Camping costs rise at US national parks

Clarinda, Iowa, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Schenck Lake RV park and dog park. The park offers 15 campsites with water and electric hookups, a fire bowl, and a picnic table, available on a first-come, first-served basis for $20 per night. A shower and restroom facility is on site. Future plans include a split rail fence and more picnic tables.

Rossmönster has unveiled two off-road campers: the Baja Plus on a Ford F-550 or Ram 5500 chassis and the Baja Trail 72 based on a Ford F-350. The Baja Plus focuses on long-term autonomy and comfort, featuring LiquidSpring suspension, 257 liters of fresh water, and up to 1620 Ah battery capacity. The Baja Trail 72 is designed for high-speed off-road use, with 80% of its components sourced from Extreme Motorsports, including a reinforced front suspension and rear frame cage.

In Sunman, Indiana, 33-year-old Tyler Downing faces arson and criminal mischief charges after a camper fire. Police responded around 11 p.m. to a fully engulfed 2017 camper. The suspect fled before officers arrived but was located nearby and taken into custody without incident.

Highland Ridge has introduced the Open Range travel trailer, measuring nearly 12 meters in length and expanding via four slide-outs when parked. Weighing over 4,000 kg, it requires a pickup truck with a payload capacity of about one ton. The interior includes a living room, kitchen with island, master bedroom, bathroom, and a separate room that can serve as a children's room or office. It features two air conditioners, a heating system, a 200-watt solar panel, and TravelLINK Smart RV control via a mobile app.

A camper fully engulfed in flames was extinguished by the Bismarck Fire Department early Friday, May 29, 2026, at the Bismarck Event Center parking lot. The fire was reported at 1:40 a.m., and crews arrived minutes later. Two occupants escaped without injuries. The cause remains under investigation.

US-based Campinawe has introduced a new version of its compact off-road camper Crossover Solo, designed for solo travel and off-grid camping. The model joins the Frontier and Adventure lines and features a single living area instead of a double bed, freeing up space for gear storage and a work zone. Storage capacity exceeds 1.6 cubic meters. The Frontier version weighs about 866 kg and is 4.7 meters long, equipped with Timbren independent suspension and LiFePO4 batteries. It is towable by most crossovers and SUVs.