Southwest RV Trip Jan/Feb

[rjsob58]

We're looking for suggestions on places to go/see for our RV trip to the southwest for the winter months. We're looking to avoid colder weather.

We've done the Southeast twice this year and haven't ever been out west.

 

[PaunchyPirate]

Oh gosh... where to begin. How long do you want to be gone? And where are you starting from?

 

[rjsob58]

Oh gosh... where to begin. How long do you want to be gone? And where are you starting from?

Starting from West Virginia. We plan to be gone perhaps 45 days or more. We'd like to spend 1-2 weeks in one place at a time. Once I know what areas or sites we are interested in, I can check the RV forums for campgrounds.

We tow a car so we can do some day trips once we're settled into a campground.

 

[Ronstar]

I don't now much about RV'ing, but most of the southwest places I like to go to are a bit chilly in the winter. Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, Arches, Monument Valley. IMO, these places are best visited in April/May and October/November.

Tucson/ Phoenix areas are better in the winter. Lake Pleasant is nice. And Lake Havasu.

 

[COcheesehead]

Keep in mind that the American Southwest while dry, can still be cold in winter because of the higher altitude and snow still may occur unless you are way south. With that in mind here are a few thoughts in no particular order.

Fremont Indian State Park
https://www.utah.com/destinations/state-parks/fremont-indian-state-park/
Monument Valley
https://navajonationparks.org/tribal-parks/monument-valley/
Moab
https://www.discovermoab.com/
Sego Canyon
https://www.roadtripryan.com/go/t/utah/moab/sego-canyon-rock-art
Gateway Canyon - make sure you see the auto museum.
https://www.gatewaycanyons.com/
Snow Canyon SP
https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/snow-canyon/
Colorado National Monument
https://www.visitgrandjunction.com/day-colorado-national-monument
Dinosaur National Monument
https://www.colorado.com/articles/dinosaur-national-monument


Then the obvious ones: Zion, Bryce, Escalante Grand Staircase, Grand Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, Sedona, Bisbee.

 

[audreyh1]

Stay south of I-10!

For west a lot of RVers spend their winters in the Rio Grande Valley or in the southern Arizona/California desert.

 

[Retiired]

Wow, sounds like an awesome trip ahead. Here is how we would plan a similar trip. We have traveled in our small Class B+ in all of the areas, so much to do everywhere, you will not be disappointed.
Day 1 Pigeon Forge area – Dollywood
Day 2 Chattanooga, TN
Day 3 Tuscaloosa, AL
Day 4-5 New Orleans, LA
Day 6-7 Galveston, TX
Day 8-9 Corpus Christi, TX
Day 10 Del Rio, Tx
Day 11-13 Big Bend National Park
Day 14 El Paso, TX
Day 15-16 Bisbee & Tombstone AZ
Day 17-24 Tucson, AZ – Arizona Desert Museum, Saguaro National Park, Green Valley Farmers Market
Day 25-27 Organ Pipe National Park
Day 28-35 Phoenix, AZ; Lake Pleasant Regional Park, Scottsdale, Taliesin West, South Mountain Park, Papago Park
Day 36-40 Lake Havasu, AZ
Head for home!

 

[skyking1]

+1 nice post Retiired. We have not yet but look forward to doing so. happy travels OP!!

 

[old medic]

We are dream planning the same stuff.. Upgraded to the toyhauler to explore around on the bike. Planning can be a pain... or half the fun...

 

[38Chevy454]

Agree you need to stay south of I-10 to be assured of warmer weather. Quartzite AZ is a very popular snowbird destination, mostly BLM land but dry camping. If you want hookups in a CD ampground in warmer winter climates I think that boat has sailed. You might get lucky, or put up with some slight colder weather for better campground options.

Check out the sister site to this one www.irv2.com and you can get many udeas and locations to check out.

 

[ivinsfan]

Hear over to You tube and start watching RverTV he is based around Quartzite and has done many videos in the surrounding area. He camps, so has many camping and Rv sites that he talks about. He'll show the area, the camping sites talk about price and all that.


It will be time well spent. For people talking about the weather by late March/April many of the more iconic spots, the Utah parks and such have nicer weather and fewer crowds.

 

[rjsob58]

Wow, sounds like an awesome trip ahead. Here is how we would plan a similar trip. We have traveled in our small Class B+ in all of the areas, so much to do everywhere, you will not be disappointed.
Day 1 Pigeon Forge area – Dollywood
Day 2 Chattanooga, TN
Day 3 Tuscaloosa, AL
Day 4-5 New Orleans, LA
Head for home!

Done all the above except Dollywood. I think we will deadhead to TX or AZ

Day 6-7 Galveston, TX
Day 8-9 Corpus Christi, TX
Day 10 Del Rio, Tx
Day 11-13 Big Bend National Park
Day 14 El Paso, TX
Day 15-16 Bisbee & Tombstone AZ
Day 17-24 Tucson, AZ – Arizona Desert Museum, Saguaro National Park, Green Valley Farmers Market
Day 25-27 Organ Pipe National Park
Day 28-35 Phoenix, AZ; Lake Pleasant Regional Park, Scottsdale, Taliesin West, South Mountain Park, Papago Park
Day 36-40 Lake Havasu, AZ
Head for home!

I will check out all of the above. We've done 2 trips this year staying 3-5 days at each stop. This time we want to stay at least a week at each. Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[Sanstar]

If you go to Big Bend, bring a telescope. Dark sky region. Sky is blanketed with stars. So lovely!

 

[audreyh1]

Binoculars do very well for night sky in Big Bend. You can definitely enjoy larger sky objects like the Milky Way and constellations even without. I’ve gotten great night sky full of star photos from Chisos Basin in Big Bend using a very wide angle lens.

 

[Ian S]

December and January can be quite cold in the southwestern deserts especially at night but days will be generally pleasant in the sun. Think 50s to maybe 60s. Things get warmer as February approaches. In most areas the key is elevation - the higher the colder. Lots to see and do in the Phoenix and Tucson areas but lots of snowbirds. I'd be cautious about staying overnight in the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument as it is near the border and there is a fair amount of drug and human smuggling.