Winter destination help.

larryo · 10-07-2015, 05:58 AM

This is our first year with our rv and we're thinking of taking a little 2 week vacation this winter. We live near Winnipeg Manitoba so our winters are cold. When discussing where to go I suggested just driving south till it was warm. DW thinks we should have a better plan than that (don't you hate when they make sense). How far south would we have to go to get daytime highs at least in the mid 50s? For now just a state will do. Arizona and Florida are both around 2000 miles and Texas is around 1600. Since it's only 2 weeks that's a bit further than I would like to drive. Any suggestions?

aceinspp · 10-07-2015, 07:03 AM

Lot depends on the month you are planing to leave to head south. Even mid GA gets down into 30s. Lower part of OKL or AR would be in the ball park. Later RJD

larryo · 10-07-2015, 07:16 AM

Probably January. Leaving from central Canada going down through the Dakotas.

deebarjay · 10-07-2015, 07:42 AM

are you pulling a trailer or motorhome?

larryo · 10-07-2015, 07:45 AM

Pulling a 34 ft 5th wheel with a Ram 3500 dually.

whj469 · 10-07-2015, 08:21 AM

Sorry but the only place that u can get great weather in the middle of winter is south Florida, below Palm Beach, or parts of AZ, maybe, a lot of people found out two winters ago that it can get cool in AZ sometimes. Good Luck

Sharps45120 · 10-07-2015, 10:06 AM

I agree with the previous post. The Florida Keys are great, but that's a really long haul for only 2 weeks. We spent 2 weeks in Destin, FL over last Christmas and had only 1 really warm day. Oddly enough, here at home the weather was exactly the same as that for which we drove 1000 miles.

WFD · 10-07-2015, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by larryo

Probably January. Leaving from central Canada going down through the Dakotas.

Larry....also hailing from Manitoba and having driven down to AZ and CA several times in January I have seen both cases. Left Manitoba and by end of first day had decent temps. On the other hand have also seen where we were in freezing temps till we were almost in AZ. Very unpredictable in Jan...you could have snow, sleet, freezing rain as far south as Texas. Personally, for me, 2 weeks isn't enough time to haul an RV down there. You are looking at 3 days each way leaving you a week. And that's with dry roads, throw a storm in there and you are hooped. Winter is far too unpredictable, especially in Jan. You won't be able to de-winterize till probably your 3rd day and you will have to winterize it down south before you head home cause you could be in freezing temps your first night heading back.

WFD · 10-07-2015, 08:26 PM

Larry,,,re-read your post and saw.."Any suggestions?"
Hop on a plane and spend your full 2 weeks down there, then it will be a vacation! Leave the RV at home for that short a stay...that's what we will be doing! Not worth hauling the trailer for that short a time.

merrykalia · 10-07-2015, 09:04 PM

Check out a cruise leaving from New Orleans or Galveston. Head down in the vehicle or fly, take a week and go to the Caribbean where you will be in 80 or above weather. We do one the last week of January or the first week of February every year and we don't get nearly as cold as your weather.

SilverbackMel · 10-08-2015, 09:23 PM

Listen to WFD! Your time is not long enough to make that drive and enjoy yourself.
We had ice in Mesa, AZ two years ago! Florida below Ocala is SOLD OUT and has been for 6 months! Repeat Canadian Snowbirds!
You will be having a miserable 2 week vacation.
Fly; rent a car and a condo, or take a cruise. All the same $$$$, just spent in a different way. 12-14 days with toes in the sand beats foot on the pedal!! TIKI BAR or Pilot truck stop with stinky diesel fuel and bad food!!
Give your RV the sleep time it deserves!!
BTW, a dirt spot in the Keys goes for $100+ a night!

WFD · 10-08-2015, 09:56 PM

Larry...I have driven on ice on the I-40 in New Mexico between Tucumcari and Albuquerque in Jan...not fun...and that's quite a ways South of us already, and have also heard of folks being stuck in one spot for a couple days due to a passing snowstorm. And further North from there is even more of a possibility of running into that. Not so bad if you are headed down there for a couple months...you just get off the road and wait it out, not so bad, but when on a tight schedule...thats no vacation...If you leave Canada in Jan and its in the -20's, you won't be staying in your RV the first night or 2, you will be staying in a hotel, and possibly same coming back home.
You could luck out and hit great weather and warm enough to use it but in Jan that's a crapshoot!

larryo · 10-12-2015, 04:34 PM

Thanks for the replies. We will have to re-think the idea.

Ford Idaho · 10-12-2015, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by larryo

Thanks for the replies. We will have to re-think the idea.

Good idea about flying down south, with luck a one day trip down and one back home.

Pulling a FW thru the Dakotas in January will likely not be any fun.

OldCoot · 10-12-2015, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sharps45120

I agree with the previous post. The Florida Keys are great, but that's a really long haul for only 2 weeks. We spent 2 weeks in Destin, FL over last Christmas and had only 1 really warm day. Oddly enough, here at home the weather was exactly the same as that for which we drove 1000 miles.

We've spent the last 6 yrs from late Nov until mid to late Feb in the Orlando area and the weather is great!

elind · 10-12-2015, 05:44 PM

We went from Upper Michigan to Arizona last February and it took us 10 days to Sedona, Az. Twice we had to stay put a few days because of the weather (high winds). If I were going for a warm RV trip it would be 3-4 weeks to enjoy a week or two of sunshine. We also had a snow day in Flagstaff in the end of April.

BooBoo23 · 10-12-2015, 09:27 PM

Book a 7 day cruise, the most relaxing time you will ever have. Meals (eat anytime as much as you want) and lodging all paid for. See some of the world you never saw before. Meet lots of new people, make new friends, ENJOY! In early January the prices are still good. Go down to the port a few days early and do a little local sightseeing or spend a few days before you return and you will eat up the two weeks of fun.

CardinalQueen · 10-18-2015, 10:48 PM

I'd say...west coast would be San Diego, CA or east coast Orlando,Fl or below there. We're headed to the championship NASCAR race in Homestead, Fl in five weeks then on to Key West! We live in SC and try stay warm whenever possible. Come on down out of Canada and escape the frozen tundra!

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