whales. About 13,000 whales are expected to pass by this season.
Mississippi’s Clarkco State Park reopened Thursday after a two-year renovation with upgraded amenities and modernized facilities. The 815-acre park near the Alabama line now features 43 full-hookup RV sites, renovated cabins, a lodge and bathhouse.
New Mexico’s Bandelier National Monument has begun seasonal free shuttle service to Frijoles Canyon. Service begins daily at 10:30 a.m. at the Frey Trail parking lot.
National Park Service rangers and Carlisle, Pennsylvania, police have arrested a 36-year-old man on two felony counts of allegedly carving his initials into two monuments in Gettysburg National Military Park. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine per count, plus more than $11,000 in restitution.
The National Park Service is warning visitors around Lake Powell in the Glen Canyon area to watch for quicksand, an alert that covers more than 1 million acres across Arizona and Utah. The conditions come as water levels at Lake Powell continue to drop. Visitors in the area are advised to stay close to canyon walls and hike with a buddy.
Escape Trailer is recalling some 2025 E17, E19, E21, E5.0 travel trailers. The spare tire carrier may detach from the trailer during transit. Info: 604-703-1650.
A sticky situation… A California highway was closed for nearly nine hours after a truck overturned and spilled hundreds of gallons of maple syrup onto the 10 Freeway in Fontana on March 16. Crews had to hose down the sticky mess before reopening the road Monday evening.
The National Mall cherry blossoms are expected to be at their peak bloom March 29-April 1 this year. Plan your visit, and quickly!
Officials say avian flu (H5N1) has killed at least 16 elephant seals, along with a sea lion and an otter, at Año Nuevo State Park in California. The outbreak—marking the first detection of H5N1 in marine mammals in the state—has prompted closures of seal viewing areas as experts warn more cases are likely.
DON’T WAIT FOR THE NEWS: Did you know you can receive a daily roundup of the latest news for RVers? Delivered to your inbox Monday-Friday, we’ll send you the biggest headlines. Stay up to date, learn about important closures, recalls, and much more. Click here and subscribe to “Breaking RV News.”
Tanner Toons
with Tanner Woods
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Reader poll
If gas prices stay high—or rise even more—will it affect your summer RVing plans?
Upcoming RV shows & seminars. Click here.
**If you’re near Pomona, CA, be sure to see Dave Solberg at the very popular Ford Towing Bootcamp at the California RV Super Show today and tomorrow, March 21 and 22.
Brain teaser
What is unusual about the following words: revive, banana, grammar, voodoo, assess, potato, dresser, uneven?
(Answer in tomorrow’s Sunday RV Travel newsletter.)
Trivia
The letter “a” doesn’t appear in any written number until you reach “one thousand.”
Laugh of the week
Top scams RVers should watch for right now
Scammers are getting more convincing—and travelers are easy targets. Here are the three biggest scams happening right now:
• AI “family emergency” calls: A call from a loved one in trouble—but it’s actually AI voice cloning. They’ll urgently ask for money.
• Fake campground or RV rental listings: Too-good-to-be-true deals that require quick deposits through apps like Venmo or Zelle.
• Government impersonation scams: Calls or texts claiming you owe money or face arrest. Real agencies won’t demand immediate payment—especially not with gift cards or crypto.
THANK YOU! Wherever you are today—drive safe, enjoy the first days of spring, and thanks for being part of the RVtravel.com community.
Today in history
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RVtravel.com All Star Team
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Tony please list the companies that are proactively listening to their customers! Maybe others would follow?
I like this idea and, to be fair, they all have some degree of listening. But there’s a huge difference in listening and truly absorbing that input. I know I’m going to miss some but I think Alliance and Ember are high on the list of companies that listen to their buyers and act on those inputs.
Just a FYI – Georgia governor has just signed a bill suspending the gas tax for the next 60 days saving $ .33.3 for regular and $ .37.3 for diesel gas. It may take a few days for this to appear at all the gas stations. Might help your travel plans for the next 2 months.
Good news, good optics, good politics. One state down, 49 to go (plus territories, possessions, etc.).
Now if the Feds would do the same thing. Another 19¢.
They could reinstate the tax when the prices fall back to previous levels.
But we all know we will never see ↓$3 gas again.
I’m not sure I understand the confusion with measuring fifth wheels. How else would one measure the length?
Fifth Wheeler length is interesting, perhaps we should measure the length of the tow vehicle also. I have seen semi trucks towing Fifth wheelers.