Fee-Free Day Tuesday, Seasonal closures, and more on this weeks CampernewsNow

News

On the road

Most of Yellowstone closes to cars after Saturday

Yellowstone’s West, South and East entrances and nearly all park roads close to regular vehicles on Sunday, Nov. 1, so Saturday, Oct. 31 is the last day to drive most of the park in 2026 (NPS Yellowstone). Dunraven Pass stays open through Oct. 31, weather permitting, and snowmobile and snowcoach season starts Dec. 15 (NPS Yellowstone).

Why it matters: After Saturday, the only way in by car is the road between the North Entrance at Gardiner and the Northeast Entrance at Cooke City, through Mammoth, Tower Junction and Lamar Valley (NPS Yellowstone). Plan a late-fall trip around Lamar Valley wildlife, not Old Faithful.

Cape Point and Frisco campgrounds are still closed after the storm

Cape Hatteras National Seashore’s current alert says the Cape Point and Frisco campgrounds and several off-road vehicle routes remain closed, with reopening to “begin after conditions improve and post-storm assessments are complete” (NPS Cape Hatteras). As of the park’s Oct. 22 beach access update, the southern Hatteras ramps 43, 44, 48 and 49 and most Ocracoke ramps are open, while Bodie Island and Hatteras ramps 23 through 38 and 55 are still closed (NPS Cape Hatteras).

Why it matters: If you hold a Cape Point or Frisco site, check Recreation.gov before you drive. Heading to Ocracoke? Confirm the ferry is running with NCDOT Ferry first. The park’s alerts page doesn’t post ferry status.

Death Valley starts a three-year water and sewer rebuild

Death Valley broke ground on Oct. 21 on a $69.5 million, three-year project to rebuild the Furnace Creek water and wastewater systems that serve visitors, residents and the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe (NPS Death Valley). The park says failures of the old systems have caused outages, boil-water advisories, sewage spills and temporary campground closures, and that construction may bring “short, localized water outages and temporary parking reductions” (NPS Death Valley).

Why it matters: Death Valley was one of our November picks. Arrive at Furnace Creek, Sunset or Texas Spring with full water tanks, and check nps.gov/deva for service changes before you go.

Tuesday is a fee-free day in the national parks

Tuesday, Oct. 27, Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday, is a fee-free day at parks that charge entrance fees. The last one of 2026 is Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11 (NPS).

Why it matters: Fee-free days waive entrance fees, not campsite fees, so you’ll still pay to camp. If you’re near a fee park on Tuesday, it’s a good day for a free scouting trip.

Bryce Canyon’s paved path now reaches Red Canyon

The final 2.7-mile segment of the Bryce Canyon Shared Use Path is done, completing a 24-mile paved route from Bryce Point to Red Canyon in Dixie National Forest (NPS Bryce Canyon). It links the visitor center, the main viewpoints and both park campgrounds, and it’s open to walkers, cyclists, wheelchair users, leashed pets and, in season, cross-country skiers (NPS Bryce Canyon).

Why it matters: Camping at North or Sunset Campground? You can now bike or walk to Bryce Point and back without moving your rig.

News

Campgrounds in the works

Enchanted Rock roughly triples in size, with more campsites planned

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area in the Texas Hill Country has roughly tripled in size with a 3,073-acre ranch to the north and a 630-acre ranch to the south (Modern Campground). The northern Backcountry Area opened for day use in July, with no parking inside and a hike of about two miles in from the main park (TPWD). The main entrance is expected to move to the southern addition, where more developed campsites are planned (Modern Campground).

Why it matters: Enchanted Rock often fills up on weekends. The new land spreads hikers out now, and the new campsites should eventually ease the crunch for overnight stays.

Tennessee names its newest state park, Angel’s Hollow

Tennessee named its 70th state park Angel’s Hollow, about 2,500 acres on McDonald Farm on the Hamilton and Rhea county line, with a visitor center in Sale Creek (TDEC). The park will be dedicated on Nov. 6, the day the Hamilton County Fair opens at McDonald Farm, and the state set aside $45.3 million for it in its fiscal 2027 budget (TDEC).

Why it matters: The state hasn’t announced camping at Angel’s Hollow yet. For now, it’s a day trip from Chattanooga-area campgrounds, and we’ll report when campsites are announced.

News

RV industry

RVIA plans a national RV Safety Education Week for April

The RV Industry Association will hold its first RV Safety Education Week April 4–10, 2027, and plans to repeat it the first full week of April each year (Modern Campground). The consumer campaign will cover safety systems, pre-trip inspections, industry standards and safe operating practices, with events at dealerships and campgrounds (Modern Campground).

Why it matters: If you’re buying your first RV next spring, watch for free walk-through and inspection events at dealers that week.

Also this week: Antietam’s visitor center, Dunker Church and nearby roads and trails close Oct. 27 and possibly Oct. 28 while Marines remove old ammunition (NPS Antietam). Winnebago’s towable revenue fell 28.1% last quarter as buyers shifted toward lower-priced models (Modern Campground). Texas campground owners are urging Winter Texans to book long-term sites early (Modern Campground).

News

Sources

• NPS Yellowstone: roads and entrances close Nov. 1
• NPS Cape Hatteras: alerts and conditions
• NPS Death Valley: water and wastewater project begins
• NPS: entrance passes and fee-free days
• NPS Bryce Canyon: shared-use path completed
• TDEC: Angel’s Hollow State Park
• TPWD: Enchanted Rock Backcountry Area and Modern Campground
• Modern Campground: RV Safety Education Week

Coming Wednesday: our next Where to Go picks, routed around this week’s closures →