Issue 1214
Today’s thought
“I honestly think it is better to be a failure at something you love than to be a success at something you hate” —George Burns
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Daylight Appreciation Day!
Featured news
Diesel fuel prices have jumped sharply in recent days, and several overlapping factors are to blame—many of which hit RVers directly at the pump. The biggest immediate driver is tension in the Middle East, particularly the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. That’s spooked global oil markets and driven diesel futures up more than 8% in just a day. You can still save on RV diesel. Read on.
OK, so diesel… What if you could save 35 to 50 cents a gallon every time you filled your RV with diesel? That’s the promise buzzing around the Open Roads Fuel Program, a discount card that lets RVers tap into trucker-level fuel pricing. It sounds like a too-good-to-be-true internet rumor—but after putting it to the test on real-world road trips, we found the savings can be very real.
Thinking of buying an RV or tow vehicle? A new bill in the U.S. Senate could let you deduct up to $10,000 in loan interest—even if you take the standard deduction. Camping World supports the proposal, part of the Trump-backed “Big Beautiful Bill,” which includes RV tax breaks—at least for now. Learn more.
REV Group, a major player in the RV manufacturing industry, has announced plans to sell its Lance Camper division. This decision marks a significant shift in the company’s strategy, focusing on its core motorized RV operations. For RVers who have generally remarked on Lance’s quality and support, this move could have notable implications.
A powerful industry coalition has come out against a Senate proposal that could lead to the sale of public lands. The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR), representing RV manufacturers, dealers, and campgrounds, warns the plan threatens access to beloved recreation areas and undermines a $1.2 trillion outdoor economy. Once land is sold, they argue, it’s gone for good—and with it, RVers’ access to trails, campsites, and natural spaces. Learn more.
If you’re out on the road and get a text saying you owe traffic fines or unpaid tolls—watch out. A wave of scam messages is hitting phones across the country, and they’re tricking people into handing over money and personal info. It’s the new fake traffic ticket scam, and you need to be aware of it.
RVers looking for their next favorite spot will want to check out the just-announced 2025 Best Places to Camp Regional Awards from The Dyrt. The popular camping app—known for offering everything from state park listings to free campsites, RV parks, and millions of user reviews—has once again tapped into its vast community to highlight the top-rated campgrounds across the country.
RV travelers heading to national parks may notice some changes ahead—especially if they’re coming from outside the U.S. The Trump administration is pitching the idea of a new “surcharge” for international visitors to national parks, while also recommending a $1.2 billion cut to the National Park Service’s budget for 2026. It’s not the first time RVtravel.com readers have heard about the potential of a park foreign visitor surcharge. Continue reading.
A German Shepherd gave Yellowstone visitors an unexpected show last Friday when it jumped from a vehicle and chased a juvenile wolf. The incident ended without injury, but let this be a reminder to keep your doggy’s back seat window (mostly) closed!
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is asking for public feedback on a new proposal that could open up more public lands in southern Utah to certain electric bikes—specifically, Class 1 e-bikes—on mountain bike trails. BLM e-bike comments are now open, so please leave your feedback.
NOT SO FAST! Police in South Carolina engaged in a not-so-hot pursuit as they chased a tractor excavator down a main highway for more than an hour at the speed an average adult walks. The chase reached speeds of 3 mph (4.8 kph) early Sunday morning in North Charleston, police said.
Midland (Texas) Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 cash reward for tips that help track down the fella responsible for a recent RV burglary with a distinctly Western twist. Someone had slipped into an RV and made off with some mighty pricey cowboy gear (think: $3,500 of cowboy hats and boots!). Here’s the story.
The continuing saga of a North Carolina city government that’s trying to get Camping World to follow the law just got deeper. It looks like Marcus Lemonis has friends in high places: North Carolina lawmakers are now involved in a debate over whether a very large American flag can be flown on private property. A potential North Carolina state law to override local flag codes could free Lemonis and his money.
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RV review
First Look: The 2026 Winnebago Thrive 24RKS travel trailer sets a new standard
By Cheri Sicard
Winnebago’s new Thrive™ 24RKS brings a surprising sense of excitement to the towable RV market, and here, Josh the RV Nerd of Bish’s RV gives a sneak peek and first look at this innovative new RV. After years on the sidelines, the brand’s latest release shows real progress. The 24RKS comes in right at the 30-foot mark, puts half-ton tow capability within reach for many owners, and features a taller 6’8″ ceiling. The verdict? Click here to find out.
Book is a must-have for state park campers!
This book, “50 States 500 State Parks,” is a must-have for all state park campers and explorers. The book is a beautiful visual journey through America’s best state parks. Whether you’re looking for stunning vistas, rare wildlife, a dose of history, or an enjoyable hike, the state parks offer an array of experiences. Learn more or order.
Campground crowding, comments & concerns
Maybe campgrounds aren’t “crowded”; maybe RVs have just gotten too big!
It seems the campground crowding of the pandemic era has lessened. While state and county parks close to cities or national parks may still be swamped, our readers are finding a clear path to camping overnight and for extended stays. I am so hoping this is the case… Learn why Nanci Dixon made that statement, and get some tips from readers on how to time your camping for the best experience. All that and much more here.
News briefs
Last Friday, two leaders in the RV technology space, AdventureGenie and RV Weather, announced that they are teaming up. By combining both technologies, users will now see weather‑optimized routing suggestions as part of their itinerary creation process. As you map out a multi‑day journey, the system flags upcoming weather threats and automatically recommends adjustments (i.e., rerouting around an approaching storm cell). These dynamic updates happen instantly. This could be a game-changer.
“Tornado Alley” has long referred to the corridor of the central Great Plains where the greatest number of tornadoes occur each year. Here, warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico collides with cool, dry air from the Rockies, creating ideal conditions for supercell thunderstorms and twisters. New evidence suggests Tornado Alley is shifting and creeping east and southward.
Ready to hit the road through Teton Pass in your RV? Big changes are on the horizon. Wyoming State Highway 22 will be fully closed for a crucial repair project. The repair is now rescheduled for the weekend of June 27 at 6 p.m. to June 30 at 6 a.m. Learn more.
You don’t see this every day—a bear with a plastic barrel lid stuck around its neck. But in Michigan, a young black bear lived that way for nearly two years. Wildlife officials with the state’s DNR finally trapped the bear this month and removed the lid. It had first been spotted on trail cameras in 2023, when it was still a cub.
Two fast‑moving wildfires—known as the Seven Springs Fire and the Trout Fire—are forcing evacuation orders and standby alerts across southern New Mexico. RVers or others planning to camp in Lincoln and Grant Counties need to understand which areas are affected, how evacuation zones are structured, and what steps to take if a wildfire threatens their safety.
WHAT THE CLUCK? Animal rescuers were called to a Buffalo Wild Wings eatery in Iowa to wrangle an unusual visitor: a live chicken. The Animal Rescue League of Iowa shared a photo on social media showing a chicken at the front door of the Buffalo Wild Wings. “What the cluck?” officials wrote. “Talk about a chicken on the wrong side of the road!” The “poor, confused hen” was collected by an ARL Animal Services officer.
The Mother Road (Route 66) turns 100 next year. It’s time to get ready to celebrate Route 66 with an RV trip down memory lane. Each of the eight states along the 2,448‑mile corridor is rolling out special events, road improvements, and memorial installations. Learn more.
RECALL: Keystone is recalling certain 2025 Fuzion and Raptor toy hauler recreational trailers. The generator’s fuel and vapor hoses may have been reversed during installation. Incorrectly connected hoses can feed fuel into the incorrect side of the carburetor, increasing the risk of a fire. Learn more.
ANOTHER KEYSTONE RECALL: Keystone is recalling certain 2025 Carbon, Fuzion, and Raptor toy hauler recreational trailers. The rear gate pins and/or leg support bracket may be missing, allowing the gate to shift during operation, which could become unstable, increasing the risk of injury. Learn more.
When a black bear poked its nose—and claws—into a tent where two kids were sleeping at Difficult Campground near Aspen, Colorado, the U.S. Forest Service decided that “difficult” was a little too “on the nose.” The result: an emergency ban on tents and other soft-sided shelters at the site, effective immediately.
Is a visit to Utah’s Bryce Canyon area on your agenda? Check ahead. The France Canyon Fire is closing in on 10,000 acres and is only 5 percent contained. All National Forest lands south of Utah State Route 12 on the Powell Ranger District are closed—except for the trails and campgrounds (Red Canyon Campground and Coyote Hollow Equestrian Campground). The East Fork road (087) remains closed. Bruce Canyon National Park is open. Get current conditions.
California State Parks, which is responsible for more than 340 miles of coastline, is begging visitors to “leave no trace” by asking them to avoid collecting sea glass, agates, or other rocks at state beaches. Get caught doing so, and you could face a $1,000 fine.
Lazydays has closed on the asset sale of its Longmont, Colorado, location to General RV Center, marking the final transaction and completion of the sale of three stores to General RV.
Cape Cod National Seashore will transition to a fully cashless system at its fee entrance stations on July 1. Only credit cards, debit cards, or mobile payments will be accepted at beach entrance booths.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior announced Federal wildland firefighters and dispatchers now have access to expanded mental health support through a network of licensed providers. Wildland firefighters and support staff work in dangerous, high-stress environments that can expose them to trauma and cumulative stress, increasing their risk of mental health challenges.
On June 12, Zion National Park marked the 100 millionth boarding of the Zion Canyon Shuttle System since service began in 2000.
While most of California’s Joshua Tree National Park’s reservation campgrounds are usually open year-round, partial or full closures may occur during the summer months. Currently, portions of Indian Cove, Black Rock, and Cottonwood Campgrounds are closed, along with all of Ryan, Belle, and White Tank campgrounds.
Great news for RVers exploring the great Northwest region of the U.S. Oregon’s Silver Falls State Park’s main campground swung its gates open again on Monday, June 16, 2025. The reopening comes after a nine–month hiatus. Learn more.
Fun Town RV has purchased Nature Coast RV in Crystal River, Florida. Fun Town RV has 29 retail locations and four service and PDI centers.
FACTOID: A flower’s pollinator could be a bee, beetle, ant, wasp, butterfly, hummingbird, or even a small mammal like a bat. These creatures are essential for healthy ecosystems.
Reader poll
Do you keep some of your personal belongings in a rented storage locker?
TAKE A GUESS: If RVtravel.com readers had a time machine, would most choose to go 200 years back to the past or 200 years into the future? Find out here.
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
Ohhhh, this is punny. This is real punny. If you’re an artist or just love art, you’ll especially enjoy (and laugh at) this.
Latest fuel prices
The latest U.S. average prices per gallon of regular unleaded gasoline on June 16 was $3.14, up 3 cents from last week, down 30 cents from last year. Diesel was $3.57, up 10 cents from last week, down 16 cents from a year ago. Most expensive gas: California ($4.65), least expensive: Mississippi ($2.67).
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Trivia
There are more than 100 authentic shrunken heads, or tsantsa, in the Ripley’s Believe It Or Not collection. Headhunting is believed to have occurred in many regions of the world since time immemorial, but head shrinking has only been documented in the northwestern region of the Amazon rainforest.
Laugh of the week
Cleaning gel gets rid of dust and grime everywhere!
Say goodbye to dust and grime in hard-to-reach places. Give your car a professional-looking detail in minutes with this, and clean areas in your RV like vents, blinds, window and door grooves, computer keyboards, and so much more. This stuff is amazing! The gel is made of natural ingredients, and won’t damage any surface. Simply press/push it into those hard-to-reach places, pull it up, and watch everything sparkle. Learn more or order.
The perfect scam
Archive Episode: Knock Knock, Where’s My Puppy?
In this 2021 episode, Rochelle scores a great deal on a house in northern Virginia, only to have her dream home transformed a few months later into Pet Scam Central. Day after day, strangers show up on her doorstep, claiming they’ve arrived to pick up a puppy they paid for. Some have driven over six or twelve hours with their family. Unfortunately, Rochelle must break the news that she has no puppies to sell, and the hopeful would-be owners leave heartbroken, confused and out hundreds of dollars. Even worse, over the course of a year, Rochelle finds herself accused of being the con artist. Desperate, she turns to a local news station for help in putting an end to the scam.
Today in history
Today’s weather forecast across the nation
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Current fire and smoke map from AirNow
Headed on an unfamiliar highway? Learn if it has low bridges you might not fit under.
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