We all enjoy hot water in our daily lives and that doesn’t have to change when we go camping. That’s why recreation vehicles (RVs) come equipped with water heaters. If you have to upgrade or replace your unit, choosing a water heater for your RV can be a little daunting but it doesn’t always have to be.

Why Replace an RV Water Heater?

Photo by Camping World

If you keep your RV long enough, the day will come when you decide to replace or upgrade your water heater. It might just be that your heater went bad after more than a decade of use. Or maybe the water heater tank froze, expanded, and cracked because you didn’t winterize your RV properly.

Maybe you just want a newer, bigger, better model. Or maybe you can’t find the right parts and accessories for a simple fix so you’re forced to replace the entire unit. Whatever the reason, it’s good to know what types of water heaters are on the market and how to pick the right one for your RV.

A Primer on RV Water Heaters

Photo by Camping World

If you don’t have any experience using RV water heaters, the first thing to know is that you won’t be able to take those long hot showers you’re accustomed to at home. The majority of models have six or 10-gallon hot water tanks. A bigger tank is typically preferable for family camping.

This also means being frugal when washing dishes. The good news is that new technology for RV water heaters provides advanced designs that increase the amount of hot water they can produce, so you can enjoy slightly longer showers and have plenty of hot water for dishes.

Waste not, want not — it’s a way of life. Much like the RV life, the motto focuses on getting the most out of everything. The adventure. The journey. The destination. It applies to nearly every situation, every scenario, except one.

Actual waste.

When it comes to your RV waste, the only thing you want to know is where to dump it. We’ve gathered the details on how to find an RV dump station near you. It can be a dirty job, but someone must do it. And if that someone is you, it helps to know where you can dump your RV waste.

So, let us help.

What is an RV Dump Station?

Image: Shutterstock

Before finding one, it’s important to know what an RV dump station is. The last thing you want is to find it and then not know what its purpose is. Talk about waste — a waste of time.

Located in Colorado to the south of the La Plata Mountains, Mesa Verde National Park protects the cultural heritage of the Ancestral Pueblo people and is a World Heritage Site with roughly 4,700 archaeological sites and about 600 cliff dwellings. 

If you want to step back in time and see how the Ancestral Puebloan people lived, RVing Mesa Verde National Park will leave you in awe as you walk around some of the most well-preserved archaeological sites in the United States. 

Why Visit Mesa Verde National Park in an RV?

Photo by MarclSchauer via Shutterstock

Mesa Verde is ideal for visiting in an RV since it is much less crowded than other national parks and is the perfect place to stop to rest and recharge for a few days while you are RVing around the American southwest.

Spend a few days hooked up at Morefield Campground located inside the park, and drive less than 40 minutes away to explore the mountain town of Durango. Make sure to make a reservation ahead of time since the campground only includes 15 full hookup RV sites.

Driving around the park takes around two hours and is accessible by all motor homes with parking options at most overlooks. If you have a trailer or car hitched on the back of your RV, make sure to unhook just past the main entrance gate due to a few tight turns throughout the park and trailer restrictions.

Your sleeping bag choice matters when you go camping. A comfortable bag for summer can leave you shivering when temperatures drop in the fall, but a winter sleeping bag can make you sweat during the warmer months. 

Some RVers stock sleeping bags for hosting guests inside their RV, while others use them to make tent camping comfortable for guests or their kids. Even if you’re a car camper or just renting an RV, you need to know how to choose a sleeping bag for any season.

So, here are some tips for choosing the best one for your needs!

Types of Sleeping Bags

Photo by Camping World

There are two distinct types of sleeping bags: those for RV or car camping and those for backpacking. Sleeping bags for RV or car camping are roomier, but they don’t pack up as well as backpacking sleeping bags.

Sleeping bags for backpacking are light and compact, making them easy to carry and easier to get back into a compact stuff sack when storing. Their downside is that they can be very snug when you climb inside.

If you’re looking at getting out of a tent and into an RV, or are looking to trade in your current RV, but are intimated by the price and responsibility of a motorhome, travel trailer, or fifth-wheel, then consider a pop up. Pop ups have many advantages, and they’re usually a lot easier to handle. This will help make your transition into your first RV easier and even more exciting. Here are several excellent pop up campers that work well for beginners from both a usability standpoint and a price standpoint.

Forest River Rockwood Tent 1940LTD

Forest River Rockwood Tent 1940LTD (Image: Forest River)

Loaded with everything you need to hit the road for the first time, the Forest River Rockwood Tent 1940LTD is an ideal choice for your next adventure (and the one after that, and the one after that — you get the point). Conveniently designed with sleeping zones located at opposite ends from each other and the main living space in between.

The carryout range makes the most of bringing the outdoors in and the indoors out, so you get the best of both worlds wherever you are. Weighing in at 1,608 pounds and measuring just over 14 feet in length, the Rockwood Tent is the perfect introductory camper to take your next trip from basic to brilliant.

Shop Forest River Rockwood Tent 1940LTD RVs.

Forest River Flagstaff T12RBST

Forest River Flagstaff T12RBST (Image: Forest River)

If storage is your love language, then call me cupid because the Forest River Flagstaff T12RBST comes with a large storage area on the front. Plus, it manages to include all the comfort features you’d expect in a camper. That’s not even the best part! The best part is that it sets up into a firm structure in mere minutes.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year — for RV enthusiasts anyway. While others start to turn their focus toward preparing for colder days ahead, the holiday season, and a new year, RVers aren’t clearing the roads just yet. In fact, fall is the gift that keeps on giving since it’s the best time to RV.

Before you start thinking about winterizing and storage during those colder months coming, there are quite a few fall harvest festivals to enjoy. The cooler fall weather is the perfect opportunity to wrap up your RVing adventures for the year.

So, throw on your favorite hoodie and grab your favorite fall beverage (you know, the pumpkin one) and check out some of our favorite fall harvest festivals to RV to.

The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze — Hudson Valley, NY

September 16 – November 20

Many families across the country want to go camping, but they understandably don’t want to spend a huge amount of money on a new heavy-duty truck and an RV to make that happen. That’s where the best family travel trailers under 4500 pounds come into play.

Family Travel Trailers Under 4,500 Pounds

These lightweight travel trailers are perfect for families needing a trailer that’s easy to tow with an SUV or a mid to full-size pickup truck. Let’s take a look at some of the best family travel trailers.

Use Camping World’s Towing Guide to calculate how much your vehicle can tow safely before buying a new or used travel trailer.

Coleman Light 1905BH

Trailer Specs

Dry Weight: 4,486 poundsHitch Weight: 602 poundsLength: 23’11”Height (w/ AC): 10’8″Sleeping Capacity: 3-6

Featuring aluminum framed construction and loaded with amenities, the Coleman Light 1905BH might be lightweight, but it’s heavy on durability. This is the heaviest of the RVs on this list, but it’s full of features that make it perfect for camping with a large family.

We’re talking power stabilizer jacks, a power awning, a slide-out dinette, a queen-size Murphy bed, and pass-through storage for all your recreation equipment and camping gear. Plus, folding up the bed gives you plenty of living area when you all need to be inside on rainy days.

If you ask other RVers which national park is their favorite, someone is bound to mention Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California. It’s a camper’s paradise with wide open space and panoramic views.

Most evenings, the landscape glows at golden hour, and the sky turns from red hot at sunset to dark blue and star-filled at night. You can enjoy the remoteness of the park but also its proximity to Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley.

Take the time during your visit to enjoy the endless roads of the desert landscape, play on the rock formations, and, of course, marvel at the Joshua Trees.

Why Visit Joshua Tree National Park?

The first reason to visit Joshua Tree National Park is to see its famous and fascinating Joshua Trees. Since the Mojave desert is the only place in the world where they grow naturally, Joshua Tree National Park is the best place to see them.

These trees range between 15-40 feet tall and can live an impressive 150 years. They’re members of the Yucca family and appear as though they’re from a different planet, with limbs unpredictably jetting out like they have their own minds.

Enchanted Trails RV Park & Trading Post blends the freewheeling spirit of Route 66’s heyday with all the comforts and amenities of a 21st-century RV resort. Surrounded by rugged desert scenery just 11 miles east of Albuquerque, the resort puts guests within reach of some of New Mexico’s most exciting attractions.

Blasts From the Past

Visitors will get a sense of the park’s nostalgic travel vibe the minute they pull into the park, located on U.S.Route 66 (Interstate 40). The Enchanted Trails office and Trading Post occupies a flat-roofed adobe-style building built in the late 1940s and was typical of the era’s architectural style. Visitors will find curios and memorabilia from the period in the clubhouse. Although the spacious laundry facility is fully equipped with modern washers and dryers, there’s also a ringer washer and mangle iron — for guests who fully want to commit to the old-time aesthetic. 

Travel further down memory lane with a tour of the park’s Vintage Trailer Exhibit, also known as the Vintage Court, with six classic RVs open for exploring. Step into Della, a 1959 Spartan trailer with a double bed and roomy kitchen; feel the Camelot aura in Dot, a 1963 Winnebago trailer that sleeps one; get groovy in Josephine, a 1969 airstream decorated with mod flower decals. Get a key for the vintage RV you would like to tour at the manager’s office.

Work camping (or workamping) is by no means a new concept. As long as campers have been RVing full-time, they’ve been finding jobs to help supplement their mobile lifestyles. With modern technology, though, our options have significantly expanded. Work camping doesn’t mean what it used to, but it’s arguably more accessible than ever.

Want to make money while living the RV life? Here are the things you need to know.

A Brief History of Work Camping

Before 2020 and the expansion of working remotely, work camping meant traveling to find a part-time job where you were camping — at a campground, RV resort, national park, state park, local monument, etc. These jobs were usually seasonal (i.e. during heavy camping seasons). The responsibilities of these seasonal jobs include collecting park and camping fees, renting facilities, answering questions, answering phones, and conducting basic grounds maintenance.

Seasonal work camping was a more common option for older RVers or retirees.

At national and state parks, work campers are sometimes given a free campsite in exchange for working a certain number of hours per week. This allows the workcamper to answer visitor questions while also offering a discount on seasonal RV camping.

Water is the main star at Isle Royale National Park. With over 400 islands inside the park boundaries, visitors traverse the waters of Lake Superior to then navigate channels and waterways by kayak or canoe, sailboat, or fishing vessel, all for a little island hopping.

SCUBA divers find treasure in the waters here as 10 shipwrecks offer up their secrets. Wildlife on Isle Royale harbors a mystery, too, as to how they crossed the depths to arrive here more than 100 years ago. This park will quench your thirst for adventure and exploration.

Why Visit Isle Royale National Park in an RV?

This is one of those parks where an RV doesn’t quite fit in, unfortunately.

Visitors will be relegated to parking it on the mainland in Michigan or Minnesota and taking a boat or seaplane to the island. The Isle Royale National Park is worth leaving your rig behind because it’s unlike any other national park in the country.

When to Visit Isle Royale National Park

The Isle Royale National Park opens every year from April 16 to October 21. From November 1 to April 15, Isle Royale and its surrounding islands are closed to visitors because of the harsh weather conditions. However, the waters of Lake Superior are open to boaters year-round.

When you travel with your family, having a camper that can comfortably sleep your entire family is essential. If you’re looking for a great way to upgrade from tent camping to something that will keep you comfortable and still give you that tent feeling, these folding pop-up campers are the perfect choice! Learn about the top 7 folding pop-up campers below.

Find more pop-up campers at RVingPlanet.com.

Coachmen Clipper Camping Trailers 108ST Sport

Get a compact and easy-to-store RV that will help your family of six enjoy trips to the campground when you take home the Coachmen Clipper Camping Trailers 108ST Sport folding pop-up camper. The dual queen bed tents are on a cable-supported structure platform to ensure a secure fit. You’ll love the heated mattresses!

Additional Features:

Queen Tent End BedsHeated MattressesGauchoExterior StorageOutside ShowerThis dinette folds into a cozy bed for the kids.

Coachmen Clipper Camping Trailers 806XLS

Our next stop is the Coachmen Clipper Camping Trailers 806XLS pop-up camper that offers a double-sized tent and a full-sized tent for sleeping your family. You’ll find the dual gaucho benches are ideal for the kids, and you’ll love having a storage unit by the door for all your things.

Additional Features:

For some of us, the end of summer marks the end of RV season as well. If you’re not someone who RVs full-time and chooses to snowbird during the winter months, you’ll need to make arrangements for storing your RV. In fact, even during the warmer parts of the year, if you’re a weekend warrior camper, you’ll likely need to store your RV somewhere while you aren’t using it. 

As a seasoned RVer who has done everything from full-timing to occasional weekend camping trips during the summer, I’ve had a variety of RV storage experiences. In this post, I’ll share some of the most common questions that new RVers may have about RV storage, along with a few tips I’ve learned along the way. 

Where Can I Store My RV?

Image: Lindsay McKenzie

When it comes to where you can store your RV, you really have two options: store the RV on your own property or someone else’s property.

To determine whether or not you can store your RV on your own property, you’ll need to first check with your homeowner’s association or determine if there are any neighborhood covenants that restrict residents from parking RVs on their property.

If you don’t have any restrictions, you’ll then want to determine if you have a space on your property that is both large enough and also secure and safe enough for your RV. 

Known as the “Valley of the Vapors” to Hernando de Soto when he arrived in 1541, Hot Springs National Park lies in a small valley of the Ouachita Mountains in west-central Arkansas. With 43 natural springs erupting from the rock, the region is highly sought after for its healing waters, and visitors today can stroll through historic bathhouses that harken to times past.

Enjoy a soak and steam. Residents have for over 100 years or have a brewsky at another of the converted bathhouses. Venture along the 26 miles of trails over Hot Springs Mountain and participate in several informative park ranger tours. Located within a city, this is an unusual national park, but one that celebrates our natural resources while protecting them.

Why Visit Hot Springs National Park?

Very amenable to RVers and campers, Hot Springs has several nice campgrounds that cater to motorhomes and travel trailers. Tent campers can also find plenty of places to stay.

Imagine driving through the beautiful Ouachita Mountains to arrive at Hot Springs National Park, where you can enjoy the history of the area, and then participating in the bathhouse ritual of a tub bath, a sit in the vapor cabinet, application of hot packs, and relaxing in a cooling area, just as they did 100 years ago.

After this afternoon of pampering, you will definitely be ready for a nap in your RV, then a nice meal, either prepared at the campsite or taken at a restaurant in town.

Class C motorhomes tend to be the RV that first comes to mind when many people think of camping and road trips. The design has been around for decades, and it’s a proven one that continues to get better as time goes on.

Class A and Class B motorhomes offer serious benefits of their own, but Class C motorhomes are a good middle-of-the-road option between the other two types of motorhomes. Class C RVs work for the solo explorer, the adventurous couple, as well as families large and small.

Speaking of families and Class C motorhomes, if you have the need for a camper that can sleep up to eight people, look no further than the venerable Class C motorhome. Here are several units that will sleep eight people with ease.

Thor Omni RS36

Thor Omni RS36 (Image: Thor)

Bells and whistles. If you like them, then you’ll love the Thor Omni RS36. With a king-sized bed in the rear, bunk beds across from the bathroom, a cab-over bunk at the front, and a dinette that converts to additional sleeping space, it’s no surprise the Thor Omni is at the top of everyone’s list. Plus, there is theater seating! And a full kitchen. It’s everything you love about home but on the road and with enough space for the whole family. Ring the bell. Blow the whistle. This one is a winner.

Shop Thor Omni RS36 RVs.

Getting out on the road is comfortable and easy when you leave home in one of the class B diesel motorhomes available at a dealer near you. These amazing class B diesel motorhomes are built with comfortable seating to make the road trip fun and all the amenities you need for camping with your crew. Learn more about six deals you won’t want to miss below.

This 2022 Airstream Interstate 19 class B diesel motorhome is the perfect blend of luxury and convenience.

2022 Airstream Interstate 19

This dream RV for two features a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 chassis with a 3.0L V6 Turbo Mercedes-Benz diesel engine. With power and quality construction like that, you’ll have a smooth ride no matter how long you spend on the road. Inside, you’ll find an in-dash wireless cell phone charging station and heated seats to keep you comfortable all along the way.

Additional Features:

Power SofaPower OttomansCorian Galley ShelfPower Window ShadesOverhead StorageThere’s plenty of cupholders in this luxurious RV.

2023 Coachmen Galleria 24T

Get all the space you need inside the Coachmen Galleria 24T class B diesel motorhome. This unit offers a Memory foam power sofa with sleeping space for two. You’ll love entertaining guests at the campground, thanks to the outdoor awning that provides plenty of shade and the three captain’s chairs in the living room that offer comfortable seating for everyone.

Additional Features:

Everyone has an opinion when it comes to RV refrigerators. The topic is sure to start up lively debate among RVers. Like all other things RV-related, your RV refrigerator is a matter of personal preference. And your RV travel style will highly influence that preference.

With that said, some RV refrigerator basics will help you know what you’re looking at when you’re out on the showroom floor.

RV Refrigerator Types

Most new motorhomes and used motorhomes offer either compressor-driven refrigerators or absorption refrigerators. Absorption refrigerators are the most common, but you’ll also see “residential-style refrigerators.”

Unfortunately, this term can be confusing. Some RVers and RV manufacturers use that term to refer to the design, and others to mean a refrigerator designed for use in a fixed residence. Let’s clarify some info on how different RV refrigerators work.

Absorption Refrigerators

Photo by Camping World

The most common type of refrigerator you’ll find in RVs is an absorption refrigerator. Absorption refrigerators can run on propane, in addition to an electrical power source. This makes them more flexible than compressor-driven refrigerators.

America’s Mid-Atlantic region embraces autumn with gusto. Tour the countryside to see vibrant fall colors or drop into haunted houses in some of the big cities.

Delaware

See our Regional Travel Calendar for more year-round destinations.

The weather on Delaware’s coast is pretty nice during October, and a slew of local festivals give travelers great reasons to camp near the beach. Celebrate Halloween at the annual Sea Witch Festival in Rehoboth, including a costume parade, dog parade, trick or treating and hayrides. One of the event’s highlights is the Sea Witch Hunt, in which attendees try to find the dreaded witch for prizes.

Stay: Massey’s Landing, Millsboro

When you think about national parks, there are a few places that immediately come to mind. Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Zion, and, of course, Yosemite. With its stunning landscapes, iconic rock faces, and pristine wilderness, Yosemite is one of the country’s most popular outdoor destinations. It is a must-visit place for hikers, backpackers, and rock climbers, although it has plenty to offer anyone who appreciates breathtaking scenery on an epic scale.

Ansel Adams spent his life trying to capture the essence of this beautiful place, capturing some of his most memorable photos there. But, you can’t truly appreciate what Yosemite has to offer until you visit it yourself. Here’s how to make that happen and what you should see and do once you get there. 

Image by Unaihuiziphotography/Getty

Why Visit Yosemite in Your RV?

Covering nearly 760,000 acres, Yosemite is epic in size and scope. There is so much to take in here that a single visit only scratches the surface of what the park has to offer. By visiting in an RV you’ll have the perfect base camp for your outdoor adventures, with a comfortable and warm setting to return to at the end of the day. Hike the trails, soak in the scenery, and enjoy a beautiful campfire after sunset. This is a place that any adventurous traveler or outdoor enthusiast will fall in love with, and most likely return to again in the future.

Image by jssuley/Getty

When to Visit Yosemite

As with most national parks, Yosemite is open year-round and accessible 365 days a year. If you’re RVing, it’s best to go in the late spring through early fall, avoiding chances for major snowfall at the lower elevations. You’ll find that all of the park’s areas are open from June through September, although it is the busiest time of the year for travelers. Be prepared to share the roads and parking lots, as even on weekdays, it can get very crowded. 

Yosemite in the Spring

Spring brings warming temperatures and a slow, gradual thaw to Yosemite National Park. The park’s numerous mountain peaks continue to be shrouded in snow, but at lower elevations, winter is in full retreat. Daytime temperatures average in the mid-50ºF to mid-60ºF range in the Valley, falling into the low- to mid-30s at night. All temperatures are colder at altitude, although much of the backcountry remains closed throughout March and April. Snow showers are not unheard of at this time of year, but most days are clear and sunny.

As much as we wish for it, the RV lifestyle isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. Inevitably, there will be storms that delay your journey or, in the case of solar panels, threaten to break you. But don’t give up!

There are ways to weather those storms that include protecting your solar investment. As with all inclement weather, a little preparation often dictates how well you survive it.

Knowing how to protect your RV solar panels from hail will help you prepare for the worst while still hoping for the best.

How Delicate are RV Solar Panels?

Image: Chase & Lindsay

Since installed RV solar panels are designed to capture as much sun as possible, their positioning can leave them vulnerable in the eye of a storm. Solar panels are typically mounted on the roof of your RV and left exposed.

While covering them would render them ineffective, this exposure can be problematic in severe weather. Most solar panels are built to withstand wind and rain, but hail is a different story.