America’s Original RV Newsletter. Since 2001
Issue 1262
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Today’s thought
“The brave die never, though they sleep in dust: Their courage nerves a thousand living men.” —Minot J. Savage
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Lucky Penny Day!
On this day in history: 1980 – “The Shining,” the psychological horror film directed by Stanley Kubrick, premiered on 10 screens in New York City and Los Angeles on the Memorial Day weekend. Have you seen it?
Featured news
Congress backs away from deep national park cuts
The House Appropriations Committee recently backed away from some of the deepest proposed cuts to the National Park Service, approving a spending bill that keeps most core park operations funding in place. Deeper cuts could have made staffing shortages, delayed maintenance projects, and other visitor-service problems worse at parks dealing with heavy crowds. But will this actually make a difference on the ground this summer?
Some of America’s best-rated campgrounds are still free. Why more RVers may be looking for them
Campground rates seem to keep climbing, but not every great campsite comes with a hefty price tag. A newly released list from The Dyrt highlights America’s best free campgrounds—places where RVers trade luxury amenities for stunning scenery, peace and quiet, and a campsite bill of exactly $0. See which campgrounds made the list.
Feds warn of scammers demanding payments for traffic violations
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is warning Americans of scammers claiming to be from NHTSA and demanding payment for traffic violations. These messages often refer to fake judges, case numbers, and serious consequences to appear more official and scare recipients into clicking a link and paying. Do not fall for this!
Campgrounds keep adding amenities. Are RVers getting more value—or just higher rates?
Campgrounds keep adding new amenities, but this one may surprise you: on-site bars and breweries. Some Wisconsin campgrounds are now serving drinks as part of a growing trend toward destination-style camping. Is this giving RVers more value—or just another reason campground rates keep rising? Read more and decide for yourself.
Exploding bear spray cans spark growing safety problem near national parks
Millions of visitors buy bear spray before visiting national parks—but what happens when the trip is over? A growing problem near Yellowstone is revealing an unexpected hazard: Discarded bear spray cans are exploding inside garbage trucks and trash compactors, exposing workers to powerful irritants. This is not good!
Starlink just raised prices again and some RVers will feel it
For RV owners who rely on Starlink to stay connected from remote campsites, boondocking spots, and seasonal winter destinations, another round of price increases is on the way. The latest changes affect several Starlink plans, including the Roam service popular with RV travelers and the Standby Mode option many seasonal users depend on when they’re not actively using the system. More info here.
No relief at the pump for Memorial Day travelers
As holiday travelers start hitting the road in record numbers, Memorial Day weekend gas prices are the highest they’ve been in four years. According to AAA, the national average for a gallon of regular was $4.56 on Thursday, up 3 cents over last week and far higher than the $2.98 average right before the war in Iran began. Learn more.
One RV. Several snakes. A lighter. What could possibly go wrong?
What could go wrong with that scenario? Apparently, quite a lot. Authorities in Arkansas say an attempt to deal with snakes in an RV ended with two destroyed campers, damage to three other vehicles, and felony charges after a fire spread through part of an RV park. If somebody asked how the story would end, we’d probably guess “not well.” We still wouldn’t have guessed this badly.
California expands digital driver’s license options
Now, California residents can store digital driver’s licenses and state IDs in Samsung Wallet, giving Samsung smartphone users another option alongside the CA DMV Wallet, Apple Wallet, and Google Wallet. California launched its mobile driver’s license pilot program in 2023 as part of a broader effort to modernize DMV services. Here are the details.
Visit the Planet of the Apes
It’s late notice, but if you happen to be in Southern California tomorrow, you might want to head over Malibu Creek State Park in Calabasas for a trip down movie-memory lane. Since the era of silent movies, the area has been the backdrop of countless films and TV shows including the original Planet of the Apes and M.A.S.H. Join guide Mike Malone for a 3-mile moderate hike to where intelligent apes and Korean War surgeons once roamed. Meet in the park’s main trailhead parking lot by the restrooms at 10 a.m. Rain cancels. For more details, contact dean.arnold333@gmail.com.
RV review
The “apocalypse” camper is here, and it has bear-spray cannons
Some RVs come with solar panels. Some come with outdoor kitchens. This one comes with bullet-resistant windows, blast shields, night-vision cameras, a Geiger counter, a gun safe, a flare launcher, and four remotely activated bear-spray cannons. Yep. It’s real. The new Mammoth Overland XLE—short for “Xtinction-Level Escape”—looks like somebody combined an off-road trailer, a survival bunker, and an overlanding trailer, then decided it still needed a few more gadgets. Check this beast out!
NEW! Be sure to sign up for our weekly email digest of all our RV reviews for the past week.
Beyond the headlines with Tony Barthel
GM’s surprise exit (not good), industry insights, and RV tech careers
GM is pulling the plug on another vehicle platform used in the RV world, leaving manufacturers scrambling once again. Tony also sits in on the RV Industry Power Breakfast, where executives discuss rising prices, fewer camping nights, unhappy owners, AI’s impact on RV sales, and the industry’s growing technician shortage. What they said—and what Tony thinks they should have said—makes for some interesting reading.
Tanner Toons
with Tanner Woods
FREE ENTRY! Blue Star Museums, a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families, is now offering free admission to more than 2,000 museums to active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve, through September 7.
News briefs
If you have been waiting for a good summer to point your RV north, 2026 just might be the year! Parks Canada and the Government of Canada say the Canada Strong Pass will bring free admission to Parks Canada places from June 19 through September 7, 2026. And that’s not all! Here are the biggest travel savings Parks Canada has offered for campers and RVers.
Yosemite National Park is a beautiful place and often packed with visitors. It can be tempting to park for just a few minutes (or longer) at an overlook to get the perfect picture or a choice location for a hike. Now, Yosemite is warning: Do not be like this RVer!
Visitors to Utah’s Zion National Park should expect heavy traffic, limited parking, shuttle bus lines and long waits as the park enters its busy summer season. So advise park officials.
Walmart signaled Thursday that it may raise retail prices in the coming months to compensate for soaring fuel costs as a result of the Iran war.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is urging drivers to skip Chevron stations this Memorial Day weekend, blaming the company for charging up to 80 cents more per gallon than unbranded gas, which he says meets the same standards. Chevron argues that California fuel policies are driving prices higher, the highest in the nation.
Love’s Travel Stops has opened a new location with 7 RV hookup sites in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, along I-25 at exit 79.
A 70-year-old hiker has died after being struck by a bull bison on a popular hiking trail in Custer State Park on Monday. According to the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Department, the woman was with her husband when they encountered a group of bull bison on the Grace Coolidge Trail. The hiker was struck by the bison in the back and died from injuries.
Grand Canyon National Park has reopened the North Rim for the 2026 summer season, following the 2025 Dragon Bravo Fire. Visitors can once again experience the North Rim’s overlooks, trails and visitor services.
Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park has added new locations in Cincinnati, Ohio; Williamsburg, Virginia; Pigeon Forge, Tennessee; and Ogemaw County, Michigan.
As camping season begins, U.S. Forest Service officials are warning campers to conserve water, as some Colorado campgrounds may have limited or no well water available due to ongoing drought conditions and an unusually low snowpack this winter.
A female gray wolf was tracked into Sequoia National Park in California, making her the first known gray wolf to do so in more than a century.
A new analysis of Google search data found that Americans struggle most with spelling words like “favorite,” “through,” and “niece.” Researchers at Unscramblerer.com analyzed searches for “How do you spell…” and found the most-searched word was “bougie,” followed by “favorite,” “through,” “business,” “tomorrow,” “because,” “definitely,” “beautiful,” “niece,” and “separate.”
The podcast RV Out West has released its 200th episode, marking five years of independent podcasting about RV life, travel and experiences in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Listen on major podcast platforms.
California State Parks is offering free admission to veterans and active military at 145 participating state parks on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25.
Often considered the unofficial start of summer, Memorial Day kicks off a season of outdoor grilling and entertaining. But with the increase in grilling comes more home grilling fires. July is the peak month for home grilling fires, followed by June, May and August. Be careful!
A Kansas Ford dealership is temporarily holding a sold Ford F-250 after a robin built a nest on one of its tires and hatched four baby birds there. Because active robin nests are federally protected, the truck can’t be moved until the young birds leave the nest. The customers who bought the pickup have reportedly been understanding about the delay.
Wonder what’s going on with the RV industry in Spain? New Zealand? Australia? France? Find out here with the latest news highlights about RVing in countries around the world.
FACTOID: The Cozy Dog Drive-In on Route 66 in Springfield, Illinois, is the birthplace of the corn dog on a stick. The diner is packed with Mother Road memorabilia and neon signs. Signature “Cozy Dogs” are still made with the original secret batter.
RV and RV-related recalls
- Keystone is recalling certain 2024 Cougar, 2025-2026 Alpine, 2026 Montana, and Walkabout trailers. The shock bolts may have been incorrectly tightened, which could break the bolt or vibrate loose if under-torqued. More info here.
Reader poll
Would you ever stay at a campground specifically because it has a bar or brewery?
Help find this stolen RV
Upcoming RV shows & seminars. Click here.
Brain teaser
Fourteen of the kids in the class are girls. Eight of the kids wear blue shirts. Two of the kids are neither girls nor wear a blue shirt. If five of the kids are girls who wear blue shirts, how many kids are in the class?
(Answer in tomorrow’s Sunday RV Travel newsletter.)
Trivia
Early American settlers called bison “bufello” due to the similar appearance between the two animals, and the name “buffalo” stuck for the American variety. But it’s wrong. The American bison (Bison bison) lives only in North America, while the two main buffalo species reside in Africa and Asia.
Laugh of the week
The perfect scam
Summer travel season is here—and scammers are targeting people on the move. Here are three scams showing up more often this week:
- Fake parking and traffic violation texts: This is the latest twist on the toll-text scam. Messages claim you owe a small parking, toll, or traffic fine and often include a QR code to pay immediately. Officials across multiple states are warning that these are phishing attempts.
- Package delivery scams at campgrounds: Texts claim a package couldn’t be delivered to your campsite or RV park and ask you to click a link to update your information. The goal is to steal payment details or personal information.
- AI-powered impersonation scams: Scammers are increasingly using AI-generated voices and messages to impersonate family members, banks, government agencies, and even roadside assistance providers. The messages sound more realistic than ever and often create a sense of urgency.
Miss The Perfect Scam podcast? Find the latest episode here.
Today in history
Today’s weather forecast across the nation
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Visit Current National Radar Weather Map
Headed on an unfamiliar highway? Learn if it has low bridges you might not fit under.
Learn current road conditions in every state. This is a very handy resource.
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RVtravel.com All Star Staff
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Sunwoof made my day!
Ditto. What a great pic!
I’m surprised that RV parks, motels, and gas stations, especially on the routes LEAVING Yellowstone and similar parks with bears, do no offer courtesy recycling of bear spray. Getting a most likely unused $40 can of the stuff would be a great draw, especially when the service is offered by businesses that don’t normally sell the stuff. It could be done like the old “take a penny leave a penny” business.
There are bear spray rental places in the area. Costs as much as buying a can.