Where to stay for 4 months in the winter?

[mcaslaon4449]

We have a 2016 22' Sport & plan on spending 4 months or so camping in CA & AZ this winter. This will be the first time we have camped for more then 3 weeks. We love the different state & Nat'al parks & Mon., & usually camp in those parks on our short trips. Being gone 4 months, however, we'd like to find a nice RV park where we can enjoy an extended stay. Several of our friends have suggested Yuma, AZ, but when looking at the RV parks on the website we were disappointed. We don't want to offend anyone, but camping lined up 2 ft. from you neighbor in what looks like a parking lot is not our cup of tea. We do, however, like the amenities offered at most of these parks. We are asking our fellow Airstreamers for suggestions for RV parks in CA & AZ. Do you have a favorite you'd like to share? I'm sure there areas that are better then others, what are they? Are there places to stay away from? Maybe, Organ Pipe Cactus Nat'al Mon.? What are some of you favorite state parks in CA & AZ? Any help you can give us will be great appreciated. You've been there, we haven't, please share you experiences & opinions. Thank you very much!!

[Arcticfox]

Tagging in to follow along .......


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

[dkottum]

RV resorts with all the great amenities will put you close to a neighbor. State and county parks may have more space but hookups will be limited and the amenities are what nature gives you.

We spend six months each winter and try too get some of each, the more natural sites coming and going to a destination RV Resort. We enjoy the friendship and community life of the RV resorts very much. Sports, hiking, biking, swimming, road trips, sightseeing, and hobby shops during the day. Entertainment, pot lucks, fireside gatherings and guitars, dancing in the ballroom, and dining at the restaurant in the evenings. The large resorts offer the most amenities and community life.

It's a good life and we look forward to getting together with old friends and meeting new ones every year, as well as our travels through the country on the way. We try to find a different route each year.

The Tucson, Casa Grande and Phoenix, AZ areas have many natural parks and RV Resorts in the area.

[Paul & Holly]

Looking for same info. Tagging along.

[Piggy Bank]

Just want to join the thread for the mind candy of it all.

We hopefully will be joining you in our 22 in about 15 years.

{big deep sigh}

[streamingairheads]

Great question. We're trying to figure that out ourselves. We're looking at South Carolina or Florida - but will that be warm enough? Arizona is a long haul from Pennsylvania.

[AtomicNo13]

Quartzsite Az is fun for the winter.
There are full service parks and free to small fee BLM land.
There is a lot to do in the desert!

[A W Warn]

Originally Posted by streamingairheads

Great question. We're trying to figure that out ourselves. We're looking at South Carolina or Florida - but will that be warm enough? Arizona is a long haul from Pennsylvania.

SC, GA, and northern FL are warmer than PA. But, if you want to be south of freezing, you will need to be at least south of I-4 in FL. Still there can be frost a few times a year. In 2008 I was there for a freeze that killed fish in the Everglades. Once or twice in 10-20 years it snows in southern FL. Most areas in southern FL tipple or quadruple their population in January. Reservations suggested at least several months in advance.

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by streamingairheads

Great question. We're trying to figure that out ourselves. We're looking at South Carolina or Florida - but will that be warm enough? Arizona is a long haul from Pennsylvania.

You'd have the entire Gulf Coast to play with; commercial campgrounds tend to fill up with snowbirds and stay that way, but if you don't mind moving every two weeks, you've got a huge selection of State Parks, National Parks, and Corps of Engineers campgrounds in all of the Gulf Coast states (Texas to Florida) that are open year-round. Start in the Florida panhandle, gradually work your way west to Texas in the first half, then gradually work your way back east in the second half of your winter stay.

From Thanksgiving to after Mardi Gras, all of my camping is south of I-20, east of Dallas, and west of Atlanta.

Wintertime can get cold near the coast, but doesn't usually stay cold. Overnight lows can get close to freezing or even drop below freezing by morning, but you'll seldom have freezing temps for more than about 36 hours straight unless there's an unusually cold winter.

[dwightdi]

Florida has many good public and private parks. We stay on the gulf side around Clearwater, but Travelers Rest in Dade City is nice. Texas has many private parks in the the "valley" around Pharr and Mission. Voyager is nice south of Tucson. All have websites to estole their amenities.

[Lily&Me]

SC and Georgia offer very moderate winter temperatures for those of us accustomed to the deep freezes of the north.

Beautiful state parks, and lots of history to explore.


Maggie

[TinTurtle]

Many are recommending Texas because they have numerous parks offering what you desire. If you are set on AZ/CA, you might try RVparkhunter.com; select a few possibilities and check them out in the OFF-season. Good luck and let us know what you find.

[dkottum]

Originally Posted by streamingairheads

Great question. We're trying to figure that out ourselves. We're looking at South Carolina or Florida - but will that be warm enough? Arizona is a long haul from Pennsylvania.

That extra travel may be a good thing. We travel south every winter, have been through Pennsylvania on our way to Arizona. This is a great opportunity for us to explore the country, visit friends and family on our way to winter destinations. Our travel trailer makes it possible for these experiences, we try to find a different route every year.

Arizona is a great winter destination, many venues of all types at reasonable seasonal rates. This year we will spend time on three different locations on the Calif coast, Southern AZ for three months, and southwest New Mexico.

Love our Airstream and how it opens up the country for us.

[GettinAway]

I'm tagging along also. We plan to be in this situation in a few years. Our thoughts so far have been to go east to west as we check locations out. Spend time in Florida, and slowly/yearly work our west. I've been to most parts of FL, AL, MS, TX, and AZ, but still have lots of learning to do.

[karenjude]

We prefer national and state park camping too because we like space between us and neighbors ( and the natural settings too of course). Last year we spent over a week in Death Valley then went to the Mojave desert. I had reserved us a space in a resort campground in Cathedral City near Palm Springs. Surprisingly ( because it's just not us) we loved it! Sites were green with vegetation, they were closer than we'd like but definately not parking lot campground size sites - these had more room and the feel of some privacy. Park was quiet but had a lot going on amenities wise. And we love Palm Springs! The park was called Outdoor Resorts. Pricy, but they have monthly rates. We would definately go back.

[gypsydad]

We have stayed in Borrego Springs several times, both at the Palm Canyon State Park, and also "free" just outside town. (see pictures) Palm Canyon is nice, reasonable spacing between sites, with full hook-ups and showers, hiking, biking, etc, but it is $28/night. We found we liked the "free" site just outside of town, since you have lots of space and latterly can park just about anywhere without neighbors near by! We take along 5 gal water containers and fill in town when needed. Dumping can be done at the state park site for a day use fee. Borrego Springs has great hiking, wild life, and is 70 miles from La Quinta Costco! San Diego is 90 miles. We met several "full time" folks with expensive rigs, including AS's, who spend weeks at a time out there. Yuma also is supposed to have a few great spots, where you pay $80/year and similar type camping, but close to a lake...we have not been there but it is also mentioned in Don Wright's Guide to Free Campgrounds.

[87MH]

[QUOTE=mcaslaon4449;1808653]We have a 2016 22' Sport & plan on spending 4 months or so camping in CA & AZ this winter..... We are asking our fellow Airstreamers for suggestions for RV parks ...QUOTE]

This is in reply to those in the same predicament as you just a bit farther East.

Texas Airstream Harbor is a great spot for snowbirds, and is located on one of the premier Bass lakes in the country. Birding is exceptional.

Assessments per lot are only $600 per year, that means if you park for 4 months the nightly cost is around $5 per night - PLUS you have a fairly secure spot to store your winter stuff you do not need for the rest of the year.

The $600 includes pretty much everything with 3 point hookup, except your private insurance and electricity.

See my signature line below for a link.

[EdwardCharet]

relocating to new residence or temporary assignment, picking the right one is critical. I have heard of extended hotels who claim to provide stay-at-home comfort. No first hand experience.

[Phoenix]

The following is a list of campgrounds near Phoenix and Tucson (state and regional parks may have a stay limit):

Phoenix:

• Cave Creek Regional Park
  
  
• White Tank Regional Park
  
  
• Lake Pleasant Regional Park
  
  
• View Point RV Resort - Free band concert (Mesa, AZ)

Tucson:

• Catalina State Park - See my review on TripAdvisor.com: Catalina State Park
  
  
• Gilbert Ray Campground
  
  
• KOA (Lazydays RV Resort) - Nice, but a little pricey for an extended stay.

See link for things to do in Arizona.

[Hittenstiehl]

Good list Phx, Let me add:
Lost Dutchman State Park
McDowell Mtn Regional Park

And there's always Quartzsite for a quirky fun BLM experience.

The Tucson/Phoenix area is very popular for winter visitors so some of this parks may require a reservations and a move to another spot based in length of stay.