Issue 1203
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Today’s thought
“You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor.” —Aristotle
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Read A Road Map Day! Hey, we’re good at that!
On this day in history: As part of his New Deal programs, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an executive order establishing the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), a Depression-era work relief program for single men aged 18-25. The program employed more than 2.5 million men for federal conservation and safety projects over its nine-year history.
Featured news
How will RVers be affected by latest tariffs?
On Wednesday President Trump announced his Liberation Day—telling Americans what countries would have what tariffs imposed. In the end, nearly every country on the globe will see a tariff added to products it exports to the U.S. The new tariffs may increase the cost of new rigs, but repair costs may be a different story. Here’s what this could mean for RVers.
Launching soon: Amazon’s affordable satellite internet will rival Starlink
Many RVers have embraced Starlink’s satellite-based internet service. It seems like the perfect match for us, with access to relatively high-speed internet service anywhere we go. However, it’s expensive. An alternative, lower-cost solution is just about to roll out: Amazon’s Project Kuiper satellite internet. This could be big competition for Starlink.
More drivers ignoring traffic laws as reckless drivers multiply
From red-light runners to drivers barreling down no-passing zones, Russ and Tiña De Maris recount a string of alarming encounters that left them shaken—and, eventually, injured. With input from a retired law enforcement officer and some shocking national stats, the article explores whether we’re facing a new wave of lawlessness on the roads. Is it a shift in attitude… or just the new normal? Click to read (and leave your input, please).
COMING IN TOMORROW’S NEWSLETTER: “The Trailer Menace.” You won’t want to miss this.
More news for RVers
Gas prices jumped this past week, with the national average for a gallon of regular going up by more than 10 cents to $3.26. Several factors are driving the increase, including refinery maintenance and summer-blend gasoline switch. Continue reading.
Arizona’s Grand Canyon National Park will implement a fee increase for front country standard campsites at Desert View, North Rim and Mather Campgrounds starting May 1. Here are the numbers.
Beginning April 15, Maine’s Acadia National Park will transition to a fully cashless fee system of mobile payments, credit cards or debit cards at park sales outlets for entrance fees. More info here.
The Lake Logan (Ohio) KOA Journey has reopened a fully renovated campground under new ownership.
Have an upcoming camping reservation at a Michigan state park? Not anymore! The Michigan DNR announces the indefinite closure of nearly 20 state parks across the state due to recent ice storms. Here’s more info.
California State Parks is delaying the reopening of the seasonal campground at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park to August 1 from April 1.
Lazydays Holdings, Inc. has signed a letter of intent to divest stores in Ft. Pierce, Fla., Longmont, Colo., and Mesa, Ariz. to General RV Center.
Sun Outdoors Chesapeake Bay RV Resort, is now a part of KOA with a new name, Tall Pines/Chesapeake Bay KOA.
The Bryce Canyon National Park road is fully open to Rainbow Point.
Pinnacles National Park in California has canceled all of its summer ranger programs.
Cleetwood Cove at Crater Lake National Park will close for two or more years for repair work, so no boat tours for now.
A lack of staffing at Yosemite National Park has raised concerns that existing staff won’t be able to maintain restrooms.
Six of Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s 10 campgrounds will not open on April 18 as scheduled due to road work, storm damage and staff shortages.
Canadian RV resort operator Pathfinder Ventures reports its bookings for April shot up 48 per cent compared with last April, largely due to U.S.-Canada tensions.
RVING TO ALASKA? The brand-new 2025 Milepost (the 77th edition—wow!) is finally hot off the press and ready for your reading and trip-planning pleasure. It’s a must-have for the Alaska RVer. Check it out.
Campground crowding, comments & concerns
These are the kinds of places RVtravel.com readers like to camp
This week, it’s interesting to take a look at where some of our RVtravel.com readers prefer to camp, including Nanci Dixon‘s perspective on options after decades of RVing. Do most of our readers prefer campgrounds? RV parks? RV resorts? Boondocking? These camping options run the gamut. Where do you prefer to camp? Let us know in the comments.
STAT: Of the 623,000 bridges in the U.S., 49% are in fair condition, 44% are in good condition and 7% are in poor condition. Preserving bridges in fair or good condition cost much less than bridges in poor condition. —American Society of Civil Engineers
BEST CLUB FOR RVERS: Hands down, the Escapees is the very best club for RVers. Learn more or join.
Celebrate Franklin D. Roosevelt
A public ceremony on April 12 will mark the 80th anniversary of the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in Warm Springs, Georgia. Guest speakers include Senator Raphael Warnock and FDR’s great-grandson Haven Roosevelt Luke. The ceremony will include a military band and color guard. Guests can tour the shaded grounds, museum and president’s modest vacation home, left much as it was in 1945.
RANDOM RV THOUGHT: Always put your campfire totally out before leaving your campsite. Stir up the ashes with water until they’re like mud. A fire is totally out if you can touch a piece of paper to the ashes or charred wood without any visible heat effect to the paper.
RVing work opportunities
Looking for a job in the RV manufacturing industry? You might want to join this Facebook group where opportunities are posted daily.
Reader poll
Which of these best describes the way you use your RV?
POPULAR POLL FROM THE PAST: Should e-bikes be allowed on traditional bike trails? Click here to vote.
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
Know someone with a birthday coming up? Okay, even if you don’t, this is the coolest birthday card we’ve ever seen. Truly. Check it out.
Stupid Tourist of the Week
(You may want to turn off the sound due to potentially offensive language.)
DID YOU KNOW? As of Thursday afternoon, April 3, the population of the USA was 341,564,221. The world population was 8,110,023,619.
Latest fuel prices
The latest U.S. average prices per gallon of gasoline and diesel fuel as of March 31, 2025:
Regular unleaded gasoline: $3.16 (it rose to $3.26 a few days later)
Diesel: $3.59: Change from week before: Up 3 cents; Change from year before: Down 40 cents.
Upcoming RV shows & seminars
For information about upcoming RV shows and seminars, click here.
INTERESTING: More than eight-in-10 (82%) adults consider credit cards financially dangerous, and 70% say credit cards make them feel like they’re spending money they don’t have. Across all Americans, 28% view credit cards more negatively than they did 12 months ago. SOURCE: Cash App Afterpay survey
Trivia
The Howdy Doody Show, which ran from 1947 to 1960, became the model for many children’s programs that still air today, as well as being an early adopter of color TV production. NBC used the show to help sell color televisions, as the network was owned by RCA at the time.
Laugh of the week
The perfect scam
Romance Scam Kingpin Brought to Justice, Part 1
When Debbie’s mother suddenly passes away, she is not shocked to find correspondence with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and letters to a victim’s advocate that reveal her mother had been the victim of a romance scam that had robbed her of more than $400,000. A Postal Inspector investigated. Did Debbie get justice for her mom?
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.
RVtravel.com All Star Team
Click here for information about our staff and how to contact us.
I know my dh and others appreciate it when you put the campfires out before leaving – he’s a camp host. Just remember he and others also have to clean it out – take the old wood out, get rid of the excess water, etc. And no cans and other trash like that too, please! Thank you!
Couldn’t edit out the “oh effs” from the laugh of the week video? I wish people wouldn’t see that as acceptable.
We can’t edit videos, but agree that type of language isn’t acceptable in our newsletters. I didn’t put the video in (or even watch it). But now that you’ve mentioned it, I’ve put a warning above the video that folks might want to turn off the sound because of it. Thank you for calling it to my attention. Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Stupid tourist of the week type articles should not be posted. It only encourages people as their dangerous actions create social media buzz.
Same as why networks should not name the latest mass killers; it gives them their 15 minutes of fame.
A sad world we live in.
I agree wish this type stuff wouldn’t be published.
Bad thing is if the bear would have got to him it would have probably been put down
If the bear would have caught him, he would have gotten what he deserved.
But you’re right. The bear would have paid the price.
Stupid tourist – The really bad thing about people such as these, is the fact they are allowed to procreate.
RE: Thought of the Day.
Aristotle is right… we have to have courage. Tariffs can seem intimidating, but we have to take a chance for a better tomorrow. There’s no change without change.