Good Monday morning!
We've been home - what? - a week, now. And we're packed up and heading out across Michigan for another long campout. It's still a bit chilly, but more than doable.
Besides, I'm road testing our upgraded RV Trip Dashboard. I used it to plan this trip. I can't wait to tell you about what we've done with it!!
You asked. We built it. The Trip Dashboard just got a major upgrade.
When we launched the RV Lifestyle Trip Planner Dashboard a few months back, I honestly wasn't sure how it would land. Jen and I knew we needed something like it — we were tired of juggling spreadsheets, sticky notes, three browser tabs, and a glove box stuffed with confirmation emails every time we hit the road.
Turns out, a lot of you were tired of the same thing.
The response has been incredible. Many of you have picked it up, and the emails, comments, and suggestions have been pouring in nonstop. So we listened. Over the last few weeks we've rolled out a serious round of upgrades — almost every one of them coming straight from your requests.
Here's what's new:
- Campground search that actually finds the good stuff. Public lands, state parks, COE, BLM, Recreation.gov sites, and the major commercial parks — KOA, Jellystone, Thousand Trails, Sun, Encore, Good Sam parks. Distance, amenities, phone numbers, AI-summarized reviews, and a one-click button to drop it right into your trip.
- Find Stops on the road. Rest areas, dump stations, propane refills, truck stops, and overnight-friendly parking like Walmart, Cabela's, Cracker Barrel, and BLM dispersed camping — all searchable by city or landmark with a radius slider.
- Morning Brief. Tap a button and get a read-aloud summary of your day's drive, stops, and campground. Pour the coffee, listen up, turn the key.
- Trip Templates. Famous routes — Route 66, Pacific Coast Highway, the Smokies, and more — pre-loaded and ready to customize.
- Rig Profile. Enter your height, length, MPG, and fuel type once. We use it to flag low clearances along your route and estimate fuel costs for every trip after that.
- Cloud sync across every device. Plan on your laptop at home. Pull it up on your phone in the rig. It's all there, automatically.
- Export to PDF and GPX. Print one for the glove box. Load the route into your Garmin. Share the link with whoever's traveling with you.
And here's the thing - I've looked. There is nothing else on the market that puts your driving days, campgrounds, stops, route map, fuel estimates, budget, checklist, meal plan, and emergency info in one place, on every device, that syncs as you type.
Most planners do one piece. The RV Trip Planner Dashboard does the whole trip.
If you've already got it — thank you. Sign in and the new features are waiting for you. Nothing to update, nothing to install. You get every update automatically. Free.
If you haven't grabbed it yet, now's the time. We are very proud of this one. One-time access, $39, yours forever.
Which brings us to something timely.
Our next live workshop is coming next week. And it's all about fixing and diagnosing problems that happen on the road.
RV Problems on the Road, Fixed Fast
Wednesday, May 14 at 7 PM Eastern
This one is all about what happens when things don’t go as planned, and how to handle it without stress. We’ll walk you through how to diagnose common issues, what you can fix yourself, when to get help, and how to keep your trip from getting derailed.
Details are at RVLifestyle.com/workshop, and if you’re a member of RVCommunity.com, you’re already in. Everyone else, its $10.
Let’s get you ready for the road ahead.
Alright, let's get to the news. Here is what we're reporting in today's RV News Podcast.
Five stories worth your time this week:
- Fuel Prices Are Surging - Right as Travel Season Begins. Diesel is topping $5.62 nationally, with some states pushing $7.50. Regular gas jumped 34 cents in a single week. RVers are shortening trips and adjusting budgets. Mike breaks down what to expect and how to plan around it.
- Boundary Waters Mining Ban Lifted. President Trump signed a resolution overturning a 20-year ban on mineral extraction near the Boundary Waters in Minnesota - the first time in history the Congressional Review Act has been used this way on public lands. What it means for your camping trips there now, and why the legal precedent matters long-term.
- Theodore Roosevelt National Park Goes Cashless. As of May 1, cash is no longer accepted at TRNP campgrounds. Reservations through Recreation.gov are now required. What you need to know before you go.
- A Chinese Company Just Built a Two-Story Transforming RV. The Feixiang "Flying RV" rises 18 inches on hydraulic legs when parked, doubling its living space from 200 to nearly 400 square feet. Mike watched the video twice. You will too.
- Camping World Q1 Numbers - Two Trends to Watch. Revenue hit $1.35 billion, but the more interesting story is what CEO Matt Wagner called the "K-shaped" RV market - and how the company is capitalizing on it with private-label brands and a new Costco partnership.
All stories are reported in detail and sourced at RVPodcast.com. New episodes every Monday (News) and Wednesday (Stories from the Road). Subscribe so you never miss one.
🎧 Listen now at RVPodcast.com
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