We've had it for six weeks now so it's time for a complete Arcadia Fifth Wheel tour. We have the 3250 RL Model, meaning it's 32.5 feet long with a Rear Lounge. And while it is smaller than many Fifth Wheels out there, we're luxuriating in the extra room and storage space.
Continue reading Complete Arcadia Fifth Wheel Tour at RV Lifestyle.
Early experiences in the Dakotas provided valuable inspiration for the 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. That inspiration drove his desire to form the National Park Service, and you can easily imagine why he took up the cause at five national parks destinations to visit in the Dakotas.
Four of these parks are within two hours of each other in South Dakota. The fifth — Theodore Roosevelt National Park — is roughly five hours away in North Dakota. So you can reasonably hit all five on your next RV trip through the Dakotas.
Here’s your guide to these five national parks in the Dakotas, with nearby camping options for each:
The park named after our 26th President is a great location to start or end your national park road trip in the Dakotas. Because it’s a little separated from the other four, hit it on your way to South Dakota or on your way home.
The Little Missouri River. Getty Images
Glacier National Park is located in Montana’s Rocky Mountains right at the US-Canada border. It’s often called the “Crown of the Continent” and is one of the most photogenic of all the national parks. With the park’s abundance of beautiful landscapes and wildlife, it’s truly a paradise for nature lovers.
If the park photos alone don’t convince you to visit Glacier National Park, know that it’s even more stunning in person. The park is home to some of the most pristine forests, meadows, mountains, and lakes. In fact, there are 762 lakes in Glacier National Park, only 131 of which are named.
It’s also home to 26 glaciers and 175 mountains! That’s not to mention the wildlife you’re guaranteed to see with 71 species of mammals roaming the park. Mountain goats are the official symbol of the park, and bears are spotted so often that you’ll want to be armed with bear spray at all times.
The campgrounds near the Apgar Visitor Center are large and offer an excellent basecamp for exploring the park. From the campground, it’s a short walk or bike ride to the village, where there’s a small store, gift shop, restaurant, vendors for renting kayaks, and the beach on Lake McDonald, which is one of the park’s best locations for sunset watching.
In addition to its natural beauty, Glacier National Park has other unique qualities that set it apart from other parks. It has over 300 historical structures that are on the National Register of Historic Places.
Paddling is one of the best ways to cool off during summer RV trips. But renting kayaks or paddle boards at each new destination gets expensive. That’s why many RVers transport inflatable paddle boards, so they’re ready to paddle wherever their adventures take them.
Transporting larger personal watercraft like kayaks and canoes is near-impossible with an RV or travel trailer that is not a toy hauler. On the flip side, inflatable paddle boards pack into convenient storage bags that fit in the underneath storage compartment in most RVs.
Even if you’re towing a small camper with minimal storage space, you can find room in your tow vehicle to transport an inflatable paddle board.
In addition to being the best personal watercraft for RVers to transport, inflatable paddleboards are easy to inflate and require minimal maintenance. They’re also great for bringing pets on the water, so no one gets left in your camper during the hottest hours of the day.
Finally, inflatable SUPs are easy to carry from your campsite to the water. If you can’t always snag waterfront campsites, many paddle boards come in backpack-style storage bags. So you can easily carry them to the water without dragging or lugging a heavy kayak or canoe.
As an RVer, you'll quickly learn that you don't need to continuously pack, load, and unload most items in your RV. To get you ahead of the learning curve, here are 15 things to leave in your RV...
Continue reading 15 Best Things to Leave in Your RV at RV Lifestyle.
Lake life is where it’s at. Whenever our family goes RVing, we make sure we are camping near a lake so that we have opportunities to play at the beach, go fishing, boating, canoeing, or stand-up paddle boarding. Being by the water not only gives us plenty of things to do but also triggers a sense of calm and joy. I love hearing the sound of loons calling or waves hitting the shoreline. And there’s nothing better than ending a beautiful day of RVing with an even more beautiful sunset at the lake.
To prepare for a day of RVing at the lake, there are a few essentials to check off the list to make sure you have a great time while lake camping.
Waterfront campsites are among the most popular spots to get taken at campgrounds. Be sure to book your lake campsite far in advance if you want to guarantee a spot for your RV. Be sure to hit the refresh button often because there are last-minute cancellations at campgrounds all the time.
Where there is water, there are typically pesty insects — especially when temperatures warm up. It’s the unfortunate part of camping next to a lake. It is hard to truly enjoy the outdoors when you’re constantly swatting away unwanted insects. Mosquitoes, biting flies, and ticks are among my worst enemies when lake camping so I always come prepared with my anti-insect weapons of choice: bug spray with DEET, permethrin-treated clothes, Thermacell, and a screen room. Learn How to Repel Bugs When Camping.
Bug spray. Look for a spray with 25 to 50 percent DEET will get the job done. I spray every couple of hours, especially if I’m using repellent that isn’t sweat or waterproof. After a day on the water, I always make sure to douse myself in bug spray before coming back to the campsite.Permethrin. Treating your clothing with permethrin will work wonders. I always try to treat my clothes a few days before a big camping trip to make sure it’s working at its highest potency. The treatment usually lasts up to five or so washes though. The best part is that after you treat your clothes, there’s no smell or sticky residue that bug spray sometimes leaves behind. Thermacell. Create your own little forcefield of protection around your lake campsite by using a Thermacell or two. This thing works wonders and I make sure to bring ours with us anytime we’re going to be hanging out at an outdoor area whether it’s the dock, beach, campsite, or the park. Thermacells run off a butane cartridge which heats up a replaceable mat that’s saturated in a repellent called allethrin which releases into the air to create a protection zone. Screened room. A screened room is an easy way to create an outdoor space that’s bug-free. It’s basically a large tent with screen walls so that you can still see and feel the outdoors while keeping unwanted pests away. It does take up space so make sure you have room for one when booking a campsite.If we’re camping by a lake, we never leave without our fishing gear. In fact, we usually choose lake campsites because we want to fish. It’s a great way to spend time outdoors alone or with friends and family. Plus, we are teaching our kids about conservation and how we can cook lake-to-table meals. We always keep an extra travel rod in the RV just in case we forget to pack the fishing gear or we end up breaking a rod. Find fishing gear at Camping World, and get inspired for your lakeside RV trip:
Phew! Everything on your pre-vacation to-do list is checked off. You’ve sent your last work email and packed up your RV with all the gear you need for a great vacation. Now the only thing left is hitting the road, right?
Not so fast. Before you head out on that RV dream trip, take a moment to ask yourself: what have I done to secure the home that I’m leaving behind? How do I keep my home from becoming the target for thieves? Arrange a few extra security measures so that these questions don’t dog you for every mile of travel.
This one is a no-brainer. Of course, it’s easy to remember obvious entry points like your front door, but it’s important to think creatively. Consider all the potential entry points for a thief. Make sure all ground-level windows are locked and secured, along with your garage and side or backdoors. Consider locking the gates to your backyard to deter thieves from sneaking around the back.
In the case that one rogue window remains unlocked, entry sensors can alert you (or a secondary contact) immediately that it was opened. In addition, Motion Sensors and Glass Break Sensors offer additional protection.
Don’t skimp on protecting the prized possessions that you store in the home. Invest in a safe if you don’t already have one to secure your important papers, cash, jewelry, keepsakes or other valuable items that you don’t bring with you on your trip.
Call it old school, vintage, nostalgic or classic – retro campers are some of the most unique and eye-catching RVs you’ll see on the road today. They remind us of cross-country travel during simpler times. It’s a style that transcends age while also connecting with history. New, modern-day RVs can still hold onto the old soul and style of a retro RV while embracing the amenities and contemporary look of a new RV. Some might say retro and modern styles are a match made in RV heaven.
Here are some retro decor ideas for your new RV:
Wallpaper has already made its comeback so why not follow the trend while paying homage to the 50s and 60s with retro wallpaper. It can be done subtly with abstract patterns, florals, or a Scandinavian style pattern like a chevron. Make a big statement with neon block prints, a black and white checkered pattern, a houndstooth, or even a mural. Go with something kitsch for a fun retro theme that’s unique and reminiscent of the hippy days.
Wallpaper is as easy as peel-and-stick. Just apply it on a clean, dry service. If you’re ready to change things up, just peel off the old wallpaper. No sticky residue will be left behind. Check out some of the wallpaper options available at Camping World.
Give your windows, chairs, and bed the throwback textile treatment it deserves. Home and RV decor enthusiasts know that a stylish throw pillow or blanket can tie a room together. The most helpful tip when choosing textiles is to keep them cohesive in both style and color.
Towing a travel trailer or fifth wheel on the highway is easier than parking and maneuvering around a campground. Anyone who says you don’t have to worry when learning how to back up a trailer is either lying, a pro, or has never done it.
Backing up a travel trailer or fifth wheel into a campsite can be stressful. However, there are steps you can take to make things easier when backing up towable RVs.
Before you attempt to back up a trailer into a campsite with many watchful eyes bearing down on you, you can apply the steps below to any parking space that’s roughly as wide as a campsite.
Somewhere in your town, find a large parking lot that empties out sometime during the week. Take your trailer and spotter there to practice. Imagine that a set of two (or even four) parking spaces are your intended campsite.
Then apply the steps below to practice backing up your trailer into that site from various angles.
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Summer is upon us, so it’s time to prepare for hot weather. Traveling in an RV is great, but constantly running the air conditioning can be a major drain on your battery. If you want to conserve energy or don’t have a functional system, it’s important to know how to stay cool without A/C.
It takes a lot less energy to maintain a lower temperature than it does to transition a hot RV into a cool one. Even if you do decide to run your A/C, you can save energy by forming some habits that will keep the interior nice and cool.
Below we have some tips that will help your RV (and the passengers within) stay cool without A/C. These range from interior upgrades to quick cool-down hacks. Try to implement some of these ideas during your travels this summer and see how easy it is to get by without relying solely on the air conditioner.
Getting natural light into your RV is a great way to brighten up the space, but it also invites a lot of heat inside. If sunlight is allowed to enter your RV without any buffer, it could raise the temperature by 10 degrees or more. It can quickly become sweltering, especially if there is no outlet for the heat to escape.
Camping season is upon us and that means it’s time to dust off the camping gear and start planning, including what meals you’re going to have at the campsite. My parents used to take my siblings and me RVing to national parks. The most memorable part, aside from seeing the national wonders, was always the food.
Mom and dad would cook up the best Korean dishes that would inevitably lead campground neighbors to our campsite asking what we were cooking. The aromas of grilled meats on the camping griddle like pork belly, marinated beef, vegetables, and kimchi were hard to resist. And I think most people are surprised by the variety of Korean dishes that can be made at the campsite.
As most outdoor enthusiasts know, food always tastes better outdoors. Korean food particularly tastes amazing while sitting around a campfire. The smokey smell and all of the flavors meld together perfectly.
To recreate some of my favorite dishes, I fired up the Blackstone Griddle which has been a practical addition to our RV cooking lineup. There’s a lot of real estate on that griddle top so it’s a great way to cook for a crowd or make meals to last a few days. Plus the powerful, adjustable heat allows me to sear, saute, fry, and keep food warm. There really is no limit to what you can cook on a flat top griddle.
Here are four easy, delicious Korean-style recipes that you can cook on a griddle. Acquire your own griddle for your campsite and save these recipes for your next trip.
RV-friendly toilet paper will break down quickly to avoid clogging up your sewage system or holding tank. It is specially formulated for RV use and is RV septic tank safe, so it doesn’t compromise your RV’s plumbing system.
By disintegrating quickly, RV toilet paper won’t block the sensors inside your holding tank that tell you when your tank is full. It also reduces the likelihood of clogging your RV sewer hose when you empty your holding tanks at a dump station.
In other words, RV-friendly toilet paper makes maintaining your RV’s holding tanks much easier. And it also helps you avoid embarrassing messes when dumping your RV so you can remain a happy camper throughout your RV adventures.
Many new RVers wonder whether it’s really necessary to use RV toilet paper. The truth is yes. You do indeed need to use quick-dissolving RV toilet paper. If you don’t have tissue that’s safe for RV use, you shouldn’t flush it into your RV’s sewage system.
RV septic systems, whether in a new motorhome or a used motorhome, are somewhat delicate. They aren’t as robust as a residential sewage system. This means you need to treat it more carefully than you would treat your home bathroom or toilet.
It's a milestone event for us this week as we release Episode 400 of the RV Podcast, sharing lots of RV news including Yellowstone closures, your RV Lifestyle questions, and much more.
RV owners like us are lucky. Finding the coolest camping destinations in July and August is pretty easy. With a tank of fuel and one turn of the key, our homes on wheels carry everything we need for a summer escape away from hot spots to a cool river, mountaintop or breezy beach. Endless choices make pinpointing a destination tricky, but these trip ideas can help you winnow down your options.
Finding reasonable summer weather is tough. Most of us will put in a few hours of driving to reach the coolest place to camp in July and August. Historical weather data shows the five coldest summer states in the U.S. also happen to be filled with excellent RV camping destinations, too. The five best places to stay cool camping in summer are: Oregon, Washington, California, Colorado and Alaska.
These cool summer states are geographically immense. Each state gives you tons of camping choices from busy national parks to remote coastal destinations. Whether you can only book a quick getaway somewhere in the west, or you’ve got time for a longer journey to the far north, one of these great summer RV destinations is practically guaranteed to keep you cooler than where you’re standing now.
Shore Acres State Park, Coos Bay. Getty Images
I can’t help but feel grateful when I look out my window today. As I write this story, it’s nearly 100 degrees Fahrenheit just a few hours south of where I’m camped in Oregon. But out here, the dense tree canopy is protected by gray and cloudy skies that keep me cool and happy.
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Where are they going? Well, they’re probably going to the bathroom. It happens to all of us. Honestly, the bathroom is one of the most important rooms in any home and RVs are no exception. So how do you make sure the room that works harder than any of the others stays fresh? Yes, with air freshener, but also by updating it. Check out these 10 RV bathroom renovation ideas that will have everyone lining up for their turn.
A dirty, outdated, old sink that you just can’t seem to scrub clean is a real RV eyesore. Update your bathroom with this white oval bathroom sink. Remember to always measure your existing sink before replacing it. This one comes in at 17-inches by 20-inches. The fresh white basin will have your bathroom looking crisp and clean immediately after installation. Instant gratification – it’s a beautiful thing.
Shop all RV sinks.
With a new sink comes a new faucet; upgrade yours with the Dura Faucet Classical Art Spout. Designed with the classic two-lever, dual handle style so adjusting the temperature and water flow is easy and straightforward. The brushed nickel finish dresses up an otherwise bland area of the bathroom. Even if you’re not updating your sink right away, simply switching out hardware, like the faucet, can give it a brand new look and feel with very minimal effort and a small budget.
Shop all RV faucets.
Navigating RV dealers can be intimidating. There are hundreds of RVs for sale in different makes and models. Every detail seems to matter: kitchen layout, bathroom details, front living versus rear living, and then there’s the age-old debate of buying a used RV versus spending top-dollar on a new model.
If you’re leaning towards buying a used RV, you’re in good company. There’s plenty of value in used RVs, and some look like the previous owner barely took them camping. If you buy a used RV from Camping World, you’re assured that the RV has gone through a thorough reconditioning program, which we’ll highlight below.
But first, here are some reasons to buy a used RV and tips on how to get a good deal. And to help with your search, you might enjoy this checklist for buying a used RV!
This is the most obvious reason to buy a used RV. You can save money by buying it outright and avoiding monthly payments altogether. Or, you can save by financing a smaller amount and lowering your monthly payment.
Financing is a part of the RV buying process that can be stressful, so check out this guide to RV financing to prepare and reduce that stress!
As with any home, I’m sure at some point you will want to customize and upgrade certain features. There are endless things that you can upgrade and the prices can vary. While full-time RVing over the past four years, we’ve found several items that have made RV living more convenient and enjoyable.
We made a list of our top 25 recommendations for the best RV upgrades and modifications ranked by both monetary price, and convenience and value.
Everyone has a different budget, so consider your own finances and what you can set aside for upgrading your RV by choosing to make the best investment to suit your specific needs. Since prices vary from time to time, you will find each item on our list paired with a certain number of $ next to it ranging from the least expensive upgrades ($) to the most expensive ($$$$$).
Aside from monetary value, there are certain RV upgrades that, despite the cost, may be extremely beneficial and valuable for you to have. We rated each modification based off of how important and valuable we think this item is. Keep in mind that we are full-time RVers, so we may feel that some of these are well worth the cost.
Here are our personal ratings for the 25 best RV upgrades, based on cost and benefit, in no particular order.
Choosing a campground will be one of the first things you do when starting to plan an RV road trip. But it can be hard to know where to look for a campsite, and many factors can dictate where you can stay: your RV’s length, the duration of your stay, campsite amenities, and how much you would like to spend will influence your campground selection.
Fortunately, many campground options exist for all budgets and travel styles—each with strengths and weaknesses. Let’s discuss where to begin as you determine how to choose a campsite.
Start by putting your RV details on paper. How long is your RV? How tall is your RV? What amp plug does it take, 15, 30 or 50?
Then elaborate on what you “must-have” at your campsite. Water hook-up? Beautiful views? A firepit? Sewer hook-ups? Privacy from neighbors?
Finally, bring together who you’re traveling with to finalize your search parameters in campground selection. Make sure everyone’s needs are heard and considered. Will someone want a hot shower at the end of a long day? Keep this in mind when looking at campgrounds and search for shower facilities or water hookups so your party’s needs are met. Maybe you’re traveling with young kids. Think about looking for campgrounds that have fun things to do on property.
As an experienced RV owner, I often get asked for tips from people who are buying their first camper. One of the first things I suggest is that they go to Camping World.
Camping World has well over two hundred dealerships conveniently located all across the country, so there’s typically a dealership within a short drive from everyone. They also have a large inventory so you can walk through as many units as you desire, giving you the best idea of which one is right for you. And lastly, you can’t beat their prices – you’re sure to find a good deal.
Perhaps you’re ready to purchase an RV and aren’t sure where to start. Here’s a general breakdown of what to expect when you buy an RV at Camping World.
Image by Camping WorldA lot of people think the first step is to just stop by their local Camping World and check out some RVs. However, this can not only be a waste of your time but can also overwhelm you if you don’t go to the dealership with some direction. As I mentioned, they have a huge inventory, so walking around the lot aimlessly isn’t a great use of your time.
I’d first recommend that you spend a little time considering how you plan to use a camper — Will you be working remotely? Will you be going off-road? Do you need bunks for the kids and their friends? — and why you’re interested in purchasing one? You want to be very clear on your needs, as well as your budget, before even allowing yourself to shop. Your budget will also dictate whether you’re in the used or new market.
Who doesn't love playing cards while camping? But sometimes the same old card games get, well, old. So here are some new ideas in this list of the best card games for camping...
Continue reading 19 Best Card Games for Camping at RV Lifestyle.
