WEnRV travel news, products, and industry trends

What a relief that cooler temperatures are finally here. It’s a welcome change of seasons and a perfect chance to comfortably explore the best dark-sky destinations in the Southwest. Whether you’re headed to the sunny Southern California coast or gathering with winter Texans on the Gulf Coast, the most popular winter snowbird journeys are often filled with stargazing under crystal-clear skies.

A Short List of the Best Dark Sky Destinations in the Southwest

The Southwestern desert has inky-black starry skies all year. But if you’re a weather wimp like me, exploring them in fall and winter is much more appealing. As an astronomy fan, I enjoy planning our travels around the International Dark-Sky Association’s Dark Sky Site Directory. It’s a great resource for locating North America’s darkest skies and also includes a list of dozens of Dark Sky Parks near popular winter snowbird destinations. My favorite places in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas include:

Arizona: Saguaro National Park

If you hide from winter in Arizona, take a break from your usual spot and head south to Organ Pipe National Monument. Located two hours west of Tucson, Organ Pipe is not only an International Dark Sky Park, but is also an International Biosphere Reserve. The dual designation means that along with a peaceful stay underneath Southern Arizona’s darkest skies, you can also experience one of the few intact, undeveloped slices of the Sonoran Desert ecosystem. It’s a two-for-one deal that takes your breath away with the starriest skies at night and untouched desert scenery by day. There’s a rustic, RV-friendly campground inside the monument, but Ajo Heights RV Park offers full-hookup comforts just minutes from the park entrance.

alifornia: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Of all the camping adventures I’ve been on, the ones I cherish the most are the adventures with our kids.

Don’t get me wrong. Before children, my husband and I went on some epic camping trips across the country. However, now that we have two toddlers, camping feels meaningful and impactful for the kids too. But traveling with children is also challenging. There is a lot more planning involved, and packing up the RV often feels like we’re moving to another house — almost. 

For our family, the most important things while RVing are eating, sleeping, and exploring. I’ve narrowed down our favorite essential camping gear for kids which has helped our family enjoy the camping experience more. 

Safe Place to Sleep

It might sound obvious, but we all need a safe place to sleep at night. If your RV isn’t equipped with the right kind of beds for the age your kids are, then you need to adapt. Thankfully, there are lots of portable bed options that make it easy to create a safe place to sleep while on the go.

Snuggle Nest Portable Infant Lounger

Snuggle Nest Portable Infant Lounger

We are big fans of portable “cribs” for babies. Think of it as a bassinet on the go. The Snuggle Nest Portable Infant Lounger can be folded up for easy transportation. Depending on what you prefer, it can be placed next to you on your RV bed, on the ground, or outside on the grass as a place for your littlest campers to lounge and hang out. 

RVing in Mammoth Cave National Park is truly unique, as the park’s marquee feature is unlike anything else in the national park system. As its name implies, the park’s focal point is the world’s longest known cave system that’s more than 400 miles long. 

Even at that length, there are new sections still being discovered. According to Molly Schroer, the park’s Public Information Officer, another six miles were recently added, and “there’s no end in sight.” 

For that reason, it might not offer the same instant drama as other national parks. You don’t drive up and immediately see a memorable mountain range, historic fort, or one of the biggest canyons in the world. You must work just a little harder to immerse yourself into the beauty of this park – but it is worth every bit of the effort.

Why Visit Mammoth Cave National Park in an RV?

Photo by Ko Zatu via Shutterstock

Whether you’re exploring the cave itself or engaging in some other adventure, it’s great to have an RV as a base camp in this park. Two campgrounds in the park allow RVs and private campgrounds for RVs in the nearby gateway (and aptly named) communities of Park City and Cave City.

The incredible cave that is the park’s namesake (and a UNESCO World Heritage Site) is full of intriguing chambers, tunnels, stalactites/mites, and domes. It runs under four Kentucky counties, extending well beyond the park’s boundaries.

Take luxury everywhere you go when you travel in these incredible RVs available at RVingPlanet.com. You’ll love that traveling with these amazing fifth wheels, toy haulers, and more that will make you feel like you’re traveling in a five-star resort wherever you go. Learn more about the features and amenities you’ll love below.

Take home this Alliance Paradigm 382RK fifth wheel today.

2023 Alliance Paradigm 382RK

This Alliance Paradigm 382RK fifth wheel offers the perfect combination of a couple’s coach and plenty of space for entertaining. The dual opposing slides in the living room offer plenty of space for watching the big game with family and friends. Additionally, the sofas provide pull-out beds so that you can sleep up to six. Meanwhile, the master bedroom features a private master bathroom with a spacious shower and more.

Additional Features:

Rear KitchenBath and a HalfMaster SuiteMiddle Living AreaFireplaceGet a great night’s sleep wherever you go in this king bed.

2022 DRV Luxury Suites Mobile Suites 39DBRS3

Another excellent way to travel when you don’t want to leave your creature comforts at home is the DRV Luxury Suites Mobile Suites 39DBRS3 fifth wheel. The full and half bath design makes it easy to keep everyone comfortable while you host friends and family at the campground. Additionally, the spacious kitchen will help you feel like you’re cooking in your own home, so feel free to make your favorite signature dishes.

Additional Features:

Being labeled by John Muir as “a rival to Yosemite,” Kings Canyon National Park has a lot to live up to. It does so in grand style. With the deepest canyon in the nation (hence, the park’s name), the largest grove of Sequoia trees still in existence, and rock formations not unlike Yosemite, Kings Canyon on any scale is a land full of excesses. It is partnered with neighboring Sequoia National Park but stands on its own as a natural gem within the national park system.

Kings Canyon, the country’s fourth national park, encompasses stunning landscapes and exhilarating activities for all to enjoy. With hundreds of miles of hiking trails, mountaintop experiences, and rushing rivers, this is a true nature lover’s park. Come to revel in the solitude of the high country and absorb wildlife and wilderness in the country’s deepest canyon.

Why Visit Kings Canyon National Park in an RV?

There are only two roads in Kings Canyon, but they both lead to campgrounds that allow RVs. Having your home with you on this trip would be advantageous after a day of hiking or fishing.

Come back to your own kitchen, fry up the trout you reeled in earlier in the day, and then enjoy an evening around the campfire. You can view spectacular night skies and retreat to your own bed to rest up for tomorrow’s adventures!

When to Visit Kings Canyon National Park

Image: Shutterstock

The park is open year-round. There are a number of activities offered in every season, from hiking to snowshoeing and rock climbing to cross-country skiing. The weather can vary and change quickly throughout the park. As you change elevation, the temperature can fluctuate by 20 to 30 degrees. You could easily see spring flowers in the foothills and then snow in the Giant Forest all at once.

With nearly 3.2 million annual visitors, Indiana Dunes National Park was the ninth most visited National Park in 2021. It is marked by towering sand dunes overlooking the shore of Lake Michigan, beautiful beaches, and a very diverse ecosystem. 

This national park might be the fifth smallest by landmass, but it is also the fifth most biodiverse park in the country. And that’s just a small sampling of why RVing in Indiana Dunes National Park is a very sought-after experience. 

Why Visit Indiana Dunes National Park in an RV?

Photo by Sarah Quintans via Shutterstock

The midwest isn’t known for beautiful sandy beaches, but come summer, Indiana Dunes National Park has many incredible spots for freshwater swimming. Within the 15 miles of picturesque shoreline, nine designated beaches are absolutely perfect for cooling off. 

If you are interested in the biodiversity of Indiana Dunes National Park, you’ll be thrilled to know that 1,960 different species call this park home — including rare and endangered species. Of the rare plant life, you’ll see Black Oak Savannas, carnivorous plants like the American Pitcher, and 43 different types of orchids that call this area home. 

Indiana Dunes National Park’s 15,000 acres of land is actually split in half by Indiana Dunes State Park. The state park has another 2,182 acres and three more miles of Lake Michigan coastline to explore with similar features as the national park. Whether you only go to Indiana Dunes National Park or you visit both parks, there will be plenty to see and do in the area.

There are many reasons you might burn through your propane: big outdoor barbecues, camping in cool temps and cranking your RV furnace, running your RV refrigerator when boondocking, and more.

No matter how good you are at conserving propane in your RV, you’ll eventually need a refill. Luckily, Good Sam members save 15% when refilling propane at Camping World locations. That kind of savings can really add up.

Tips for Conserving Propane in Your RV

In addition to this member perk, there are a few very easy ways to reduce propane usage so you can keep your RV adventures rolling — and save money too.

Tip #1: Put Reflective Foil on your RV Windows

Photo by Camping World

Your RV isn’t insulated like your home — most RV windows are not double-pane. Most of the heat loss in your RV happens through your windows. The more heat that’s lost through your windows, the more propane you will burn to keep your RV at a comfortable temperature.

Travel trailers and motorhomes built with dual-pane acrylic windows help to minimize heat loss. But if your RV features single-pane windows like most, adding reflective foil is a great way to reduce heat loss and conserve propane.

One of the most overlooked ways to spruce up your outdoor patio area is with a patio mat or outdoor rug. But not anymore! With the wide range of outdoor RV patio mats and rugs available these days, taking your patio from basic to beautiful is easier than ever.

Enjoying the outdoors is perhaps the biggest perk of the RV lifestyle, so why not ensure your patio checks every box on the list of must-haves for an incredible space. Whether you’re looking for a small accent rug or a large statement piece, your choice has the power to drastically transform your outdoor area.

Where to start? With the ultimate guide to patio mats and outdoor rugs, of course.

Where are You Putting Your Patio Mat or Outdoor RV Rug?

Image: Chase & Lindsay

Before deciding the type, size, or design of the outdoor rug you want, you first must decide where to put it. The surface under your rug often determines the other factors. There’s nothing worse than finding the perfect patio mat only to discover it won’t work in your intended space.

Here are the three most popular surfaces that outdoor rugs are placed on, along with a few things to keep in mind when choosing your rug.

Perhaps one of the most underrated states in the country, “The Land of Infinite Variety” affords visitors the chance to witness spectacular landscapes, Old West history, abundant wildlife, and Native American cultural sites. From the Black Hills and Badlands to the rolling plains and river valleys, South Dakota is the perfect spot to escape the crowds and enjoy nature’s solace.

National and State Parks

Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park, located near the town of Wall, comprises over 244,000 acres of colorful spires, striped buttes and expansive grasslands. It’s renowned not only for its otherworldly beauty but also as one of the world’s richest fossil beds. Long before the arid badlands were formed, the region was part of an inland sea. Beginning in the late Cretaceous Epoch, roughly 75 million years ago, the landscape evolved when the sea receded, leaving behind clay, silt and sand. Water flowing from the Black Hills eroded this changing landscape, carving out the valleys, canyons, buttes and spires you see today. The colorful stripes within these formations not only tell the tale of time, but they also hold the answers to the first inhabitants of this area. Although no dinosaurs have been found within the park, creatures like saber tooth cats, rhinoceroses, mammoths, three-toed horses, camels and giant marine predators called mosasaurs have been found.

The park is also rich in human history, as evidence of early nomadic people dating back over 10,000 years. These Paleo Indians were big game hunters, and the valleys provided the perfect hunting grounds while the top of the badlands wall served as a lookout for enemies and wandering herds. In addition to oral traditions, further evidence of these early inhabitants has been found in the arrowheads and tools they left behind from hunts and the remnants of their campfires along stream banks. If you’ve wondered how the badlands got its name, you can credit the Lakota people who dubbed the area “mako sica,” which roughly translates to badlands. Later,  French trappers referred to the region as “les mauvaises terres a traverser” — bad lands to travel through, as they found the extreme temperatures, lack of water, and rough terrain hard to navigate.

One thing that every RVer needs to be conscious of is the height of their rig. Unfortunately, not every RV will fit under every bridge or overpass. If you choose to ignore the height of your RV, you can experience disastrous results for your RV’s roof.This is true of all types of RVs from travel trailers and fifth-wheels to small Class B motorhomes and Happier Campers all the way to monster Class A motorhomes.

Here are some tips and information to remember about your RV’s height.

Figure Out and Know the True Height of Your RV

The owner’s manual for your RV will list the actual dimensions of your RV and this includes the height. However, the height listed in the owner’s manual may not always include appliances and additions to your motorhome. For example, If you have a roof rack, a roof-mounted AC unit, or an antenna of some kind, then there’s a good chance the height listed in your manual will be inaccurate.

Instead of going with the number listed, or estimating how much your roof rack or roof-mounted AC unit adds to that number, get your tape measure out. Measure to the top of the roof from the ground when the RV is sitting on a level surface. From there, get on top of the RV and measure any items or appliances that are attached to the roof. Doing this will give you the true height of your RV.

Afterward, you need to make sure anyone who drives or tows your RV knows the true height of the vehicle.

Attention, snowbirds: Need a good reason to fly south sooner? How about ten reasons? Our list of the best fall festivals for snowbird RVers is a must-see during your southbound travels.

The 10 Best Fall Festivals for Snowbirds

Fall made a brief appearance yesterday at my campsite near Carson City, Nevada. A thin dusting of frost coated the RV rooftops, reminding me that it’s only a matter of time until it’s time to seek warmer accommodations. And when we do, we won’t be able to resist these incredible fall festivals in snowbird RVer destinations.

Alabama

Folk and Americana music fans and musicians are headed to the 3rd annual Opelika Songwriters Festival. The mid-October showcases rising stars and world-renowned musicians from North America in a small, intimate setting around historic downtown Opelika music venues. The 2022 headliners include the Indigo Girls and Rickie Lee Jones. Park your rig at Lakeside RV Park and you’re just minutes from the three-day festival.

Arizona

Wintering at an Arizona RV park this season? Get there early for The Arizona Fall Fest. Held during the first weekend in November, it’s the largest event in the Valley of the Sun, featuring 200 of Arizona’s locally-grown businesses. From restaurants to wineries, artisans to adventure sherpas, it’s a family- and dog-friendly event that showcases all things uniquely Arizona. Best of all, it’s free! Stay at the Royal Palm RV Resort and you’re less than ten miles from the fun.

Power from inside the Earth’s crust has molded California’s Lassen Volcanic National Park into an active landscape that continues to transform today. From erupting geysers to bubbling mud pots, the park is a living example of vulcanism and the considerable strength it has to alter the planet and move land masses. The Earth’s tectonic plates are locked in an ongoing battle in northern California, where four distinct types of volcanoes are in full view to park visitors.

The park is also home to jagged peaks, scenic waterfalls, and alpine meadows full of wildflowers that bloom in the spring and flourish all summer long. Winter brings its own treasures, as adventurous travelers on snowshoes will discover. Hiking past boiling lakes billowing with steam while surrounded by fresh snow is a surreal experience for the winter explorer. No matter the season, this wild and tumultuous land will entice visitors with surprises around every corner.

Why Visit Lassen Volcanic National Park in Your RV?

Photo Credit: MBRubin/Getty

Northern California has a lot to offer visiting RVers, and Lassen Volcanic National Park is one of the region’s best features. In addition to its stunning and dramatic landscapes, Lassen has five campgrounds that provide space for motorhomes and trailers. Additionally, the north and south entrances are paved for easy access, and the Manzanita Lake Camper Store caters specifically to the needs of RVers and tent campers. These amenities make exploring the park’s geothermal features and hiking to its mountain lakes and waterfalls more enjoyable. Especially when you can return home to your “mobile cabin in the woods” for a good night’s rest at the end of the day.

When to Visit Lassen Volcanic National Park

The park is open year-round, but some roads are closed in the winter due to snowfall. The spring and fall shoulder seasons are a good time to go, as crowds are minimal and the weather remains quite good. Here’s what to expect during each season:

Lassen Volcanic National Park in Spring

Photo Credit: MBRubin/Getty

Spring brings warming temperatures and slow but steady snowmelt to Lassen Volcanic National Park. Still, it can take some time for the snow to disappear altogether, and it is not unusual for some sections of the park to remain closed into June. Daytime highs average around 70ºF, with overnight lows falling into the 30s. But the weather can be unpredictable, with snow showers occurring on a regular basis. Before going to the park, check the website for updates on current conditions.

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.