RV travel allows you to take the comforts of home on the road. You can see multiple destinations on a single trip without the hassles of packing and unpacking at each location. Sleeping in the same bed each night, cooking meals in a fully-equipped kitchen and being able to pull off the road when you get tired are among the advantages. Yet RVs are not designed for winter weather. Icy roads, freezing temperatures and closed RV parks keep most RV travelers out of northern climates during the winter. Fortunately, the Southern United States provides plenty of year-round RV destinations with mild weather and lots of company.
Florida is well-known for its snowbirds, or retirees who winter in the state each year. With daytime highs near 70 degrees even in January, South Florida spots such as Miami and the Florida Keys are excellent choices for those seeking fun in the sun. Central Florida, including Orlando and Tampa, is slightly more temperate, with average highs around 60 from December through February. North Florida, including Jacksonville and the Florida Panhandle, experiences average highs around 50 with frequent overnight dips below freezing.
RV parks across the state are open year round, from primitive national forest sites to deluxe resorts with clubhouses and swimming pools. Winter is prime tourist season, with high occupancy levels and premium prices. Many RV resorts provide a full daily schedule of activities, from bingo to ballroom dancing, during the winter season.
The second largest state in the Union behind Alaska, Texas is divided into numerous climatic zones. Each zone has its own weather patterns. During the winter, most RV travelers choose the Texas Gulf Coast, Central Texas or South Texas. The Gulf Coast and Central Texas typically have daytime highs in the 60s during the winter months, while highs average around 70 in the southernmost parts of the state.
The Escapees RV Club is headquartered in Livingston, an hour outside Houston, and is home to many winter Texans. Austin, San Antonio, Corpus Christi and Laredo have RV parks that are open year round. Brownsville, near the Mexico border, draws thousands of full-time and seasonal RV travelers looking for a warm winter home.
Although the northern reaches of the state, including Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon, see more extreme weather, most of Arizona is mild throughout the winter. Average daytime highs in Phoenix are in the high 60s during January and February while the Tucson region, including Tombstone, is normally in the mid-60s. RV parks south of Interstate Highway 40 are generally open year round. Most area attractions are open, although some smaller family-owned operations take a winter vacation. Call ahead, as parks are sometimes booked months in advance.
Well-known for weather that remains balmy year round, Southern California is an ideal winter destination for RV travelers. Temperatures in San Diego and Los Angeles rarely drop much below 70 degrees and precipitation is minimal. The beaches are open, as are all of the region's attractions. Note that Southern California is a popular winter destination for travelers of all types, not just those in RVs. Expect crowds and high prices throughout the winter season.