America’s Original RV Newsletter. Since 2001
Issue 1255
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Today’s thought
“If you can dream it, you can do it.” —Walt Disney
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Chicken Cordon Bleu Day! Here are a few recipes we love.
On this day in history: 1968 – Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated by James Earl Ray at a motel in Memphis, Tennessee. This motel has been turned into a museum, which you can (and should) visit on your travels.
Featured news
Yesterday, the Trump Administration released its 2027 budget proposal, which, like last year’s, would gut the National Park Service, threatening the protection, maintenance, and operation of more than 430 national parks nationwide. The proposal makes sweeping cuts across the Park Service budget, including a $736 million reduction (more than 25%) to park operations, likely eliminating thousands more park staff after a year of severe losses. Here’s the story and a look at what this means for you.
The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline exceeded $4/gallon this week for the first time since August 2022. Today’s average of $4.08 is ten cents higher than last week and $1.08 higher than a month ago. Crude oil prices have been surging, surpassing $100/barrel, as the conflict in the Middle East continues and the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. Here are the numbers.
Authorities say a now-closed dealership may have sold dozens of consigned RVs without properly paying owners or completing the paperwork buyers need. An RV goes on consignment with a dealer. It sells. Then the money doesn’t show up. Meanwhile, the buyer can’t register the rig. It’s a textbook example of RV consignment risk—now under investigation in Lockeford, California.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced new guidance that removes some DEF (diesel exhaust fluid) sensor requirements for diesel equipment. The plan includes the kind of diesel powertrains many RVers rely on in motorhomes and heavy-duty chassis. The EPA said the move is meant to address widespread complaints about DEF system failures, including sudden loss in speed and shutdowns that can leave drivers stranded—costing time and money. Learn more here.
For years, Costco Wholesale has built a loyal following among drivers—especially RVers—thanks to consistently lower fuel prices and high-volume stations. Now, the company is testing something entirely new that could reshape how and where you fill up on the road. According to a March 26, 2026, report, Costco is building its first-ever standalone gas station. This means it won’t be attached to one of its iconic warehouse stores. Oh, and it’s going to be huuuuuuuge.
A new high-tech travel trailer aimed at rethinking RVing made its U.S. debut recently in Silicon Valley, where Skydream unveiled its “space camping” concept to dealers and partners. The trailer blends electric power, solar energy, and smart technology. According to the company, it can stay off-grid for up to two weeks using a large lithium battery and rooftop solar system. The video at the end of the article explains more.
Santa Barbara is considering converting part of a waterfront parking lot into an overnight RV parking area as it looks for new revenue sources. Under the proposal, 127 existing spaces at 236 E. Cabrillo Blvd., next to Chase Palm Park, would be reconfigured to create 16 to 26 overnight RV stalls. The spaces would offer no hookups or amenities. Learn more here and tell us what you think.
After being stolen earlier this year, the oversized flag at the Roseville, CA, Camping World location has been reinstalled. The theft reportedly caused significant damage, and the flag itself—valued in the thousands—had to be replaced or repaired before it could return to the pole. From the road, things look normal again. But the story behind that flag is anything but.
The hardest thing to do on vacation? Absolutely nothing, according to new research. The survey found that most Americans agree that “doing nothing” is difficult to do—even on vacation (56%). Nearly half of Americans would feel “guilty” if they did nothing on vacation (48%). The reason? Well, continue reading.
A long-planned construction project at Big Bend National Park has been canceled just weeks before work was set to begin. The multi-million-dollar project would have rebuilt the aging Chisos Mountains Lodge—the park’s only hotel—and overhauled critical water infrastructure in the Chisos Basin. But park officials announced this week that the project “will not proceed as planned.” Here’s why.
RV
A look at the new Slate pickup and why you might want one
RVBy Tony Barthel
With pickup trucks being intensely popular, it makes sense for newcomer Slate to come on the scene with their entry into the field. They have a very, very different idea of how to build and support their offerings, which is why the company received more than 150,000 pre-orders when they announced the vehicle. Learn more, then tell us: Do you want one?
THE MORE YOU KNOW… More than 11 million U.S. households now own an RV.
Beyond the headlines with Tony Barthel
Big moves in the woods, a park week switch-up, and an RV dealer reality check
U.S. Forest Service plans to relocate its headquarters west and overhaul its entire structure, while National Park Week is shifting to August—likely bringing a surge of summer crowds. Meanwhile, lawmakers are pushing new protections for iconic sequoia groves. And a closer look at RV dealerships raises an uncomfortable question: Are new rigs really being maintained before you buy them? Read Tony’s weekly news recap here.
News briefs
Families visiting Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts this Easter can expect egg hunts, crafts, and appearances from Yogi Bear and the Easter Bunny at more than 75 locations across the U.S. and Canada.
Just three minutes from the Colorado River, Dwell RV Resort & Casita Cabins, a new luxury RV resort in Topock, Arizona, is accepting reservations for its grand opening this summer. It features 164 full-hookup RV sites.
Grand Canyon National Park has implemented water conservation measures on the South Rim following a break in the pipeline along the North Kaibab Trail, so water cannot currently be pumped to the area. Park residents and visitors are required to conserve and reduce water usage, including in campgrounds.
Love’s Travel Stops has opened a new location in Laurel, Montana, with four reservable RV hookup sites, a dump station and dog park.
On April 7, Kansas will officially dedicate its new Pony Express Historic Byway. It will begin at mile marker 381 on U.S. Highway 36 east of Troy and continue west, ending near the Hollenberg Pony Express Station state historic site along Highway 243.
A new audit by the Oregon Secretary of State’s Audits Division found safety inspections at some Oregon state parks were inconsistently completed or documented—sometimes for years. The report also flagged major issues with the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department asset tracking system, citing missing records and unreliable data that could risk safety, finances, and insurance coverage.
NICE NEWS: A free payphone at Boston University is connecting strangers across generations, letting students “call a Boomer” at a senior housing complex in Reno, Nevada. The phone, outside Pavement Coffeehouse, links to a matching “call a Zoomer” line—sparking conversations between passersby and seniors.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is urging visitors to plan ahead, prepare for changing conditions, and know their limits. Park officials say rangers have seen a rise in emergencies, noting that rescue is not guaranteed. In March alone, crews carried out 18 backcountry rescues, including two helicopter hoists with the Tennessee Army National Guard and four technical rope rescues.
Go easy on the bottle and the pedal: Mammoth Cave National Park law enforcement officers will conduct periodic sobriety and safety checkpoints on park roads and riverways throughout 2026.
On April 1, the non-resident reservation fee at Washington State Parks increased from $5 to $15. More details here.
Michigan state parks have added a new “Flexible dates” feature to their reservation system, aimed at making it easier to find available campsites. The tool allows users to search by trip length, month, preferred weekends, and park location to better match availability with travel plans.
The free Bryce Canyon National Park Shuttle is once again available for visitors with a paid admission. Visitors with vehicles 23 feet or longer are required to park their vehicles and take the shuttle.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will open a new campground designed for off-road vehicle users on June 12 at Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park. The Pyrite Campground will feature 24 electric, pull-through sites and direct access to riding trails, with additional trail connections planned later in 2026. While geared toward ORV riders, the campground will be open to all visitors, though increased noise and traffic are expected.
CUTE NEWS: An orphaned baby chick found alone near Saylorville Dam in Iowa is being comforted by an unusual stand-in: a feather duster. Rescuers at the Animal Rescue League of Iowa placed the chick under a duster in a warm enclosure to mimic a mother hen—and it quickly snuggled in, just like the real thing. Here’s the post and photo.
AccuWeather hurricane experts are forecasting a near- to below-historical-average Atlantic hurricane season in 2026, but warn the risk of U.S. impacts remains elevated. Three to five direct U.S. impacts are predicted. Rapid intensification in very warm waters and “homegrown development” near the U.S. coastline are two key concerns this hurricane season.
Credit card spending on gasoline was 19% higher the week ending March 21 than a year before, showing the impact of high gas prices on household budgets. Economists warn that gas will get more expensive the longer the war in Iran continues.
Visitors to Zion National Park now have a new shuttle option with the Zion Corridor Park and Ride, transporting guests between Virgin and Springdale. The service soft-launched in February, with an official ribbon-cutting held on April 2nd.
Ford is developing affordable electric vehicles to compete with the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, CEO Jim Farley says. The vehicles are expected to be built on Ford’s Universal Electric Vehicle platform and use lithium-iron-phosphate batteries.
ODD NEWS: Ever wanted to dig a big hole? Well, you’re in luck (for next year). San Francisco’s latest Hole Party took place earlier this week. SFGATE reported that roughly 250 people turned out at Ocean Beach to dig an enormous hole. They worked for hours, digging an irregularly shaped sand pit, intermittently chanting, “Hole! Hole! Hole!” No, this is not an April Fool’s joke. See for yourself.
QUICK QUESTION: What’s one thing you always forget on your first trip of the season? Leave a comment below.
Tanner Toons
with Tanner Woods
Reader poll
Will you do something special for Easter tomorrow?
TAKE A GUESS: We asked our readers: Was the first RV you purchased motorized or a towable? What do you think? Find out here.
? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ?
If you had this, you’d wake up to your partner making you bacon every morning! Now, doesn’t that smell, er, sound nice?
Upcoming RV shows & seminars. Click here.
BORED?? Well, there is no excuse! Read back issues of our RV Daily Tips Newsletters! More than 2,000 to choose from!
Trivia
At the height of the Cold War, musician and actor Sheb Wooley heard a silly joke: “What has one eye, one horn, is purple, flies and eats people?” The answer: a “Purple People Eater.” An inspired Sheb sat down and quickly penned a nonsensical song lampooning both Rock and Roll music and the fear of alien invasion. His novelty song, “Purple People Eater,” became a number one hit in 1958, topping the U.S. charts for six weeks and selling more than three million copies.
Laugh of the week
Top scams RVers should watch for right now
Spring travel is ramping up—and so are scams targeting RVers on the road and online. Here are three scams popping up more frequently right now:
• Fake “booking confirmation” emails: These look like legit confirmations from campgrounds or booking platforms, but include links to “view your reservation” or “update payment.” Clicking takes you to a convincing fake site that steals login or credit card info.
• QR code scams at campgrounds and fuel stops: Stickers placed over real QR codes (or added nearby) claim to link to Wi-Fi, park maps, or payment portals. Scan them, and you could land on a phishing site or download malware.
• “Discounted campsite” posts in Facebook groups: Scammers are posing as campers who “can’t make their reservation” and offering to transfer it at a discount. Once you pay, the reservation either doesn’t exist or can’t be transferred.
BUMPER SNICKER: Most popular RV bumper snicker of all time: “Don’t Tailgate or I’ll Flush”.
Today in history
LIVE: Mission to the Moon
As bandwidth allows, this stream will feature live views from Artemis II’s Orion spacecraft, without commentary, as it makes its journey around the Moon. You will see a blue screen if there is a loss of signal, or if the bandwidth is needed for mission activities. You may see what appears to be a black screen when the vehicle is in darkness.
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.
RVtravel.com All Star Team
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I’ve seen lots of pictures from Artemis. My question is, where are the stars? Everything is on a black background, which is not what we see when we look up. So what are they doing to remove the stars, and why?
Janet, I wondered the same. I think the lights on the ship must flood out the stars. But that is just my guess.
Janet the stars don’t show up in the photos because of the exposure times the camera is set to. In other words they’re set to short exposure because of how bright the earth and moon appear against the darkness of space due to the sun’s reflected light. So they’re not removing the stars, they would show up with a longer exposure time but then the brightness of the moon or earth would give you a bright white washed out photo. Hope this helps.
What happened to the “Perfect Scam Podcast”?
Hi, Stinger. I’m not sure, but I’ll see if I can find out. It may not be until Monday, however. Have a good night. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
I’m going out to Steamboat Rock SP to see the stars and our moon spaceship next week for the stars and the Lyrid shooters show. New Moon, as in it’s gonna be DARK!
Love Washington’s state parks!
I’ll get back to you where the stars are, probably right “up” there.