Snowbirding

[searching for nowhere]

Today as I watch the snow fall I've started thinking about next winter. Do I want to become a snowbird? It makes me wonder how hard it is to find places to spend the night to camp. I wouldn't want to stay a long time in one place. I would like to travel and explore the south without camping reservations. Boondocking is fine, I actually prefer it to using a campground.

What are people's experiences? Is the south being over run with RV snowbirds? I don't need solitude. I just don't want to have to worry about finding a campsite.

Thanks for any input.

 

[MarkBC]

I'm doing that - avoiding 'winter' in southern latitudes - now.
To answer your question depends on what you mean by "the south". I'm camped in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in very-southern AZ, and it hasn't been hard to find a site here, and there's LOTS of BLM land for boondocking all over AZ and NM and southern CA. But if you mean The South, as in TX and states eastward there isn't much boondocking at all because there isn't much public land.
As soon as TX gets out of its current freakish deep freeze I'm heading that way, but it's been hard (searching campground reservation websites) to find public campgrounds with more than a day or two in a row open - along the Gulf, anyway. Inland South (but still in TX, LA, etc) it's a little more available but still campsites are scarce on weekends.
I think the crowding is a combination of "COVID camping" as well as the usual winter southward migration of retired northerners. It's more crowded this winter than when I was in the South last winter.

 

[searching for nowhere]

Thanks. That sounds encouraging. My "south" is west of Texas.

 

[MarkBC]

Thanks. That sounds encouraging. My "south" is west of Texas.

Then, if nothing else then you'll find a lifetime of boondockable BLM land!

 

[Smokecreek1]

Then, if nothing else then you'll find a lifetime of boondockable BLM land!

nothing wrong about that-could be allot worse places to go !

Smoke

 

[allanb]

Just back from 3 months doing just that. Organ pipe very nice, Campground pretty full but able to get space mid week. Spent night in rv park in why, in order to store trailer, while touring organ pipe.
Quartsite and all of western az, eastern cal, full as I have seen in last 4-5 years. In spite of covid, and no Canadians. But still room. Lot easier with just truck camper and not pulling anything to get back of pavement

 

[craig333]

I might give it a try once my obligations here go away.

 

[Stray Dog]

We spent the month of January in Southern Arizona. We had been there before so knew where we wanted to go. We generally prefer camping in undeveloped locations but didn't specifically have that information. Because of the increase in camping activity, we made reservations in four state parks and found all to be nice places to be. Yep, more people than we'd like but had power and spaces are larger and more widely spaced than you'll find in commercial parks.

Our method was to go to a park, set up the 20 foot travel trailer and then explore daily. We ranged pretty widely and came back in the evenings or late afternoons.

Organ Pipe CG is nice (no power), Patagonia SP was great. we had a kayak and spend some of each day on the lake. Lots to see around Kartchner Caverns SP. Lost Dutchman is a beautiful park, but close to Phoenix. showers available at all except OrganPipe.

If you know remote sites you like, maybe a mixture of SP's and remote sites.

We finished the month with a night at the La Posada Inn in Winslow. If you aren't aware of it, check it out. rate was reasonable, restaurant is wonderful and the hotel is special as well... laposada.org

 

[allanb]

Yes. Great way to do it!
Ditto on La posada