Community Forums

Up North · 12-18-2014, 02:59 PM

So what might be some snow bird destinations I may want to consider? I'm going to start heading for a winter destination next year or no later than 2 years from now. I think I would prefer south west over south east but open minded on that.
The Lake Havisu thread looks very nice but it looks like it's number one, hard to elbow your way in to get a site and number two I don't want to elbow my way in to anywhere. I prefer something not overcrowded but not totally isolated either.
So any suggestions will be appreciated!

palehorse89 · 12-18-2014, 03:32 PM

Hello, I don't know where you live, but.......Head west! I have lived on the east coast all my life, 5 years from now, going west to finish this journey

You can travel 300 miles or less out there to accomplish a warm to cool condition, where as , on the east coast......1200 miles......
Plus, if you have not been out west..........? Sure is a lot more "eye candy" out there.........Amazing to say the least.

twogypsies · 12-18-2014, 03:36 PM

You could almost rule New Mexico out. It's too cold in winter unless that's what you like.

The Arizona and California deserts are the very best.

Anza Borrego State Park in Calif is awesome. You can RV in the state park or there are RV parks, too. There are also boondocking areas.

Our favorites are all in Arizona. You have to be careful with elevation and basically want to stay below 4,000' (which is still cool).

Typically, stay from Phoenix and south; west to the Calif. border; east to Benson. The greater Phoenix area has some wonderful county parks (Maricopa county). There's Usery, Cave Creek, McDowell Mountain, Lake Pleasant and White Tank.They have a 2-week limit but have gorgeous huge scenic sites with nice hiking trails. Even though you're close to the hubbub of Phoenix it doesn't seem that way. Besides, there are many Phoenix activities that are worthwhile doing.

Also in the Phoenix area, actually east at Apache Junction is Lost Dutchman State Park - an absolute winner for scenery, big sites and hiking. Actually, all of Arizona's state parks are big-rig friendly. We've been to them all.

Still east of Apache Junction is the Roosevelt Lake area with some nice forest service campgrounds and Windy Hill, one of them, has electric. We like Cholla campground. It's a quiet area. You'd get there via going through Globe. Don't try to take your RV over the Apache Trail. It's a highly recommended drive but not in an RV.

Tucson has Gilbert Ray campground, part of Tucson Mtn. Park and Catalina State Park. Both have great hiking.

DeAnza RV park south of Tucson is nice to explore the Santa Rita Mtns.

Benson is cooler at 3500' EL or so but there are lots of neat activities to do in that direction. Kartchner Caverns State Park has a nice campground along with the high quality cave tours.

Then there's Quartzsite and you have to do it once! Yuma has many RV parks and is the warmest of all of Arizona in the winter. As you travel north from Yuma up along the Colorado River to Lake Havasu, it can be warm but can also get cool in winter.

For your first trip I would suggest that you move around and explore different areas to find your preferences. Have fun planning!

Up North · 12-18-2014, 04:01 PM

Thanks everyone! A little more info. I'm in northern Mn so a little cool weather won't bother me and might even be welcome. As long as I don't have to worry about water freezing in the mh. Current mh is a 29 foot class c with 2 slides. I will be snow birding by myself for probably 2 seasons until the wife can join me.
Leaving Mn probably after the holidays and return in late March.
Thinking I would probably want to find a place to land and not travel from place to place. Will have a vehicle in tow so I can always have transportation other than the mh to get to a nearby town or city for supplies etc.

I'm not the type that needs to always be entertained by going here or there or involved in some activity. I know how to relax

I have been looking at some places in New Mexico but they all look pretty dusty and barren from what I have seen so far.

In the end I'm probably looking for something that doesn't exist. A nice quiet campground with great scenery and a nice climate that isn't over crowded!

twogypsies · 12-18-2014, 05:06 PM

Roosevelt Lake area in Arizona is what you're after for quiet, great scenery, nice climate, not crowded.

spritz · 12-19-2014, 07:01 AM

Come on down we are leaving for Quartzite either the 25th or 26 for sure. First time in the MH have traveled in my semi years ago.
We have a neighbor guy leaving on the 6th for Quartzite his first time also.
We were just up in Nashwaok(sp) to pick up a new item for the MH. Great place.
Happy Holidays,
Tim

palehorse89 · 12-19-2014, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spritz

Come on down we are leaving for Quartzite either the 25th or 26 for sure. First time in the MH have traveled in my semi years ago.
We have a neighbor guy leaving on the 6th for Quartzite his first time also.
We were just up in Nashwaok(sp) to pick up a new item for the MH. Great place.
Happy Holidays,
Tim

Hi Tim, I am glad to see you are heading out of the cold and going west, you will not want to come back

Are you going to be able to say in touch on here while on the road and out there? Happy Holiday's and travel safe!

jackfish · 12-19-2014, 07:52 PM

Yuma, Ajo, Tucson, Palm Springs area. Texas gulf coast.

Czar Of Poop · 12-19-2014, 08:19 PM

YA TEXAS! East/South 65High / 45Low $1.89gas / $2.79 Diesel

biosensai · 12-20-2014, 02:21 PM

Southwest? I'm not a desert guy, so . . . San Diego. This year we'll spend a month there, then a week in Anaheim (still love Disneyland) then start working our way north. (I like to drive 3 hours and stay 3 weeks.). Depending upon the arrival of much needed rain, we'll either hug the coast up to the Bay Area, or skirt the Western Sierra. Our plan is to visit family in Redding by early May.

spritz · 12-21-2014, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by palehorse89

Hi Tim, I am glad to see you are heading out of the cold and going west, you will not want to come back

Are you going to be able to say in touch on here while on the road and out there? Happy Holiday's and travel safe!

As of this writing it is very iffy, I hope to be able to stay in touch here on the boards if I go, its kind of become a habit to look every day. Are you wintering somewhere warm?
Happy Holidays,
Tim