I just began my non-career of retired full-timer (hit the road in early May). I have yet to spend a winter on the road. My Travel Supreme is supposed to be well suited for winter's cold with good insulation and double pane windows so I do not fear camping in areas that may experience cold weather and some snow but I don't want to be 'snowed in' anywhere. As October/November approach I am starting to think about where to spend the winter. All I hear/read about is from RVers who travel to Arizona/Texas/Florida and plant their rig for four or five months in a single campground. I need to decide soon whether to try to continue to travel or to do as those I just mentioned and plan on hunkering down in one place for several months. So the intent of this thread is two-fold: 1) To hear from those fellow RVers out there who stay on-the-road during the winter. Where all do you go and how do you avoid the really bad examples of winter weather? 2) To hear from those who do long-term camp in one spot for the winter months. There must be more out there then Arizona/Texas/Florida--how about North or South Carolina or those other southeastern states like Louisiana, Arkansa, Alabama, and Georgia? How far north do you dare to go without risking being trapped by bad weather? 3) With a number of campgrounds that are seasonal--only open March thru October--and a number who have sites that are reserved for four months stays--often as much as a year ahead of time--do you find it hard to find a campground to stay at?

We have done both. We usually stay at a CG near our Daughter's, in Florida, for a few months during the winter, and then roam around the state for the rest of the winter.

On the other hand, we also have a Son that lives in Portland, OR, and we have left Portland in September, traveled down the coast into California, crossed over into Nevada, then Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, (including "the valley), followed the Gulf Coast around into Louisiana and then started working our way back North as the weather warmed up.

On the way, we stayed at some parks for a week or two, (if they were nice or in an interesting area), and others for just a day or two. We didn't make any reservations, we took our time, and the only thing that dictated when we turned North, was the weather.

Being a full-timer means that you can do whatever you want to. If the weather is too cold where you are, head South. if it's too hot, head North. If you don't like an area, you can go somewhere else.

Every one is different and likes different things. Pick and area of the U.S. that you would like to see, and go. If you don't care for it after you get there, nothing is stopping you from leaving and going somewhere else. 

This lifestyle is great, and the freedom that it gives you is indescribable.

We don't "winter" in one campground, as our friend Norm Payne says better than I in this article from 2004 - http://www.seeya-downtheroad.com/ShortStories/WhereWinter.html . But a lot of people feel that since the number of hours of daylight are less in winter it isn't as much fun to travel so they find a place to settle and enjoy the company of others.
Being capable of handling cold weather doesn't mean it is much fun. This last winter Arizona and southern CA had a cold spell where it went below 20 degrees three nights in a row and many were miserable. Lots of the plants didn't survive and a good portion of the citris crop was damaged. The cold and wind kept many indoors and they got "cabin fever". Plus winter clothes take more room than spring and fall clothes. People use a lot more propane and electricity than they do where the weather is milder.
People stay or visit places in the winter that are relatively mild. On the east coast that means about Virginia Beach south along the coast and moving further inland about South Carolina. On the west coast you can winter safe from it being really cold from the coast of British Columbia south but sometimes you can get surprised. Being that far north you only have about 8 hours of daylight in winter. If you stay west of the Cascade mountains and in low elevations you can stay the winter in Washington and Oregon. People do winter in Alabama, Georgia, the Florida panhandle, Mississippi, Louisiana, much of Texas, and southern New Mexico (low elevations). Campgrounds are available and easier to get into in these areas than the warmer snowbird locations.

-- Edited by bjoyce at 13:13, 2007-08-05

We have tried wintering both ways.  For many, staying in one place does get boring but we have found it is a nice rest from traveling all the time, and is a little different lifestyle from the road.  We now winter in the Houston Texas area for the months of December, January and February.  It still can get some cool temperatures and we have family close by.

When we did travel all winter we found that many of the RV parks in places where it is warm all winter are full so finding a place to stay can get dicy.  One of the really nice things about traveling all winter is that in cooler climates the RV parks are almost empty and you have your pick of sites.  Only problem is when the weather turns bad you find out why the RV parks were empty.

As long as you stay south of a line across the country along the Red River, cold weather usually doesn't stay very long, but can get quite cold for short periods.

Since we started in February 06, we were in travel mode at the beginning, and last winter moved, albeit more slowly, through New Mexico, Arizona and California. Since we identified some places we really enjoyed last year, we see going back to a few of them for slightly longer periods this winter, interspersed with some travels to new areas.

We find one of the key enjoyments of the lifestyle being the ability to move to someplace else, whenever the urge comes upon us, be it to leave bad weather (which can happed anywhere), or to go off to something new we just learned about.

The life can be as busy or as slow as you want it to be, and everybody is different.

Good luck,

Fred

Right now we can not move around do to other obligations but I will say this. I would take advantage of the extended stay rates in a comfortable climate where there is plenty to see and do within a reasonable driving distance. When you find that place grab it and enjoy yourself. I am sure there are places like this in Northern States for Summer and Southern States for Winter. If there out there you'll find them on this Forum. Good luck and enjoy life while you can Joe and Sherri

Ok let me narrow down what I had originally asked at the beginning of this thread.

I still haven't decided (or, for that matter, even given serious thought to) whether to continue traveling for the winter months on to hunker down somewhere. What I do know is the following:

1) Travel or stay put--for this winter at least--I intend to restrict myself to the Southeastern United States, EXCLUDING FLORIDA AND TEXAS.

2) If I am to decide on a long-term park I want one that offers camp social activities like pot-lucks and get-togethers and even silly little ceremonies.

I am currently thinking North Carolina, West Virginia, or northern South Carolina.

Anybody out there have any suggestions?

P.S. If you long-term camp for the winter are there services that will deliver propane to your site (i.e. for those of us with fixed tanks in motor homes) or do you have to de-camp every couple of days and seek out a service station (or the fixed tank by the campground office if they offer propane on-site).

This probably doesn't fit your criteria of southeastern states but we spent two months at the Escapees Rainbow Plantation in Summerdale, AL.  It's only a hop. skip, and jump from Gulf Shores and centered 30 miles from both Mobile or Pensacola, FL.  The weather was a little cooler this past winter but generally it is has a mild climate (40's/50's during the day and 30's during the night) during January/February.  They have social activities and pot lucks going on everyweek with an ice cream social every Sunday evening.  Live music is provided about once a week, the red hat society is active in the park and there are lots of "groups" that meet each week for different crafts as well as a computer group that meets once a week (and yes, they have silly little ceremonies, parades, etc.- especially during Marti Gras). 

Shopping is nearby with two Wal-Marts available (one in Foley and one in Fairhope) and there are plenty of churches available for worship.  I don't know if they allow propane tanks to be installed on their sites.  The Ace Hardware in Foley gives a 10% discount for propane to seniors on Tuesdays, of course if you have a motorhome that means "breaking camp" to get it. 

They do have a 3 plus 1 which means you get four weeks for the price of three for a 30 amp site if you pay upfront.  Being an Escapees Park their rates are extremely reasonable.  There are 50 amp site available but they have a first-in first-out rule which means that if there is a waitling list the first in will be asked to move (this doesn't impact the 3 plus 1 agreements), but you can move to the dry sites for a few days and generally get back into the 50 amp sites.  They haven't had to implement this very often, but did at the end of February/first of March last year - that was the first time in years.   

We enjoyed the camaraderie so much that we leased an ERPU site for five next years and will spend at least two months there each winter (we get a bad case of hitch-itch after a couple of months).  And will return several times throughout the year making this our home base. 

Hopefully this answers some of your questions.

Darrell 

Thanks Darrell and Judy, that's exactly the sort of information I was looking for and AL is certianly in the southeast even if you may be a little south of where I wanted to be.
Scott

West Virginia is a cold snowy state.  When I passed through there early this past November, I was unable to find any campgrounds open.  I had to continue driving through sleeting weather until I located a 24 hour WalMart.  

Hunker down is one option. You could also keep moving slowly along and traverse the entire southern route all winter long. Given it'll be "in season" all along our southern border your only difficulty will be finding vacancies.

If you travel a little further north (like VA, KS, CO) finding open campgrounds will be very tough. If a campground is open expect no utilities. Also consider places like Elks Clubs and other "member" organizations, as well as churches. Be prepared to "dry camp" (i.e. no hookups) regularly and for extended periods of time. Most Nat and State Forests/Parks will close and gate their campgrounds so even hard core "boondocking" (i.e. camping completely off the beaten path) can be difficult. Any further north and even the campgrounds are hibernating.

Don't fear being "snowed in" with a little planning that can be a lot of fun and it'll only last a few days. Always keep food/water/fuel topped up, and waste tanks empty just in case. Most importantly carry redundant forms of heat and pack for the worst case.

You can also find some "winterized" campgrounds in popular places. I'll be spending a month or two in the Colorado freezer around Breckenridge/Dillon at a winterized campground called Tiger Run Resort. Of course, "winterized" only means they'll have flowing water up to your spigot, it's your responsibility to winterize your rig from the spigot onward and manage your own sewer freezing.

My skis and snow shovel are packed!

PS: Make absolutely sure you understand what can freeze in your TS and how to mitigate it. It's easy to overlook things like ice makers, plumbing too close to an outside wall, and the like.

PPS: Most importantly practice a full on-the-fly-in-a-remote-parking-lot winterization of your entire rig to make sure you can do one in an emergency, are familiar with all the drains and nuances, that you have all the right tools, and have plenty of pink juice handy to properly protect your rig if things go awry. I am not a pink juice kind of guy, but in a zero degree remote parking lot at midnight when all my power has failed I'll let the rig inhale all it wants and clean it up later.