RV Life by the Numbers

 Copyright Janet Groene 2025

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THIS WEEK'S NEWS BRIEFS OF NEW, EXPANDING, OPENING AND CLOSING RV PARKS AND CAMPGROUNDS

RV Insurance Too High?

What Can YOU do?

Here are some factoids and statistics. All are subject to challenge but some are sure to make sense to you and your RV life. 

*  California is the state with the most RV thefts. Organized crime is involved in 20% of RV thefts. Within 48 hours the rigs are stripped for parts.  About 20,000 RV’s are stolen in the U.S. yearly.  The recovery rate for RV’s is 30% yet  80% of RV crime cases go unsolved. 

* A visible alarm system reduces the chance of theft by 30%. One source observes that  RV’s are most likely to be stolen in the summer months, holiday seasons and in rural areas

`* If you use a storage unit with surveillance cameras, chances of theft are reduced by 15%. 

* One insurance company reports that windshield/glass damage accounts for a massive 46% of all insurance claims. Keep wiper blades and the windshield clean of grit. Repair tiny nicks before they spread. 

   * Surveillance cameras at storage lots reduce theft by 15%. A GPS tracking system reduces the chance of theft by 40% while a steering wheel lock offers an additional 25% protection.  An RV in an unfenced area is 50% more likely to be stolen than an RV in a fenced area;  60% of thefts are from storage areas. 

*Road accidents are responsible for 19% of one insurer’s  claims. Of these,  24% were from vehicles that were hit while parked, 14% from collisions from ahead and 14% from being hit in the rear. Accidents when reversing were 12% of claims. Incidents when pulling out accounted for 9% of all road accidents. The major cause of accidents is driver error. 

* According to usfa/FEMA.gov/  reporting from 2018-2020, there were an average of 4,200 RV fires resulting in 15 deaths, 125 injuries, and $60.3M loss. 85% of fires were in towables. 

* Although they are classified by the EPA as natural disasters, only 1-15% percent of wildfires occur on their own. The other 85-90 %,are caused by humans and things like unattended camp and debris fires, discarded cigarettes, and arson. 

*Most thefts occur at home, so it’s smart to increase total security of your home and property if your RV is parked there.

* Cooking is the source of only about 8% of RV fires, says the  U.S. Fire Administration. Although it’s a significant problem, engine and electrical fires are more common. 

DO YOU KNOW PEOPLE WHO WOULD LOVE TO FIND THIS  BOOK IN THEIR STOCKING THIS YEAR?

    While many books are  written about full-timing (and you should read them all) ours covers the entire lifestyle change, warts and all. It begins with making the decision in the first place, and ends with easing out when and if that time comes. 

 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 the time comes to settle down. Order at any book store or let Amazon gift wrap and ship it for you.  https://amzn.to/29XFEkq 

 

RV PARKS & CAMPGROUNDS; GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS

Seasonal campsites are already heavily booked for 2026. So are nightly reservations for popular vacation dates next summer. Keep ahead of the news before it's news by reading our weekly news briefs from local sources, then follow up on your own as the story develops.  No endorsement of any park is implied by this reporter.

NEWS & FUTURE RV PARKS

AND CAMPGROUNDS

Brownstone Country Club, Marion, Arizona, will open as a large,  luxury resort when the  Brownstone Water Park & RV Resort debuts in Summer, 2026.  Play 18 holes of championship golf.  Dine. Cool off in the spectacular  water park. Float the lazy river. Enjoy the luxury RV life. Get in the loop as this resort comes alive. Contact BrownstoneStayAndPla.com or call (870) 739-6305

Look for a grand opening in 12 to 18 months when the Ocean Springs (Mississippi) Islands RV Resort shows off its luxury amenities. The waterfront development will have 470 RV sites plus on-site Airstreams and tree houses for nightly rental. The resort will have a clubhouse, swimming pool, a lazy river and more. The land was formerly the Pine Island Golf Course. The resort doesn’t appear to have a website yet, so try the  Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau, (228) 875-4424.

Little River RV Park & Campground, Fort Payne, Alabama, has been open for a year but  recently celebrated a new opening to introduce all that has been added. New are  nine more RV sites, glamping, a stocked fishing pod, a clubhouse with game room, two miles of hiking trails, high speed Wi-Fi, a camp store and a dog park. Upgrades and additions are expected to continue at this location near Little River Canyon National Preserve. Go to campatlittleriver.com or call 256-619-2267.

The 32 acres that were once the Rogersville Raceway in Rogersville,, Tennessee is now a new 19-site campground that is on the way to  42 sites.  The Cedar Lane Campground will also have glamping and tree houses. Campers have access to  Cherokee Public Lake nearby, (423) 923-0417 

RV PARK CHANGES, UPGRADES, NEW OWNERS

In Placer County, California, an old family favorite campground is getting a facelift. Cisco Grove Campground near Donner Summit has 144 campsites and renovations in progress for the general store, welcome center, and swimming pool. New are mini golf, pickleball courts, a crafts paviion and a dock for paddle boats. The campground is open all year but services are limited October through May.

CAMPGROUND CLOSURES

The campground at Long Branch State Park, Long Branch, Missouri will be closed throughout 2026 for renovations. Check later for an opening date in 2027. Call (660) 773-5229.to check on access to the park’s wealth of day use facilities. 

Centennial RV Park in Fort McMurray, Alberta is rumored to be closing in May, 2026.  The land has been sold and will become a car dealership. Check it out at 

 +1 780-742-1307

EVENTS FOR RV TRAVELERS

Make sweet treats for Valentines Day not for your sweetie but for the birds. Be at Chewacla State Park in Auburn, Alabama on February 6, 2026 to make heart-shaped treats for wild birds. The park has modern campsites, a large lake, bike lanes and it’s close to the city services of Auburn and Opellika. https://www.alapark.com/parks/chewacla-state-park Separately reserve your campsite and your place at the event. 

Goose Island State Park, Rockport, Texas, invites visitors to a Whooper Walk on January 28 to learn more about the endangered Whooping Crane. Biologists from the International Crane Foundation and a park ranger lead the 9 a.m. hike. Advance registration is required. The park has a variety of campsites with full or partial hookups. The 321-acre park is on the on the Gulf of America and many campsites are on the water or have water views.   https://tpwd.texas.gov/calendar/state-park-events/  . 

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) .  Create a three-day standby pantry for travel, home, your  boat, cabin or camper with familiar, affordable staples.

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

    SCROLL DOWN TO SEE SAMPLES OF PAST POSTS