Ready for an RV Upgrade + RV Parks News

Copyright Janet Groene 2026. To ask about about rates to reprint copyrighted Groene content, email janetgroene@yahoo.com

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ABOUT NEW, CHANGING OR CLOSING RV PARKS & CAMPGROUNDS

Does your RV Need An A+ Upgrade?

It’s smart to have a reserve fund for upgrades to your RV. Sometimes you just have a yen for something new. Other times, the old must go and the new is available in an improved version.

Here’s how an upgrade might fit into your budget. 

Window coverings such as mini-blinds take a beating from highway motion and strong sunrays. They may need replacing every few years. Standard sizes cost about $35 to $90 and up per window plus installation. 

Awnings can be added for $1,000 and up depending on size, material and the complexity of the manual or electric mechanism. Installation adds to the cost but there are good reasons to get professional help, even for a simple, manual, DIY awning. If you need replacement only for the fabric, get quotes from two or three awning specialists  It isn't just a matter of color and pattern. Many grades are available and it's essential to get the right type for your existing hardware. 

Privacy matters.  Even when your computer firewall is secure, it does not mask your personal  IP address and location. For additional privacy, get an IP address you can set up to indicate any location worldwide. Hide My IP can change your “address” every day if you want. 

  

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Patio mats rarely last more than a season, but they pay for themselves in good looks while keeping grit out of your RV. Buy an all-weather, lightweight, reversible, folding mat to carry in the RV  for under $200. Bonus pooints if it comes with its own carry case. Sweep or hose it clean, fold and stow.

A new mattress? Maybe not. Get a memory foam topper at least three or four inches thick and even a futon pad feels cushy. 

A Taller toilet? To save space, most RV toilets skimp on size. You may be able to get more comfort from a new one that is taller or has a more generous seat design, even though it takes up no more floor space. Shop around. 

Spare tire covers take a beating from the sun while saving the spare that hangs on your stern. They are sold in plain white or black, with slogans,  or as custom works of art. Get a classy new one for $50 or so.

Water filters are a health plus. They range from built-in, under-the sink filters with separate faucet to simple types that screw onto the hose. The better the filter the softer your shower water and the tastier your coffee and reconstituted orange juice.

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 

Camping cuisine is part of the fun, the art, the sport of RV travel. Save money. Make friends around the grill or campfire. Eat healthier. See weekly tips and recipes at https://campandrvcook.blogspot.com

CAMPGROUNDS AND RV PARKS;

GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS JULY 24, 2026

    These news items are from local sources in tourism and real estate and are not for RV travel planning. They are presented here to give you a heads-up so you can follow the story on your own as it develops. 

NEW AND FUTURE RV PARKS, CAMPGROUNDS

  

The year-round campground at Pigeon Lake Provincial Park, Alberta, is adding a new loop. The campground has primitive and hookup sites, washrooms, flush toilets, a dump station (fee), life jacket loaner station, playground, ice fishing, skiing and other winter sports and a full menu of things to do in all seasons. Bookings are now accepted through September 20, 2026. Phone 1-877-537-2757. 

 

EVENTS

Camp with woods, water and whoopee at the Jellystone Camp Resort in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Known for its theme weekends and live entertainment, the resort has booked The Paddio Diddios band for August 1-2. The resort has a full menu of amenities for RV-ers: Premium and Standard RV sites, golf cart rentals, a laundry, campfire get-togethers, a Wibit Water Course, Splash Zone, swimming pool, jumping pillow, mini golf, gem mining, food and drink for adults and kids, a camp store, pavilion and fishing. (337) 433-1114

This will be the 51st year for the esteemed Atalaya Arts & Crafts Festival at Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet, South Carolina. Dates are September 25-27, 2026. The setting is the historic Atalaya Castle, a Moorish-style winter home and sculpture studio built in the 1930s by Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington. See works by more than 100 prominent artists, sculptors and creators, then enjoy the park’s wildlife, walking paths, nature centers and camping. The campground has sites with water and electric, and some with sewer. (843) 237-4440 or southcarolinaparks.com/

SCUTTLEBUTT

    In Point Arena, California, the city council has approved permits for a small campground at Arena Cove. The project will have ten campsites and a manager's site. Existing structures will be removed for a start date for the seasonal campground hasn't been decided. 

In historic Tonawanda, New York there is talk of turning an former dump site into an RV park. Rumors are flying and tempers rising. Stay tuned. 

    Near Mehama, Oregon, work ius expected to begin next February on the restoration of Bear Creek Park, which was destroyed in the Beachie Creek fires. The expanded park will have additional day use facilities and new RV sites as well as walk-in and ADA sites.

Expected to be ready next year, a new clubhouse is coming to the Wine Region RV Resort, Marsing, Idaho. During construction the resort has no showers, restrooms , WiFi nor laundry. Nightly and weekly rates are available. The resort is well situated for touring 15 nearby wineries. Phone: (208) 872-2509

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