This week on the RV Podcast:
* Pack Your Camper: The Night Sky is calling! There's an amazing meteor show going on up there this week that provides a great excuse to go camping.
* Budget cutbacks, staff shortages, and visitor pressure are all combining to seriously stress our National Parks this summer. Protests have started.
* Protecting your property from campground thefts. Real RVers share their solutions.
* In Mike and Jen’s Storytime… when your camping plans don’t go as expected, it’s time to pivot.
* All this plus the RV News of the Week and your questions coming up in Episode 559 of the RV Podcast
You can watch the video version from our RV Lifestyle YouTube Channel by clicking the player below.
If you prefer an audio-only podcast, you can hear us through your favorite podcast app or listen now through the player below.
RV NEWS OF THE WEEK
Bridge 1, RV 0: Michigan's Langley Covered Bridge Closed Again After Another RV Blunder
The Langley Covered Bridge in Southwest Michigan is closed yet again—thanks to another driver who didn’t believe the “low clearance” signs. Despite multiple warnings that the historic bridge is only 8.5 feet tall, a 10-foot-tall motorhome tried to make it through. It didn’t end well. The RV slammed into the height limiter, ripping off the sleeper section and completely wrecking the vehicle.
Earlier this summer, the road commission added even more warning signs after a string of similar accidents in recent years. Now, the 282-foot bridge will stay closed for up to two weeks while crews rebuild the height limiters.
The Langley Covered Bridge is in St. Joseph County, near Centreville, Michigan, on the Indiana border.
It spans the St. Joseph River and is the longest remaining covered bridge in Michigan at 282 feet. Built in 1887, it’s a popular historic site—but also a notorious trouble spot for over-height vehicles that ignore the clearance signs.
Low clearance bridges like this are more common than many RVers realize—there are thousands across the U.S., especially in older towns, rural backroads, and historic sites. Accidents happen far too often, and they’re almost always avoidable.
The key is knowing your RV’s exact height (including rooftop accessories like AC units or satellite dishes) and planning your route accordingly. A dedicated RV or truck-specific GPS like the
Garmin RV 795 can warn you about upcoming low clearances, and an old-school
trucker’s road atlas lists them by location. Combined, they can save you from a very expensive mistake—not to mention keep your rig in one piece.
Canada wildfire smoke blankets the Midwest, triggering public health alerts
Smoke from Canadian wildfires has taken over the skies across a huge swath of the U.S. again, prompting health alerts across Michigan and the wider Midwest and causing lots of people to stay indoors and cancel outdoor plans - like we did with a camping trip last week. Officials warn the fine particulates from smoke are nearly ten times more toxic than regular pollution, potentially impacting everyone’s heart and lung health—even if you’re “healthy.
