Californians increasingly live in RVs as housing crisis deepens

Forest River has debuted the first production-ready Teleos 25.RD travel trailer at the Hershey RV Show. The 25-foot (7.6 m) tandem-axle model on a BAL chassis features a rear dinette, sleeping for four, an L-shaped kitchen with InvisaCook induction cooktop, and an EcoFlow Generation 2 power system. Pricing with options is in the mid-$90,000s, with production limited to demand.

Kampgrounds of America announced that Gettysburg/Battlefield KOA Holiday in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, has completed a campground enhancement project. Developed during the 2026 season, the project included a property-wide electrical upgrade to 30/50-amp service at all RV sites, new KOA Patio RV Sites, upgrades to existing RV sites, enhanced Wi-Fi, commercial-grade fire features, and outdoor seating. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Friday, Aug. 28. The campground is open April 4 to Nov. 1, 2026.

Firefly Hills Kentucky, a 90-acre RV park and lodging destination near the Red River Gorge, offers multiple types of accommodations on one property. Guests can bring their own RV, reserve an RV site with a private climate-controlled Casita, rent an RV already set up on site, or stay in a private guest room in the renovated 1924 Snowden Farmhouse. In Spring 2027, Firefly Hills plans to add Safari Tent glamping, bringing the number of lodging options to five. The property has 15 full-hookup RV sites, each at least 70 feet deep.

The number of people in Oklahoma living in an RV, boat or van nearly doubled since 2020, exceeding 7,000 as of 2024, according to the U.S. Census American Community Survey. There is no statewide law governing RV residency, so outside city limits and absent county zoning rules, parking and living in an RV are allowed indefinitely. Oklahoma City permits short-term RV occupancy for guests for a maximum of 14 days per calendar year, prohibits utility hookups and compensation, bans cooking inside, and allows only one RV per residence on a hard surface 11 feet from the curb. Tulsa allows parking in a garage, back or side yard with three feet from the property line, or one RV in front perpendicular to the street at least 12 feet from the curb; rules are relaxed for up to 48 hours for loading or unloading.

From April 1 to October 31, New Brighton State Beach, one of California's most popular beachfront campgrounds, will charge early arrivals $10 per parking space due to high volume and limited parking for larger RVs. Early parking is available only at Seacliff (Upper day use lot) or Manresa Main State Beaches, subject to availability. The campground has 11 RV hookup sites with electricity only, a maximum consecutive stay of seven days followed by a 48-hour absence, and a 30-day annual limit. A $10 fee applies for dump station use, and discount pass holders must present their card and photo ID at check-in.

Elon Musk said on the All-In podcast that he is living in an Airstream travel trailer parked at the site of xAI's new Macrohard data center. He said the trailer is located a few meters from his workplace. Musk has previously lived in a 37-square-meter prefab home near SpaceX's Starbase in Texas and slept at Twitter's San Francisco office. Airstream has produced its riveted aluminum trailers since 1931; in 1939 NASA used a modified Airstream to quarantine Apollo 11 astronauts.