SoloWomanRV

Friday, July 10, 2026

RV Traditions + Newest RV Park & Campground News

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THIS WEEK'S BREAKING NEWS OF NEW AND CHANGING RV PARKS. THEN GET THE JUMP ON RESERVATIONS.

RV Travel Traditions to Treasure

You may mot realize it now but camping and RV travel make lifetime memories. Whether it’s a Labor Day weekend with the kids in a whizbang RV resort or sitting alone to see your first sunrise in a national park, you wish it could last forever

Here are some ways to begin now, with your next RV-adventure, to make RV traditions you will always cherish.

Traditions for You Alone

You might start each day with a prayer or meditation in the driver’s seat with its view of the great outdoors. Or do a yoga or tai chi workout at sunrise. Start a quilt. Or each day learn a new Spanish phrase or sonnet or Psalm.

If you don’t already keep a travel diary or journal, make it a habit. It’s easier if you make entries at the same time each day. Use whatever style works for you, from pencil sketches to jotted notes to a letter to an imaginary friend.

Twitter, Facebook and other social networks also make good daily habits, but don’t forget those friends who aren’t online. Postcards from you mean so much to shut-ins and the elderly.

Traditions for Your RV

Call them habits or even a rut, everyday traditions can bring sameness and sanity to travel. Food traditions are always good. Bonfire Bean Soup and cornbread every Saturday night? A splurge lunch date every Wednesday at the nearest restaurant? Taco Tuesdays?

Some traditions are best when the RV is peacefully plugged in for a while. Others are best when you’re on the road. One very practical habit is to walk completely around the RV before every start-up, even if you’ve stopped only a few minutes for fuel. Make sure everything is in order. It’s also a time to put your mind back into highway mode and the serious business of driving.

Birthdays and holidays may call for new traditions when we're on the go. Cupcakes instead of a big layer cake? Cornish game hens instead of a big Thanksgiving turkey? A folding Christmas tree?

Start a collection that's portable

Old traditions can be observed too. Go online to order flowers for folks back home. Keep a corkboard of photos and souvenirs. Start a Fun Fund where loose change goes at the end of each day. When the kitty is full, splurge on a special outing.

You may designate times to take stock of your RV present and future. These confabs may be monthly, quarterly or yearly. Just stick to the schedule, like New Years Day or the Full Moon or every 10,000 miles. Where are you going? What are my travel goals? Do I want a larger or smaller RV? These days, reservations are a necessity, sometimes six months or a year in advance.

Traditions for the Campground

You might find a place to mount a flag on your RV and raise the Stars and Stripes each morning. Or become known as the neighbor who has tea time at 3 p.m. or coffee klatch at 10 and everyone can drop by. Or make your famous casserole at every potluck.

With an RV you can play it by ear. Stay nimble. Be free. Change your mind. Still, traditions can have a place in RV life too.

WHAT IS FULL-TIME RV TRAVEL REALLY LIKE?

We spill our whole story, start to end, warts and all.....

We traveled full-time for 10 great years.

Do you dream of living and traveling in a complete home on wheels? Living Aboard Your RV, 4th Edition by Janet Groene & Gordon Groene is a total guide to the full-time life on wheels. Should you sell the house or rent it out? Downsize possessions or put them in storage? Too young to retire? See our chapter on ways to make a living anywhere. Kids on board? We cover home schooling and also an exit strategy if and when it's time to settle down. Order at any book store or let Amazon gift wrap and ship it for you. https://amzn.to/29XFEkq

Save money and space when you make your own trail mix. Measure by the portion and package in reusable snack bags for the trail, backpack, commute, road trip or flight. See a sweet, filling homemade breakfast trail mix filled with fiber and nutty protein at https://createagorp.blogspot.com

RV PARKS & CAMPGROUNDS

GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS

Is there RV park news near you? Destinations are in boldface; dates are in red. These late-breaking news spots are presenting to give readers a heads-up on what’s new and what’s going to be new. No endorsement of any service or destination is implied..

NEW AND FUTURE RV PARKS & CAMPGROUNDS

Livingston Parish now has a luxury RV park, just off I-12. The 450-site, 100-acre Patriot RV Resort in Satsuma, Louisiana has full hookups, multiple swimming pools, a Lazy River, fishing, hot tubs, pickleball courts and more. Check the website for the concert schedule in the amphitheater theater. See patriotsrvresort.com/

Expect continuing expansions through this year and next at the new campground in Indian Lake State Park, Lakeview, Ohio. Construction will mean temporary closings and rerouting, so get current nformation at (866) 644-6727.The pet-friendly park offers full hookups, waterfront sites, boating, a beach a dump station and a camp store in season.

SCUTTLEBUTT

The 154-acre county-owned campground site in West The Dalles, Oregon has a good chance of coming back to life. A 48-pad RV park was begun just off Exit 82 of I-84. Full hookups, an ADA restroom and showers are already installed. Now the county is considering finishing the project and opening it for short-term RV travelers with a limit of 14 days. Keep current on area RV parks at https://www.wascocountyor.gov/visitors/

In Ellsworth, Maine a 28-site RV park is getting closer to creation. The Anchor In will have full hookups. See DisoverEllsworth.org/

EVENTS

Save the dates. This year’s Warren, Wisconsin Cranberry Festival will be held September 26-27. The Lions Club provides dry camping at the festival grounds. At least two full-service RV parks, Jellystone and McMullen, offer shuttle service to the festival. Make reservations ASAP. For the 53rd year, townfolk will put on a party that includes 100 food booths, 100 farmers market stalls, 300 flea markets,800 arts and crafts vendors, a parade, the election of a cranberry queen, walking tours of the cranberry marsh, a cranberry pancake breakfast and music everywhere. See Cranfest.com/

CHANGES, UPGRADES, NEW OWNERS, EXPANSIONS

Now known as the Keeshkeemaquah Campground & RV Park, the former Shady Oaks RV Campground, found between Sidney and Austin, Manitoba, continues under the new name to be a family friendly getaway, Enjoy a prairie landscape, full hookups, a swimming pool, volleyball and basketball courts, a pavilion, high speed internet, washrooms and showers, an open area for sports and trails for walking the meadows and oak forests. At an altitude of’ 1,249 feet the park claims to have fewer mosquitoes. Go to keeshcampground.ca/

The 30-site Oak Grove Campground in in Lincoln National Forest, El Paso Texas is now open again following extensive repair and clean-up after the devastating 2024 South Fork Fire. The campground has vault toilets, fireplaces, tables and trash pickup. No hookups, no reservations. Sites are available only to small rigs, 18 feet or less. See (www.) fs.usda.gov/r03/lincoln/recreation/oak-grove-campground/

Also reopened is the RV campground in Madera, California at the district fairgrounds. Fifteen sites have full hookups; the rest have water and electric. The rate is $65 nightly and there is a three-day limit. Reserve now for the fair in September. https://www.camplife.com/7060631/reservations/

DID YOU KNOW?

Sinks Canyon State Park, Lander, Wyoming holds an International Dark Sky Designation. Some campgrounds in the park are open all year. Some are available by reservation. Some are first come, first served. See wyoparks.wyogov/ to plan your visit to this world class destination.

WHEN TRAVEL EMERGENCIES HAPPEN IN YOUR RV

SURVIVAL FOOD HANDBOOK is a guide to survival when you're Out There and out of fresh provisions. It's written just for RV travelers and campers who have limited storage space.

Whether it's fridge failure, or you're broke or quarantined or weathered in, stuff happens. See provisioning information, lists, tips and recipes made solely with stowed foods from supermarkets (not those expensive doomsday rations). Plan your personal three-day standby pantry with familiar, affordable staples for travel, home, boating and camping.

Kindle or paperback, it's a great gift idea for yourself or a friend. https://amzn.to/3mIfryC

Friday, June 19, 2026

Top 5 RV Park Complaints + Latest Park New Items

FIVE TOP COMPLAINTS ABOUT

RV PARKS, CAMPGROUNDS & RESORTS

and how you can protect yourself

1. Crowding is inevitable in RV parks. It simply isn’t practical for builders to run electric, water and sewer lines miles into the wilderness for separate sites. Hookup sites are in closer clusters. If you have a large rig with multiple slides on both sides, some sites simply aren’t ready for you. Know dimensions of your RV in feet and inches, slides extended, then check the park’s website to find the best site for your rig.

The standard height measure for most RV’s is a maximum 13' 6". If you what a tree-shaded site, know the campground’s own standards for tree trimming.

2. Noisy neighbors. Before making reservations, check out the park’s rules for quiet hours and generator use. Some resorts party hearty into the wee hours, You will probably be asked to sign a list of rules on check-in. Know your rights and obligations.

3. Showers and bathrooms. If you rely on public facilities, heaven help you. While most parks do a fantastic job at keeping things sparkling, these facilities are only as clean as they were left by the last user. Check three or more ratings online to get an general overview, then hope for the best. For myself, I'd rather wipe down a wet bath in a smaller RV rather than "take the path to the bath".

4. Water pressure and quality. Protect your RV with a water pressure regulator. This prevents blow-outs to your plumbing. Add filters for better taste. If you travel often in hard water areas, consider installing a water softener.

5. Laundry machines can make for nasty surprises but it's also a big plus if the park has a large, clean laundry with lots of washers and dryers. In fact, some families tell me they do all their laundry at the park before leaving for home. Always check to see that washers and dryers are empty and clean (no crayons or stray red socks) before adding your clothes. It's a small thing, but you might call ahead to see how you'll pay: tap, coin or other. You may need rolls of quarters, and not everyone carries them these days.

Bottom line: before making reservations, know exactly what you are getting at the time you will be there. (Seasons vary.) Get specifics about Wi-Fi, phone overage, rates including fees and taxes, power hookup (EV charging, 20-30-50 amp service?), rules, restrictions and your site’s size, shape and location of hookups.

WHEN TRAVEL EMERGENCIES HAPPEN IN YOUR RV

SURVIVAL FOOD HANDBOOK is a guide to survival when you're Out There and out of fresh provisions. It's written just for RV travelers and campers who have limited storage space.

Kindle or paperback, it's a great gift idea for yourself or a friend. https://amzn.to/3mIfryC

RV PARKS & CAMPGROUNDS;

GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS

Below find current news breaks from our local sources. They are FYI, not reviews nor ads. It's up to you to follow up as the story develops.

NEW AND FUTURE RV PARKS

The newest Love’s Travel Stop is in Gretna, Florida in the Panhandle between Lake Talquin State Park and Tallahassee. It’s off I-10 Exit 174. It has EV charging stations, a dump station, three RV parking spaces and four RV hookup spots, fuels, dog park, showers, food including fresh foods, Arby’s and Dunkin’, and a full inventory of supplies. While you're in the area, visit historic hamlets Havana and Quincy nearby.

Fishing Lake Erie’s bountiful waters is the big draw in Port Clinton, Ohio. Now more campsites are needed for the many avid anglers who come here. A new campground with a planned 67 sites is a-building in Danbury Township. For information on area RV parks, contact the Ottawa County Tourist Bureau, 770 SE Catawba Rd in Port Clinton or call (419) 734-4386.

EVENTS

On Independence Day In 1776, St. Augustine, Florida was a thriving Spanish city. Now restored, the old city will feature free Birth of American walking tours every Saturday in July. Reservations are required. Daytime RV parking is permitted at the Historic Downtown Parking Facility (adjacent to the Visitor Information Center at 10 S. Castillo Drive). A designated oversized lot is at 3 Riberia Street, where daytime RV parking is free (7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.), and overnight parking is available by permit only. See CityWalksStAug.com or call (904) 825-0087.

CHANGES, NEW OWNERS, UPGRADES

Raccoon Mountain Caverns & Campground, Chattanooga, Tennessee is now a member of the Open Roads hospitality group. The campground has RV sites, Wi-Fi, a dog park, swimming pool, playground, hiking and biking trails and access to guided cave tours. See OpenRoadResorts.com for codes to summer discounts.

Here's more good news for campers who love caving. A massive campground expansion and improvement is underway at Carter Caves Resort State Park, Olive Hill, Kentucky. New in the campground is a large and modern camp store, bathhouse, ADA campsites and upgraded sewer and electric campsites. The park has a welcome center with gift shop, a restaurant, rock climbing, gem mining, paddles[ports, playgrounds, a swimming pool, tennis courts and guided cave tours. See parks.ky.gov/

In Bremen, Georgia the Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Camp Resort has a new 57,000-gallon water park with four slides, water cannons and blasters, family pool, electric boat rides, live entertainments and more. The resort has 225 RV sites, planned activities, dance parties, gem mining, wagon rides, mini golf, a café’, cabins, glamping and tent sites.. See details at campjellystone.com/georgia/jellystone-park-west-georgia/ .

Happy new owners are taking over Cypress Landing RV Park on Gantt Lake in Dozier, Alabama. The park has 63 sites, full hookups, general store, laundry, playground and boat launch. (334) 3898-1008, clrvpark.com/

The Las Cruces, New Mexico KOA has been upgraded to KOA Holiday status. Check out the new features including Patio Suites.

DID YOU KNOW?

* KOA Rewards Program members also get Rewards perks in Australian KOA’s. See KOA.com/

* FMCA rallies are a whale of deal. Enjoy several days of learning, live entertainment, good fellowship and just plain RV fun. You don't have to be a member. Sign-up is available to non-members at a slightly increased rate and a space available basis. Regional rallies go on all year. The next big national convention is in Georgia in March, 2027. See FMCA.com/

SCUTTLEBUTT

Please say it isn’t so! The new parking fee in the RV park at the Deschutes County, Oregon Expo Center is reported to be a whopping $1,500 per month.

The latest in the Yacht Yenta cozy mystery e-books brings widow Farley Halladay closer to the answer of her husband's death.

Read the six cozies in any order as Farley copes, cooks and solves crimes with the help of her wacky cast of characters. You'll laugh at her frailties; cry with her as she grieves. Find it on Google Play and other ebook formats and also on Kindle, https://amzn.to/3wcf6ao

Be the first to hear of new campgrounds and parks, new features, changes good and bad. This blog posts every Friday. See you next week.