Winter Camping
Holiday travel might look different this year, but winter camping could be a low risk and enjoyable way to start a new family tradition this year. Be sure to check state travel advisories before you set out and note that most sites require a booking in advance.
Why Camp?
So many benefits of camping including but not limited to:
- Get away from the day to day routine of work and home.
- Enjoy the peace and quiet and stress reducing benefits of nature.
- Being able too choose safe destinations void of crowds.
- Maintaining a safe social distance from anyone outside your travel bubble.
Camping in Winter
Camping can admittedly be tricky during the winter, but is do-able with a little planning and preparation. It is suggested that campers come prepared with filled up propane tanks, insulated water hoses, shovels in case of snow and tire chains to improve traction. If you want to learn even more about the winterizing process, we have a blog post dedicated to the topic here.
Where to go Winter Camping
If skiing, snowboarding, and ice fishing are the activities you’re looking for check out the destinations below!
- Boyne Falls, Michigan. Home to a picturesque ski resort Boyne Mountain and nearby East Jordan Tourist Park Campground is open to RVs year round. A huge draw for families is the huge indoor water park Avalanche Bay. A perfect place to thaw out after playing outdoors in the snow.
- Hocking Hills State Park, Logan, Ohio. Winter is a particularly magical time to see the Hocking Hills State Park. The waterfalls freeze, the mouth of caves are filled with icicles and don’t forget about the snow! Sites with electric hookups are available year round.
- Yellowstone National Park, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Geysers erupt in the snowy mountain landscape. You can take a ranger led snowshoeing tour to see bison, elk, and wolf pups. The mammoth campground is open to RVs in winter.
- White Mountains, New Hampshire. This is a lesser known spot, where runs of every color are a dream for both beginners and experts. There are trails for snowshoeing and snowmobile rides too. Apple Hill Campground is open all seasons and provides all the necessities for winter RVers with full hook up sites, fire pits, and access to a network of cross country skiing trails.
- Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah. Misty mornings and winter landscapes are stunning at Bryce Canyons. Several national park campsites with RV sites stay open and there are ranger led snowshoe hikes.
- Zion River Resort Virgin, Utah. Avoid the crowds and summer heat by visiting Zion National Park in the winter. Zion River Resort is right next to the park and with full hook up sites and fire rings, makes a cozy spot to spend colder nights.
If sandy beaches and desserts are more your speed, check out these destinations below.
- Canyon Trail RV Park, Boulder City, Nevada. A full service park in a quaint boulder city right by the hoover dam and 30 minutes from Las Vegas.
- Crooked River State Park, Georgia. This area has jacket or light sweater weather so the cold doesn’t stop play. This campground has 63 sites with electric hook ups and water, with access to a nature weaving trail with live oaks and salt marshes to the beach.
- Hot Springs, Arkansas. Hot springs you can soak in, including Buckstaff Baths, which has been filling tubs with water drawn from natural thermal waters since 1912. The Gulpha Gorge Campground, which operates year round with 40 full hook up sites and access to mountain, forest, and river trails.
- Yuma, Arizona. This desert city can be unbearable in summer, but the conditions in winter are pretty perfect. There are plenty of year round RV sites but, Blue Sky ranch- with a swimming pool, hot tub, and sports courts is a favorite.
The colder months don’t have to mean the end of your adventures with your “hotel on wheels” Whether you decide to head towards snow or sandy beaches, there is still so much to explore! Join us on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter for more motorhome education and inspiration!