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Old 12-09-2020, 08:34 PM   #21
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So, the joke here on the Prairies in Canada here is to put a snow scoop on the back of your RV and head South. When someone asks "what the heck is THAT"? then you are far enough!
Seriously, we head south thru the Dakotas and usually after 3 days, we look for Parks open all year. Last year we were storm stayed in S. Dakota and the next day had to stay at a motel in NW Missouri. Next night we were OK in S. Missouri.
Good luck, wish we could go South!
Thank you for this,
"So, the joke here on the Prairies in Canada here is to put a snow scoop on the back of your RV and head South. When someone asks "what the heck is THAT"? then you are far enough"
need things likes this during these terrible times.
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Old 12-09-2020, 08:50 PM   #22
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I would be real carefull obout 77 if it snows north of charlette.
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Old 12-10-2020, 04:48 AM   #23
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mileage and winterizing

660 miles from the deep freeze to Charlotte. I can make the trip in appx 11 hours in a car, with minimal stops, but have driven that route dozens of times, and am very familiar with the roads and various weather conditions. Plan on staying in VW/VA the first night, app. 350 - 400 mi. from Buffalo. High elevations...COLD, even if you drive all the way to the NC state line.
I live in the Piedmont/Sandhills area about 75 mi east of Charlotte, and we can get freezing temps overnight during the winter, which is going to be the norm throughout the Carolinas.
Have a safe trip.
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Old 12-10-2020, 06:22 AM   #24
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Hello fellow WNY !! We have been going to FL for the winter since '08. We are in West Palm Beach. I would say at least SC, we always do a one nighter in KOA Yemassee SC, always nice there. WV & VA can be very cold. One year we stopped in KOA Wytheville VA and it was so cold, we left the camper there and got a hotel for the one night!!

Have a safe trip and you will love the Keys, we will drive down to Big Pine Key and spend 2 nights in a hotel, just a little get-a-way from the RV.

Keep Safe!!
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Old 12-10-2020, 07:44 AM   #25
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we've been across and up and down in this great country, during all parts of the year, even mid February to Wakarusa, IN to the Thor service center, and have yet to ever 'winterize'....
it's not about snow, as there was 8" in Wakarusa when we arrived, 10" in Nevada along the way, and snow at the Grand Canyon several overnights. It's about temperature, not snow. It's also about your heat within your RV while traveling and overnighting. Your own heat, whether your furnace, your vehicle's heater, or electric heating while overnight, your RV is already designed to handle the cold. Your motorhome has internal tanks and water lines - no worries.
Now, your external water line/water hose to your spigot is certainly subjected to long hours of cold temps overnight, but if you use your water tank and water pump insteand, you should have no issues.

Don't fret it. And don't try to drive thru cold temps, snowing/frozen roads, and so many miles in a single day - it's not the summer months, it's winter. If you overnight at an rv park where you have electricity, you should be just fine.
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Old 12-13-2020, 12:42 PM   #26
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Well, the trip is on. Thanks for "All" of the great suggestions, I am going to print out this thread to keep with the Florida 2021 growing file.

Because of the weather and the lateness in pulling the trigger to go, I have been working on planning the trip backwards, starting in Key West. We were able to get a spot at Boyd's, nothing mid-Key's like Marathon or Islamorada, but did get a spot at Key Largo Kampground. Next will be somthing around Daytona. We have added a bunch of flex days getting out of WNY State and south so we aren't pushed by time.

Heading back we're flexible to overnight anyplace we may have missed, the first multi-night destination will be Savannah, GA. then to Raleigh, NY at Falls Lake Conversation area for at least a week to visit with my brother four miles away and a couple of day trip in the toad to Charlotte to visit with a close friend.

Can't wait, challenges and all, a new adventure for us for sure!
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Old 12-13-2020, 04:53 PM   #27
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I also recommend KOA Yemassee SC. Its not far north of GA, easy on and off 95.
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Old 12-13-2020, 05:13 PM   #28
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I also recommend KOA Yemassee SC. Its not far north of GA, easy on and off 95.
......and as I recall, at Yemassee, you can place your pizza order when you check in and have it delivered to your site. Just tell them when. Get setup, pour yourself a bevy of your choice, and dinner will be there.

They also used to have beer or wine tasting in the office area, but not sure if that still happens.

Yemassee is eady on/off from I-95.
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Old 12-13-2020, 06:41 PM   #29
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......and as I recall, at Yemassee, you can place your pizza order when you check in and have it delivered to your site. Just tell them when. Get setup, pour yourself a bevy of your choice, and dinner will be there.

They also used to have beer or wine tasting in the office area, but not sure if that still happens.

Yemassee is easy on/off from I-95.

I think they were still making pizza when we came through there around Laborday time frame 2020. I recommend waiting for the golf cart to escort you to your site, especially if its dark. Way to many ways to go through that campground. In fact before I leave the next morning I take a walk to plan my exit.

There must be something near this campground because you will see lots of people staying more than over night. Just like the Statesville 77 KOA. when we stop there it seems the nascar and motorcycle flat track in Charlotte bring people into that one. Years ago we stayed in a KOA near Savanna GA that was OK.

Also if your coming down 95, don't overlook South of the Border campground. its back behind the fireworks stand. Key card gate, and pull through sites. I think it runs under $35.00. it was interesting to walk about SOB and see what road side America used be like, but in todays Covid world I would skip that tour.



There is a also a 1000 trails right next to Yemassee KOA. My coach came with 1 year free Thousand trails. (we were members in the early 2000's but dumped them). I tried to make reservations at this 1000 trails for the weekend after laborday 2020. I have a 25' MBS towing a 14' box trailer (39' long). they told me I would have to drop the trailer before the gate in the parking lot. Forget about that. What kind of BS is that.
We also tried 1000 trails up off 77 this spring. They put me in such a miserable site I moved to overflow and spend the night there. was a good reminder of what TT really is like.
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Old 12-14-2020, 02:20 AM   #30
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My parents bought a new MH in 1982 and Joined an RV club. They live close to Galveston. The club decides to take a winter trip to Orlando. They get to P-cola and a Ice storm hits. Their MH and several others has the water freeze up and when they thawed out almost every line and all 3 tanks were cracked. They spent 2 weeks in a Motel there getting it fixed. So I am going to sat Key West minimum to be safe(:>)
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Old 12-14-2020, 12:12 PM   #31
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Thanks for the added suggestions guys! Great references for when we are on the road. Pizza and a couple of beers after a day on the road sounds great!

Well, today I was able to book a site at Tomaka State Park in Ormond Beach for a couple of nights. Close enough to Daytona and Cape Canaveral I believe. Sites are listed at 34 feet but the Q & A section had someone ask with a reply that their 36' 5'er fit just fine with room to spare.

I try to stay away from corporate campgrounds feeling their prices will be much higher than individually owned ones. I don't begrudge them, but they offer a lot of amenities like multiple pools, water slides, game rooms, etc. that I'm sure for a family vacation probably works out well. Not me. I have also never stayed at a KOA for many of the same reasons, but also a few years back I had read somewhere that KOA corporate spends millions on banning overnights at Walmarts and other big box retailers.
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Old 12-14-2020, 07:57 PM   #32
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Hello, since you’re just 30 mins away from us I can chime in on how far we tow the first leg of our trip to Florida. I try and do a big first day, then my second day is easier. I try to get to SC, on I26 there are two very nice rest stops that we use for a few hours sleep.
Another option is a brand new rest stop about 45 mins north of Charlotte on I77. It’s in the middle between the north and south bound lanes.
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Old 12-14-2020, 08:01 PM   #33
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You need to be looking at CGs ASAP. Like 8 months ago.... good luck!
He might get lucky this year with the US/Canada border closed through “at least January 21st. That will cut down on snowbirds from the extreme north.

Regardless, it won’t be a typical season.

Bob
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Old 12-14-2020, 08:05 PM   #34
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With 70% of the snowbirds not heading south you are correct. That border won’t be open until summer. My guess
Is extreme north the other side of the Niagara River?
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Old 12-14-2020, 08:12 PM   #35
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Leaving from Ottawa Ca in Jan, we usually stop @ Richmon Va for the first night, we occasionally wake up to light snow, (close to freeze point) the second day we stop in Savannah, it's summer from there 😆 until Florida.
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Old 12-14-2020, 08:14 PM   #36
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nikita,"we left the camper there and got a hotel for the one night!!"
The wife said if you don't get that heater to fire we are going to town to stay;o)
Seems the cold stories are always funnier and the ones you always remember than the warm ones, of course when they are all over.
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Old 12-14-2020, 08:33 PM   #37
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We’ve done this trip for a few years (from Long Island) and we find we need to be south of Virginia to feel safe de-winterizing, and then we Winterizing again when we get back to Virginia. Depending on the current weather we have spent the night in norther VA at a campsite and then winterized prior to heading north and making it home in one shot, otherwise there is usually a hotel stay involved.
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Old 12-14-2020, 09:50 PM   #38
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Hello Forum'ers!

My DW and I planning on a trip to the Florida Keys' in early March providing we can book campsites this late into the year, I posted on another thread that this trip has been on and off because of Covid-19 but my DW really wants to go.

A question for more Southern forum folks is how far from Buffalo, NY do I need to plan the first leg of the trip to get away from possible snow in late February?
I won't de-winterize until we get to warmer climes and I'm thinking we'll have to travel at least 500 miles on the first leg.

Any other tips along with weather would be appreciated too!





Stay healthy and enjoy the Holiday Season soon to be here.
We head South From NJ around the first of January. Our 2nd night is spent at South of the Border Dillon SC.( NC-SC border) Full hookups where we dewinterize and u are allowed to wash rig if you had encountered nasty weather up north.
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Old 12-14-2020, 10:10 PM   #39
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I am originally from So Ca, now live in Az, I tip my hat to all of the "snowbirds" that will make the trek to get the hell out of the cold for some warmth for a few days/ months and then return home.
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Old 12-14-2020, 10:14 PM   #40
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We live near Grand Rapids, Michigan. I do not try to get to non snow country the first day, but stay in a hotel the first night. For us, that's just south of Louisville. Suggest you try and find a hotel closer to your route and spend the night there. Also suggest you find a hotel south of any metro area so that when you leave in the morning you are headed the opposite direction of busy morning traffic. We enjoy doing this because we find a nice restaurant for dinner and can have a nice shower before heading out. Also, google any hotel you're interested in, change to a satellite view, and make sure you have room to park your rig. Might even give the hotel and ask them. Have fun and be safe.
We live near Ann Arbor mi! We leave around 7:00 am on the 1st of Feb and go thru Coldwater Mi via us 12 and 69 Thur Indy, 65 thru Louisville Ky and stay first night in Elizabethtown Ky at Elizabethtown crossroads campground! Spend the night there for$25.00. Next night we are in Troy Alabama at Deer run campground ($25.00) where we dewinterize, then into Davenport Florida the 3rd night! Drive careful and stay safe!
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