Visiting Badlands National Park in South Dakota might feel like you’ve been dropped onto a whole new planet. It’s a 64,000-acre Mars-esque landscape just waiting to be explored–with bighorn sheep, bison, and a litany of mind-boggling rock formations. 

Here’s your guide to RVing Badlands National Park in South Dakota:

Why Visit Badlands National Park in an RV?

Renting an RV, or taking your own on a national parks road trip, is a great way to visit Badlands because there’s an epic off-grid camping location right outside the park’s northeast entrance. You’ll learn more about that later, but setting up an RV basecamp is ideal here for other reasons. 

They don’t call it the Badlands for nothing, and on a really hot day here, shade is virtually impossible to find. So having an RV to retreat to will give you either an air-conditioned space to escape the heat or an outdoor area underneath your awning to enjoy the scenery without baking in the sun. 

The park’s main road is a little windy and slow speeds are advised, but it is accessible to most RVs and travel trailers under 40 feet. Larger rigs should consider parking outside and taking a toad to check out the park’s interior attractions. 

Every year, phone-based distracted driving causes 2 million accidents. Those accidents create 500,000 injuries and 4,000 deaths annually.

With April being National Distracted Driving Awareness Month and thousands of RVers hitting the road for the first time this camping season, it’s worth it to take a second to contemplate those numbers.

That’s 10 deaths per day. 10 people who would be with us if we eliminated distracted driving. Luckily, there’s something you can do about it. And no, you don’t have to forgo the latest technology. Instead, embrace technology and use it for good. That’s where This App Saves Lives (TASL) comes in.

TASL is a mobile app that rewards drivers who choose not to engage in phone-based distracted driving. In short, it incentivizes people to do the right thing, and with more people out enjoying the roads this spring and summer it will be more important than ever to drive safely.

Drive Smarter, Especially While RVing

Distracted driving can be a huge problem for anyone behind the wheel, but when you’re driving or towing an RV, the stakes are even higher. Most of the time, there are multiple people traveling with you and the vehicle is large. Those reasons alone should be enough for you to take extra care. RVing, and driving in general, can be done safely, but it requires your attention, and TASL can help you keep your concentration on the road.

I used to travel to far-flung destinations at every chance I got, but then the pandemic hit and I was forced to sit still in my hometown of Vancouver. With international travel curbed for over a year, I had to find other ways to satisfy my wanderlust. I began researching staycations and stumbled upon the Sunshine Coast in British Columbia.

Stretching 112 miles from Howe Sound to Desolation Sound, this slice of natural paradise is a short ferry ride from Vancouver but feels a world away with secluded beaches, old-growth forests and artsy oceanside villages. I spent three days on the Sunshine Coast (it was glorious) and compiled the ultimate itinerary to inspire you to take the same trip.

Day 1: Gibsons and Roberts Creek

Morning

From West Vancouver, board a ferry at Horseshoe Bay and enjoy a 40-minute journey admiring a dazzling backdrop of coastal mountains. After docking, drive 10 minutes to the charming community of Gibsons. Gibsons Landing is where much of the action happens, with the Gibsons Public Market, Sunshine Coast Museum and numerous art galleries lining the harbor. Peruse the shops and have fresh seafood for lunch at Smitty’s Oyster House or Molly’s Reach Restaurant.

Afternoon

Just a 15-minute drive away is Cliff Gilker Park in Roberts Creek. Spend the afternoon hiking easy trails, which lead to waterfalls and Douglas ir trees. What’s great about this woodland park is that it’s covered by a canopy, so you can hike rain or shine. You can also visit nearby Mount Elphinstone Provincial Park, home to one of the highest peaks in the lower Sunshine Coast. If you’re up for it, trek the 7.6-mile Summit Trail for views all the way to Vancouver on a clear day.

Washington’s Olympic Peninsula is a grab bag of outdoor recreation. Hardcore hikers can hit trails leading to towering, snowcapped mountains. Botany buffs can explore the lush rainforests that flourish with humid air and water. Surfers hit the big waves that roll into shore in places like LaPush.

That’s just scratching the surface of the 1,442-square-mile region. Visitors can experience it all when they stay at Elma RV Park, a laidback Good Sam Campground located in its namesake town 30 miles west of Olympia. Described as the Gateway to the Olympic Peninsula, this campground puts the region’s long menu of recreational activities within reach. 

Coastal Cruising

From Elma, follow roads that hug the Pacific Coast for uncrowded beaches and diverse communities. Forty-two miles west of Elma, motorists will discover a stretch of Pacific Coast lined with several charming beach towns. Hang around Ocean Shores and launch a kite into the sky, or grab a shovel and pail and dig for clams. Head north and watch the Moclips River empty into the Pacific Ocean near the town of the same name. Further North on the Coast, the town of Taholah serves up beautiful beaches near the outlets of the Quinault River. 

Surf’s Up

Venturing into Olympic National Park on the Pacific Coast, the community of La Push is home to fantastic waves, with beaches for surfers of all experience levels. Here, where the Quillayute River meets the Pacific Ocean, board riders can catch waves as high as seven feet. 

As we move toward another camping season, we relish the healthy lifestyle and fun activities that await. Just getting out and using your RV again can be a rewarding pastime. But along with enjoying the outdoor fun, we need to also relax in the comfort of our home-away-from-home. This is especially true on those hot, lazy days when rising temperatures blanket many parts of North America. And as we all know, robust AC units and other factors are critical in keeping our RV interiors cool during summer travels.

Here are just a few tips on keeping the temperatures low as temperatures rise.

AC Remedies

For many of us, RV air conditioning units have trouble keeping up with the climbing temperatures. We wonder if our air conditioners are just getting tired and worn out — after all, your RVs may not be as young as they used to be.

The good news is that RV air conditioning units generally last for many, many years. Consider the two likely solutions for the AC’s flagging performance: needed maintenance and the employment of collateral aids to remove some of the burdens on the unit. First, let’s take a look at what maintenance items that need addressing:

RV wheel bearings are extremely important to the health of all motorhomes and travel trailers. Without them, you’re not going to get far, but wheel bearings are often overlooked during regular RV maintenance.

Forgetting about them is as big a mistake; almost as dangerous as not maintaining your RV tires. Remember to service your RV wheel bearings regularly so you can travel safely this camping season. 

Here’s what you need to know about wheel bearings:

What Are RV Wheel Bearings?

Your wheel bearings are located inside the hub of your RV wheels. They allow the wheels to spin properly and they also carry the weight of your RV. So one way to protect your wheel bearings is to understand your trailer’s weight ratings and never exceed them. 

Some vehicles have something called sealed bearings. This design prevents debris from getting into the bearings and also traps the bearing grease inside. Sealed bearings do not need to be cleaned and repacked regularly like unsealed bearings do. 

Sometimes I feel like I’ve hit the jackpot being born and raised in Vancouver. Framed by rugged mountains, lush forests and the Georgia Strait, Vancouver is one of those rare places where you can start your day with skiing and finish it by the beach. The scenery is unparalleled, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

With immigrant residents making up almost 50% of the population, Vancouver’s rich multiculturalism has helped the city blossom into one of the world’s most vibrant food destinations. Growing up, I was exposed to food from all corners of the globe — from dumplings and tacos to curry and sushi — and developed an appreciation for diverse cuisines from an early age. To this day, I love trying new foods from around the world and owe it to my hometown for cultivating my passion for international flavors and local ingredients.

Whether you’re coming to Vancouver for a weekend getaway or long-term stint, I’ve rounded up my favorite street eats, restaurants and food markets so you’ll know exactly where to go to get the best grub.

Gastown

The cobblestone streets of Gastown are lined with chic bars and eclectic dining options. Look out for Japadog outside Waterfront Station. This iconic street stall blends Japanese flavors with the humble hot dog. Try the signature Terimayo, which comes topped with teriyaki sauce, mayo and seaweed.

We spend so much of our lives customizing and tweaking the abodes we call home. So it just makes sense to do the same to our home on wheels.

Decorating your RV living space isn’t just for fun–it’s healthy. Creating a comfortable environment results in a more relaxing, stress-free travel experience. RVing should be fun and easy, which is why designing a custom RV interior is part of the excitement and joy of the RV lifestyle. It’s not difficult or necessarily time-consuming to add some personal touches to your RV. With a few small modifications, your rolling home will reflect who you are.

Let’s take a look at some of the trendiest interior design styles and how to do them in an RV.

Scandinavian

Scandinavian style is a minimalistic, nature-inspired kind of interior design expressive of the northern European countries of Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Sweden. The long dark winters in this region encourage residents to make their home cozy and inviting–a feeling referred to as “hygge,” in Danish. Add hygge elements to your RV with neutral earth tones like fir green, sandy beige, and snow white. Layer in textures with soft, chunky knit throws and natural woven rugs. Add in elements of nature with wood paneling and accents. Light candles and brew yourself a hot cup of coffee or tea and soon you’ll be transported to your personal Nordic cabin.

Shop for the RV bedroom

The majority of travel trailers, fifth wheels, and motorhomes have onboard holding tanks. These tanks collect the water from your shower and sinks, as well as the sewage waste from your toilet(s). When they fill up, you’ll need to know how to empty your RV’s holding tanks. 

What Are RV Holding Tanks?

RV tanks are separated into gray water tanks, black water tanks, and freshwater tanks. 

Your gray water tank holds sink and shower wastewater. Your RV black tank collects toilet wastewater. Your freshwater tank holds clean water for use in your kitchen, bathroom, and toilet(s).

Generally, the combined volume of your wastewater tanks is the same as your RV’s fresh water capacity, but the volumes of the gray and black tanks are rarely equal. The gray tank usually accounts for about 60% of your freshwater capacity and the black accounts for the remaining 40%. 

So, if an RV’s freshwater capacity was 80 gallons, the gray and black water waste tanks would hold roughly 48 gallons and 32 gallons, respectively. 

No matter where you plan to go, having an RV that is built to help you and your family stay comfortable at the campground is key. Today, we’ll show you five of our favorite RVs with two bathrooms on sale near you. These amazing RVs are idle for multi-family vacations or entertaining guests at the campground. Find even more RVs with multiple bathrooms for sale when you shop at RVing Planet. 

Find more deals on RVs with multiple bathrooms at RVingPlanet.com. 

2022 Keystone RV Avalanche 390DS Fifth Wheel

Traveling with your family in one of the Keystone Avalanche 390DS fifth wheels is a great way to bring your family closer together. You can easily sleep up to six in this fifth wheel and you’ll love having the privacy of a front master bedroom with a massive walk-in closet. The second bedroom in the rear of the RV features a full bath with an exterior entry door for easy access. 

Additional Features:

The loft over the second bedroom provides you with additional storage space. 

There’s a reason Lancaster County and Amish Country draw visitors from all over the country. Check out the fun things there are to do at our park, then explore the beauty of the area during your stay. Owned and operated by the Korznieckis family since 1981, Flory’s Cottages and Camping has a rich history built on a family-friendly atmosphere that always leaves our guests feeling right at home. We strive to make your Lancaster County vacation the best it can possibly be.

Flory’s Cottages and Camping is easy to reach, located between U.S. Route 30 and Pennsylvania Route 340 on North Ronko Rd. in the Village of Ronko, seven miles east of Lancaster.

Flory’s Cottages and Camping has much to offer you

We support a family experience and take pride in our clean and friendly park. Nestled into the scenic Lancaster County countryside where the Amish are our neighbors, Flory’s Cottages and Camping is a gathering place for friends and family. We promote a place to unwind, relax and enjoy the beauty of the area and the company of good people.

We provide your choice of housekeeping cottages, guest rooms and campsites with five-point hookups. Our campsites are clean, spacious, pleasantly located, well maintained and ready to accommodate you. Flory’s Cottages and Camping offers an Office, Camp Store, Laundry and Game Room, a Bathhouse, Dump Station, Playground and the Luigi Lounge on-site. We provide NH-EWS and Cable TV, EWS and Cable TV, EWS, Cable and Satellite Dish.

Whether you’re a full-time RVer living life on the road or a weekend warrior venturing off to the next destination, your RV is your home on wheels. And like any home, your RV deserves some tender love and care. The Camping World Design Center helps your RV feel like home by being a one-stop-shop for all your RV design needs. If you’re not much of a DIYer or don’t have time to do the RV renovations you crave, Camping World’s design center can help by offering the tools, resources, and installations to upgrade your RV.

RVs should be functional, but you also want them to match your personal style. That’s where the Design Center comes in. From regular maintenance to appliance upgrades, DIY design updates, and even complicated non-DIY repairs, you’d rather leave to the pros – the Design Center and Camping World’s service technicians can do it all. 

There’s a Design Center at nearly every Camping World location across the country. Here are 10 things you can do to your RV in the Camping World Design Center.

Brighten Things Up

Lighting can make all the difference in setting the ambiance in your RV. The Camping World Design Center has residential-style LED lights designed for RVs. That means you can say goodbye to the usual dome lights and say hello to wall and ceiling fixtures that look like they belong in a custom home. If you don’t feel confident in your lighting installation skills, the Design Center team can help you. We opted for a battery-operated light when we wanted to brighten up our space but didn’t want to mess with electricity. Whether your style is modern, farmhouse, or traditional, the Design Center has something for everyone.

Explore these Easy RV Interior Lighting Updates for inspiration.

Family-owned and operated, Country Roads RV Park offers down-home hospitality in a clean, quiet, country setting. Our large, full-service sites are perfect for all types of RVs, especially big rigs. Each site features a firepit and table. Onsite propane, indoor RV/car pressure wash, firewood, dump station and a great recycle program are all available right within the park.

Our on-site store offers an amazing array of treasures. Arts and crafts produced by local artists are featured along with our own homemade fare. We take pride in promoting the area’s local talent in our shop. Also available is a large selection of snacks and groceries. Did we mention ice cream?

The Old Barn

This facility offers a fully catered kitchen, washrooms, bar, tables and chairs ready for whatever your special event is from weddings, retreats to old-fashioned barn dances!

A community pavilion and gazebo are located away from the campsites and are available for groups, barbecues or family functions.

Your RV’s holding tanks need to be maintained properly for you to enjoy camping to its fullest. This is especially true for your source of fresh water in your RV. Your freshwater system not only needs to work right, but it needs to be clean too.

How Often Should You Sanitize Your RV Fresh Water Tank?

Each year, usually in the spring when you get your RV out of storage, you should sanitize the fresh water system. This is a routine maintenance task to guarantee you have safe water for drinking, showering, dishwashing, and doing laundry on the road.

While you can pay a professional to sanitize your RV fresh water tank, there’s really no need. It doesn’t require any special tools and you can do it with bleach or a more environmentally-friendly cleaning solution if you prefer. 

How To Sanitize RV Fresh Water Tank with Bleach

To sanitize your RV water tank, all you need is a measuring cup, a funnel, and some household bleach. From there, just follow these step by step instructions:

Step 1: Turn Off Your Water Heater and Water Pump

Draining your freshwater system with the water heater on can damage the water heater tank. Turn off your water heater and let the water in the tank cool before you drain it. If your RV is equipped with a water heater bypass switch, use it to prevent the bleach solution from entering your hot water tank. 

As North America reopens, we’re taking shorter trips and savoring the little things along the way. Travel restrictions may pose some obstacles, but they also give you the chance to Explore your Region, discovering new adventures in our own backyards.

That’s why you should check out your neck of the woods. Find the destination close to you in North America and start your RV travel adventures! Stay at nearby Good Sam Parks during your travels.

Winter will be a distant memory before we know it, and there’s never been a better year for RVing to the best flower festivals in the U.S. Mother Nature is preparing for what promises to be the most vibrant and cheerful flower festival season yet. It’s time to seed your road trip itinerary with some ideas from our cross-country RV flower festival tour through the blooming landscapes of Virginia, North Carolina, Texas, Washington and Oregon.

Tulip Festival, Skagit Valley, Washington
April 1-30

If you miss the famous daffodil bloom in March, don’t worry. Springtime presents one spectacular wildflower show after another in the fertile aggie lands lining the riverbanks just south of Bellingham. Come and enjoy endless flocks of swans, snow geese and ducks zoom fly across the skies. But keep an eye on the ground too, because local farmers grow more tulip and daffodil bulbs here than anywhere else in the U.S.  The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival celebrates the colorful harvest in area-wide events that keep the region hopping between April 1 – 30. Designed as a driving tour through vibrant fields lining the hills between La Conner and Mount Vernon, the month-long festival spotlights local flower farmers and their endless fields of technicolor beauty. Tourists are welcome to view and photograph their crops as long as Mother Nature cooperates. Meanwhile, local communities celebrate the coming of spring with tulip-themed art shows and family activities including a street fair, barbecues and dinners, a parade and more. Create your home base on the water at La Conner Marina & RV Park, and you’ll be within walking distance of local events, restaurants and outdoor activities that take advantage of the region’s temperate climate and the Pacific Northwest’s prettiest scenery.

Azalea Festival – Wilmington, North Carolina
April 6-10, 2022

Come for the annual Azalea Festival but plan on staying longer to experience this undiscovered Atlantic Coast gem. There’s so much to see and do in Wilmington during springtime. Start with the annual festival to get a feel for this welcoming community. The Azalea Festival shines a spotlight on the region’s native Azalea plants that bloom each spring. From the Blue Ridge Mountains to the sea, azaleas paint the terrain with a welcome sign that spring has arrived. This is the best time to enjoy cool mornings and nights, with humidity-free days and bright, sunny skies. Celebrate like a local and when you need a break from the concerts, art fairs and garden tours, spend some quality time at Wilmington area beaches. Cast your line from the oldest fishing pier on the Atlantic, paddle around the Intercoastal waterway and step back in time for amusement park fun on the Carolina Beach boardwalk. Set up base camp at nearby Lanier’s Campground and you’re just a few minutes from all the best springtime fun in Wilmington.

Mojave National Preserve is a 1.6 million acre park in Southern California. Interstate 15 travelers between Nevada and California will have seen road signs for ... Read more

When most people think of wine regions to visit in an RV, places like Napa Valley in California or the Columbia Valley in Washington come to mind. Colorado attracts millions of outdoor enthusiasts and ski bums every year, but many people miss out on the hidden treasures that the state has to offer–like its wine.

I was surprised this past summer when I discovered a secret wine region that I had never heard of, despite being a Colorado native. But then again, that’s one of the many benefits of RVing – taking spontaneous detours and experiencing adventures you may have otherwise missed.

In this article I’ll share this secret wine region in Colorado and why it quickly stole my heart. In fact, my husband and I loved it so much, we returned not only once but twice in one year!

Where Is This Colorado Wine Region?

This secret wine region is located in the southwestern part of the state. Driving along scenic highway 133 between Hotchkiss and Carbondale you’ll find the charming little town of Paonia. It’s tucked away in the North Fork Valley. Although it’s relatively remote, Paonia is less than a two-hour drive away from one of Colorado’s most popular ski towns–Crested Butte (when Kebler Pass is open).

Why is This Wine Region Special?

You’ll immediately notice how green and lush Paonia is, which is unique from much of the rest of the state. In addition to its vineyards, the area is more known for its orchards, which produce pears, peaches, apples, plums, and even cherries. Orchards and vineyards are beautiful enough on their own, but when you combine them with sweeping mountain views, it’s absolutely stunning. Paonia sits at the base of 11,400 foot Mount Lamborn and is known as having some of the highest vineyards in North America.

Every RVer needs to have a plan in the event of a flat tire or a blowout. Putting on your spare tire is the easiest way to get back on the road, but you’ll need to keep your spare tire healthy so it’s ready if you need it. An RV spare tire cover keeps your spare in good condition so you’re not replacing a flat or blown-out tire with a questionable backup.

Is your RV’s spare tire ready for action? When was the last time you looked at it? Do you have a spare tire cover for it?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions, it’s time to check on your RV’s spare. Before discussing the benefits of RV spare tire covers, here are some basic RV tire checks you should include in your regular RV maintenance schedule. 

Basic RV Spare Tire Checks

Even if you have never used your RV’s spare tire, it is recommended to replace it if you notice signs of damage or your tire is more than 10 years old. Please check the original date of manufacture for most tires using the last four numbers in the Department of Transportation (DOT) stamp on the tire’s sidewall. The first two of these final four digits denote the week and the final two denote the year of original manufacture. 

Also, please note that you cannot use spare tires from trucks, SUVs, or other small vehicles as replacement tires for your motorhome. A camper spare is made for the heavier weight of your coach and spares made for lighter vehicles should never be substituted for an RV spare. 

Many travelers discover Fossil Basin, Wyoming, on a trip to visit the state’s national parks and monuments. But the destination is worthy of more than just a quick stop. Plan to spend a couple days in the Kemmerer-Diamondville area and uncover all that the Fossil Fish Capital of the World has to offer!

Day 1

Fossil Butte National Monument

After you arrive in the area and get settled, head to Fossil Butte National Monument. Your first stop should be the Fossil Butte Visitor Center. Inside, you’ll find exhibits featuring more than 300 fossils, including some really unique specimens. During the summer, you can visit the Research Quarry, watch fossil preparation demonstrations at the visitor center’s scientific lab, and listen to park rangers talk about the geology of Fossil Butte and the surrounding area.

The hiking trails at Fossil Butte National Monument are another great way to see and learn more about the wildlife, geology, and history of Fossil Basin.

To get some incredible views of the area’s landscape, take the scenic drive up past the Nature Trail and picnic area. Visitors should be aware that beyond the Nature Trail parking area, the scenic drive is a narrow, steep, gravel road so RVs and vehicles pulling trailers should not be driven past that point.