US RV Shipments Down 17.4% in April 2026

The Florida and Alabama RV Park and Campground Association has presented a Best Park Award to Sugar Loaf Key RV Resort & Cottages in Summerland Key. The 2026 awards were presented on April 30 during the association's annual Outdoor Hospitality Convention & Expo in Orlando. The resort offers 65 full-hookup RV campsites and 35 vacation rentals, including cottages and bungalows. Since opening in 2023, its rental inventory has grown by 50%.

Gulf State Park in Alabama has opened a new RV resort with 103 premium campsites, bringing the park's total to 607 sites. The resort features a clubhouse, bathhouses, a saltwater pool, playground, and pickleball courts. The expansion was funded by Alabama's $85 million state parks investment approved by voters in 2022.

Tom McGuire, owner of All-American Coach Co., reports that due to rising diesel prices (up to $5.74 per gallon in Toledo), RV owners are increasingly opting for nearby campgrounds rather than long-distance trips. He notes that many arrive on Friday evening and stay the entire weekend, saving fuel. McGuire does not expect sales to decline, citing the pandemic experience when business grew despite expectations.

California-based startup Aboard RV has unveiled the Aboard travel trailer, built to automotive standards. It features a 41 kWh LFP battery and a 60 kW generator from a four-cylinder engine, offering up to 200 kWh of energy storage and 'weeks' of boondocking. Pricing starts at $80,000, with series production expected in Q4 2025.

Hipcamp released its 2026 list of top-rated campsites in Nevada, based on over 2,400 reviews of more than 2,200 sites. The top five include Great Basin Desert Camping and RV, Jeffry's Farm, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Great Basin National Park, and Tarantula Ranch. Nevada received an overall 89% approval rating, earning 4.5 out of 5 stars.

The article describes strategies to beat the heat while camping in Arizona during summer. Desert regions like the Sonoran lowlands regularly exceed 110°F, and Phoenix area nights stay above 86°F. Recommended are higher-elevation sites: Flagstaff at 6,900 feet averages 50°F at night. For RVs, electrical hookups are essential for air conditioning (30 kWh/day), but evaporative cooling and proper orientation also help.