America’s Original RV Newsletter. Since 2001
Issue 2832 • New issue every weekday
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Today’s thought
“Under the giving snow blossoms a daring spring.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Carrot Cake Day!
On this day in history: 1959 – Rock and roll musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson are killed in a plane crash along with the pilot near Clear Lake, Iowa, an event later known as The Day the Music Died.
Tip of the day
Need a free place to stay in your RV? Ask a church
By Gail Marsh
A few summers ago, my husband and I were traveling in our RV, aiming to reach our reserved campground well before nightfall. However, a terrible accident brought Interstate traffic to a standstill. We wondered where we’d ever find sanctuary for the night.
With the Interstate closed, we scoured the internet for nearby campgrounds, local parks, Walmart, and any other potential place that came to mind. Then divine inspiration hit! We discovered a nearby Lutheran church. Continue reading.
Article and video
Stealth RV just looks like a work van… until you open the door
A low-top work van doesn’t look like much from the outside, and that’s the point. On New Jersey Outdoor Adventures, host Patrick Botticelli meets up with Patrick from Patchworks to tour “Acorn,” a custom Ford E250 camper built for a couple but flexible enough for solo travel, weekends, or longer runs. This is a pretty cool stealth camper.
SIIIIGH: Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow yesterday, which means the little furry meteorologist has predicted six more weeks of winter.
Featured article
The most ridiculous RV campsite we’ve seen
By Chuck Woodbury
This is one of the worst-designed RV campsites my staff and I have come across in 25 years of publishing RVtravel.com. I found this photo on social media, and recall that the campsite and its steep approach was on a U.S. military base. You won’t believe this! Could you get your RV in here? We don’t think so!
Light up dark campsites with hitch-mounted reverse lights
Amp up your RV’s visibility with this hitch-mount bracket and LED pod setup that gives you bright, rugged backup and reverse lighting for dark campsites, rainy nights, or early-morning hookups. The universal tow-hitch mount makes installation simple, and the hardy aluminum LEDs shine wide and far so you can see—and be seen—when pulling in or backing up on gravel roads. Learn more or order.
Ask Dave
No hot water pressure in back shower; cold is fine. Water heater too far away?
Read Dave’s troubleshooting tips here.
Reader poll
Do you color your hair?
Quick tip
Be careful shoveling snow
Shoveling snow is strenuous work that can strain the heart, especially in cold weather, which constricts blood vessels and raises blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association. The risk is highest for older adults and people with heart disease or risk factors such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol, but even those who consider themselves healthy can be vulnerable.
IT’S TRUE: A slow RV driver who holds up traffic is like a man who stops to think in a revolving door.
On this day last year…
- Tip: The 9 best towel rack hacks
- RV review: Ford Transit Connect Nugget is a Euro cutie—Wish ya’ had one?
- Article & video: The joys of RVing with a Lectric XP 3.0 electric bike
- Featured article: Backpack laundry bag – Perfect for traveling RVers
Website of the day
15 of the best places to explore Black history in the U.S.
February is Black History Month. Spend the month learning more about this important part of our country’s history. This list from Lonely Planet is a great place to start.
? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ?
We bet almost exactly 50 percent of our readers will want this! We think it’s true! And for the other 50 percent, you could use it too. Think: tools, screws, gadgets, etc.
And the survey says…
We’ve polled RVtravel.com readers close to 5,000 times in recent years. Here are a few things we’ve learned about them:
• 20 percent often buy souvenir magnets for their fridge on trips.
• 38 percent have encountered a bear at least once while hiking.
• 16 percent consider themselves to be an avid birdwatcher.
Recent poll: Did you keep your RV’s original mattress, or have you replaced it?
Trivia
There are 151,975 convenience stores operating in the United States, a slight dip from the prior year, according to the most recent 2026 NACS/NIQ TDLinx Convenience Industry Store Count.
The number of convenience stores that sell fuel is 122,620, an increase from the previous year. Convenience stores sell approximately 80% of the fuel purchased in the U.S.
Texas continues to have the most convenience stores (16,504 stores), followed by California, Florida, New York, and Georgia.
For Lovers Only
To: Teresa
From: Don
“Happy Valentine’s Day to my wife of 52 years.”
To: My Sweety Little Thang
From: Your Little Lover Boy (Joe)
“Happy Valentine’s Day, my love. Being with you each day is a joy, and I love our life together. Here’s to many more years of love and making each other laugh. LOVE YOU!“
Listen up, romantics. Valentine’s Day is coming up. If you have a special someone you’d like to surprise with a secret message right here on this website (could be your wife, husband, partner, child, neighbor, friend, etc.) submit it to us here. Oh, how fun it will be when they read it! We’ll feature these daily in our upcoming newsletters.
Readers’ pet of the day
“Otis (Miniature Schnauzer, age 5) loves to go camping. He loves all the new smells and many walks where he’s always making new friends.” —Janeen Orlet
Send us a photo of your pet with a short description. We publish one each weekday in RV Daily Tips and in our Sunday RV Travel newsletter. No blurry photos, please! Please do not submit your photo more than once. Thanks!
• Pet food and all pet products at Amazon
FREE IS GOOD! Get your FREE Official State of Alaska Vacation Guide online or by mail and start planning your unforgettable trip.
Leave here with a laugh
Today’s weather forecast across the nation
THIS MAP UPDATES TWICE A DAY
Visit Current National Radar Weather Map
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RVtravel.com All-Star Team
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Be happy Punxsutawney Phil predicted 6 more weeks of winter.
His accuracy rate is only 35% so we have a 65% chance of early spring!
Grown men in Top Hats playing with an animal believing that animal actually predicts the weather.
Everyone I ever met from Pennsylvania I thought were NUTS!
This just confirms it!
Wiarton Willie predicted an early spring for Canada. I’ll take it!
Where we live in Canada (near Edmonton, Alberta), we are lucky if we only get 6 more weeks of winter. We don’t count on things really starting to warm up until April.
Gordon, in the early 90’s we visited Edmonton and stayed out of town at a campground on a golf course. It was July, cold, windy, and spitting some snow, but hardy northern Canadians were on the course!
While in that campground we saw a motorhome with HAWAII license plates! Bet they weren’t on the course. 🙂
It is hard to believe the Legacy Museum (legacysites.eji.org) of Montgomery, Alabama, wasn’t listed in the Black History sites. It is one of the most moving places I have ever been. It should be on everyone’s ‘to see’ list.
The quick tip is true to a certain extent. But, dress properly, take your time and don’t overdue it. Take a break when you start feeling tired.
It’s been really cold this winter with lot’s of snow here in Western PA.
I wear Ski bibs, a well insulated loose fitting jacket and warm gloves and boots.
Plus a Balaclava over my head and neck.
Use common sense!
PS: I’m 76 and do have some health issues.
Good advice Bob ! Here is how I handle snow. I go to Florida right after Christmas and stay there until March. It’s been colder than usual here this year, but so far haven’t had to dig out the RV yet.
Mini Schnauzers are the best!
Otis is so cute, I’m sure that’s why he meets so many new friends while on his walks. Keep on camping.
Otis is adorable. I’m glad he enjoys camping with all the new friends he meets and the new smells he can sniff.
Your 1 year old “Most ridiculous campsite” is fake news. It doesn’t exist. Look at a google map view of Keesler AFB. Clickbait.
After my wallet was stolen at a Loves Truck Stop in Colorado a law enforcement told us that we could stay at their police station on the street, or fire department or a hospital we found in De Smet SD. Otherwise if desperate might want to check with them.