On this week’s episode of The RV Atlas Podcast, we wrap up an epic three-part Michigan series with our friend Casita Dean May—and we’re ending in a place that feels like it should be impossible to find in 2026: a municipal campground on Little Traverse Bay with walkability into town, a bike path that can take you 26 miles, and waterfront sites for $40–$50 a night. This episode is the final stop on Dean and Laura’s 23-night Michigan road trip: Holland State Park (beach camping), Interlochen State Park (Traverse City and Old Mission Peninsula), and now Petoskey—for nine nights at Magnus Park Campground.

And the reason Petoskey was the “main event” is one of the best kinds of RV story: they were here because friends they love have been telling them for years, “You’ve got to come during the summer and spend some time in Petoskey.”

To listen to our interview with Casita Dean May please click on the media player above or subscribe to the RV Atlas wherever you get your favorite shows

This Petoskey stop was inspired by a friendship. Dean shared that his retired dean and mentor, John Bonaguro, and John’s wife Ellen caught the camping bug after Dean and Laura did. One upgrade led to another (as it always does), and now they’re the kind of retirees who camp six months out of the year, book 90-day stays, and spend their summers in Petoskey at Magnus Park Campground before heading to places like Arizona, Texas, or Florida for winter.

We love this kind of RV inspiration—because it’s not about gear. It’s about the way RVing deepens relationships and builds a life around places you want to return to again and again.

Magnus Park is a city park campground—a municipal park with RV camping, right on the bay. We’ve stayed in county parks and state parks and national park campgrounds, but city-park camping is rare enough that it still feels like a hidden category. And honestly? We wish more cities would do this. Because if you build a campground within walking distance of town, RVers don’t just camp—they spend money in local restaurants, cafes, grocery stores, and shops.

Magnus Park is the kind of place that makes you think: why aren’t there 50 more of these?

Magnus Park Campground sits on Little Traverse Bay, which is essentially an extension of Lake Michigan. Picture this: bay out your front windows, campground road in front of you, and then a paved bike path running along the shoreline—and Petoskey is right behind you.

Petoskey itself is a small city—about 6,000 people—but in summer it swells dramatically (Dean said it can jump up to 50,000 in peak tourist season). That combination is part of the charm: it has real small-town bones, but it’s set up for summer vacation life.

Magnus Park Campground has 76 sites total. Of those, 36 are full hookups, and the remaining 40 are water + electric. The layout is a closed loop, and if you’re in the “right” line of sites facing the bay, you’re basically camping on the water with the kind of view that usually costs triple (or requires a year-in-advance booking strategy).

Let’s just say it: the pricing here is wildly reasonable.

Full hookup sites: $40/night (non-peak) and $50/night (peak)

Water + electric sites: $35/night (non-peak) and $45/night (peak)

One cabin: $200/night (non-peak) and $225/night (peak)

Peak season: Memorial Day through Labor Day

We love “old-school pricing,” and this is the definition of it—especially for a waterfront location.

Magnus Park Campground has a reservation system that is truly unlike anything else we’ve encountered. You can’t book far in advance throughout the year. Instead, everything opens up in early January, and the first people who get access are the long-stay campers.

Here’s how it works:

Day 1: people booking 90 days or more get first pick

Day 2: people booking 30 days or more get next pick

Day 3: everyone else gets access

So if you want a prime full-hookup bayfront site during peak season, you need to be ready when “day three” arrives—because the people doing the full summer up there are absolutely grabbing the best locations first.

Dean also shared something practical: you can book by phone, but it often goes to voicemail and may take a couple of days for a call back—so online booking is the smoother route.

This is the part of the episode that makes us respect Dean even more. He didn’t decide to put this trip together until late June, which is practically “last minute” in the campground world—especially for a place this popular.

The reason it worked:

Most of their nights were after Labor Day, when there’s more availability

They were willing to take a water + electric site instead of full hookups

They had a smaller rig (a 17-foot camper and a mid-size truck)

Even with all that, they had to do the thing nobody wants to do on a longer stay: they switched sites mid-trip (four nights in one, five nights in another). It’s not ideal—but when the destination is this good, you can make peace with a little inconvenience.

Dean also ended up in a “small site” the first part of the stay, and we actually love that the campground warned him ahead of time. That kind of truth-in-advertising changes your expectations and keeps you from arriving annoyed.

Magnus Park offers Wi-Fi, and Dean said it worked well for the basics—email, checking info, normal everyday use. Cell service was also strong on AT&T.

The staff at Magnus Park Campground stood out as friendly and present, but one funny detail Dean mentioned is that so many people return year after year that you can’t always tell who is staff and who is just a veteran camper chatting around a campfire. That’s a great sign of a loyal campground community.

One of the most heartfelt parts of the episode was Dean’s explanation of why this trip—and especially this park—fit their current season of life. Their dog, Gibbs, is older now. That changes the type of travel you can do. Hardcore hikes and long adventures aren’t always realistic.

Magnus Park Campground gave them the best of both worlds: stunning views and easy movement without needing rugged terrain. The paved path behind the park meant they could still get fresh air and exercise, still explore, still sightsee—without pushing beyond what works for their family right now.

The paved bike path is one of the biggest reasons Magnus Park Campground feels like a gem.

The Little Traverse Wheelway runs right behind the campground along the shore. From the park:

Turn one direction and you can ride toward Charlevoix

Turn the other direction and you can ride through Petoskey, past Bayfront Park, toward Petoskey State Park, and even all the way up to Harbor Springs

Dean said it’s about 26 miles end-to-end. He rode 12–15 miles in a day on a regular bike (and noted that many people were on e-bikes). This is the kind of summer RV travel we love most: park the rig, hop on a bike, stop for coffee or a beer, stare at the water for 15 minutes, and let the day move slowly.

Petoskey stones are the state stone of Michigan, and the history is fascinating. They’re fossilized coral shaped into pebble-like stones through glaciation. People come to the area specifically to hunt for them, and it’s gotten popular enough that you’re limited to 25 pounds of stones.

Dean even mentioned a 93-pound Petoskey stone that’s on display elsewhere in Michigan. If you’re traveling with kids, this is an easy, memorable activity that doesn’t feel like “an attraction.” It’s a treasure hunt.

Harbor Springs is just north and feels like a magazine cover. The homes along the water are stunning—early-1900s architecture that looks like it belongs in design magazines. The downtown is small but charming, and the whole place feels like a summer escape.

This is the “surreal beauty day.” Starting in Harbor Springs, you can drive north along the Tunnel of Trees—a 20-mile scenic stretch often listed as one of the most beautiful drives in America—ending in Cross Village. Along the way:

Good Hart General Store is a classic stop

Trillium Woods Coffee is an unforgettable roadside coffee shop in the woods (great coffee, but also a unique and quirky vibe)

Dean didn’t get to spend time here due to weather and schedule changes, but the drive-through alone was enough to know it deserves a visit. Charlevoix has a lively, pedestrian-heavy downtown and is known for its whimsical mushroom houses—organic, fairytale-like architecture. It’s also close to Fisherman’s Island State Park (rustic camping only).

If you keep going north past Cross Village, you can reach Wilderness State Park near Mackinac City. Dean described it as huge, with hundreds of sites and all kinds of camping options, plus a lighthouse and designation as a night-sky preserve. They didn’t push that far on this trip, but it’s clearly on the “next time” list—along with Mackinac City, the bridge, and the UP.

If there’s one theme across this entire Michigan trilogy, it’s that great camp days start with coffee and end with something delicious.

Old-school bakery energy, excellent donuts, and the kind of place you go twice in nine days. Dean and Laura made it a ritual—sometimes with a donut eaten on the walk back to camp (we will not judge).

A reliable stop for beer and food, located on the north end of town and easy to reach by bike.

A recommended spot from the Bonaguros, with an old-school interior vibe (Dean described mahogany and red leather) and solid food.

Here’s the surprise: the best pizza of the entire trip. Pizza isn’t even in the name, but the pizza was exquisite. This is one of those “trust the local place” moments.

This was described as a “do everything” stop: café, winery, brewery, market, kid-friendly, farm animals, trails, pizzas, and a vibe that works for families and dog owners. It’s on the same route you’d take toward Harbor Springs.

At the end of the episode, Dean shared that if he could only pick one area to revisit, he’d choose Traverse City, simply because they didn’t have enough time there.

But if he had to pick a favorite campsite, he might actually choose Holland’s beach campground—even though it was on asphalt—because the surf was right there and beach camping was so unique for them.

And for pure campground accessibility to town + water + biking + views, Petoskey (Magnus Park) felt like a slam dunk.

Magnus Park is the kind of place that reminds us why we love “hidden gem” public camping. It’s not flashy. It doesn’t need to be. It delivers on what matters: location, access, affordability, and a vacation rhythm that makes you slow down.

This three-part Michigan series has done exactly what we hope a great RV podcast series does: it makes you want to pick a date, open a map, and start building your own version of this road trip. If you’ve been sleeping on Michigan as an RV destination, consider this your sign.

We’ll see you at the campground.

The post An Epic Summer RV Trip to Michigan: Part Three (Magnus Park Campground and Petoskey) appeared first on The RV Atlas.

On this week’s episode of The RV Atlas podcast, we’re back with the second installment in Casita Dean May’s epic three-part Michigan series—and this one takes us right into the heart of one of our favorite summer RV regions in the entire country: the Traverse City area. Last week, Dean walked us through Holland State Park. This week, he’s bringing us to Interlochen State Park, a campground that sits between two lakes, feels delightfully old-school, and offers an easy home base for exploring everything we love about Traverse City: beaches, breweries, coffee, small-town charm, and those long summer days that make you wish you could bottle August and save it for February.

To listen to our interview with Casita Dean May please click on the media player above or subscribe to the RV Atlas podcast wherever you get your favorite shows.

Before we get into campsite loops and electrical hookups, we need to say out loud what we said in the episode: the Traverse City area has that rare “I could live here” energy. It’s not just beautiful—it’s livable. It’s the kind of place where you can imagine a slower, seasonal rhythm: summer on the water, fall color drives, and then maybe you escape the deep winter and come back when the cherries blossoms bloom.

Dean and Laura even joked that they used to chuckle at the idea of being snowbirds… until Michigan made the case for it. Spend eight or nine months somewhere like Traverse City, Holland, or Petoskey, then head south for the hardest part of winter? That’s not a bad plan at all.

Interlochen State Park is located about 15 miles from Traverse City, near the tiny community of Interlochen (we’re talking 500–700 people). It sits between Duck Lake and Green Lake, which gives the park its signature feel: water is always nearby, the air feels fresh, and the whole campground experience is wrapped in trees and shade.

Dean and Laura headed north from Holland and took the direct route (they were meeting family), but whether you meander up US-31 along the coast or head inland, Michigan has one major advantage for RV travelers: you’re never far from another great state park. Dean put it perfectly—drive 30 minutes, and you’ll probably “bump into” another state park.

Here’s one of the coolest “wait, what?” details from this stop: for a town that small, Interlochen has an enormous cultural footprint because it’s home to the Interlochen Center for the Arts, an internationally recognized institute for young musicians, dancers, and performers.

In the summer, the arts center hosts rehearsals and performances—sometimes outdoors—and Dean described how you can even hear music “wafting” through the campground during peak season. Even if you’re not planning your trip around a concert, the idea that a world-class arts community is tucked into this small slice of northern Michigan is part of what makes this region feel so special.

Interlochen State Park is one of those parks we love because it gives you two distinct camping experiences within the same destination.

The Green Lake campground is the rustic option. It has two loops and 52 sites, and it’s surrounded by trees—including some of the park’s notable stands of virgin pine. If you love that classic, simple state park feel and you don’t need electricity, this is the “walk the loop and feel like you’re in the woods” kind of campground.

Dean was candid here: they didn’t stay on the Green Lake side because they don’t do rustic camping. But it’s a great option for RVers and tent campers who want quieter loops and lower nightly costs.

The Duck Lake campground is the “modern” side, and it’s much larger—392 sites split between a North Loop and a South Loop.

The North Loop offers both 30-amp and 50-amp electric, has about 20 pull-through sites, and includes several paved sites. The South Loop is 30-amp only, has just four pull-throughs, and includes about a dozen paved sites if you want that option.

Even in the modern campground, Dean emphasized that you still get that Northern Michigan tree cover. In fact, he said it can be easier to find shade than sun—which is exactly what many families want in the heart of summer.

At Interlochen the “modern” campground is electric with easy access to water spigots, not water at the site. Dean clarified that there are water spigots spaced throughout the campground—about every 50 yards or so—making it easy to fill a jug or top off tanks, even though you’re not connected directly at your site.

For many RVers, that’s still a great setup: you can run the air conditioner if needed, and you can hit the dump station when it’s time to move on.

We love state parks that offer alternatives for friends or family who want to join the trip without owning an RV. Interlochen has a few options, especially on the Duck Lake side.

Dean noted that there are three camper cabins in the modern campground. He described them as somewhat rustic in style, but still equipped with electricity and useful basics like heat, a refrigerator, microwave, and coffee pot.

There are also two “rent-a-tents” on platforms that sleep up to six (with bunk beds and cots). They include electricity and lighting, but you bring your own bedding and cookware. These are a great option for families who want the camping experience without investing in all the gear.

One of the most jaw-dropping parts of this episode was the pricing—because these are the kinds of rates many of us remember from when we first started camping.

Rustic sites: $20/night

Modern campground: $32/night (30 amp) and $37/night (50 amp)

Camper cabins: $120/night

Rent-a-tents: $60/night

Dean called this “very reasonable,” and we agree. Even with electric-only camping, those rates are outstanding for a summer destination with lakes, shade, and easy access to a world-class vacation town like Traverse City.

Dean described Interlochen as a traditional, old-school campground—in the best possible way. Walking the loops feels like a nature walk. Trees surround you. You can catch glimpses of the lake. The vibe is simple, classic, and comfortable.

He also shared that the bathhouse was solid: clean, utilitarian, nothing fancy, nothing awful. Exactly what most of us expect at a state park campground.

Cell service was good (Dean has AT&T), and there’s no campground Wi-Fi—which, honestly, feels pretty normal for state park camping and might be a bonus depending on your vacation goals.

Dean shared a really helpful “manage your expectations” note: if you book a site labeled “lakefront,” be clear on what that actually means here.

At the Duck Lake campground, you may have a view of the water, but you generally don’t step from your site directly onto the beach. Instead, there are access points at the ends of loops that lead down to a more primitive beach area.

It’s not a negative—it’s just the kind of detail that can prevent disappointment if you’re imagining a private shoreline behind your picnic table.

Even though Interlochen is tiny, Dean pointed out that it still offers what RV travelers need: coffee, casual food, and grocery supplies.

He mentioned Bud’s Coffee, Ice Cream & Food as a great stop for coffee and a vibe check—and potentially a perfect family option after a day out exploring. He also called out Mimi’s Taqueria, a family-owned Mexican spot that looked like a great taco stop.

And for groceries (because we’ve all had the “we forgot that one thing” moment), Dean was impressed with Tom’s Food Market, a full-service grocery store that’s surprisingly robust for such a small community.

Dean’s strategy for Traverse City was exactly how we like to do it: start at the waterfront, walk the parks, and then drift into town for food and drink.

He recommended spending time near Clinch Park and West End Beach Park, where there’s a paved walkway, access points down to the water, and that “I can’t believe this is Michigan” Great Lakes feeling.

Then, after you’ve had your fill of water views, you cross back toward town and suddenly you’re in the middle of Traverse City—shops, restaurants, breweries, coffee, and everything else that makes this place hum in the summer.

Traverse City itself has about 16,000 residents, which surprises many people because it feels bigger. But it’s part of a broader four-county region of about 150,000 people—and then summer tourists flood in, creating that lively vacation energy without losing the small-town charm.

This is the moment in the episode where we basically got poetic—because Old Mission Peninsula is that kind of place.

The peninsula stretches 18 miles long and about three miles wide, jutting into the bay with wineries, parks, stunning views, and a pace that practically forces you to slow down. Dean and Laura spent a full day here, and it’s easy to understand why.

Dean stopped at Bowers Harbor Park (a fun personal detail because it connects to Laura’s maiden name), noted the pickleball courts, and walked over to Bowers Harbor Vineyards, where they bought bottles to bring back.

Farther up the peninsula, the day gets even better at Mission Point Lighthouse, where you can tour, explore a log cabin, and—if you’re traveling with kids—find the kind of rocks that basically demand jumping into the water. This is classic Northern Michigan summer energy: swim, lighthouse, winery, food, repeat.

We said it on the show and we’ll say it again: Old Mission Peninsula is one of the most magical places in the country to spend a summer day. Take your time. Relax. Let it be an escape.

If you’re traveling with a group—or anyone who can’t agree on dinner—Dean offered a very simple solution: The Little Fleet.

It’s a permanently set-up food truck court with a brewery/pub anchor and a U-shaped layout of food trucks around an open seating area. You don’t have to negotiate one restaurant choice. Someone can get tacos, someone can get pizza, someone can grab a smoothie, someone can go full hot-dog mode.

Dean specifically mentioned enjoying an Asian dish from The Crocodile Palace with a beer under the picnic tables—comfortable temps, a little shade, and that easy summer rhythm that makes food truck courts feel like vacation.

Dean mentioned one of those delightfully silly roadside-style attractions that makes travel fun: Traverse City’s claim to the world’s largest cherry pie pan. The twist? Another town farther north claims the same thing. So apparently there’s a friendly “largest pie pan” rivalry happening in Michigan, which feels very on brand for a state that takes cherries seriously.

And yes—Traverse City really is cherry country. That theme shows up everywhere, and it’s part of what makes the region feel distinct.

Dean said something we completely agree with: of the three regions on this Michigan trip, the Traverse City area is the one that demands more time. Three full days isn’t enough—not if you want to do it right.

If he returned, the first stop on his list would be the Leelanau Peninsula (sometimes called “the little finger”), which is packed with small towns like Leland and Glen Arbor, wine trails, beaches, inland lakes, and of course Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

He also rattled off what makes Traverse City irresistible: dozens of coffee roasters, a brewery scene that could fill your whole trip, independent pizza shops, donut stops for morning traditions, and enough day trips to stretch a one-week vacation into two.

Interlochen State Park is exactly what we want a state park campground to be: affordable, scenic, wooded, and close enough to a great destination town that you can do big adventures during the day and come home to quiet loops at night.

Interlochen State Park may not have full hookups, but the electric access (plus easy water spigots) makes it comfortable for RVers, and the overall vibe feels like classic summer camping. Add in Traverse City’s beaches, breweries, and coffee culture—and the day trip magic of Old Mission Peninsula—and this becomes the kind of RV destination you dream about in January.

Next week, we’ll wrap up the Michigan trilogy as Dean heads north to Petoskey for the final episode—nine nights at Magnus Park, the main event of his Michigan trip.

We’ll see you at the campground!

The post An Epic Summer RV Trip to Michigan: Part Two (Interlochen State Park and Traverse City) appeared first on The RV Atlas.

On this week’s episode of The RV Atlas Podcast, we’re kicking off an epic three-part Michigan series with our friend Casita Dean May—and we’re starting in a place that feels like a postcard come to life: Holland State Park on the shores of Lake Michigan. If you’ve ever wanted a Great Lakes beach vacation that works beautifully for RVers (and doesn’t require flying across the country), this is it.

Dean’s trip wasn’t a quick weekend loop. It was a 23-night road trip built around three Michigan campgrounds—Holland State Park first, then Interlochen State Park near Traverse City, and finally Magnus Park in Petoskey. Along the way, he and Laura mixed in time with family and friends—exactly the kind of “RV life at its best” itinerary we love.

We’re going to make the call right up front: from everything we’ve learned over years of RV travel and campground research, Michigan has one of the best state park systems in the country—and it shows in this episode. Dean’s review reinforces something we’ve been saying for a long time: Michigan is wildly underrated as an RV destination, especially for anyone who loves beach camping, great small cities, and strong public campgrounds like Holland State Park and Interlochen State Park.

Before we even get to Michigan, we have to pause and applaud the mileage Dean and Laura put in last year: 96 nights of camping. That’s not “we stayed in the RV a few weekends.” That’s a lifestyle. And it’s why Dean’s reviews are so valuable—he’s not guessing what matters to RVers; he’s out there living it, week after week.

Holland State Park sits on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, near the small city of Holland (about 35,000 people). It’s an easy-to-reach beach destination for RVers coming from places like Chicago, Indianapolis, and Detroit—especially if you’re driving north out of Indianapolis and aiming for the Lake Michigan coastline.

One of the most helpful parts of Dean’s review is that Holland State Park isn’t a single campground. There are two distinct camping areas (plus a few cabins), and the difference between them matters.

The campground Dean chose—and the one that defines the Holland State Park experience—is the Beach Campground (also referred to as the “modern beach campground”). It’s not your typical wooded state park loop. It’s essentially a campground built into a large paved area near the dunes and beach access, with the kind of location that makes you immediately stop caring that you’re camping on asphalt.

There are 98 sites total, with a mix of electric-only sites and a smaller number of full hookup sites. The setup is unique: instead of your truck being parked directly in front of your camper, your parking is more parallel beside your rig, and the picnic area is positioned so you still have a functional outdoor living space. Dean described it as “a bit tight,” but still workable—and for him, the beach access was absolutely worth it.

If you’ve ever wanted to wake up and walk straight to sand, watch sunsets every night, and stay close to snack bars, bathhouses, and beach facilities, the Beach Campground at Holland State Park delivers.

The second option at Holland State Park is the Lake Macatawa Campground, about a mile away. This is the more traditional campground: 211 sites, more trees, more shade options, and a classic state park feel. You can choose between 30-amp and 50-amp electric, but there’s an important tradeoff: no water hookups at individual sites—you’ll use central water stations throughout the campground.

Dean emphasized that if he were doing the trip again, he’d still pick the beach campground—but he would stay longer. That says a lot.

Holland State Park also offers a few camper cabins. These are not luxury cabins with full kitchens and linens provided. They’re more of a simple, two-room, bring-your-own-stuff style option—more comfortable than rustic, but nothing fancy. They can work well for a family traveling with someone who doesn’t own an RV but still wants to be part of the trip.

Michigan’s state parks use a six-month booking window, and Dean’s advice was crystal clear: if you want a full hookup site at the beach campground at Holland State Park during peak season, you should be ready to book as soon as that window opens—because those sites disappear fast.

Pricing struck us as very reasonable for what you’re getting. Electric sites were around $45–$48 per night depending on amperage. Full hookup sites at the beach were around $60–$63 per night. Cabins were around $120 per night.

Here’s the “save yourself a headache” tip Dean learned the hard way: check-in for the beach campground happens at Lake Macatawa first. He drove all the way down to the beach campground and had to loop back a mile to check in, then return again. If you’re staying at the beach campground, head to Macatawa first for check-in.

Cell service was strong (Dean had AT&T and reported good service), and staff were friendly—but this is a busy park, especially at the beach campground, with constant day use traffic and sunset visitors flowing in and out. It’s not a “linger at the gatehouse and chat” kind of park. It’s a well-oiled machine.

If you need trees, quiet loops, and forest vibes, the beach campground might not be your dream. You’re camping on pavement, in sun, with a lot of people. But if you go in knowing what you’re choosing, the payoff is huge: beach walks, sunsets, and that classic “Lake Michigan is basically an ocean” feeling every single day.

Holland has a strong Dutch history dating back to immigrants arriving in the mid-1800s seeking religious freedom. That influence comes through in the architecture, the food, and the cultural attractions—and it gives the town a distinct vibe compared to other Great Lakes beach cities.

Downtown is about six miles from the campground, and it’s easy to turn a morning or afternoon into a “coffee + walk + brewery” kind of outing.

The Big Red Lighthouse is in the state park, and it’s a classic Michigan photo stop—especially at sunset, when the beach fills up with people watching the sky change over the water. It’s easy to fit into your beach routine because it’s right there.

If you only do one attraction beyond the beach, Dean said it should be Windmill Island Gardens. This is where you’ll find the famous De Zwaan windmill and a full experience built around the area’s Dutch heritage—walking paths, gardens, reconstructed buildings, and a setting that’s perfect for photography.

The park is also closely tied to Holland’s well-known Tulip Festival in the spring, which draws huge crowds.

We love a good campus walk, and Dean does too. Hope College is near downtown and makes for a lovely stroll if you’re already exploring Holland on foot.

Dean’s travel style includes what we value too: yes, camp cooking is great—but discovering local food and breweries is part of the fun.

Between the two campgrounds at Holland State Park, you’ll find Doon Dogs, a classic “hot dogs and ice cream” kind of stop that’s especially fun for families. What surprised Dean in the best way was the presence of fish options—one of those “you’re in Michigan, you’re on the water” reminders that shows up even in a casual roadside spot.

Downtown, Hops at 84 East hit a perfect RV day-tripping combo: pizza for Laura and local beer for Dean. It’s a great “walk around downtown, then sit down somewhere comfortable” stop.

Another brewery stop Dean enjoyed was Big Lake Brewing, where he talked about a pasta dish that tasted like a lobster mac-and-cheese vibe—plus a family-friendly dining room that still feels like a brewery hang.

For Dean, New Holland Brewing was a must and one of the main reasons he wanted to visit Holland in the first place. He’s been drinking their beer for 15–20 years, and visiting the brewery downtown was one of the highlight experiences of the stop.

Coffee matters. Dean recommended de Boer’s Coffee Roasters Bakery Restaurant—and we love the detail that the Dutch influence shows up even in the spelling (“bakkerij”). He grabbed coffee and donuts there and noted it would also be a great place for breakfast or lunch.

This spot sits between the two campgrounds and is walkable from the beach campground. It’s convenient for supplies and souvenirs, and Dean tried the coffee—but kept missing the homemade donuts because they sold out early.

If you travel with paddles (or you’re pickleball-curious), Holland makes it easy. Dean found newer courts on the main route between the state park and town, with multiple courts and even wind mitigation mesh on the fencing. It was breezy when they played, but he got the sense there’s an active local pickleball community.

If you’re passing through quickly, Dean’s top recommendations were simple. Grab a beer at New Holland Brewing and spend the day at Windmill Island Gardens.

Holland State Park is the kind of destination that makes a strong case for a week-long Great Lakes vacation. The beach campground may be paved, but the experience is Pure Michigan: sunsets over the water, quick access to town, and an easy blend of beach time, breweries, and sightseeing.

We’re excited to keep this Michigan trilogy rolling. Next up, Dean takes us to Interlochen State Park near Traverse City, and then we’ll head north to Petoskey and Magnus Park.

We’ll see you at the campground!

The post An Epic Summer RV Trip to Michigan: Part One (Holland State Park and Beyond) appeared first on The RV Atlas.

For 12 years, we’ve made an RV podcast for RV people. We’ve driven all over North America with kids and dogs, chasing beach days, national parks, great food, and campfire nights. So when we tell you we did something wildly out of character last spring… we mean it.

After a decade of spring break RV trips—Myrtle Beach, Charleston, and even one memorable spring break camping trip in Texas—we booked our first-ever cruise. We had never cruised as kids. We’d never cruised as adults. But the boys were cruise-curious (because how could they not be, with the commercials and the stories from friends?), and our spring break landed early in the calendar—right in that “South Carolina might still be brisk and the pools might not even be open” zone.

So we tried it. And for an entire week, we couldn’t stop comparing it to RV travel.

This isn’t a cruise review. We’re not cruise experts. This is simply what we learned when an RV family tried a classic spring break cruise—and why, even after a fun trip, we’re still firmly in the “RV vacation” camp as our family’s go-to for spring break each year!

Cruises can be expensive, especially with five people—and we’re not talking about luxury suites. Between the rooms (we booked two rooms so we’d have two bathrooms), add-ons, and general travel costs, the total number adds up fast.

What really struck us is what that same amount of money can buy in the RV world. Depending on how you shop, one cruise vacation can equal a significant down payment on an RV—or even the full cost of a used pop-up or used travel trailer. And once you have the RV, you have a travel style that lets you control costs in a way cruising simply doesn’t.

Cruise rooms were comfortable, but they’re small. RV travel has spoiled us: our own pillows, our own towels, more space to spread out, a kitchen, and a bathroom that actually feels more functional for a family than a cruise ship bathroom.

The funny part is that RVing might be what made the cruise room feel manageable—because we’re used to small-space living. But if we’re choosing the most comfortable option for our family, RV travel wins.

On an RV trip, we get the best of both worlds: we can cook (Blackstone griddle, Weber grill—whatever fits the vibe) and still go out for great meals when we want to.

On a cruise, you’re eating out for everything. That can be relaxing in one way—no meal planning—but it also means constant eating, constant temptation, and fewer opportunities to reset with simple, familiar food. For us, the quality also felt like a consistent “B+.” Totally fine. Totally edible. But not the same as picking our favorite restaurants in a place like Charleston and building the vacation around truly great meals–and making our own great meals whenever we want.

On our spring break RV trips, we’re moving: walking, hiking, swimming, surfing, exploring towns, biking around campgrounds, and generally living outside.

A cruise can be active if you make it active, but for our family it didn’t land that way. The rhythm felt more sedentary, and that’s not what we love most about vacation. RV vacations keep us naturally in motion.

We’ve been to crowded resort campgrounds during spring break. We know what pool crowds look like.

But cruise pool crowds were next-level. Chair saving, early morning competition for seats, and a vibe that felt more stressful than relaxing. On an RV trip, the pool is part of a bigger day. On a cruise ship day, it can feel like the center of the universe—because, for many people, it is.

This surprised us. We expected pools where kids could swim. What we found were lots of shallow “lounging” pools—more “standing and sipping” than “cannonballs and laps.”

We’re used to campground pools where the kids can actually swim, play, and burn energy. That style fits our family better.

We’ll be honest: we didn’t expect seasickness. We’ve all spent time on boats. We didn’t think it would hit. But it did—one night—likely when the ship was moving faster in rougher conditions.

It wasn’t a defining memory of the trip, but it is a unique downside that simply doesn’t exist in RV travel.

On an RV vacation, you wake up and choose: beach day, hike day, downtown day, live music, museums, tourist attractions, nothing at all. The itinerary can be loose, flexible, and responsive to weather and mood.

Cruise excursions felt restrictive and expensive. Even if you want to create your own off-the-beaten-path day, you have to consider the biggest cruise anxiety of all: if something happens and you don’t make it back, the ship doesn’t wait. That reality changes how adventurous you might be and how far you might roam from the ship.

Campground culture is friendly. People wave. People chat. People help. We’ve made friends RVing.

On the cruise, it felt like most families stayed in their own bubbles. That may vary by cruise type and group demographics, but for our family experience, RV travel felt far more communal.

This one is huge—and it’s one of the most underrated reasons people choose RVing in the first place.

Pets are family. And every vacation we took without Maggie and Maverick was time we didn’t have together. RV travel makes it simple: load up the dogs and go. Cruises don’t.

We’re not here to pretend cruising is awful. We had a great vacation. We laughed, relaxed, and made memories. And there are real ways cruising can be better—especially for certain families. When it comes to RV Vacations Vs. Cruise Vacations — cruises do win in certain areas.

Yes, the food can feel overwhelming. But the convenience is undeniable—especially with teenagers who are hungry at 9 p.m., then again at 10 p.m.

On a cruise, they can grab pizza or snacks without us cooking a second dinner in the RV. That part is genuinely nice.

Cruise staff are trained hospitality professionals. Friendly, responsive, consistent.

Campground hospitality varies wildly. Some resort campgrounds do it beautifully. Others charge resort prices without delivering resort-level service. Cruising reminded us what it feels like when hospitality is the core product. In the battle between RV Vacations Vs. Cruise Vacations this is definitely a win for cruising.

Shows. Comedy. Live music. Movies on deck. Poolside contests.

We don’t expect that at a national park campground. But if you’re paying premium prices at an RV resort, it’s fair to say that live entertainment can elevate the experience—and cruises deliver it reliably.  RV resorts? Not so much.

This might be the biggest cruise advantage of all.

If the hot water doesn’t work on a cruise, you tell someone and they fix it. RVing is the opposite: you bring your home with you, and you’re responsible for it. That’s part of the lifestyle—but it’s also why we believe RV vacations should remain more affordable than other vacation types.

After one “classic” spring break cruise, we can say this with confidence: RV vacations are still our family’s favorite way to travel.

We like freedom. We like choosing our own pace. We like the campground community. We like having our own stuff, our own food rhythms, and our dog with us. And we especially like that RV travel can be as simple or as adventurous as we want it to be.

Would we cruise again? Probably—but not as our default spring break option. The cruises that intrigue us most are the ones that take you somewhere you wouldn’t reasonably take your own RV anyway (think Iceland, Norway, and other bucket-list regions of Europe). For our typical “get out of winter and make family memories” trip, we’ll take an RV vacation every time.

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Last week, we shared the first 13 tips in our two-part series for RV newbies—and the response was a great reminder that the learning curve is real, even when you’re having a blast. This week, we’re back with 15 more tips to help you reduce stress, avoid common mistakes, and keep your focus where it belongs: on time outside with the people you love.

We’re going to pick up right where we left off, and we’re going to stay true to the spirit of these episodes: no gatekeeping, no judgment, and no pretending that anyone is “born” knowing how to operate an RV.

This is a cornerstone tip—and it applies to everything from meals to screen time to where you camp. Social media has created a very loud, very opinionated culture around what camping is “supposed” to look like. But the reality is that every family has different needs, comfort levels, budgets, and energy.

If ordering pizza to the campground on Friday night keeps everyone happy, do it. If you want to keep limited screen time as part of your routine—especially with young kids—do it. If you want to cook on a Blackstone instead of mastering campfire cooking right away, do it. If you can only camp 20 minutes from home, do it. You will build memories whether you’re at Yellowstone or a county park that’s practically in your backyard—and you don’t need anyone’s permission to enjoy camping in the way that works for your family.

This one is blunt: things will break. Sometimes it’s your fault. Sometimes it isn’t. But either way, you don’t want to spend your precious campground time spiraling over a broken stereo, a cabinet latch, or a loose piece of trim.

We’ve been there—especially early on, when buying an RV felt like this huge, exciting “we made it to middle class life” purchase and we wanted everything to be perfect. But the campground is the point. The RV is the delivery vessel. If something breaks and it doesn’t prevent you from safely camping, put it on a list, handle it later, and get back outside.

New RV owners often make the same mistake: they run back to the dealer for every little issue. The problem is that dealerships can keep your RV longer than expected—sometimes waiting weeks for parts—and you can lose a big chunk of your camping season.

Instead, keep a list on your phone and batch the items. Unless it’s a safety issue or prevents the RV from rolling, wait until you have a real punch list. If possible, limit dealer visits to once a year. Your camping time matters, and “prime season” is not when you want your RV sitting behind a service bay waiting for a part you didn’t even know was backordered.

There are amazing RV Facebook groups… and there are “rage-baity” groups where people smell newbie blood and circle like sharks.

Our recommendation: join manufacturer-specific groups and make/model subgroups. Those communities can be incredibly helpful when you have a problem and want a fast fix from people who own the same rig. Also look for smaller, niche regional groups where people actually share campground intel and want to help.

If a group makes you feel stressed, embarrassed, or angry after you read it, leave. Protect your peace. RVing is supposed to be fun.

And of course–join the RV Atlas group on facebook! We keep things friendly there!

At some point, most people lock themselves out of their RV. Don’t wait for that moment to realize you should have planned ahead.

Get spare keys made and stash them in a smart place. And if you want to level up, consider an electronic RV lock with a keypad and fobs. We’ve used these across multiple RVs and love the convenience—especially when you can keep fobs in different vehicles so you’re never “one forgotten key” away from a campground puzzle you don’t want to solve.

This tip is so popular because it’s so true: RV mattresses are, in general, terrible. Rock-hard. Thin. Uncomfortable. And the fastest way to improve your camping experience is to replace it right away.

We’ve replaced mattresses in five or six RVs at this point, and the difference is always dramatic. One key pro tip: pay attention to mattress thickness. A thicker mattress can block bedside cubbies or storage areas, so measure before you buy. Also, don’t assume a pricey mattress pad is the cheaper answer—many pads cost almost as much as a new mattress and still don’t solve the problem.

Lists are your friend—especially in year one.

A setup checklist prevents the classic mistakes: forgetting stabilizers, leaving steps down, not securing a TV, missing a latch, skipping a final walk-around. A teardown checklist reduces stress on travel day. And a winterization checklist can prevent very expensive “I thought we drained everything” surprises.

Eventually, a lot of this becomes second nature. But in the newbie stage, checklists are your safety net.

There are more camping options than ever: KOAs, Jellystones, Spacious Skies Campgrounds, mom-and-pop parks, state parks, national parks, county parks, Harvest Hosts, Corps of Engineers, and more.

If you’re new, don’t fall into a lazy pattern of doing only one type because you think it’s “the right one.” Try a few different styles. You might think you’re a boondocking person and discover you actually love state parks. You might think you’re a full-hookups-only person and realize you enjoy simpler camping more than you expected. Preferences are earned—not predicted.

There’s a lot of “off-grid, off-grid, off-grid” noise out there, and it can create pressure—especially if you live in the eastern U.S., where BLM-style options are limited compared to the West.

Campgrounds are not “less than.” In fact, campgrounds with infrastructure can be a more responsible way to enjoy beautiful places, because they’re designed to manage waste, protect the landscape, and keep camping sustainable. Off-grid camping requires skill and discipline—and not everyone using those spaces has treated them well. The takeaway is simple: don’t put a halo on one style of camping. Use the style that fits your life, your region, and your comfort level.

This is one of our favorite “RV math” truths: a two-night weekend trip gives you one full day at the campground (Saturday). Friday and Sunday are mostly travel and setup/pack-up.

Add one more night and suddenly you get two full campground days. If you can swing a long weekend, it’s a game changer.

And here’s a hack if you can’t take the day off: book an extra night anyway. For example, if you can’t take Monday off, book Sunday night so you don’t have to leave at 11 a.m. on Sunday. You can enjoy a full Sunday and head out later. The extra night buys you time, flexibility, and a calmer weekend.

Things shift and move inside an RV far more than most new owners expect. Cabinets can pop open. Items can fall. Glass can shatter. And it’s amazing how much damage one loose object can cause.

We learned this the hard way when a dining table (that should have been secured) went flying in a brand-new toy hauler and caused serious damage. Lesson learned: nothing goes on countertops for travel, avoid glass in cabinets, and use tubs, sinks, blankets, and buffers to keep items from becoming projectiles.

This one is funny… but also a warning!

We once played Finding Nemo for our kids at 4 a.m., cozy and half-asleep—only to discover later that the outdoor speakers were blasting the movie through the entire campground. Nobody said anything, but the looks later in the day told the story.

If your rig has indoor/outdoor speaker settings, double-check them before you hit play—especially in the early morning or late at night.

If you’re not sure whether you want a grill, a griddle, or a camp stove, we’ve got a full episode called “Should I Get a Grill, a Griddle, or a Camp Stove?” that walks through the differences.

But the core tip here is simple: there is no universal “best.” Your ideal setup depends on how you like to cook, how much you want to prep, and what kind of camping you’re doing. Choose tools that fit your habits—not what the internet says you “should” have.

One of the easiest mistakes to make is moving directly from a stressful workweek into a stressful camping weekend—because you’re still in that tense, problem-solving mode.

Camping works best when you hit pause. Take a walk. Watch the sunset. Let the small stuff go. If you can’t solve a problem in the moment, put it on the list and move on. The campground is not where you want to fixate on everything that isn’t perfect.

This tip applies to camping and parenting and life.

Kids will invite you into every emotional spiral: arguing, complaining, baiting, pushing buttons. You don’t have to RSVP yes. Sometimes the best move is to walk away, reset, and refuse the power struggle.

Camping with very little kids can be hard. Camping with middle school kids can be hard. But every phase passes, and staying calm through it is one of the best skills you can build—especially when you’re trying to enjoy time outdoors as a family.

Here’s the part we care about most: getting your family outside is a long-term investment.

There will be hard weekends. There will be grumbly kids. There will be moments you wonder if it’s worth it. But over time, those trips build something real. Our kids have grown into outdoor kids—kids who ask for hikes, request camping trips, and talk about outdoor adventures as part of who they are. Even after seasons where they resisted, the love for the outdoors stuck.

That’s why we’re so passionate about helping RV newbies get started on the right path.

If you’re looking for campground ideas for your first year (and beyond), check out our Where Should We Camp Next? guidebooks—three of the four are packed with campground recommendations all over the country. And if you’re new, go back and listen to last week’s “13 tips” episode so this full list of 28 tips fits together as one big, confidence-building roadmap.

We’ll see you at the campground.

The post 28 Tips for RV Newbies (Part Two): How to Make Your First Trips Easier, Safer, and More Fun appeared first on The RV Atlas.

On this week’s episode of The RV Atlas Podcast, we kicked off Season 12 (and celebrated the podcast’s 12th anniversary!) by talking directly to the newest members of the RV community—the RV Newbies. who just bought their first rig, are staring at it in the driveway with equal parts joy and trepidation, and are realizing that RVing has a real learning curve.

We love the excitement of the newbie stage. We remember being RV Newbies quite vividly. That enthusiasm is part of the magic. It’s also the thing that can lead to some stressful decisions if you are not prepared.

So we put together 28 Tips for RV Newbies, spread across two episodes. This week we’re sharing the first 13 tips—and we want you to think of these as your “calm, practical, take-a-deep-breath” checklist for getting through your first season with more confidence and less chaos.

This first tip for RV newbies came straight from Janet Piedmont in the RV Atlas Facebook Group, and it’s so perfectly stated that we’re adopting it as official policy: follow the “Stephanie School of Thought” and begin with only the essentials. Too much stuff makes loading and unloading stressful, and the “buy everything at once” approach is a guaranteed way to waste money—because, as an RV. newbie, you don’t actually know what you’ll use until you’ve camped a few times.

There are true non-negotiables—things like a sewer hose, chocks, drinking water hose, and water pressure regulator. But beyond that, it’s easy to get sucked into a shopping spiral because every video and post makes it seem like you need a dedicated camping version of everything you already own. In reality, most RVers eventually build a hybrid setup that includes a few camping-specific pieces and a whole lot of “our favorite stuff from home.” Give yourself time to learn what your camping style really is before you buy the “nice-to-haves.”

Your first trip is not the time to drive ten hours to the Great Smoky Mountains because the campground has a stone fireplace you saw on Instagram. The goal of trip #1 is to test everything: furnace, water, plumbing, electric, air conditioning, and all the “how does this work again?” systems that feel obvious after you’ve lived with them for a while.

Camping close to home makes troubleshooting less stressful for an RV Newbie. If something leaks, breaks, or wasn’t winterized correctly, you’re not stuck far away from your house, a store, or your dealer. We’ve had that “water on the bathroom floor” moment. We’ve had the “pipe isn’t tightened” moment. And we’ve also taken a rig straight to a big destination only to discover something major was wrong—meaning we spent vacation time working around a problem instead of relaxing. Your first trip should be purposeful and forgiving.

We love public campgrounds, but for trip #1, we strongly recommend a private campground (think KOA, Jellystone Park, Spacious Skies, or a solid mom-and-pop park). Private campgrounds are more likely to have full hookups (which you need for testing systems), wider roads, friendlier turning radiuses, and staff who actually expect to help RVers troubleshoot basic problems.

At many public parks, you might have a wonderful camp host—or you might not. Rangers and staff at public parks aren’t necessarily RV experts, and helping you get your propane system to cooperate may not be in their wheelhouse. Private parks are built for RV customers, and that convenience is a big deal when you’re learning.

We know back-in sites are often prettier. We also know back-in sites can be a source of stress on your very first trip. Pull-through sites take one huge anxiety factor off the table: backing up.

If you’re one of the many RV newbies out there, give yourself the win. Pull in, breathe, get set up, and focus on learning your rig instead of having your first campground experience revolve around a high-stakes backing situation. You’ll get there. And yes, you absolutely should practice backing later (parking lot practice is your friend). But trip #1 isn’t the time to learn everything at once.

Roger in the RV Atlas Group made a great point: pull-throughs are especially valuable for overnight stops. If you can book a site long enough for your full setup (tow vehicle + trailer), you can sometimes skip unhitching altogether. That means you wake up, make coffee, and roll out—no morning hitching stress. This is one of those “once you discover it, you never go back” strategies. It’s not about being lazy—it’s about reducing the number of complicated steps on travel days.

Kids are amazing. Kids can also be extremely distracting during RV setup—and distraction is how expensive mistakes happen. Early on, we learned that we needed a system: one person sets up while the other takes the kids to the playground or keeps them safely out of the way. Over time, that evolves into kids having real jobs: chairs, rugs, door mat, whatever fits your routine.

The point is to avoid the “everyone crowds the door while you’re trying to level” moment. Create roles. Keep it calm. And remember: you’ll get faster and smoother as you learn.

This is the tip that sparked one of our most honest conversations of the episode: asking for help can feel harder than it should—especially for men who feel judged by “know-it-all RV guys.” But here’s the truth: most RVers are friendly, community-minded, and genuinely want to help you love RVing as much as they do.

We still remember a night in the early pop-up years when we were RV newbies and couldn’t get the furnace running and the temperature was dropping fast. Experienced campers walked over and solved it quickly—by teaching us to bleed the propane lines (and one common trick: lighting the stove first). Today, that’s second nature. Back then, it was the difference between a cozy night and packing up. Asking for help is how you learn faster.

Yes, we know we just said RVers are helpful. But there’s one area where “help” can make things worse: backing into your site.

When strangers gather (sometimes with coldies cracked open like it’s live entertainment), it adds pressure. It makes you flustered. And it can interfere with the way you and your partner communicate. Our recommendation: have your own spotter for safety, but politely decline the crowd. You need practice and calm—not an audience.

Camping is better with friends—especially friends who “get” your phase of life. Over the years we’ve been incredibly lucky to camp with families who became true camping buddies. The magic isn’t just social; it’s practical. When you camp together, you can share meals, share responsibilities, and make the whole weekend easier.

If you have kids, camping with another family with similarly aged kids is like flipping a switch. The kids disappear into play, and parents get to exhale. And if you don’t have camping friends yet, don’t assume that’s permanent—people meet camping buddies through work, through campgrounds, and yes, through Facebook groups all the time.

Everyone has a different towing limit. Some people can tow 16 hours and feel fine. Others are done at six. The key is to learn your personal max before you build an itinerary that depends on pushing past it.

This can be a real tension point for families, especially when vacation days are limited and it feels like every extra stop “wastes” time. But exhaustion is expensive, too—fatigue leads to mistakes, frustration, and a trip that starts with stress instead of excitement. Start slow. Build confidence. You can always go farther later.

Roger’s tip here is simple but powerful: rest stops are better when your kitchen and bathroom are always with you. Instead of dragging kids into a gross bathroom, you can pull into a safe spot, use your own facilities, and eat snacks you already packed.

It’s one of those moments where RVing feels like a cheat code: you’ve got a clean bathroom, your own table, and your own food—no lines, no chaos, no dirty rest stop bathrooms!

We have arrived after dark many times. We do not recommend it—especially when you’re new. Finding your site can be harder than you expect, and everything takes longer in the dark: leveling, hookups, checking your surroundings, and just getting settled.

If you can take a half day off, do it. Use the PTO. Arriving in daylight reduces stress and makes your first campground experience feel manageable.

This tip from Eric Hollis is one of the most important “long game” lessons in RVing: don’t overcomplicate everything. RVs make it possible to do a lot—full outdoor living room setup, gourmet meals, elaborate campfire cooking. That’s fun sometimes. But it shouldn’t be the baseline expectation every weekend.

Some of the best camping advice we ever learned was giving ourselves permission to keep it simple. Pizza on Friday night is still camping. Subs on the way in still counts. Tossing down chairs and calling it a night is sometimes the most realistic path to actually enjoying the weekend. Your goal isn’t to impress anyone—it’s to have fun together and build memories.

Those are our first 13 tips for RV newbies, and we’re coming back in part two with the remaining 15. If you’re new to RVing, we’re genuinely excited you’re here—and we want to make sure your first season feels doable, not overwhelming.

Join us in the RV Atlas Facebook Group for support, troubleshooting, and the friendliest RV community on the internet—and if you want an even deeper roadmap for getting started, check out Where Should We Camp Next? Camping 101.

We’ll see you at the campground.

The post 28 Tips for RV Newbies (Part One): How to Make Your First Trips Easier, Safer, and More Fun appeared first on The RV Atlas.

On this week’s episode of The RV Atlas podcast, we finally did something that felt long overdue: we sat down with our old friend Casey Webb, the host of Man V. Food, to talk not just about food—but about camping, outdoor cooking, travel, and how a shared love of the outdoors can reconnect old friendships in unexpected ways.

This conversation with Casey Webb wasn’t just an interview. It was a reflection on how camping has woven itself back into Casey’s life, how food and travel have shaped his career, and how saying “yes” to spontaneous adventures can open the door to deeper connection and joy.

Long before TV cameras, food challenges, and cross-country travel, our connection with Casey began in Red Bank, New Jersey, when we were all in our late teens and early twenties. Back then, Red Bank was a hub for young creatives—restaurants, coffee shops, improv comedy, live music—and Casey was right at the center of it. He was funny, encouraging, and clearly drawn to performing, whether it was on stage or in front of a crowd.

Like many friendships from that era, life eventually pulled us in different directions. Years passed—nearly two decades—without much contact. Then one night, while watching TV with our son, a familiar face appeared on the screen: Casey Webb, hosting Man V. Food. The surprise lasted about five seconds before everything clicked. Of course he was doing this. Of course this was his path.

We reconnected online, but it wasn’t until camping entered the conversation that things truly picked up again.

What we didn’t fully realize back then was how deeply camping shaped Casey’s childhood. Through Indian Guides, Boy Scouts, and winter camping trips with his dad and brother, he grew up learning how to live outdoors—often in cold, rugged conditions at Bass River State Park in New Jersey’s Pine Barrens.

As adulthood pulled him toward New York City, restaurant work, acting, and eventually television, camping took a backseat. Living small, traveling constantly, and chasing opportunities meant less time in the woods. But when the pandemic hit something shifted. Like many people, Casey felt the pull to return to the outdoors. And when he did, he didn’t tiptoe back in. He dove headfirst.

The first time we saw his winter camping videos pop up online, it was clear: this was someone who genuinely loved being outside.

Our first real camping trip together happened at Assateague State Park, a place we have loved for many years. The weather was rough—howling winds, heavy rain, and powerful gusts—but the experience was unforgettable. Casey was tent camping on the ground with his dog Iggy Pup, while our camera guy Shawn stayed in Jeremy’s RTT.

The night was intense, but the morning made it all worth it. Casey unzipped his tent to find wild horses grazing just feet away—dry, safe, and completely immersed in nature. That mix of challenge and magic is exactly what makes Assateague special, and it cemented his love for camping even more.

Not long after, we met again at Big Meadows Campground in Shenandoah National Park, right as Casey had installed his brand-new iKamper rooftop tent—literally the day before the trip. The setup was quick, the views were stunning, and the proximity to Big Meadows Lodge meant we could grab dinner and watch the sunset before heading back to camp.

That trip reinforced something we’ve said on the podcast many times: the best setup is the one that makes you want to get up and go.

Camping together eventually led us to Overland East, where Casey experienced his first true overlanding event. The camping field was filled with every setup imaginable—from minimalist rooftop tents to six-figure expedition rigs.

What stood out most wasn’t the gear—it was the community. People wandered freely, asking questions, comparing setups, and learning from one another. It reminded us of places like Fort Wilderness, where RVers casually “shop” other people’s rigs just by walking around the campground.

For Casey, it was a chance to refine what worked best for his lifestyle. As someone who values a small footprint and quick setup, the rooftop tent—especially with an annex—made perfect sense. It offered flexibility, comfort, and motivation to camp more often.

Of course, we couldn’t have Casey on the show without talking about his career. His journey to Man V. Food wasn’t overnight. It was built on years of restaurant work, acting auditions, improv comedy, production jobs, and persistence.

When he auditioned for the reboot of the show—originally under a different name—he didn’t even realize it was Man V. Food until he saw the contract. That moment launched six seasons, 90 episodes, and countless miles of travel.

What made Casey such a natural host wasn’t just his on-camera presence—it was his respect for restaurant workers, his curiosity about people, and his ability to make others feel comfortable. Those skills came from years spent in kitchens, on sets, and behind the scenes. And they translate just as naturally to campground conversations and shared meals outdoors.

These days, Casey Webb is leaning even further into outdoor cooking through Live Fire Republic, working alongside Chef David Olson on immersive live-fire cooking experiences around the world. He’s also launching his own product line, beginning with Casey Webb’s Inferno hot sauce, a small-batch project rooted in community, local sourcing, and hands-on connection.

What ties it all together—camping, food, travel, storytelling—is a commitment to being present. Being outside. Paying attention. Sharing meals and moments that become memories.

As we wrapped up the episode, it was clear this wasn’t a one-off conversation. We’re already dreaming about future camping trips—New England, the Smokies, more Shenandoah—and more time around the campfire together.

This conversation with Casey Webb reminded us why we love camping so much. It’s not just about destinations or gear—it’s about connection. Old friendships rediscovered. New traditions formed. Stories shared around a campfire.

Whether you know Casey Webb from Man V. Food or are meeting him for the first time through The RV Atlas, one thing is certain: his love for the outdoors is real, deeply rooted, and still evolving. And we’re grateful that camping gave us the chance to reconnect, explore, and dream up what’s next.

We’ll see you at the campground.

The post Jeremy Goes Camping With Casey Webb from Man V. Food appeared first on The RV Atlas.

Every December, we gather around the digital campfire to share our favorite camping and RV gift ideas of the year in our RV Atlas Holiday Gift Guide—and this tradition has become one of  our most fun and most requested episodes of the year. 

Over time, listeners have come to expect a certain dynamic: the ongoing tug-of-war between the gear maximalist (that would be Jeremy) and the gear minimalist (that would be Stephanie).

This balance has apparently become part of the charm. As one couple told us at the Hershey RV Show this fall, they love the gift guides because they get two totally different perspectives—the person who gets wildly excited about gear and the person who keeps us grounded and reminds everyone that sometimes, you really don’t need the fancy, new thing.

This year’s list has three parts:

Here’s the complete 2026 RV Atlas Holiday Gift Guide, shared from the heart and filled with items we’ve used, tested, or fallen in love with enough to recommend to you.

This year’s most surprising gift recommendation comes from Walmart’s Ozark Trail line—a 7.5-inch slide-lock folding knife that looks and feels far more expensive than it is. This knife went viral among everyday-carry fans because it resembles high-end models from brands like Benchmade, yet costs under ten dollars. The ball-bearing action is smooth, the blade is sturdy, and the overall design feels substantial without being bulky. It’s a perfect stocking stuffer for any responsible camper who appreciates a good tool.

This fire-starting kit from Swiss Tech includes a fixed-blade knife, a tinder scraper, a magnesium block, a flint sparker, a belt pouch, and best of all, an extendable pocket bellows that supercharges any campfire. Pocket bellows alone often cost nearly as much as this whole kit, so the value is excellent. Pair it with a kids’ camping journal and you’ve got the perfect “junior adventurer” bundle.

Packed with activities that teach kids about wildlife, hiking basics, campfire safety, etiquette, and more, this journal is a wonderful way to engage young campers at home or at the campground. Rainy day? Quiet time? Counting down to the next trip? This book gives kids something meaningful to do, blending fun with practical learning.

This rugged waxed canvas skillet bag is one of those practical luxuries campers don’t buy for themselves—but love to receive. Perfect for cast iron cooks, the bag keeps soot, seasoning, and grease from transferring to the rest of your camping gear. Sturdy, handsome, and as useful as it is giftable.

Part travelogue, part cookbook, part Americana history, this beautifully photographed book compiles real recipes from real Route 66 institutions—diners, soda fountains, cafes, and roadside stops. With the 100th anniversary of Route 66 in 2026, this makes a meaningful and timely gift for anyone who loves nostalgia, road trips, or American food culture.

Cherii’s newest cookbook focuses on approachable, low-ingredient camping meals designed specifically for Blackstone cooking. Handheld breakfasts, snackable sides, hearty mains, and camp-friendly desserts—this book is practical, delicious, and filled with flexible variations. Great for anyone with a backyard Blackstone or a small camping griddle.

My First Book of Hiking on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4rCfVWk

My First Book of Camping on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3KB05ue

These board books are perfect for toddlers and preschoolers. Made of recycled paper with eco-friendly inks, each book introduces kids to outdoor adventure with a built-in activity, a kid-friendly carry handle, and inclusive illustrations that show that camping and hiking are for everyone. Pair one with a kid-size lantern or headlamp for an adorable gift.

Buy at RV Atlas Camp Store: https://thervatlascampstore.com

Our annual holiday bundle includes all four WSWCN books—signed—and two Where Should We Camp Next? mugs. A perfect starter set for new campers or a meaningful upgrade for seasoned RVers. Supplies are very limited, especially the mugs, so this one sells out fast.

Buy on Pop Step: https://popstep.co

Pop Step covers solve a very real problem for RVers with MORryde or Lippert steps: dirt falling into the RV when you retract the steps. These covers slip on when camping, keeping debris contained, then come off easily so you can shake or rinse them off before storing. Simple, clever, and genuinely useful.

Learn more: https://gopowersolar.com/upgrading-your-rv-batteries-to-lithium-what-you-need-to-know/

Upgrading from lead-acid to lithium is one of the most impactful changes an RV owner can make. Lithium batteries weigh less, charge faster, last longer, and offer much more usable capacity. Go Power’s website includes excellent educational resources for DIY installers and for those wanting to hire the upgrade out. Even one lithium battery can power an RV for several days of off-grid use when paired with solar.

Buy on Amazon:

This combo became a hero product on a recent winter camping trip. The jug is rugged and easy to carry, but the rechargeable water faucet is the real star. Tap once for running water—tap again to stop. Perfect for brushing teeth, washing hands, doing dishes, or creating an outdoor kitchen station. It’s also invaluable when your RV is winterized or when you’re camping without hookups.

Buy on GOSO: https://gosocookware.com

Carbon steel is having its moment: it heats up faster than cast iron and cools down faster, making it perfect for families with kids or anyone cooking in tight spaces. GOSO’s pans are crafted in Wisconsin and paired with a beautifully engineered removable handle that clicks securely into place—no wobbling, no fuss. Lightweight, durable, compact, and designed by an enthusiastic founder who deeply understands outdoor cooking.

Buy on Lancaster Cast Iron’s Website: https://lancastercastiron.com

These skillets, which are handmade in Lancaster, PA, are the closest modern equivalent to the ultra-smooth, ultra-light classic Griswold and Wagner pans. Beautifully machined, perfectly balanced, and heirloom-quality, they cook like a dream whether in your home kitchen or over an RV campfire.

Buy from New West KnifeWorks: https://www.newwestknifeworks.com

Equal parts tool and art piece, these handcrafted knives feature vividly colored handles and exceptionally sharp blades. They perform beautifully for slicing, dicing, and meal-prep tasks in both indoor and outdoor kitchens. The Teton Edge Santoku, in particular, combines stunning design with everyday practicality. This could be the only knife you need for campground cooking!

Buy the Snow Peak Family Tableware Set here.

Minimal, lightweight, stainless steel tableware from Japan—crafted to last a lifetime. The 16-piece set includes plates, shallow bowls, deep bowls, and a compact carry case. A perfect “forever” set for campers who prefer not to use plastic or disposable dishes.

Buy on L.L. Bean: https://www.llbean.com

A Chelsea boot is endlessly versatile for camping: stylish around town, sturdy for hitching and leveling, and weather-friendly for muddy sites. The Camden Hills model is comfortable, durable, and classic. A perfect gift for women who want footwear that will last for years.

Buy from Carhartt: https://www.carhartt.com

This jacket is a warm, durable, timeless layer that transitions seamlessly from campground chores to trail walks to everyday wear. Flexible but rugged, comfortable but tough—it’s one of those classic outdoor pieces people keep for decades. A perfect “buy it once” gift.

Buy from High Camp Flasks: https://highcampflasks.com

High Camp Flasks make some of the most gift-worthy outdoor drinkware on the market. Their designs combine rugged durability with refined aesthetics, and the magnetic tumblers that attach to the flasks are both clever and beautifully executed. Whether it’s the full-size Firelight Flask, the compact Torch Flask, or the Parkside wine flask, each piece is crafted to elevate outdoor cocktails, campfire gatherings, tailgates, and sunset toasts. Their packaging is elegant and gift-ready—an impressive holiday present for anyone who enjoys wine or spirits outdoors.

From budget-friendly stocking stuffers to heirloom-quality cookware, this year’s gift guide reflects what we love most about camping: good tools, good food, and good adventures shared with the people we love. Whether you lean minimalist, maximalist, or somewhere in between, we hope this list brings inspiration to your holiday season and maybe even sparks a new tradition or two.

If you pick something up from this list, share it in the RV Atlas Facebook Group—we’d love to hear what you chose. And don’t forget to listen to the full podcast episode for deeper discussion, behind-the-scenes stories, and plenty of laughs.

Happy gifting, and we’ll see you at the campground.

The post The 2026 RV Atlas Holiday Gift Guide: From Budget ($10) to Bougie ($800) appeared first on The RV Atlas.

On this week’s episode of The RV Atlas Podcast, we pulled up our chairs aroound the digital campfire with someone we’ve admired in the outdoor cooking world for a long time: Cheri Reneé, author of the brand-new Blackstone Griddle Camping Cookbook and the bestselling I Love My Blackstone Griddle Cookbook.

We first met Cheri last summer at the Blackstone Social Media Summit in Logan, Utah, and instantly connected with her warm personality and her genuine love of creating great food outdoors. As we joked on the show, talking with Cheri makes you want to run outside, fire up the griddle, and cook something—anything—immediately.

This episode goes into her story—from second-grade teacher to food blogger to cookbook author—and explores why the Blackstone griddle has taken over campgrounds around the country. And of course, we dive into the most important part: sample recipes from her newest book, the Blackstone Griddle Camping Cookbook, all designed with camping in mind.

If you cook at the campground—or if you want to start—this conversation is packed with helpful techniques, inspiration, and approachable recipes that work beautifully outdoors.

To listen to Jeremy’s interview with Cheri Reneé please click on the media player above or subscribe to the RV Atlas wherever you get your favorite shows!

Cheri lives in Indiana with her husband, their blended family of six kids, and two grandchildren. Before becoming a cookbook author, she spent twenty years teaching second grade. As her kids got older, she began sharing her family’s favorite dishes on her first food blog, Cooks Well With Others, which focuses primarily on indoor cooking methods like slow cookers, ovens, and air fryers.

Later, craving a fresh creative outlet, she launched her second blog, If You Give a Girl a Grill, dedicated entirely to grilling, smoking, and cooking outdoors—including her wildly popular Blackstone recipes.

Those recipes caught the eye of a major publisher, which led to her first cookbook offer—and 175 recipes later, she was officially a Blackstone cookbook author. Her new camping cookbook is the natural extension of that journey.

We kicked off our conversation by talking about why Blackstone griddles have blown up at campgrounds over the last few years. Cheri’s answer was simple:

Cheri specifically wrote her Blackstone Griddle Camping Cookbook for real RVers and tent campers, focusing on 5–8 ingredient recipes that fit small spaces, small griddles, and small coolers. These are campground-friendly meals designed to be simple, fast, and delicious.

If you’re new to Blackstone cooking, Cheri’s book begins by walking readers through the basics—including how to season a griddle without feeling intimidated.

Her approach:

She also recommends starting with a basic accessory set:

Everything else can come later—including cast iron pieces for dips and desserts.

Breakfast is one of our favorite meals to cook on the griddle, and Cheri’s book includes options for both sweet and savory campers. Two standouts:

This was the very first recipe in the book—and the first one we cooked. Eggs, your choice of breakfast meat, cheddar cheese, and a drizzle of maple syrup, which is the surprise ingredient that makes everything pop. Add hot sauce if you like a sweet-and-spicy kick. These are perfect for feeding a crowd or hungry kids running around the campground in the morning.

A handheld hybrid of biscuits and gravy and a breakfast burrito, created because Cheri’s husband loves biscuits and gravy but needed something portable. These are ideal for campers who want breakfast they can hold in one hand while heading off for the day’s adventure.

According to Cheri, some of the best campground meals come from mixing a few appetizers together for what she calls a “snacky dinner.” Two of her favorites are:

Fancy-sounding, unbelievably simple. Brie on the griddle, tomatoes tossed in balsamic, and toasted baguette slices. With only a handful of ingredients, this is the kind of appetizer that makes fellow campers say, “You made that here?”

Diced chicken cooked on the griddle, then tossed with cheese and seasonings in a cast iron skillet until melty and delicious. Cheri includes prep tips—like cutting meat at home and storing it in bags—so the recipe comes together quickly at the campground.

This section of the cookbook exists because Cheri realized how many handheld meals campers actually want. Sandwiches and wraps travel well, don’t require plates, and work for lunch or dinner.

Inspired by her Cincinnati upbringing and love of Skyline Chili, this mash-up is everything we want in a camping comfort food—warm, nostalgic, and easy to make on a small griddle.

A lighter option with customizable veggies. Cheri includes directions for adding chicken or gyro meat, making this a highly flexible recipe for families with mixed preferences.

The main dish chapter is the largest in the book with 35–40 recipes—and here’s the best part: each one is designed as a complete meal, no side recipes required.

Only six ingredients and full of bold flavor. This is a great example of how Cheri builds meals that feel creative but are easy to prep and fast to cook at the campground.

She also sprinkles variations throughout the book—like swapping broccoli for zucchini or potatoes—so cooks can adapt meals to what they like and what they have on hand.

Cheri’s dessert recipes may be the most dangerous section of the entire book—in the best way.

Created in collaboration with Campin’ Erin, these griddled buttery sandwiches ooze chocolate and marshmallow and are easier (and less messy) than traditional s’mores.

Fireball whiskey, apples, toasted pound cake… need we say more? Cheri includes instructions for omitting the whiskey for a family-friendly version.

Whether you’re completely new to Blackstone cooking or looking to expand beyond burgers and pancakes, Cheri’s advice is simple, wise, and reassuring:

Cheri’s books—the original I Love My Blackstone Griddle Cookbook and her newest Blackstone Griddle Camping Cookbook—are available almost everywhere books are sold, including Amazon, Walmart, Target, and independent bookstores. They also make a great holiday gift when paired with seasonings or a Blackstone tool kit.

You can find her recipes, tips, and videos at:

Spending time with Cheri reminded us why Blackstone cooking has become such a phenomenon among RVers: it’s simple, it’s social, and it makes great food accessible to everyone at the campground.

Her Blackstone Griddle Camping Cookbook is an inspiring resource for campers who want to eat well without fuss—and a reminder that the best campground meals come from creativity, good ingredients, a little prep, and a willingness to play.

We can’t wait to try more recipes—and we hope this episode inspires you to grab your spatulas, gather your friends, and fire up the griddle on your next camping trip.

The post Easy and Delicious Recipes from The Blackstone Griddle Camping Cookbook With Cheri Reneé appeared first on The RV Atlas.

On this week’s episode of The RV Atlas Podcast, we turned our attention to a topic that so many RVers eventually face: how to thoughtfully add a dog to an RVing and camping lifestyle. This episode was born from two things, questions we’ve seen time and time again in the RV Atlas Facebook group, and our own family’s emotional journey after losing our beloved Maggie in September.

Maggie camped with us for well over a decade. She was the dog who lived for the campground—she’d leap into the truck long before we were ready to leave and lived her happiest life on the road. We dedicated one of our books to her, and it felt right to dedicate this conversation to her, too.

This isn’t just an episode about how to camp with a dog—there are tons of resources for that. This is about something deeper and more foundational:

Here are some of our own tips for this journey, shaped by our own experiences and the insightful comments shared by members of our Facebook community.

A common question that pops up in RV groups is:

And a very common answer online is usually: “Rescue is the best breed.”

And while we strongly believe in rescuing (we’ve been involved in animal rescue our entire lives), simply “getting any rescue dog” is not the full story. It’s okay—and important—to think carefully about breed, size, temperament, and energy level, especially when you’re an RVing family.

When we adopted Maggie, we intentionally looked for a working dog breed because:

All of that lined up beautifully with who Maggie became in our family.

Not every dog fits every RV. A big dog in a tiny Class B can be stressful. A small dog in a fifth wheel might be perfect. Think about:

Campgrounds are full of:

If you choose a dog who struggles with constant stimulation or new environments, every trip can become challenging.

This is the part of the conversation we felt most passionate about. Rescue doesn’t mean adopting blindly.

It means adopting thoughtfully.

Rescue dogs in shelters can be overwhelmed, anxious, or shut down—making it hard to see their true personalities. Foster dogs, by contrast, have already lived in a home, so you can ask very specific questions, like:

One Facebook member, Natalie, summed it up perfectly:

“We always adopt our dogs at least one year old. I want to know their personality, and adult dogs are easier to match to our lifestyle.”

We have had this experience ourselves. Before adopting Maggie, we met a dog named Cookie—sweet, but not a good match for our young kids at the time. Walking away was heartbreaking, but it was the right decision. Maggie found us soon after, through a foster mom who read our detailed lifestyle description and said, “This is the family she deserves.”

That match became such a blessing to us.

Your camping habits matter just as much as the dog’s traits. Ask yourself:

If you camp in high heat without electricity, certain breeds simply won’t thrive.

Not all dogs are comfortable being left alone in a small space for hours, even with AC and a pet monitor. Some dogs thrive on napping; others panic.

You may want to pop into a museum or historic site—but if your dog can’t be left alone safely, you’ll need to rethink your travel rhythm.

As Facebook member Dave shared:

“We are explorers. We love dogs, but it wasn’t fair to leave ours locked in the RV while we went hiking. We’ll get another dog when we stop traveling so much.”

That honesty is important.

Some campgrounds have:

If you travel with multiple pups, be ready to call campgrounds and do your research ahead of time.

“Off season” is the ideal time to adopt a new dog if you’re an RVer.

Why?

One Facebook member shared:

“We canceled a couple of camping trips so our newly adopted dog could settle in. Now we’re figuring out how to introduce her to camping this fall.” — Danielle

This is exactly the kind of patience that leads to long-term success.

Every dog reacts differently to its first camping trip.

Start with:

And please. Seriously. Follow leash rules.

Here’s what we recommend keeping in your RV year-round:

For peace of mind when you leave your dog in the RV. Many brands work on Wi-Fi or cellular networks.

RV stairs can catch nails and cause injury—protect those paws.

No single solution works at every campground. Bring:

Keep these in the RV permanently so they are never forgotten on trips:

These are inexpensive and invaluable.

Keep a printed copy in your RV—or even better, in your tow vehicle’s glove compartment.

Adding a dog to your RVing family can be one of the most joyful decisions you’ll ever make. But it should also be thoughtful.

As we said in the episode, it’s okay to be selective.

There are so many incredible dogs out there—each with their own energy, story, and needs. Finding the right match is an act of love.

And from our own journey—from Maggie, who watched over our boys as they slept, to Maverick, who brings a spark of puppy joy into our days—we can say this for certain:

When a dog fits your camping life, it makes every campground, trail, and road trip even better.

If you have questions or want advice, the RV Atlas Facebook group is an amazing place to ask. Our community is full of experienced, kind, and generous dog-loving RVers.

See you at the campground,

Stephanie + Jeremy

The post Adding a Dog to Your RVing Family: How to Find the Right Match appeared first on The RV Atlas.