Issue 1218
This is the abbreviated, free edition of this newsletter.
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Today’s thought
“For me, a place unvisited is like an unrequited love. A dull ache that—try as you might to think it away, to convince yourself that she really wasn’t the right country for you—just won’t leave you in peace.” —Eric Weiner
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Daiquiri Day!
On this day in history: 1977 – The world’s first Global Positioning System (GPS) signal was transmitted from Navigation Technology Satellite 2 (NTS-2) and received at Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, at 12:41 a.m. Eastern time.
THINKING ABOUT JOINING AN RV CLUB? “Hands down, the Escapees is the best” say the editors of RVtravel.com. Learn more.
Featured news
The North Rim of the Grand Canyon has been closed for the 2025 season due to a devastating wildfire that destroyed the historic Grand Canyon Lodge and other structures. The fire has grown to nearly 12,000 acres and is still 0% contained. The Dragon Bravo Fire ignited from a lightning strike on July 4. High winds, dry brush, and hot temperatures fueled a rapid expansion. This is heartbreaking.
Staffing cuts at the National Park Service have sparked growing concern, but getting clear answers about the extent—and impact—of those cuts hasn’t been easy. This week, Salt Lake City’s Deseret News published a detailed investigation that shed new light on what’s happening behind the scenes. From overworked rangers to unfilled seasonal positions, their reporting reveals how some of the country’s most treasured landscapes are being managed with fewer hands and stretched resources.
If you’re planning to hit the road in your RV this summer, be ready to pay up at the pump—especially out West. With California gas averaging $4.52 a gallon, and prices across the Pacific Northwest states not far behind, fuel is once again one of the biggest expenses for road trippers. Would you like to know the 10 highest and lowest gas prices by state? Well, here they are!
RVers have been watching Amazon with great interest. Nothing to do with cheap RV parts, but rather, the big company’s Project Kuiper. The project promises to provide internet satellite connectivity, presumably at a lower cost than that of Starlink. Now, in a strange bedfellows scenario, SpaceX launches Amazon satellites. Wait… what?
BIIIIIG RECALL: Ford pickup, Bronco, and big SUV owners, heads up! Ford is recalling several 2021-2023 models. The low-pressure fuel pump may fail, which can result in an engine stall while driving—not good. 850,318 of these rigs are under recall.
A year after breaking ground, the much-hyped Three Ponies RV Park in Vinita, Oklahoma—billed as the largest RV park in the South-Central region—appears to have hit a wall. Once part of a $2 billion vision for the American Heartland Theme Park and Resort, the 320-acre RV park was slated to open in spring 2025. Now, with construction liens, funding shortfalls, and no recent activity on-site, some locals are beginning to question whether the project will be completed.
While exact numbers are tough to come by, experts estimate that Starlink Roam customers in the U.S. make up about 15% of the total company’s U.S. base. The service isn’t cheap, but is significant. But Starlink is “just getting going,” as it were. The way to profitability isn’t easy, according to financial filings with the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce. Starlink profits are slim.
FIND HIM! Two Montana RV dealerships are offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of a stolen luxury RV and pickup truck—and the arrest and conviction of the man accused of stealing them. Bretz RV & Marine and Denny Menholt Ford say the suspect, Jonathan Shane Roberts, used fake financial documents to drive off with the high-value vehicles in what appears to be a multi-state fraud scheme.
UPDATE: The vehicles have been recovered but the suspect is still on the loose.
Good news! Iconic Roy Rogers Restaurants are back!
Giddy-up, RVers! The iconic Roy Rogers Restaurants, once a fixture along America’s highways, are back in the saddle. Here’s the lowdown on the chain’s rise, fall, and brand‑new revival. (There are now 42 open Roy Rogers Restaurants!)
Reader poll
Would you buy an airplane made by an RV manufacturer?
ENJOY TAKING POLLS? Did you know that we have more than 5,000 other polls you can take? It’s true! Click here to see.
News briefs
Worried you might not fit through a slot canyon? Inspired by theme parks’ height restrictions, the Bureau of Land Management has introduced a more practical measurement tool for Utah’s narrow slot canyons: a width gauge. The device allows visitors to test whether they can safely pass through canyons’ tightest sections before venturing in and potentially requiring a lengthy rescue. Here’s the skinny on this topic.
A new law in Utah might surprise even seasoned RVers. As of May 2025, anyone over 18 venturing onto certain Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) for hiking, biking, trail running or wildlife viewing needs a valid hunting or fishing license. If you’re RVing into the Beehive State planning to explore its renowned trails, pay attention.
WANT A FREE BURGER? Love’s Travel Stops has rolled out mobile food ordering at more than 130 of its locations with Carl’s Jr. restaurants, making it faster and easier for travelers—including RVers—to grab a meal without waiting in line. The service is available through the Love’s Connect App. And now through August 10, you can score a free burger! Here’s how.
Planning a trip to a Michigan state park? Expect higher campsite fees starting August 1, with rate hikes of $4 to $10 per night depending on location and amenities. Also, 19 parks face full or partial closures as the DNR works on upgrades.
If you’re planning a road trip to San Francisco in your RV, don’t count on street parking once you get there. On Tuesday, July 15, the city’s Board of Supervisors passed a new law that will make it illegal to park RVs or other oversized vehicles on public streets for more than two hours. The vote was 9–2 in favor of the measure. San Francisco RV parking restrictions could mean trouble for visiting RVers.
The bison are leaving! Grizzlies are leaving! The mountain lions are leaving! Social media videos and rumors from Yellowstone National Park are running rampant. Some show animals walking down roads as if they’re evacuating, and it’s sparked a flurry of online searches and wild speculation. The Yellowstone wildlife migration rumors are stoking fears of an impending volcanic eruption. But, according to the National Park Service, there’s nothing to worry about.
BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW: Last year, Dr Pepper overtook Pepsi as the second-highest-selling soft drink in the USA by case sales. So reports Beverage Digest.
When disaster strikes, quick decisions can have unintended consequences. That was the case in Orofino, Idaho, on Sunday, July 13, when a motorhome’s brakes caught fire and the driver pulled over, unintentionally parking next to a fifth wheel. Moments later, both RVs were engulfed in flames. The dramatic fire serves as a vivid reminder of how fast things can escalate.
Since early July, campers at Lizard Creek Campground in Grand Teton National Park, WY, have awakened to missing sneakers, sandals and boots. A shocking 32 pilfered shoes have been reported to date. Who could this “Sneaker Snatcher” be, and why is he stealing shoes? Read on to find out.
A mother and her 9-year-old son were rescued in Calaveras County, California, after getting stranded in a remote forest. They were reported missing on July 12 when they didn’t return to camp and couldn’t be reached. Around 5:40 p.m., searchers found two handwritten notes marked “HELP,” dated July 11, at a remote Forest Service Road intersection. Here’s their rescue story.
Yellowstone National Park surprised geologists this week with the unveiling of a brand-new, light-blue thermal pool. It all began in mid‑April when scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey’s Yellowstone Volcano Observatory conducted a routine temperature survey at the park. When the team checked Norris Geyser Basin’s Porcelain Basin, they noticed something new. It hadn’t been there the last time they checked…
California State Parks has returned the traditional Washoe American name dukMéʔem wáťa to the creek that runs through Ed Z’berg Sugar Pine Point State Park plus some facilities that are attributed to the historic figure “General” Phipps: General Creek Campground is now dukMéʔem wáťa Campground and General Creek Loop Trail is now called dukMéʔem wáťa Loop Trail.
Texas’ San Angelo State Park has partially reopened after recent flooding, with most trails and some campgrounds now accessible to the public. Some areas remain closed as cleanup efforts continue. The south side of the park—including Red Arroyo, Isabel Harte, and Lakeview Day-use areas—is now open. The Riverbend Campgrounds have also reopened. The closed areas include the Bald Eagle and North Concho Campgrounds, as well as the Shady, North Scenic Loop, and Lower Ghost Camp Trails.
Reminder! On July 23, T‑Mobile will officially roll out T‑Satellite. This new satellite-to-cell service is powered by SpaceX’s Starlink network. Built to eliminate “dead zones,” T-Satellite promises to bring basic messaging (and soon, data) to your standard smartphone anywhere you can see the sky. This is a game changer!
RECALL: Forest River is recalling certain 2026 Westbrook and Tracer travel trailers. The liquid propane gas hose may be incorrectly routed and rub against the furnace, causing a fuel leak. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire. More info here.
Win a photo contest! Have a wonderful photo from a California State Park? Submit it here for a chance to win.
An anonymous tip led Liberty County Precinct 4 investigators to arrest Hardin, Texas, resident Cecil Ernest Smith, accused of selling meth from an RV at Country Living RV Park. Authorities say they found enough evidence to issue two felony warrants and a search warrant for his rig.
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
If you have a dog or cat, they’ll hate you for this. But if you have kids, grandkids, or a really silly partner, you’ll love this! What a blast (a really loud blast!).
Latest fuel prices
The latest U.S. average prices per gallon of regular unleaded gasoline on July 14, 2025, was $3.13, up <1 cent from last week, down 37 cents from last year. Diesel was $3.76, up 2 cents from last week, down 7 cents from a year ago. Most expensive gas: California ($4.51); least expensive: Mississippi ($2.72).
Upcoming RV shows & seminars. Click here.
Trivia
What is the flattest state in the U.S.? If you guessed anything other than Florida, you were wrong. Florida is the flattest state. One of its highest points is Mount Trashmore at 225 feet. (No, we’re not referring to Mount Trashmore Park in Virginia.) It’s not natural, but a landfill located between Coconut Creek and Deerfield Beach in northern Broward County. It’s hard to miss along the east side of Florida’s Turnpike between mile markers 69 and 70.
Laugh of the week
Have you ever seen the 2006 comedy “RV” with Robin Williams? There’s one scene in it that is utterly disgusting, but laugh-out-loud hilarious. We hope this never happens to any of you! Watch the short clip here.
The perfect scam
VIN Cloning Scams: What Car Buyers Need to Know
John is in the market for a pickup truck when he comes across a Facebook Marketplace ad for a 2021 Dodge Ram. It needs a little TLC, but it’s a reasonable price, and he’s had luck buying used cars online before. He does his research by checking the VIN on multiple sites, consulting friends in the auto business, and even taking a mechanic friend with him to pick up the truck. So, a couple of weeks later, when he finds himself in his new truck suddenly surrounded by police cars, he is shocked to learn that the vehicle is stolen, and he is the victim of a sophisticated VIN cloning scam.
Easily clean those stubborn bugs off your RV
The Microfiber Mesh Bug and Tar Sponge has millions of tiny fibers embedded in the microfiber cloth that grabs and holds the dust and dirt. It is so effective it even cleans without chemicals, saving both time and money. The secret of this sponge lies in its unique, double-layer microfiber mesh. Older nylon bug sponges can harm your clear coat, but this one is completely paint safe. Learn more or order.
Today in history
Today’s weather forecast across the nation
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Visit Current National Radar Weather Map
Current fire and smoke map from AirNow
Headed on an unfamiliar highway? Learn if it has low bridges you might not fit under.
RVtravel.com All Star Team
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Utah is right: everyone that uses trails should pay for them, but requiring an expensive year long fishing or hunting license for every nonresident who wants to take a walk from their campsite or park seems very heavy handed, unfair, and unfriendly to tourism. Hopefully, day or week passes will soon be available.
We were in Alaska from June 30 to July 19, 2025 and the highest price we paid for gas was $4.15 in Valdez.
My husband came up to me and said Yellowstone is going crazy. All the animals are leaving they know something. I told him they probably know that its time to hit the bar since the end is nigh. Uh huh. I heard that as well and said if the end is nigh you will find me at the bar as well. I told him when it happens it happens. Move on. Don’t you just love the people who spread things without checking it out? Thanks for the giggles…again.