Around the Campfire
Honest stories, community notes, and the slower, less practical side of camping — the stuff worth talking about once the tent is up.
Marmot’s End of Summer Sale: Up to 40% Off Through November 22
This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure here. Marmot’s End of Summer Sale is live now, with up to 40% off through November 22, 2026 — genuinely good timing if you’re gearing up for fall and winter trips. What’s […]
Five Yellowstone Campgrounds Are Moving to Recreation.gov for 2027
If you’re planning a Yellowstone camping trip for summer 2027, there’s a new place to book. Starting with the 2027 season, reservations for five of the park’s campgrounds move to Recreation.gov: Bridge Bay, Canyon, Grant Village, Madison, and Fishing Bridge RV Park. Until now, those sites were booked through the park’s lodging concessionaire, Yellowstone National […]
California’s New Camping No-Show Rules: What the Three-Strikes Policy Means for Your Trip
California State Parks has tightened its cancellation rules, and the changes apply to every reservation with an arrival date on or after July 1, 2026. Late cancellations and no-shows now cost you the full price of the stay, and enough no-shows in a single year can lock you out of the booking system. The state’s […]
Traverse City State Park Is Reopening 151 Campsites for Fall
If a Traverse City State Park site slipped away from you over the past year, there is a window this fall. Michigan’s DNR is reopening 151 campsites at Keith J. Charters Traverse City State Park from October 8 through November 8, even though the campground is in the middle of an $8.5 million redevelopment. What’s […]
No Government Shutdown This Fall: What It Means for Your Park Trips
If you have a national park trip booked this fall and are wondering about a repeat of last year’s shutdown, the short answer is: not this October. Congress passed a stopgap funding bill early, and it was signed into law on September 2, so there is no lapse in funding as the new fiscal year […]
Davidson River Campground Aims to Reopen Oct. 1 in Time for Leaf Season
Davidson River Campground, one of the most popular campgrounds in North Carolina’s Pisgah National Forest, is close to reopening after nearly a year of renovations. The Forest Service’s goal is October 1, timed for leaf season, though the weather still gets a vote. A Long Road Back The campground closed in November 2025 for bathhouse […]
Camping Is Booming — Here’s the Data Behind It
Camping is not a niche hobby anymore, and the numbers back that up. Multiple market research reports published this week put real figures behind what a lot of us have felt anecdotally: more people are camping, and they are spending more to do it comfortably. The Actual Numbers The global camping equipment market was valued […]
Wyoming Is Adding a New Safety Requirement for RVs on Teton Pass
If an RV trip has you crossing Teton Pass this fall, there is a new step to plan around. Wyoming is rolling out a mandatory self-certification program for large vehicles on one of its most demanding mountain routes. What’s Actually Changing The Wyoming Department of Transportation’s WY22 SAFE PASS program officially launches October 1, 2026. […]
Yellowstone and Grand Teton’s Fall Shutdown Is Already Underway
If you’ve got a fall trip to Yellowstone or Grand Teton on the calendar, the shutdown has already started — Bridge Bay Campground closed September 13, and more closures are stacking up through October. Yellowstone’s Closing Schedule Yellowstone stays open year-round, but its services don’t. Bridge Bay Campground closed September 13, Canyon Campground closes September […]