America’s Original RV Newsletter. Since 2001
Issue 1270
Today’s thought
“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” —John F. Kennedy
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Tropical Fruit Day!
On this day in history: 1914 – The U.S. Congress forms the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps, giving official status to aircraft within the U.S. Army for the first time.
Featured news
The latest RV news at U.S. state, county and city parks
Here’s a roundup of developments across the USA this past week at state, county and city parks that might affect RVtravel.com readers. Click here for the latest news regarding these parks.
Starlink may be eyeing the cellphone business
Once you leave the interstate or head deep into a national forest, Starlink mobile service and other satellite-based communications could eventually help fill one of the biggest frustrations of RV travel: losing all connection when cell towers disappear. According to a Financial Times report cited by Reuters, SpaceX has discussed launching a Starlink mobile service for U.S. consumers.
Wildfires closing U.S. national forest recreation areas
Wildfires have closed the entire Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota and shut visitors out of recreation areas across parts of three national forests in Oregon. And those are only two examples of national forest wildfire closures now disrupting access to public lands across the country. Continue reading.
Why you should never approach a burning motorhome
A burning motorhome on Interstate 15 near Mesquite, Nevada, became the scene of a desperate rescue after several passing motorists rushed to help pull the driver from the wreckage. Moments later… Well, continue reading for an important reminder.
Nude beach to join California State Parks system
A long-time nude beach popular with the clothes-optional crowd along California State Highway 1 in San Mateo County is set to be added to a California state park. What does that mean for those who choose to go clothesless? Find out here.
As war continues, gas prices climb again
U.S. gasoline prices are climbing again, with the national average for regular unleaded rising 10 cents over the past week to $3.94 a gallon, according to AAA. The increase puts the national average within a few cents of the $4 mark as higher crude oil prices continue to work their way to the pump. Learn more.
Rear-ended while towing: Lessons from an interstate crash
A pickup towing a travel trailer was traveling westbound with its hazard flashers activated because of mechanical problems when it was struck from behind by a semi-truck. Troopers said the truck driver was distracted by eating before the collision. This serves as a reminder that one of the greatest dangers RVers face may come from behind. Yikes—the photos ain’t pretty!
Lightning struck a nearby tree. Then a motorhome went up in flames
Lightning apparently struck a nearby pine tree during an East Texas thunderstorm Monday, and a fire destroyed a nearby motorhome. It’s a dramatic example of the danger a nearby lightning strike can pose to an RV. Just like above, the photos here ain’t pretty either!
Electric RV trailers promised to change towing. Now they’re hitting the road
Electric RV trailers that can help propel themselves were once mostly prototypes, promises and eye-popping price tags. Now two of the most closely watched models are in production, customers are taking delivery, and at least one independent road test suggests the technology may actually deliver on a major promise: dramatically reducing the fuel penalty of towing.
Timed-entry is disappearing at some national parks—but the crowds aren’t
Getting into some of America’s busiest national parks no longer requires the advance reservations many visitors became accustomed to over the past few years. But that doesn’t necessarily mean visiting has become easier.
Bison charges, launches man 8 feet into the air at Yellowstone campground (with video)
Yellowstone National Park delivered another sobering reminder this weekend that wild animals deserve both respect and plenty of space. A grandfather was seriously injured after an agitated bull bison charged him near the Bridge Bay Campground. The animal flipped the park visitor an estimated eight feet into the air. Here’s the story with a video of the incident.
Grand Design expands Lineage line with new Class C motorhome
Grand Design RV has introduced the Lineage Series E, a new Class C motorhome built on the Ford E-450 chassis. The model expands the company’s motorized lineup with a coach it says is designed to emphasize comfort, storage and ease of use. Learn more about it here.
ONLY IN TOMORROW’S SUBSCRIBER EDITION: The most dangerous woman in America. “Fear her,” says publisher Chuck Woodbury, even though she looks so innocent. Become a voluntary subscriber and receive the special edition tomorrow with Chuck’s story. How can such a pretty face be so scary?
RV review
New-for-2027 Winnebago Elora 19DC—Class C meets Class B with nice, space-saving features
If you’ve been looking for a motorhome that’s easier to drive than a traditional Class C but offers more living space than a camper van, the 2027 Winnebago Elora™ deserves a close look. All new for 2027, the Elora combines the maneuverability of a Ram ProMaster chassis with a surprisingly open interior and several innovative space-saving features. Check it out.
Beyond the headlines with Tony Barthel
A new RV company, Go RVing teams up with creators, the World’s largest RV show, and, yep, Lance is back
A brand-new RV manufacturer launches with some familiar faces behind it, Go RVing tries to win over a new generation through social media, a retirement article takes aim at RVing, and Lance Camper continues its comeback. Tony Barthel shares his take on all the latest industry buzz you won’t want to miss here.
A $150 campsite doesn’t seem outrageous compared to this!
Six seats. Front row, halfway line. Field access for the trophy presentation after the final whistle. Price: $4 million. That’s what Knightsbridge Circle, a concierge service for rich people, has charged for a package to the World Cup Soccer final tomorrow in New York.
News briefs
Wildfire smoke from Canada is affecting parks across the Midwest and Northeast, with unhealthy to hazardous air quality prompting warnings for visitors. Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness remains closed due to multiple wildfires, while parks including Voyageurs, Isle Royale, Indiana Dunes, and Cuyahoga Valley are urging visitors to limit outdoor activity until conditions improve.
Are you being affected by wildfire smoke? Check your location’s air quality index here, and view all air quality across the U.S.
Meteorologists describe it as a once-in-a-thousand-year rainfall event. Catastrophic flash flooding swept across Southeastern Missouri beginning on July 10, 2026, and continued through the weekend. The downpour inundated campgrounds, stranded campers, and destroyed buildings. The flood triggered one of the state’s largest water rescue operations in recent memory.
Torrential rain has once again unleashed catastrophic flooding across the Texas Hill Country, inundating campgrounds and RV parks, sweeping away vehicles, and forcing hundreds of water rescues. At least two people have died, including a man whose RV was carried away by floodwaters, as emergency crews race to reach stranded residents and travelers.
Subaru is recalling more than 541,000 SUVs in the United States. An incorrect weight rating was printed on a required certification label. Is your Subaru affected? Click here.
Yellowstone National Park campgrounds continue operating at or near capacity, with reservations filling months in advance. RV travelers without reservations are advised to plan alternate campgrounds outside the park.
… Also in Yellowstone: Fishing is temporarily closed on the Firehole and Madison Rivers and their tributaries where the water has heated to temperatures lethal to trout.
And speaking of fishing, extremely low flows and high water temperatures have prompted Colorado Parks and Wildlife to implement voluntary fishing closures on the Colorado, Eagle, Crystal and Roaring Fork rivers. CPW expects these voluntary restrictions to remain in place for the foreseeable future to protect stressed fish populations.
EXCLUSIVE TO RVtravel.com
You will not read about this anywhere else (we think), and that is why you consider us a valuable resource, right? If an alligator is bothering you in Florida, call 866-392-4286. The state will dispatch a contracted nuisance alligator trapper to help you. If you are in Kansas and are bothered by an alligator, then you’ve probably had too much to drink.
The most popular dog names in 2026 in America are… Well, you’ll just have to click here to find out. Is your pooch’s name on the list? But we will tell you now that the most popular cat names in 2026 are: Females: Luna, Bella, Willow and Nana. For males: Milo, Oliver, Leo and Loki.
Maybe stay away from Taco Bell right now… The CDC is warning people not to eat shredded iceberg lettuce at Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia after linking it to a cyclosporiasis outbreak. More than 1,600 people have reported getting sick, and 94 have been hospitalized. Taco Bell subsequently announced it has eliminated the distributor who supplied the lettuce.
Buc-ee’s first Wisconsin travel center has been delayed another year and is now expected to open in early 2028 instead of early 2027. The 73,000-square-foot Oak Creek location, just south of Milwaukee, is being held up mainly by a major sewer infrastructure project. For whatever reasons, RVers seem to love Buc-ee’s.
The cost of a first-class Forever stamp has increased from 78 cents to 82 cents. The Postmaster General told Congress recently that a first-class stamp would need to sell for 90 to 95 cents to stabilize the service, which lost $9 billion in the fiscal year 2025. Future hikes could come as often as twice a year through 2028.
A visitor was injured July 11 when a rock crashed through the roof of a vehicle on Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road near the Rimrocks area. Park officials say recent heavy rains likely increased the risk of rockfalls along the steep mountainside. The victim’s condition has not been released.
A case of measles has been reported in Grand Teton National Park at the following locations on July 7: Colter Bay General/Grocery Store, Coffee Bar and Gift Shop from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., and Colter Bay Cabin Office from 3 p.m. to midnight. If you were there, pay attention for symptoms.
A 4-year-old girl has died after being accidentally struck by a motorhome at a campground in California’s Salt Point State Park. Investigators say the RV was mistakenly put in reverse instead of drive as it was leaving the campsite.
Traffic enforcement will be stepped up at Michigan’s Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore this summer to help reduce serious crashes and promote safer driving. Officers will focus on common violations, including speeding, seatbelt use, and impaired driving.
Oregon’s L.L. Stub Stewart and Rooster Rock state parks are hosting free stargazing nights through September, with telescopes, expert guides, and opportunities to view the stars, planets, the moon, and the Perseid meteor shower.
A new 200-plus-site RV campground has been proposed in North Carolina’s Pender County. If approved, the creekside campground would offer RV sites and other amenities along Holly Shelter Creek.
A thunderstorm dropped significant rainfall Thursday at Colorado’s Curecanti National Recreation Area, triggering at least three major mudslides on the East Portal Road. Extensive debris washed down from drainages above the roadway, covering some of it with up to six feet of boulders, rocks, and mud, forcing closure of East Portal campground and much of the picnic area.
More than 40 beaches are closed to swimming in the Boston area due to “bacterial exceedance.” Here’s a list.
TAKE A GUESS: How many bathrooms are in the White House? 11, 35, 51 or 98? Find the answer in today’s trivia (below).
Tanner Toons
With Tanner Woods
FACTOID: The video “Baby Shark Dance,” has been viewed more than 17 billion times on YouTube and earned its owner an estimated $22 million. (That’s for one video, folks!)
Reader poll
Have you ever had to evacuate a campground because of severe weather?
? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ?
This might just be our current favorite birthday card. Have someone older in your life with a birthday coming up? They need this. Heck, even if their birthday just passed, keep this in your cart for next year. Funny!!
RV and RV-related recalls
• Winnebago Industries is recalling certain 2027 Navion and View motorhomes equipped with certain MaxxAir N-Series Maxxfan rooftop ventilation fans. The printed circuit board may fail during certain operations and overheat. More.
• Grand Design is recalling certain 2026-2027 Lineage RVs for the same reasons as above. Recall number: M910063. Info: 574-825-9679.
Upcoming RV shows & seminars. Click here.
Trivia
There are 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, and 6 levels in the White House. There are also 412 doors, 147 windows, 28 fireplaces, 8 staircases, and 3 elevators.
Laugh of the week
Top scams RVers should watch for right now
Summer travel is in full swing, and scammers are targeting people who are booking trips, driving long distances, and spending time outdoors. In addition, watch out for a Medicare scam. Here are three scams to watch for this week:
- Fake driver’s license and registration texts: Messages claim there’s a problem with your license, registration, or an unpaid violation and threaten suspension unless you click a link and pay immediately.
- Bogus toll and towing-fee calls: Scammers pose as state officials or transportation agencies and claim you owe toll-road or towing charges. They may threaten to suspend your license or repossess your vehicle.
- Fake vehicle “safety compliance” notices: Emails falsely claim a new federal law requires drivers to purchase an emergency rescue tool or face a fine. The supposed rule doesn’t exist—the link is meant to collect your payment and personal information.
Miss The Perfect Scam? Listen to the most recent episode here.
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.
Learn current road conditions in every state. This is a very handy resource.
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RVtravel.com All Star Staff
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