Next winter in the southwest - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Bobc · RV-Dreams Family Member

Next winter in the southwest

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

A month in West Texas - ugh. 3 days getting through it was always long enough for me. It can get cold and wet come November in most of West Texas. New Mexico is is also at higher elevation and I sure wouldn't want to spend a month along I-10 during the winter months. But other people do.

In Arizona parks are all over, depending upon where you want to be. We like the Phoenix metro area (we're in Mesa) because there are so many things to do, and almost all of the parks have activities directors and a lot going on. If you like baseball, March is the month to be in the Phoenix area for Spring Training - - all Cactus league teams are within a 30 mile radius of each other. And you get much better monthly rates if you do 3 months at a time.

Barb

igotjam · RV-Dreams Family Member

Agree with Barbarok. Nothing redeeming in West TX, NM is too cold, lots in AZ. In AZ try Tucson, Casa Grande, Mesa Phoenix, Apache Junction, Buckeye etc.....lots of parks with whatever you might want....Voyager in Tucson has lots of Pickle ball.

Neil and Connie · RV-Dreams Family Member

It's not TX, AZ, or NM…but I've got a buddy that winters at The Sands RV in Desert Hot Springs CA…it's the next town from Palm Springs. 700 a month I believe in the winter and nice weather the whole time. We checked the area out on a non RV trip to San Diego a few years back and if we were to winter out west that's where we would go.

There are 5-6 RV parks in Desert Hot Springs that are all pretty nice…one even has hot springs spas to enjoy and the Sands has $10 per round golf if that's your thing…and if you've got a bunchabucks then you can even stay over in Palm Springs at the "resorts" and see famous folk.

Bobc · RV-Dreams Family Member

Wow, I was thinking it would still be ok in November and December in Texas and New Mexico
I guess I need to rethink our schedule.
We need to be in Junction City Kansas late September or October. So the plan was to just drop down into Texas and take our time over to Arizona.
I guess we could just go to 6 different parks in Arizona.
We have never been there before and not sure we want to take a chance on longer stays, if you don't like a place, it would be harmed to move around without reservation.
The one Campground that came highly recommend is Mesa Regal RV Resort, in Mesa.
This place is huge, we have never stayed at a place this big.

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

November in Texas is "iffy", December can be really cold. The problem with Texas is that it can be 80F one day and 10F the next day, lived there for 11 years and will never live there again. Would only consider TX if we were going all the way south and staying along the Rio Grande, if you want to stay along I-10, parts of that, especially West TX will be really cold. If you use Accuweather, get the extended forecast that gives you a monthly view with the averages, that will give you an idea of temperatures.

We've stayed at Mesa Regal for a month a couple of winters ago, LOTS of activities. Since we're still working full time we couldn't take advantage of most of them and I truly disliked the back in sites. Our 5th wheel has a large picture window at the back and we looked out to see a storage room. Great shopping, restaurants around, but I truly dislike being in the huge RV parks and I hate looking at a storage shed 10 feet behind the rear of the RV so it really does depend on the site.

Even the higher elevations in AZ can be cold in December and January, Benson can get very cold, Tucson is generally a little bit colder than Phoenix due to being at a higher elevation. However, we prefer Tucson to Phoenix as we love to hike and bike and the trail selection is fantastic. It seemed like we always had a bit of a drive in the Phoenix area to get to a trailhead and invariably encountered traffic to get there and back. Our first AZ winter we spent more than half of it in the Phoenix area, this year we were there for 10 days and spent almost half the time in Tucson. I'd recommend at least a month in each so you can try both, lots to keep you busy in both cities.

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

Bobc wrote:
Wow, I was thinking it would still be ok in November and December in Texas and New Mexico
I guess I need to rethink our schedule.
We need to be in Junction City Kansas late September or October. So the plan was to just drop down into Texas and take our time over to Arizona.
I guess we could just go to 6 different parks in Arizona.
We have never been there before and not sure we want to take a chance on longer stays, if you don't like a place, it would be harmed to move around without reservation.
The one Campground that came highly recommend is Mesa Regal RV Resort, in Mesa.
This place is huge, we have never stayed at a place this big.

We spent a week at Mesa Regal - the non-monthly sites are really tight getting into. Much prefer Val Vista (also a Cal-Am park) which is where we stay. Not quite as big as Mesa Regal, but I think they have better activities. If you are a quilter, Val Vista is definitely the place to be. But also you name the activity it is here. Sites are easier to get into than Mesa Regal. Lots of people stay in Apache Junction - parks are cheaper there and not as many activities, but they do have a wide variety. Just really depends upon what you want to do.

If you are wanting to explore some of Texas, I'd vote for the hill country. Lots of COE parks around (water/electric with dump stations) like Canyon Lake outside of San Antonio, or Kerrville-Fredericksburg area.

Bobc · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks Barb, we will check out Val Vista and Apache Junction. We like to play Pickle Ball and do some hiking along with checking out the sites, Tucson also sounds interesting.
It looks like the Phoenix area starts to get hot in March, so was thinking of going up to the Flagstaff area for March and early April

LarryW21 · RV-Dreams Family Member

"This place is huge, we have never stayed at a place this big."

Neither have I....by choice.

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

Bobc wrote:
Thanks Barb, we will check out Val Vista and Apache Junction. We like to play Pickle Ball and do some hiking along with checking out the sites, Tucson also sounds interesting.
It looks like the Phoenix area starts to get hot in March, so was thinking of going up to the Flagstaff area for March and early April

Depends upon what your idea of hot is. Having lived in the Phoenix area year round in the 1970s, 100+ is hot. Actually March is really great - might get warm during the day, but the nights are in the 50s - so it cools off when the sun goes down and is really pleasant for doing things outdoors in the evening. April might be a little warmer, but still cools at night so sleep with windows open. Now come MAY - it becomes warm at night and we want to be gone by then.

BTW - it is April 3rd and it is SNOWING at Flagstaff tonight.

Barb

RonC · RV-Dreams Family Member

While not West Texas, the Alsatian RV Resort is a very nice park. It is in Castroville, TX which is about 20 miles due west of San Antonio. I have found that non Texans have a different vision of what "West" means (as in regard to Texas). Alpine is West Texas, El Paso is West Texas, but San Antonio is not West Texas. Winter weather in Texas (South of Interstate 10), has mild weather ... similar to N Florida.

In San Antonio the two "perfect" months are October and March. Daytime highs in the 70's and 80's and lows in the 50's and 60's.

-- Edited by RonC on Wednesday 5th of April 2017 02:38:15 PM

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

March and April in Arizona I would go to an intermediate elevation between Phoenix and Flagstaff, like Camp Verde/Sedona. By then much of New Mexico is getting decent temperatures, but might be windy.

The Restless Youngs · RV-Dreams Family Member

We spent this past winter in the San Antonio area with no issues and know others who go a bit further south (Rio Grand Valley, Port Aransas, Galveston, etc.) I wouldn't rule Texas out, maybe just reexamine where in Texas.

Hdrider · RV-Dreams Family Member

Well if you like Pickleball Palm Creek Golf & RV in Casa Grande is hard to beat. They have 32 courts and have help the nationals the last few years. As far as other things to do the list is just way to long to list.

Camper Chronicles · RV-Dreams Family Member

We gate guarded in Texas south of San Antonio and largely found the weather to be fantastic. There are some cool spots along the Gulf of Mexico to check out along with Big Bend National Park. We also love Arizona, especially the Tuscon area and have added Lost Dutchman State Park to our lists of favorites. My advice would be to sample several different areas and see what YOU like. Everyone is different.

Trace

K & E · RV-Dreams Family Member

We like Fortuna de Oro in Yuma, Arizona. Brand new sports complex with lots of activities including pickle ball. Also 9 hole nice golf course. Lots to do and nice people. Special deal for fall months.

RonC · RV-Dreams Family Member

Love your Signature ...

"Life's Journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways,
totally worn out, shouting "Wow...What a Ride"!".

That is my plan exactly.

-- Edited by RonC on Wednesday 5th of April 2017 02:41:29 PM

-- Edited by RonC on Wednesday 5th of April 2017 02:42:18 PM

Honeydeaux · RV-Dreams Family Member

We are boondocking in Big Bend National Park now. We love it here. The weather has been nice, not to hot during the day and not to cold at night. Good solar gain each day. Lots to see and do. Just make sure you bring everything you need for your stay. This is a very isolated area. BB NP web site says it's 3 hours to the nearest medical care. Stay away from here during a Spring Break in March. Word is it's a little roughty.

We were at Texas Seminole Canyon State Park last week and enjoyed our stay there as well.

Also look at Sea Rim Texas state park at Sabine Pass. It's a small Park on the Gulf we stained there for a week mid March. Caught us a mess of blue point crabs right in the park.

Headed to Davis Mountain State Park in Fort Davis next. Never been there but they have good reviews.

Regards.