Inspired Travels With Patti

America's Largest RV Show Hershey: Insider Tips, RV Shopping Advice & What’s New for 2026

• Patti Hunt • Season 2 • Episode 41

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Thinking about attending America's Largest RV Show in Hershey, Pennsylvania? In this episode of Inspired Travels with Patti, Patti sits down with Heather Leach, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Recreation Vehicle and Camping Association (PRVCA), to give listeners a complete insider's guide to the 2026 event.

Whether you're shopping for your first RV, comparing floorplans, looking for camping accessories, or simply curious about the RV lifestyle, Heather explains why the Hershey RV Show is much more than just an RV sales event. From educational seminars and campground resources to influencer meetups and vendor exhibits, attendees can explore every aspect of RV travel in one location.

Heather also shares what's new for 2026, including new RV manufacturers, expanded influencer programming, show survival kits, and practical tips to help visitors make the most of their experience.


Key Takeaways

  • Why America's Largest RV Show is valuable even if you're not buying an RV
  • New manufacturers and attractions coming to the 2026 show
  • Benefits of purchasing an RV at the show versus afterward
  • How to evaluate floorplans and RV features before buying
  • What attendees can expect from vendors, accessories, and campground exhibits
  • Influencer meetups and content creator opportunities at the event
  • Parking, food, overnight accommodations, and visitor logistics
  • Why purchasing tickets in advance can save money

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Are You Going To America's Largest RV Show

SPEAKER_01

America's largest RV show is not just about buying an RV. There is so much more to it. And I am so grateful to have my guest on today, who's the executive director of the Pennsylvania Recreational Vehicle and Camping Association. And she is here to share it all with you. Heather, what is something that people may be missing if they're thinking the RV show is just for buying an RV?

SPEAKER_00

We love it when people come to buy an RV, but also it's really great for people that maybe aren't sure about RVing and aren't even really sure. Like, is this something for me? It's a really great place to come and check them all out. So you can, you know, see every type of RV there is and and kind of see it what you like. And also, if you already have an RV and you know, maybe you just want to see the new stuff. Um, we have tons of booth vendors that have every kind of camping accessory that you could possibly imagine. So even if you're not like there to buy an RV, I'm sure there is something there that you're going to go home with that will enhance your RV experience.

Meet Heather Leach

SPEAKER_01

I want to welcome people to Inspire Travels with Patty. I'm Patty Hunt. I created this channel to inspire people to live life more fully. And to me, that's through adventure. So having experiences, seeing new places, and certainly meeting incredible people, which I find every year when I go to the Hershey show, which it is often called. So let me introduce my guest, Heather Leach. As I said, she's the executive director of the Pennsylvania Recreational Vehicle and Camping Association and one of the driving forces behind America's largest RV show in Hershey, with nearly two decades in the RV and camping industry. Heather is passionate about helping people discover the RV lifestyle through education, community, and unforgettable travel experiences. Heather Leach, welcome to Inspire Travels with Patty.

SPEAKER_00

Well, thank you for having me.

SPEAKER_01

It is so great to get a hold of you. I know this is a super busy time of the year, as the Hershey RV show is three months away. And I know you guys are in full-on planning stage. America's largest RV show, sometimes called the Hershey RV show, will take place on September 16th to 20th in Hershey

Heather’s RV Journey

SPEAKER_01

PA. Tell us a little bit about how you got started in the RV world.

SPEAKER_00

Well, I started here at PRBCA as the marketing director. And then in like 2015, I was promoted to the executive director. So I've been here for 20 years, which I still find amazing. But yeah, so I've been around for a while, but it's been a truly great experience for sure.

SPEAKER_01

So tell us a little bit about you personally, why the RV world to begin with? Why was that something that was in your background?

SPEAKER_00

Well, I mean, listen, I we always went camping when I was little with, you know, with my family. And I mean, it's always it's just such a great experience. And I think it's what's nice is there's really something out there for everyone, whether, you know, whether you're a family of four, whether you're single, whether you're a couple, young, old, it doesn't matter. There's it's for everyone. It really is. And that's what I like about it.

SPEAKER_01

And I agree. And for those of people that are new to the channel, I was a full-time RVer for over three years. I have been enjoying the RV industry for well over five. And I believe this will be my fifth time at America's largest RV show. So this is really cool. Let's

What’s New for 2026

SPEAKER_01

jump in. What is new for 2026? So for people who are returning or new people, what's new for this year?

SPEAKER_00

Well, we have some new manufacturers that are going to be at the show this year. We have Modern Bungees, Sunset Park, and Axiom will be joining us. So it's always great when we can bring in some new RVs for everyone to look at. And, you know, we have uh obviously every year we try to mix up our education lineup so there's something new for people to um to learn whenever they're here. Um so yeah. And this year we also have, we started it last year, but we're we're making it the um, we're doing a giveaway that is the um, I think twice a day, it's the RV show survival kit. So the first, I think, hundred people at a certain time um can pick up their survival kit. Usually by the afternoon, you might be able to pick me up. So um, so that's what we're doing to help everybody, you know, keep going for the whole day.

SPEAKER_01

Yes.

Plan Your Visit

SPEAKER_01

And let's talk a little bit about that. For people who have never been to the Hershey RV show, one of the things I recommend, and and I want you to chime in on this is the Hershey, the I gotta call it what it is, America's Largest RV show has a very comprehensive website. So everything you need to know is on there. So we're gonna leave people to that. The link will be in the show notes. All of the seminars, all of the education, all of the manufacturers, the map of where everything's gonna be, all of the vendors will all be on the website. So I want to lead people to that. My recommendation is always to look at the map, look at what's going on and pre-plan. Would you agree with that? What do you, what could you add?

SPEAKER_00

Absolutely. Um, yeah, definitely do your research online before you come. And when you when you do arrive, you will get, you can get a printed program as well. Um, so I would always, if you haven't done it before you get there, take a couple minutes, kind of plan out your route. What do you want to see? Who do you want to make sure that you see, you know, whether it's a manufacturer, whether it's a seminar, any of those. Um, and and just take a couple minutes to really, really figure out your strategy for the day because it's very easy to get sidetracked out there and see, and the next thing you know, you're like, I didn't see anything that I came here to see because I got distracted. So I do recommend doing that and wear comfortable shoes.

SPEAKER_01

Absolutely. And then there's the sweater or jacket or sweatshirt with a tank top because it goes anything from hot to chilly and everything in between, right? Yep. September in Pennsylvania, it's you never know. So yeah, be prepared for everything. Exactly. You never know. And the sneakers are so important. Yeah. Um, so with the seminars, I in the past have done seminars. Those should be planned because getting into those seminars, they sometimes get very filled. So if there are seminars you're interested in being part of, make sure that's a top priority, deciding whether you're going to be there for a day or a number of days, that's also important.

Choosing the Right RV

SPEAKER_01

But let's segue back into buying an RV because there's I've read over 1,500 vehicles that'll be at this show, correct? Yes. And I think if I'm correct, 40 manufacturers, right? Yes. And there is everything from that tiny little teardrop that you can fit into sleep all the way up to the 45 plus foot fifth wheel and class A. And so let's talk about the idea of somebody who's looking for a new RV or looking for the first RV. Why is this a great place to go do that?

SPEAKER_00

Well, it's it's really nice because it's all in one location. So you can shop and compare literally every type of manufacturer and an RV type versus, you know, driving all over the state because, you know, one sells it in Pittsburgh and one sells it in, you know, in Philly. So so it's a really great opportunity that to see it all in one place. And, you know, when you come in, I think it's important to, you know, if you're thinking about buying it, knowing what you're planning on using it for, you know, and how many people is are going to be sleeping in it. Is it just for you and your spouse? Are you planning on bringing all of your children? You know, like, and you know, do you need bunks? Those type of things are all important to kind of help but narrow down from that 1,500 RVs. Um, and you know, so you're not wasting your time looking at something that isn't going to work for you.

SPEAKER_01

Absolutely. And I agree with that. Again, being, you know, content creator and a speaker and all of that. I have people all the time saying, what is the best RV for me? And, you know, it's what's the best place to live for you? So it's it's kind of it's not something I could answer. But like you said, having that list of how many people, I will also caution people because I lived in a class A. I loved a class A. I pulled a car behind, we towed a car, and that worked for me and my husband. We planned for, oh, we should have extra space for when so-and-so comes to visit, the friend, the grandkids, the kids come to visit. My caution would be to plan for who's going to be in the RV that you know of, not who you think might show up because there's also always air mattresses, attend to outside, going into a campground and getting a cabin. That's just my two cents on that. But I love what you said. How many people are going to be with you? What kind of needs do you have? And then to look at different types of vehicles. Um, and this is, like you said, an amazing place to do that. Doing some pre-kind of research, I think helps, but certainly being at the RV show, looking for those manufacturers, looking for those dealers that do the type of RV you are looking for. So that's

Show Deals and Incentives

SPEAKER_01

great. Now, one thing people ask and talk about all the time should I wait until after the show? Because I'm going to get a better deal. If I wait till after the show, they're not going to want to take that RV back. And if they do, they're not going to want to keep it in, you know, on their lot. So is there a benefit to purchasing at the show as opposed to waiting till after?

SPEAKER_00

Well, there's definitely incentives that, you know, that dealers and manufacturers come up with when you purchase at the show. So yeah, I think it's a, I think it's definitely beneficial to make that purchase there. Um, and also, you know, all their competitions there. So, you know, for them, you know, they're trying to, they're putting their best foot forward as far as what they can offer because now their competition is right across the aisle versus, you know, you know, 300 miles away. Right.

SPEAKER_01

And I agree.

Try Before You Buy

SPEAKER_01

I also like the idea of getting into RVs. And some days are way more busy than others, but no matter what, if you see an RV you think you're interested in, it is okay to sit in that RV for a half hour or more and really think about what it would be like to cook in here? What would it be like to sleep in this bed or shower, go to the bathroom, look at all of those things when you're considering that RV. Would you add anything to that?

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, I mean, there's, you know, I can't imagine. I mean, I think it's great to do research online and all and everything, but there is there's nothing more important than coming and seeing these units in person, sitting on the, you know, on the chairs, looking at how all the floor plan actually actually works. That's you get a such a better idea when you can can do that. And yeah, and you can spend as much time as you as you want in there.

SPEAKER_01

The other thing is sometimes if a floor plan is a little bit like something you want to change, I recommend asking, asking the dealership, asking the manufacturer, like, can I make this change? Because sometimes they can accommodate that, right?

SPEAKER_00

Yeah. And that's what's really great about having it being a manual, we call it a manufacturer show because it's all set up by manufacturer versus the dealers. And what's great is there's always manufacturer reps there. So that when you have those type of questions, it's really easy to get a quick answer as to a as to what they can do because they're on site.

SPEAKER_01

Right. Another benefit of being at America's largest RV show. And again, that's September 16th to 20th. Now I will be there for the whole week enjoying the area and some of the events that, you know, people like me get to enjoy beforehand. I will be getting some photos and videos of RVs and uh the vendors and

Vendors and Accessories

SPEAKER_01

things like that. Let's jump into the vendor. Let's say somebody already has their RV or they're thinking about this whole RVing thing, you know, hey, in a year or so I'm going to get an RV. How, like, tell us about the vendors and things like that, the other things that are there.

SPEAKER_00

So there's everything from campgrounds. So if you have your RV and now you don't know where to take it, like we have a we have a bunch of campground information there. So you can you can see all the different um places, not just in Pennsylvania to stay, but really, you know, kind of across across the country. And there's lots of um like FMCAs there and and different clubs that some people like to join um to kind of um get that experience. Um, and then of course there's everything, every kind of accessory, you know, solar items are really big right now. So there's that, there's cleaning items, there's steps, there's, you know, anything that you could possibly want from the fun stuff. Well, I mean, I call it the fun stuff, like the little extra stuff that I think is kind of great to make the the RV life a little, you know, uh little more easier. You know, there are different packing things and stuff that make it look pretty and all that kind of stuff. To, you know, like hitches and stuff that my husband would probably be more interested in, but I let him look at that kind of stuff. But um, so it's really there's something there no matter no matter what. And honestly, if you don't have an RV, there's there's still stuff that you can go home with that that is kind of fun, whether whether you have an RV yet or not.

SPEAKER_01

Agreed. There are a lot of vendors there. So even and and I'm gonna name some of the companies that have been there in the past, I'm assuming will be there. There's a bedding company, that bedding company, Brooklyn Bedding, is not only does RV bedding, but for the home, their bedding is amazing. Their beds, it's actually the mattresses. Um, there's a tea company that I buy every year. You know, like each tea. It's called honey tea, I think. Um, so there's all different kinds of things, campgrounds. There are a lot of campgrounds that are there, gives you the opportunity to ask questions where they're located. A lot of times they have specials. Um, there's so much there, like you said, membership. So there's all kinds of membership. Open Roads is there, Passport America, and I can go on and on, and I'm sure you do, but people could check out the website for all the things that are available at these shows as far as the vendors

Influencers and Meetups

SPEAKER_01

go. Let's jump in a little bit to also seeing our favorite influencers and content creators. You've been big on welcoming us in every year.

SPEAKER_00

Yes. Well, we um we love having you guys um attend, of course. Um, yeah, so we've we now have a place, it's actually inside the giant center on the lower level. So um that way you're you're out of any kind of weather, which is nice. Uh yeah, so it's um the schedule. We're still we're finalizing the schedule, but it will also be on our website, of course. So you can see um your favorite influencers and people that you follow on social media and get a chance to meet them. And um, yeah, I think we have we're working on some new things or maybe a panel discussion coming up with some of the influencers to kind of talk about a little more in depth with, you know, you know, their passions. So um, yeah, so that'll be coming. So we're kind of re-invigorating that area this year. And uh I think it'll be great.

SPEAKER_01

Yes, and I know every year it's just changed and improved. And you know, you look at feedback, what works, what doesn't. And I I love that being inside, I think is a great idea because again, Pennsylvania weather is iffy. Never now. I'm also gonna tell people that when you see the influencer or content creator, go up and say hi. Don't feel like, you know, you you can't do that. I know a lot of influencers and they look for that. Like go up, say hi, ask your questions, come with some questions, whatever it is that you have that, you know, because all of the content creators or influencers that I know are there to help and be supportive. So absolutely go up and ask questions.

Food and Rest Stops

SPEAKER_01

And as you're walking around and you're tired and you don't want to leave the Hershey complex. So this is in the giant center, which is huge. Let's talk about some of the things like there is food on site. Let's talk a little bit about that.

SPEAKER_00

Yes, there is food. So outside there's food trucks, but inside there's also concession stands that are open. So you just have to walk around the upper level and there's food in there. And yeah, if you need to take a break and sit down, um, you know, the the the whole there's a whole stadium seating inside the arena that you can, you know, take a break and you can sit there until we close the doors that night. And it's nice and cool if it's hot out there. It's a great place to come in and kind of rest up for a little bit.

SPEAKER_01

Yes. So plenty of food, plenty of places to sit down, take a break.

Parking and Overnighting

SPEAKER_01

Let's talk a little bit about parking for people. Let's get into just the little details to help them. There is on-site parking.

SPEAKER_00

So on-site parking, it's free. Um, now on the weekend, Hershey Park is open. So we kind of move across the street um into like a grass area, but it's it's been super easy. We've kind of we've kind of perfected that now over the over the years. But yeah, so it is free. Um, and you can bring your like if you have an RV, you can bring your RV and park for um the day um for free as well. Uh you can't stay in it overnight in the general parking area, um, but you can park it, park it there for the day. Um, there is an overnight parking area. Um, so if you did want to spend the night, um that's run by the complex. It's just down the road a little bit where um you would have to pay to stay there, but there is a place very, very close. And we have a shuttle that runs from there to the shell. So if you did decide to spend the night there, you know, we can you can easily get to the show.

SPEAKER_01

There's all the conveniences. So there is that parking, it's boondocking there, if I'm not mistaken. Is that completely dry?

SPEAKER_00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

No services. Come with your gray and black tank empty and your water tank filled. That's my suggestion. Right. But very close in the area. There are also campgrounds for people who are coming into the area. There is a Hershey RV park. I've not stayed there. That is very close. I will be staying at the Hershey Thousand Trows. I don't have an RV, so I'm staying in one of their cabins. So I'm excited. Yeah, I'm excited about that. People who are RVers coming into the area and being in a campground just for me a big part of the experience. So I love the idea of staying in the RV parks, and there are others in the area people could check out.

Rules Wagons Pets

SPEAKER_01

What other details? We've covered what to wear, what kind of shoes, there's food. Can people bring in, first of all, food, drinks? Can they bring their wagons in, you know, those types of things?

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, they can bring in, um, they do not allow you to bring in food, and thus it's for unless you have like a medical concern that you know that you have to bring in food. Um, drinks, um, you can bring in unopened bottles. Um, and they will they do do a bag search. So you can bring your bag in, but be prepared, you know, to do a search. But yeah, you can bring a a wagon in. Um, we do say that uh only um service animals, um, as far as pets coming in, um, and they have to, you know, um, if you do bring in a dog, it has to be in an enclosed carrier situation. Other than that, it's just service animals.

SPEAKER_01

And I think we've covered so much here. Is there anything else you feel like we need to cover? Is there anything I missed?

SPEAKER_00

I think I think we'd be pretty good at covering everything. Yeah. No, I mean, listen, we're just we're excited to do it for another year and we hope everybody enjoys it as well. And, you know, we strive to make it as enjoyable as possible for everyone to come. So yeah, we're looking forward to it.

SPEAKER_01

Yes. And again, check out the website. The website will be in the show notes, but you could just type in, even if you just type in Hershey RV show, you will get there

Tickets and Contact

SPEAKER_01

again. It is September 16th to 20th. I will be there all week. So reach out to me. Did I have that right? 16th to 20th.

SPEAKER_00

I was just gonna say you can buy your tickets online in advance, and they're a little cheaper than buying them at the door. So I would recommend um getting them ahead of time. I mean, and there's they don't we don't sell out or anything like that. So they're, you know, but I would recommend doing it ahead of time. It will save you a couple bucks.

SPEAKER_01

Yes. And we didn't mention that tickets can be purchased online. You could buy one day or be there all five days and everything in between. I will say the Wednesday, Thursday, Friday are a little less crowded than the Saturday, Sunday, but you can get around, even as crowded as it is. There's plenty of space you could get around. So, yes, buying those tickets online, great point. Um, and any questions that people have, how could they reach out? Going to the website. Is there any other it you have social media, correct?

SPEAKER_00

Yes, we have social media, Facebook, Instagram. And you can always message us on there. Um, there's contact information on our website too that you can shoot us an email. And yeah, we'll be happy to get back to

Wrap Up and Thanks

SPEAKER_00

you.

SPEAKER_01

Yes, I am so looking forward to it every year. I just get excited about being at this event. It is going to be incredible. Heather, thank you so much for being on and answering so many questions for my listeners.

SPEAKER_00

Of course. Thank you for having me. It was a pleasure.

SPEAKER_01

And I want to thank my listeners for either listening on the podcast or watching on the YouTube channel. If you are listening on the podcast, the YouTube channel will have pictures and videos of past events so that you could see some of what we are talking about today. Check that out on YouTube. Everything to get to me, all of my social media is at InspireTravels with Patty. And I hope this episode was inspiring. If it was, please hit that follow and subscribe button. And we are looking forward to hearing from you.