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National parks are free on Tuesday, Oct. 27, Chiricahua is officially America’s newest national park, and Airbnb is dropping checkout chores. Early snow has already closed three Sierra passes, and fall color is peaking in the Southern Appalachians. Here are the 10 trips and trends worth knowing this week, with the dates that matter.
Lodging
Airbnb bans checkout chores starting Nov. 20
For bookings made on or after Nov. 20, Airbnb hosts can’t require guests to strip beds, wash and put away dishes, or take trash off-site. You can still be asked to leave dishes in the sink, gather used towels and sort recycling (AP News). Host fines are banned, and every house rule must be shown before you book (CNN).
Heads-up
Bear-country exception: In areas with wildlife, hosts can still require you to use animal-proof trash bins (People). That matters for cabin stays near parks.
Tip: Read the house rules on the listing page before you book. If a host asks for more than the rules allow after Nov. 20, report it to Airbnb.
Parks
Free national park entry on Tuesday, Oct. 27
Every national park that charges an entrance fee waives it on Oct. 27 for Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday. The last free day of 2026 is Nov. 11, Veterans Day. This year, free days apply to U.S. citizens and residents only (National Park Service).
Heads-up
Who still pays: Nonresidents pay an extra $100 per person at 11 busy parks, including Yellowstone, Zion and Grand Canyon. Camping and reservation fees still apply on free days (El Cronista). National wildlife refuges also go free on Nov. 11 (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).
Pack: YETI Rambler 12 oz Travel Bottle at REI: $20.99–$24.69, down from $28.00–$33.00 (sale ends Jan. 2).
New park
It’s official: Chiricahua is the 64th national park
The Chiricahua National Park Act was signed on Oct. 20. It’s the first new national park since New River Gorge in 2020 (Smithsonian). The 12,000-acre “Wonderland of Rocks” is about two hours from Tucson, and the boundaries stay the same (Hawaii Tribune-Herald / AP).
What could be next: Ocmulgee Mounds in Georgia has active legislation, and Delaware Water Gap and Craters of the Moon have advocacy campaigns (Yahoo News).
Pack: Osprey Kresta 30L Backpack (women’s) at Backcountry: $104.98, down from $209.95.
Parks
Yellowstone gets the largest donation in Park Service history
Tallgrass, a Blackstone portfolio company, gave Yellowstone $105 million. About a third is meant for a new visitor center at Norris Geyser Basin, and the rest will go to student access, infrastructure, research and conservation. Any construction still needs a federal environmental review (Mountain West News Bureau).
The gift lands the same week as reports that more than 130 park partner projects worth $25 million were blocked (Ground News).
Pack: Sea to Summit Reactor Extreme Mummy Liner at Backcountry: $47.97–$50.97, down from $84.95.
Closures
Early snow closes Tioga, Sonora and Ebbetts passes
Yosemite closed Tioga Road at 5 p.m. on Oct. 21. Caltrans temporarily closed Sonora Pass (Highway 108) and Ebbetts Pass (Highway 4) on Oct. 22 ahead of heavy snow, and they’ll reopen only after crews check the roads (myMotherLode). Advisories called for up to 10 inches of snow (Miami Herald).
Tioga usually closes for the season in mid-to-late November (Caltrans), so this closure came early. To reach the Eastern Sierra, plan on Highway 395 through Reno or the southern routes.
RV gear: Camco Freeze Ban Heated Drinking Water Hose (12 ft) at Camping World: $99.97, down from $145.99, rated 4.2 stars (176 reviews).
Holiday travel
Thanksgiving goes to the mountains
HomeToGo’s holiday report shows mountain towns leading Thanksgiving growth: Leavenworth, Wash., searches are up 347% and Boone, N.C., is up 275%. For Christmas, Steamboat Springs leads at +500% (The Virginian-Pilot).
With airfares high, 55% of Americans say they won’t travel for the holidays, and road trips are the top pick for those who do. Book cabins soon, because these towns fill fast.
Pack: Big Agnes Divide Insulated Sleeping Pad at REI: $90.93–$188.93, down from $129.95–$269.95, rated 4.6 stars (224 reviews).
Fall color
Late fall color peaks this weekend
Cherokee National Forest peaks around Oct. 25, and Nantahala National Forest and Indiana Dunes around Oct. 26. Pinnacles in California peaks Oct. 28, with its valley oaks turning around Nov. 15 (More Than Just Parks). Jim Thorpe in the southern Poconos is at peak through Oct. 28 (Pocono Mountains).
Pack: Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated Sleeping Pad at REI Outlet: $112.73, down from $239.00.
RV industry
A new gas Type A motorhome chassis is coming
Freightliner Custom Chassis said on Oct. 20 that it will build a Type A gas chassis with GM’s 6.6-liter V8, integrated by Roush. Production starts in January 2028 (RV News). With Ford signaling the end of its F-53 gas chassis, that gives buyers a second path, backed by more than 450 Freightliner service locations.
It comes as the RV Industry Association forecasts 2026 shipments below 300,000 for the first time since 2012 (RV News).
Pack: Yakima SkyBox 16 Carbonite Cargo Box at REI: $486.79, down from $749.00 (sale ends Oct. 26).
Closures
Mount Rainier’s Sunrise Road stays closed for 2026
Sunrise Road is closed to cars for the rest of 2026 because of the Grand Park 2 and Wonderland Complex fires, but you can still walk or bike it. White River Road closed Oct. 19, a week early. In Olympic National Park, the Mora Road to Rialto Beach reopened Oct. 15 (Hiking Washington).
Chinook Pass normally closes between late October and mid-November, so check the road status before you cross the Cascades.
Gear: Our pick for freezing nights is the Camco 25-foot heated drinking water hose (see Amazon picks below).
Texas
The Texas summit that opens twice a year
The Nature Conservancy’s Davis Mountains Preserve opens to the public on Nov. 14, and reservations are required. Baldy Peak on Mount Livermore can only be hiked on Open Days. The hike is strenuous, with 1,800 feet of gain over 4–6 hours, and you must start by 10 a.m. The Madera Canyon Trail nearby is open year-round (The Nature Conservancy).
Gear tip: REI is holding member Garage Sales on Oct. 24 at 10 stores, a good place to find used Re/Supply boots and layers (REI).
Gear deals
Gear deals this week
REI
- Yakima SkyBox 16 Carbonite Cargo Roof Box $486.79
$749.00Ends Oct. 26 - YETI Rambler 12 oz Travel Bottle $20.99–$24.69
$28.00–$33.00Ends Jan. 2 - JBL Vibe Beam 2 Earbuds $39.99
$64.95Ends Oct. 25 - Big Agnes Divide Insulated Sleeping Pad $90.93–$188.93
$129.95–$269.95 - Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated Sleeping Pad (REI Outlet) $112.73
$239.00 - Re/Supply Garage Sales: Saturday, Oct. 24, at 10 stores, members only
- REI Co-op membership: earn a $30 single-use promo card when you spend $50 or more, through Nov. 12
Backcountry
- Osprey Kresta 30L Backpack (women’s) $104.98
$209.95 - Sea to Summit Reactor Extreme Mummy Sleeping Bag Liner $47.97–$50.97
$84.95 - Clearance: extra 20% off, Oct. 23–26. The Fall Sale (up to 40% off) runs through Oct. 31.
Camping World
- Camco Freeze Ban Heated Drinking Water Hose, 12 ft $99.97
$145.99 - Camco Heated Drinking Water Hose Pro, 12 ft: $349.99 (back-ordered)
Amazon picks
Amazon pick
Camco 25-Foot Heated Drinking Water Hose
Why: A 25-foot, 5/8-inch drinking water hose with a thermostat-controlled heating cable that only heats when needed. Camco rates it for freeze protection down to -20°F, and the hose is certified to NSF/ANSI 61 for drinking water (Amazon listing).
Best for: RVers on full hookups who keep camping through freezing nights.
Watch out for: It runs on 120-volt power, so it does nothing at a dry site, and the spigot and fittings at each end still need their own insulation.
Amazon pick
Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol Foam Sleeping Pad
Why: A folding closed-cell foam pad with an R-value of 2.0 and a reflective coating. The regular size is 72 by 20 inches and weighs 14 oz (Amazon listing). Under an inflatable pad, it pushes a three-season setup into winter range.
Best for: Tent campers who already own an air pad, and anyone who wants a puncture-proof backup.
Watch out for: At R 2.0 it isn’t enough on its own for freezing nights, and the folded pad is bulky to strap to a pack.
Prices were checked on Oct. 23, 2026, and can change.
Sources
Sources
- AP News
- CNN
- People
- National Park Service
- El Cronista
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Smithsonian
- Hawaii Tribune-Herald / AP
- Yahoo News
- Mountain West News Bureau
- Ground News
- myMotherLode
- Miami Herald
- Caltrans
- The Virginian-Pilot
- More Than Just Parks
- Pocono Mountains
- RV News
- RV News
- Hiking Washington
- The Nature Conservancy
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