The 2025 camping season is shaping up to be an interesting one, with new trends and insights emerging from two of the most respected reports in the industry: RVshare’s Travel Trend Report 2025 and The Dyrt’s 2025 Camping Report. These reports aim to predict where RV and camping trends travel headed in the coming year.

One of the biggest takeaways? RVing and camping remain as popular as ever, but the way people travel and plan their trips is evolving. From shifting demographics and flexible work travel to campground booking challenges and the rise of passion-driven adventures, these reports provide valuable insights for anyone planning a camping trip in 2025.

In this week’s RV Atlas podcast episode, Jeremy and Stephanie discuss many of the key RV and camping trends from these reports and explore what they mean for actual campers and RVers.

One of the most eye-catching trends in the RVshare Travel Trend Report is the continued rise of younger generations in the RVing space. While RVing was once associated primarily with retirees, that perception is changing quickly. Last year, everyone was saying “the Boomers are back!” But this year didn’t show that trend continuing. 

These numbers indicate a major generational shift in RV and camping trends, with younger travelers embracing RVing and outdoor adventure. Millennials are in the prime family-travel years, and many see RVing as an affordable way to vacation with kids. Meanwhile, Gen Z is showing strong interest in road-tripping and the RV lifestyle, but in a way that fits their unique travel style—shorter trips, experience-driven adventures, and solo or small-group travel.

The RVshare report highlights a key shift in how people are spending their travel dollars. Many travelers are planning fewer trips in 2025, but they’re spending more money per trip to make those vacations more special.

This trend reflects how travelers are prioritizing quality over quantity when it comes to their vacations. Instead of packing in multiple small trips, they’re focusing on bucket-list destinations and memorable experiences—whether that means staying at a high-end RV resort, booking a scenic boondocking site, or planning a month-long cross-country road trip.

One of the most interesting trends highlighted in RVshare’s report is the rise of passion-driven travel. Instead of simply picking a destination like Yellowstone or the Grand Canyon, more travelers are choosing trips based on their interests and hobbies.

Popular themes include:

This type of travel has been around for decades, but it’s gaining new popularity as social media and online trip-planning tools make it easier to customize trips around personal passions.

The Dyrt’s 2025 Camping Report sheds light on one of the biggest frustrations in the camping community: campground reservations and no-shows. While securing a great campsite has always been a challenge, the problem has become worse due to last-minute cancellations and unused reservations.

This issue is particularly frustrating because state and national parks are subsidized by taxpayer dollars—which means when a campsite sits empty, the public isn’t getting the benefit of that resource. Campers have long been calling for better reservation policies, such as penalties for repeated no-shows or lockout periods for those who abuse the system.

On the flip side, private campgrounds are increasingly adopting stricter cancellation policies, which has left some campers frustrated. Unlike hotels, which often allow last-minute cancellations, many RV resorts and private campgrounds require weeks or even months of advance notice for cancellations—something that can be difficult for travelers planning long-term trips.

While inflation has affected travel prices across the board, camping remains one of the most affordable ways to vacation. According to The Dyrt’s report:

These trends suggest that, while the price of camping has gone up, most travelers are still prioritizing outdoor travel over other vacation options.

For the third consecutive year, solo camping has been a rising trend. More people—especially women—are embracing the independence and adventure of camping alone. According to The Dyrt:

As more people look for ways to escape into nature on their own terms, solo camping is becoming a mainstream travel choice rather than just one of severa niche RV and camping trends.

Overall, the RVshare Travel Trend Report and The Dyrt’s Camping Report paint a picture of industries still morphing years after the pandemic disruption. While some aspects of  RV and camping trends are evolving—such as pricing models, cancellation policies, and travel motivations—the core appeal of camping appears to remain strong.

As we head into the 2025 season, it’s clear that RVers and campers are looking for unique experiences, better booking systems, and more flexibility in their trips. Whether you’re planning a big splurgecation, a solo adventure, or just hoping to secure that perfect state park campsite, there’s a lot to look forward to in the coming year.

Do these RV and Camping Trends align with your own camping experiences and plans for 2025? Join the conversation in The RV Atlas Facebook group and let us know your thoughts on these reports! You can also email us at [email protected], or leave us a voice message at 732-455-9814. 

And if you missed last week’s episode, be sure to check out our deep dive into the Florida RV SuperShow, where we shared some of our favorite RVs from the show.

See you at the campground!

The post 2025 RV and Camping Trends: Our Take On Reports from RVshare and The Dyrt appeared first on The RV Atlas.

On this week’s episode of The RV Atlas we have several big announcements about our table at the 2024 Hershey RV Show–and we are revisiting “The Future of RVing” podcast that we did ten years ago to see what we got right and what we got wrong.

We will be back for the entire run of the 2024 Hersey RV show selling and signing all four of our “Where Should We Camp Next?” including the original, National Parks, Camping 101, and our latest–Budget Camping. We will also have “Where Should We Camp Next? mugs and a limited number of stickers–and our first book “RV Vacations.”

But that’s not all folks! We are also debuting a new adventure! The RV Atlas Coffee Company will be making its debut at Hershey with a limited sample run of our first four blends (Black Tank Blend, Camp Mojo, Morning Campfire, and Boondocker’s Delight). These are our favorite coffees in the world and we drink them at home and at the campground on every single trip.

On this week’s episode we also head back ten years to review a podcast that we did about “The Future of RVing” and we talk about what we got wrong (The Retro Revival!) and what we got right (more winter camping!) and we make bold predictions for the next ten years of RV life. Listen to the show using the media player above or subscribe to the RV Atlas wherever you get your favorite shows! The future of RVing looks bright and we hope to see you in it. And as always we hope to see you at the campground!

Jeremy & Stephanie

The post Back to “The Future of RVing” and Hershey RV Show Announcements! appeared first on The RV Atlas.

When we bought our first RV ten years ago we were legitimately concerned that we wouldn’t use it that much. We worried that it would gather dust in the driveway. 

We live near the beach in a boating community and plenty of people buy boats that sit on cinder blocks in their driveways (or on their front lawns!) all summer long.

Life gets busy and our best intentions can get blasted by the grind of the 9 to 5.  But we were determined to use our RV as much as possible. 

And we did.

But only because we became RV weekend warriors. 

We went camping on the weekends to relax and unwind and to have adventures in nature with our little boys. We wanted to escape that feeling of emptiness you get on a Friday night after spending hours scrolling through your social media feeds.  Those weekend RV trips fulfilled us and they still do. Years later, our family bond is strong because it has been forged by that time spent together. By setting up and breaking down camp–and by all of the fun stuff that happens in between. 

Over the years we have nearly perfected how we prepare for, carry out, and return from, our weekend warrior trips. Our family has become a well oiled camping machine.  We may be exhausted and burnt out at 4pm on a Friday afternoon–but by 8pm on a Friday night you know where to find us, right?  You’ll see us at the campground. 

Are you also at a stage in life where you are working hard during the week but seeking adventure on the weekends? Do you want your kids to spend Saturday mornings climbing mountains instead of streaming Netflix? Then you are a perfect candidate for weekend warrior training! 

According to Project: Time Off 52 percent of American workers do not use all of their vacation days. Collectively these workers are not using 705 million vacation days–which is bad for their personal happiness, and for the American economy. Are you one of those Americans leaving vacation time on the table because you are just too busy to get away? I understand that a week long vacation can be tough to pull off, but what about occasionally taking a long weekend? If you ask me, a three day camping trip is twice as good as a two day camping trip.  The math may sound suspicious, but it’s true! A traditional two day weekend only gives you one full day at the campground. A three day weekend gives you two full days at the campground!

Taking a three day weekend also allows many of us to avoid weekend traffic and delays checking into a campground on busy Friday evenings.  If you can get to a campground on a Thursday night, you can enjoy an empty campground on Friday morning and afternoon, because most folks won’t be showing up until evening. During these quiet hours at the campground you can enjoy an empty pool or fishing spot–or just bask in the peace and quiet.

When we are taking the RV out for the weekend, departure and arrival times play a huge role in our planning. Friday evening rush hour traffic can be a nightmare.  If we show up too late to have a campfire it really feels like a wasted night. Likewise, Sunday return traffic can be congested, but we always want to get home early enough to prepare for the week ahead. But at the same time, who wants to wake up on Sunday morning and have to pack up in a hurry and rush home just to unpack again?

Knowing that a campground is only 1-2 hours away relieves much of that travel stress. You can leave after work on Friday afternoon and still be sitting around a campfire that evening. It’s also easy to return home on Sunday afternoon and throw in a load of laundry or take a trip to the grocery store. A little less time on the road can mean a lot less stress in the scheduling department.

There are dozens of awesome campgrounds within a four hour radius of our home that we would love to visit on a weekend trip, but we typically save them for longer trips and stick closer to home when we only have a weekend (hopefully a long one!) to get away. This may mean that we are returning to the same campgrounds for our weekend trips, but that doesn’t bother us. We know that there will be plenty of time to explore new places in the summer, and we love returning to familiar places that fit us perfectly like a pair of old jeans.

We have our “weekend warrior” campgrounds wired. We know the best sites, and best seasons to visit each of them. During busy holiday and summer weekends we also  make sure to head in the opposite direction of traffic. For us that means driving west and visiting Eastern Pennsylvania instead of driving north and heading to the Catskills or Adirondacks in New York State.

Sometimes even a two hour drive is too far away!

Once our boys started to participate in organized sports, unscheduled weekends became a distant memory. Add in birthday parties, graduations, and family BBQs and we began to wonder how we would ever fit in our next camping trip! 

Camping really close to home (like 30 minutes or less) means that our family can still attend any sports games or family functions and squeeze in some valuable campground time. We set up the RV on Friday evening and unwind around the campfire, then head off to a baseball game the next morning. By Saturday afternoon we are back at the campground fishing and playing catch. 

It took us years to discover the pleasures of camping really close to home. Now, every spring, we look forward to sitting down with our family calendar and setting aside weekends where we will enjoy quick, simple getaways in our own backyard. Give it a try, and it may become a favorite part of your RV experience, too. It sure beats giving up camping entirely when your kids start playing sports.

We all know the story of having great activities, festivals, and parks in our hometowns that we never get around to enjoying. Real life gets in the way, and sometimes our weekends can be consumed with playing catch up on chores, errands, and yard work. 

Camping close to home (or really close to home!) takes us away from the demands of daily life, and encourages us to look at our area through the eyes of a traveler. What would we do if we were visiting this region for the first time? Where would we eat? Getting away from the busyness of our everyday lives helps us to enjoy our home area even more. 

If your vacation time is limited because of work or family obligations then you might consider renting a seasonal site at.  When you rent a seasonal site you set up your RV in the early spring (or whenever the campground opens for the year) and then bring it home when the campground closes in the late fall or early winter.  Depending on the local climate and a campground’s seasonal rules, you may be able to keep your RV on the same site all year long.

The benefits of seasonal camping are many.  You will not need to hitch up your RV each weekend to go camping because it will already be set up and waiting for you.  At the end of each weekend you won’t need to tow your rig home either.  You can also set up your site once for the entire season and then pack it all up at the end. When you pull into the campground each Friday your chairs will be set up and your grill and camp kitchen will already be in place. Less work means more relaxation–and seasonal sites are significantly less work than visiting different campgrounds each weekend.

RV owners with a serious case of wanderlust may not want to spend every weekend in the same place, but sometimes, for some people, it really can make sense.  Renting a seasonal site also doesn’t have to be a permanent decision. It may make sense to stay put one year, and then travel the next. Work and family obligations can get tricky fast, so it’s nice to have as many options as possible when it comes to spending time at the campground.

While weekend camping trips can be incredibly relaxing and rejuvenating, packing for them is not. Waiting until the last second to pack for such a short trip can be chaotic and stressful.  Imagine your kids desperately searching for sneakers, bathing suits, and baseball gloves after school on a Friday afternoon while dad honks the horn in the driveway and you’ll get the picture.   

That’s why we start packing early in the week in smaller 15-30 minute chunks. It works like a charm for us and eliminates all kinds of stress on Thursday nights and Friday afternoons. We start by packing bedding and linens on Tuesday night, clothing on Wednesday nights, and food on Thursday nights. I also hitch up the RV on Thursday night and pull it in front of the house so we are ready to leave the second I get home from work on Friday.  These time saving strategies often help us get on the road before rush hour traffic really kicks into high gear.  

Disorganized food prep, or a complete lack of food prep, can also make a weekend camping trip stressful. Especially when hungry kids are involved. So what’s your goal? Keeping it simple or setting up a full blown camp kitchen? We always ask ourselves this question before a trip. If we are camping close to home at a state park and the whole point of the weekend is just to chill out and enjoy the campground we might go a little crazy and plan some elaborate meals. 

On weekends like this we’ll make a huge breakfast with pancakes, eggs, and bacon on our Blackstone, and then we might use cast iron to make pizza over the campfire in the evening.  But if we are taking a week long vacation in Charleston or Cape Cod, we might keep the food really simple so that we have more time to explore and eat great local food. During these types of trips we will pack cold cuts, PB&J, and cold cereal or oatmeal for the morning so that we can get out the door and start exploring as quickly as possible.

No matter what kind of trip you are planning, having a set menu is absolutely key–especially for those quick weekend trips. We hate waking up at the campground and not knowing what we are feeding the kids–because they absolutely drive us crazy when there is any uncertainty about what they are going to eat.

The most important part to pre-planning a weekend camping trip is probably the grocery shopping and food prep. It can also be the most cumbersome and time consuming if you don’t do it right. Over the years we have developed several “grocery store hacks” that really help us get to the campground, and get home, with minimal stress. We generally go grocery shopping on Thursday night and do the shopping for the weekend of camping ahead and for the entire following week. Coming home to empty cupboards after a fun weekend is a total bummer! Who wants to go grocery shopping again on a Sunday night? 

We have also experimented with meal delivery services such as Hello Fresh, Dinnerly, and Home Chef.  These services are awesome for super busy work weeks when its a challenge just to get to the grocery store. Sometimes we have meals delivered on a Wednesday or Thursday for the camping trip, and sometimes we have them delivered Sunday night for the week ahead. 

Online grocery shopping services can also help you save time during the week and get to the campground with less stress. We have used Amazon Fresh, Instacart, and Walmart Grocery delivery services so that we can skip a trip to the grocery store and use that time to pack up our bikes and kayaks. It can also be a big relief to have your groceries delivered on a Sunday night if you didn’t get to do a big shop before camping that weekend.

If we really have a frantic work week before a camping weekend we occasionally get takeout on a Friday night on our way to the campground. It’s no fun showing up at 8pm on a Friday night and having to cook for hangry kids. So if we are going to get in late we often grab subs at Jersey Mike’s and call it a day. Letting the boys eat in the back seat of my truck used to stress me out, but they beat that out of me very quickly. Worrying about keeping things “nice” with three little boys is an exercise in futility.

Depending on the timing of our arrival we also might grab takeout near the campground. This requires a bit of advanced planning and local knowledge because you need to be certain that there is somewhere to park your rig while you run in to grab the grub. 

Many campgrounds also have local pizza shops that will deliver right to your site. This can be an absolute lifesaver.  Call the campground ahead of time and ask them about your options for food delivery. If there are ten options ask them where they like to order from when they get hungry! You’ll always get the best recommendation.

As mentioned, we like to extend our camping weekends by staying three nights instead of two. But when we can’t do that we still like to splurge for a late checkout on Sunday. If another camper is not coming onto your site on Sunday (or any day) campground owners will often let you checkout late for a small fee. We have payed anywhere from 5 to 20 dollars for a late checkout, and we are often pleasantly surprised to find that some campgrounds let you stay late for free. Especially if you ask nice!

True confession. Sometimes when we camp close to home we are not exactly camping at the most exciting places. We have a local county park that we both love, but the boys only love it under certain conditions. If we camp at this pretty little campground all alone, with just our family, it’s kind of a yawner for our three sons. So how do we make this campground exciting for them? We invite other families with kids to come. 

All of the sudden camping here is just as exciting as camping at Disney World. At east for our three boys. They love camping with their buddies and they can entertain themselves for hours when they are together at the campground. While the kids are occupied with friends, we have time to chat with their parents and relax around the campfire. 

Successful weekend warriors must get their packing and food prep game down to a science. But they also have to become masters of quick and efficient unpacking. We call it SWAT team Sunday.  The entire family must chip in and help before anyone sits down! We get the camper unloaded, empty the RV fridge, and restock our house fridge. Then we get all of the dirty laundry into the washing machine and give the RV and truck a quick vacuum and call it a day.

SWAT team Sunday is absolutely essential if you want to be a weekend warrior.  Because leaving the camper messy after a camping trip will make your next camping trip miserable. You will have to clean up and pack all at once, and who wants to do that?

It’s hard to believe that fifteen years ago we spent time worrying about whether we would use the RV or not.

 We’re so glad that we didn’t let those doubts get the best of us. 

The post 12 Tips for Becoming an RV Weekend Warrior appeared first on The RV Atlas.

On today’s episode of The RV Atlas podcast we are answering questions from members of The RV Atlas Group on Facebook.  Winter may still have its icy grip over many of our group members–but that is not stopping them from planning their spring and summer camping trips. Many of the questions in the group are travel and campground related right now as our group members turn their attention towards spring camping. In this Q+A episode of our podcast we answer questions about Grand Teton and Yellowstone and flying and camping instead of taking an RV. We also offer up some great recommendations for beach camping on the East Coast.

Here are some of the questions that we discuss in this week’s episode–along with answers from group members:

Q: “Trying to figure what the lessor of the two evils is.  We are in the process of planning/booking a northern national parks trip for August of this year.  I’m not sure what the best option is for Teton/Yellowstone.  One central campground(Headwaters Campground) and hit both parks for the week.  Or two separate, Colter Bay for Teton and Yellowstone Grizzly for Yellowstone 3 or 4 days each.  Also if you have a more preferred campground, let me know!”

 Ron Brogan Answered…

A: “We have been there four times.  Main advice is don’t short change Teton.  It’s beautiful and a lot to do.  That’s why we recommend using campgrounds in both parks. Second recommendation is to make Old Faithful your #1 stop, watch her erupt a few times, then Go See Yellowstone.  Its a big place with lots to see.  Chack out the northeast entrance road.  Reminds us of Trail Ridge Road in RMNP.”

Erik Anderson Answered…

A: Craig, we concur with the others…do the two campgrounds. When we spent a couple weeks there, we did a combination of West Yellowstone and Grant CG, and then Colter Bay down in Tetons. Yeah, Yellowstone is HUGE……. 😉

 Tracy Barricks Phillip Answered…

 Someone said it was late to plan for this year. It may be in a 6 month window. I booked 10 days at both Colter Bay and Fishing Bridge and then after tweaking our route before and after canceled a few days of both. We enjoyed both campgrounds and adventures in both parks!

 Q: “Jumping in for another question for those who fly to a destination to camp…. how is it?!  Do you bring a ton of stuff? I honestly never camped in a cabin and I don’t think I would have to bring a ton but we are over-prepared campers when loading up the TT and have so much “backup” this feels weird to only bring a suitcase camping!”

Rob Burghdoff Answered…

A: “We did a fly in camp over winter break. We brought nothing with us and hit the local Publix for everything. Tried to buy minimal amounts but ended up with extras. If I were at an airbnb we would have tossed most everything but being at a campground we made some acquaintances to offload the extras. Thu is such as water bottles, laundry soap, eggs, foil.. etc.”

 JP Answered…

 A: “We camped in New Zealand and Europe, the NZ was a rental and supplied everything we needed except food and toiletries.  Europe we purchased a car and caravan in England, scoured charity shops for our necessities.”

 Jeremy Answered…

A: The key here is to know what comes with the cabin and how does not. If they do not provide linens then it’s a no go. If they do not provide a coffee maker it’s a no go. Most cabin rentals are good at listing what comes with and what does not. If the cabin rental does not provide such information that would be a no go for me. Happy to answer any other questions. We have done a bunch of fly and cabin and fly and rent RV trips!

Q:  “Looking for a shady campground close to a beach and shops on the east coast?”

Craig Welch answered… 

“If you’re into Virginia, Sun Outdoors Cape Charles.  What used to be Cherrystone RV resort.  It’s right on the Chesapeake Bay.  Nice campground with a private beach and pier.  We’ve stayed twice and enjoyed it very much.”

Samantha Willmot answered…

 “Beachcomber Campground in CapeMay, NJ”

Jeremy and Stephanie answered… 

We also loved what used to be Holly Shores and what used to be Seashore Campsites. Holly shores is now—-Sun Outdoors Cape May and Seashore Campsites is now Sun Retreats Seashore.

 Kevin Mattison answered…

“Myrtle Beach KOA Resort, upper level. totally shaded. A couple blocks away from the beach. best ever.”

 Susan Sitter answered…

 Myrtle Beach State Park.  Beautiful, shaded and across the street from the beach.

Courtney Runs answered…

 “Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware”

 Bryan Winter answered…

 “Sandy Pines Campground is one of my New England favorites.”

 Jeremy and Stephanie also recommended…

 “Atlantic Oaks on Cape Cod! Eastham Mass has lots of cute little cape towns around and you can for a pretty short drive drive to Provincetown!”

“James Island County Park in Charleston puts you near downtown and some awesome Charleston Beaches.”

The post Grand Teton and Yellowstone, Fly and Camp, Beach Campgrounds (RV Atlas Q+A) appeared first on The RV Atlas.

It’s a tough job being Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The park lacks the majesty and awe-inspiring landscapes of its western peers like Glacier and Yellowstone. Western South Dakota, a few hours to the south, offers up a greater variety of tourist attractions mixed with natural wonders. But North Dakota’s Theodore Roosevelt and the adjoining town of Medora have plenty of charm and heart and are well worth making the effort to get to—whether as a detour on a long road trip or as a separate destination.

This is a guest post by Gretchen Holcombe from Boxy Colonial on the Road. To listen to Jeremy and Gretchen talk about Medora Campground and Theodore Roosevelt National Park click on the media player above–or listen to the RV Atlas wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

Our family loved the great wildlife viewing and stunning landscapes in the park, and enjoyed learning about the 26th President’s connection to the area and partaking in some Teddy Roosevelt-themed entertainment in town. 

Medora Campground, operated by the city of Medora, is the perfect place to stay if you want to be right in the middle of everything; it’s next to Medora’s small downtown and around the corner from the entrance to Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s entrance gate and visitor center. You can even walk or bike to restaurants and attractions. 

The campground has 226 sites; most of those are full hook up RV sites, but there are also some tent sites, as well as a handful of cabins for rent and a Conestoga wagon outfitted with beds, electricity, and air conditioning. Campground amenities include a camp store, laundry room and some nice public areas including a playground and picnic pavilion. There’s no pool on site, but the Medora city pool is right next door and available to the public for a small fee. 

The biggest complaint people have about Medora Campground is that the sites are small. And it’s true; the pull-throughs are plenty long but very narrow, and you’ll be right on top of your neighbors. Each site has a picnic table, but eating outside might well mean close proximity to your neighbor’s sewer hose. They’ve chosen to pack as many sites as possible into the space, and they fill them up on weekends in season. 

The compensation for the close quarters, though, is the excellent location, as close as you can get to the National Park and to everything in town, as well as some pretty spectacular views of the North Dakota Badlands and access to the Little Missouri River. There are a good number of other options nearby if your priority is more room to spread out, but for our short stay, the great location was worth getting a bit cozy with other RVs. 

Theodore Roosevelt National park is divided into three units, with varying degrees of accessibility. The South Unit is by far the most popular and easy to get to, located right off of I-94 in the city of Medora. Here you’ll find the park’s main visitor center, with a museum and gift shop, the Maltese Cross Cabin where Theodore Roosevelt stayed during some of his time in North Dakota, and a 48 mile scenic drive. We spent our first day here, taking in the scenic drive and stopping for several short hikes, scenic viewpoints, and encounters with the park’s large prairie dog population.

The North Unit sees far fewer visitors, owing to its desolate location 50 miles off the interstate. Everyone we met told us it was worth the drive, though, and we have to agree; we made the trek here on our second day and found it a less crowded and more intimate experience than the South Unit, with amazing wildlife viewing and plenty of chances to see the buttes that make up the North Dakota Badlands up close and spot some interesting formations not found in the South Unit. 

We didn’t make it to the remote Elkhorn Ranch Unit, which preserves the land where Roosevelt ranched and requires a long drive on unpaved roads to access. 

The tiny city of Medora, just outside the National Park gate, pretty much turns into a Teddy Roosevelt theme park in the summers. The biggest attraction is the surprisingly elaborate and professional Medora Musical—an outdoor show telling the story of of the area that runs eight times a week all season. Before the show, we tried out the Pitchfork Steak Fondue at the open air restaurant next to the amphitheater. It’s exactly what it sounds like; a steak cooked (on a pitchfork!) in a barrel of hot oil. The musical and dinner make for an expensive evening, so watch for discounts like free kid tickets one or two nights a week. 

Medora offers a whole range of entertainment options all summer. In addition to the musical, we watched a Theodore Roosevelt impersonator bring the President to life. There’s also a popular gospel brunch, a gold course, trail rides, mini golf, and more—a lot more than we had time to do in our short stay.

The post Medora Campground and Theodore Roosevelt National Park appeared first on The RV Atlas.

September brings cooler temperatures, back to school routines, and the official start of RV show shopping season which kicks off with the Hershey RV Show in Pennsylvania every year. RV shows can bring amazing educational experiences and fantastic buying deals for consumers, but they can also leave some folks feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.

We’ve compiled all our RV Show Shopping tips into one single episode to help you make the most of your RV show visits this year. Listen to hear our advice that will be applicable no matter where you are on your shopping journey.

Download a map of the show to your phone and print out any available coupons. Check for parking and cash policies. Look at the vendors and food options. RV shows have such a wild variety of policies, so make sure you check out the details in advance. We’ve seen a surprising amount of shows that are cash only for admittance.

Many shows start midweek. So if you are seriously shopping or easily overwhelmed, this is the time to go. Other quiet times can be early on Fridays and later on Sundays. Saturdays are usually bonkers. Period.

And snacks, and possibly even lunch. The quality of food and refreshments varies from show to show. Some have great local options like BBQ and crab cake sandwiches. Others are glorified snack shacks with frozen pretzels and chicken fingers. No matter what, water is surprisingly expensive, so bring your own water bottle. You’ll save money for your RV purchase.

Talk about goals and expectations in advance with anyone you will be shopping with. It can be aggravating to be in bunk house shopping mode while your partner is checking out the teardrop campers.

We promise you one thing. You will be utterly confused and overwhelmed by the end of the day if you don’t have some plan for recording information. RVs, floor plans, and prices start to blend together. You’ll completely forget which manufacturer made your favorite model. And you’ll drive yourself crazy trying to figure it online. Use your camera phone to take details pictures (exterior, price sheet, specs sheet, and interior). Plus take ALL. THE. BROCHURES. 

Listeners repeatedly tell us this is our most helpful tip ever. Salespeople at large RV shows often don’t know much about the rigs and many times are temporarily hired to work just for the show. They are looking to make a sale, not educate you about a product. Manufacturer’s reps, however, usually know the rigs inside and out. They fly into the shows to support the dealers and answer customer questions. How do you know the difference between a salesperson and a rep? Look for the folks wearing a shirt that has the name of the manufacturer, not the name of the dealer.

Some people think they are too cool to sit in the seminars at an RV show. Other folks think they know everything from researching online. We know that RV seminars can be a wealth of information, sometimes presented by the biggest experts in the business, like our friends from RVSEF.

If you are ready to buy, an RV show shopping is a great place to start. However, it can also be a place where people make impulsive decisions with a big-ticket item. If you hadn’t even researched the difference between a travel trailer and a fifth wheel, you may not want to make an impulse decision.

There are definitely exceptions to this rule, so don’t blame us if you can’t get show pricing a month later. Sometimes the manufacturer is offering show incentives or the dealer is unloading last year’s inventory. However, for the most part, if you go back to that dealer later on and ask for the pricing you saw at the show, it’s possible they can make that happen.

Take a listen to the podcast episode to hear us discuss each piece of advice in greater detail!

It’s also important to know the type of shopper you are at the RV show. We have great tips for making the most out of your visit no matter where you are in your RV journey. We break it down into three main categories.

RV shows are a fantastic way to get a feel for the variety of RV types, sizes and floorplans available. Make sure you visit the bigger shows to get a broader view of options. GS Media and Go RVing have lists of rv shows. Compile your goals in advance and list questions you hope to answer:

Most importantly don’t be a statistic. So many buyers trade in a new rig within a year because they didn’t buy the right model. Listen to experienced RVers share their experiences with pop ups, hybrids, etc.

Reminder: Think long and hard about buying if you did not come planning on buying!!!

Stay grounded if you are in upgrade mode. It’s easy to get shiny, new object syndrome. Make a list of pros/cons of your old or current RV. Be honest about what works for your family and what doesn’t. For example, if you really like camping in state and national parks, stay smaller. If you get nervous towing your 32 foot travel trailer, don’t go and buy a 38 foot travel trailer because it seemed so spacious. 

Arrive at the show with a list of non-negotiables made from prior experience. For us, we know dedicated beds and a master bedroom door are must haves…even when we start drooling over the cute, little campers.

Also know your numbers ahead of time, including budget, tow ratings, and GVWR goals. The worst thing is to upgrade your rig and then have to upgrade vehicle if you didn’t budget for that. Know whether your car can be towed by a motorhome (that catches some folks by surprise). If you will have to store the upgraded RV, research what will that cost.

If you are ready to buy your first (or next!) rig, you should still do some advance planning. Research the dealers that will be at the show. Look at online and Facebook reviews. Check out their inventory and look at the numbers. Getting a great deal at a show isn’t worth winding up with a crummy dealer with terrible service reviews.

You should also be fully aware of the realities of service and warranty work when buying from a non-local dealer. Whether you like it or not, the service end of the RV industry is woefully understaffed. This means that many dealers will refuse to service units that they did not sell. Or you will just be put at the end of the line and wait a looooong time to get warranty work done.

It’s important not to become obsessed with a certain percentage off MSRP. Every single deal is different based on location, RV model and year, and dealer stock. Don’t expect to get an RV in New York for the same price as in Indiana. The question is whether it is a good value for YOUR family. Some people on social media will claim that you can always get 30% off MSRP. That’s just bad advice.

RV shows are great whether you are just window shopping or ready to write a check. We’ve got a RV pep talk for everyone. If you want to hear us discuss this topic in more detail, take a listen to The RV Atlas podcast, available in the Apple Podcast Store or anywhere you listen. You can also join the conversation in our private, friendly Facebook group.

Visiting the Hershey RV Show? Here are some of our best tips for conquering America’s Largest RV Show.

Checking out the Florida RV SuperShow? Learn more here. 

See you at the RV Show!

The post RV Show Shopping Tips and Tricks appeared first on The RV Atlas.

Lakewood Camping Resort in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is one of the biggest RV campgrounds in the country. We are excited to bring you a campground review since it is in Myrtle Beach, the camping capital of the East Coast (in our opinion!). This resort is more like a small town for campers. With a lazy river, waterslides, sports courts, indoor and outdoor pools, and so much more. It’s nonstop fun.

Lakewood Camping Resort is located at the southern end of the Grand Strand near Myrtle Beach State Park and the pier, but not too far from town. This is a destination RV resort, so many people check in and don’t leave. We stayed for five nights and really wanted a place where we could relax and play on the sand and in the pool. We wanted the total RV resort package, and this resort truly delivered!

To hear Jeremy and Stephanie’s full campground review of Lakewood Camping Resort, click play on the media player above or look for The RV Atlas wherever you find your favorite shows!

Lakewood Camping Resort is true beachfront camping. Like we said above, it’s like a camping city–everything you need is right there. It’s more of a planned community, with campsites for the RVs and tents, cabins, condos, and more. It’s one of those destinations you can visit with non-RVing family and friends for a true group destination.

You can nab an oceanside site here for less than $100, which we felt was very reasonable for the beachfront location. The only disadvantage to having an oceanside camping spot is that it’s very busy on the promenade that goes right by those spots. However, we chose this space because it was near the basketball courts, where the boys could play nearby. If you want quiet, you might not want to be beachfront. Another thing to note is that they have some great trees and shade, which you don’t always find at beachfront campgrounds.

Lakewood Camping Resort is full of stuff to do! The lazy river is relaxing, and the waterslides are fast and fun! The pool is also large and spacious. They have a large arcade, an information center, a big pool, and of course, the beach. The campground also offers bike, paddle board, and kayak rentals at the trading post. If you like to play sports, there are volleyball, basketball, and shuffle board courts.

The camp store is well stocked. Plus, they have a huge laundromat. When you get hungry, visit the food truck area. We especially loved the Italian ice!

Our family made great memories at Lakewood. Stephanie enjoyed sitting on the beach watching the kids surf, as well as having a shuffle board tournament with the boys. Jeremy will always remember cooking big meals for the whole crew on the Blackstone griddle.

Check out this previous post for things to do in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

All of Myrtle Beach is full of adventures, but Lakewood Camping Resort is truly the type of destination you can spend an entire week and not feel compelled to leave the campground. We will probably be back to make more memories in the future.

See you at the campground!

Jeremy + Stephanie

The post Lakewood Camping Resort Review (Spring Break Pt. 2) appeared first on The RV Atlas.