We have decided to take our class A motorhome south for the winter. Will be spending a month or so in Florida, then heading west on 10, as far as Arizona.

Having never done this before, I am looking for tips, on where to stay, places to see, and more importantly, places to avoid.

When you make it to Arizona, drop me an email, I might be able to show you around some or at least recommend some good stuff to see depending on your time frame.
Some good RV parks just north of Sierra Vista, central enough to see Tombstone and Ghost towns and Kartchner Caverns.

I hope you already have your Florida reservations!

will let you know after tonights power ball results

If you can, visit Butterfield RV Resort in Benson, on I-10, west of Willcox, north of Sierra Vista. Excellent park and clean! Good location for day trips to Tombstone, etc, as posted by rizzle. They have an excellent website for further information. BUTTERFIELD RV RESORT

Mississippi Gulf Coast, casinos, golf, CHEAP hotels compared to FLorida. I 10 runs right through our area. Longest manmade white sand beach in the world. Good fishing and seafood.

Just reread your post. Lots of places to hookup your motorhome right on the water. Reasonable rates for the winter. GUN FRIENDLY.

LINK: https://www.gulfcoast.org/

quote:

Originally posted by Johnny 3eagles:
If you can, visit Butterfield RV Resort in Benson, on I-10, west of Willcox, north of Sierra Vista. Excellent park and clean! Good location for day trips to Tombstone, etc, as posted by rizzle. They have an excellent website for further information. BUTTERFIELD RV RESORT

That does look like a nice RV Park, thanks Johnny 3eagles!

quote:

Originally posted by smlsig:
I hope you already have your Florida reservations!

That was my exact second thought as well.

My first thought was I wish I was going snowboarding this year.

Last Christmas we were ar Ft DeSoto, and my wife said the Canadian Snowboard Association was at one of the pavilions near the beach. I couldn't understand what they'd be doing in Florida in December. My kids and I rode our bikes over and the sign said Canadian Snowbird Association. I guess I need to get my eyes checked along with my ears.

Competition for camping spots in Florida is fierce. People here, people from "up north" and even Canada are all trying to get spots. State parks take reservations 11 months (maybe it's a year, my wife does it) in advance and my wife is online at midnight tryimg to get spots. Ft DeSoto is a county park and takes reservation 7 months in advance, but residents of Pinellas County can do it 6 months in advance. We didn't get a spot there for spring break this year. We don't have a spot for Christmas/New Year either.

That being said, these are the state parks I'd recommend:

St. Andrews SP in Panama City affected by a hurricane so I don't know how it is now.

Anastsia SP in St Augustine

Gamble Rogers SP in Flagler Beach

Bahia Honda SP in the Lower Keys, it took us 4 years to get a spot here

Alafia River SP if you like mountain biking and I'm not joking

Myaka River SP, great birding and some of the biggest alligators I've seen in the wild. The kids wouldn't go kayaking because of it.

Sebastian Inlet SP in Melbourne Beach we haven't stayed here, but drove through it while we stayed at a nearby county Park

County parks:
Ft DeSoto in Pinellas County two of my kids learned to ride their bicycles here on separate visits.

Long Point Park in Melbourne Beach

Jetty Park Campground in Port Canaveral it super close to Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center. Cocoa Beach has peafowl walking the streets.

But you are going to miss all the snow and freezing cold weather that seems like it will never end

 
AZ is a horrible place to snowbird.

Pensacola Beach RV Resort website shows vacancy. Shoot me an email & I can advise where to eat, see, shoot, etc. NAS Pensacola is a popular place to visit. Check the Blue Angels museum website for practice dates.

If you make it to Tucson, AZ checkout MT Lemmon, Kitts Peak Observatory, Air Museum, Senora Desert museum, Tombstone and Bisbee. I spent about 10 days in Tucson last December and had such a great time I'm planning a second trip this December. It does get cold the further north you go so stay close to I10 to avoid cold weather.

South Texas is OK and not as crowded but the water is very mineralized and will leave deposits on your RV. We are staying home in Arkansas this year.

Last time I drove I-10 it was rough as a washboard and shook the RV up more than I cared for.

Not me. No need for that in San Diego.

quote:

Originally posted by smlsig:
I hope you already have your Florida reservations!

I have discovered what you said to be true. Of the two places I have stayed at so far, what is kept open for transient travelers are not the "premium" sights.
Found a new RV Resort in Chiefland FL, it is very nice, and I was able to get one of the last two sites left for the winter. So here we are for the winter, end of road trip for this winter. This town is a little west of Gainesville, so it is a little cooler than down south here in Florida, but it seems very comfortable for us compared to winter in Michigan where we are from.

Anybody familiar with the area that could point out places of interest, restaurants etc.?

Welcome to FL.

Make a trip to Key west and back . If you cannot find reservations for the RV then go by car and stay in a hotel. The drive from FL city to key west is unique and very much worth doing.

My in-laws were full time RVers based out of Oregon and loved the gulf coast from TX to FL. When visiting they would spend weeks moving through the gulf coast. Sometimes when they changed spots they would only move 25-30 miles down the road.

They were members of 2 lodges, I think elks and eagles but not sure. Most of the lodges had a few RV spots with power, water, and sewer hook ups that they could use for free of very inexpensive. I don't know if this applies but I know they traveled all around FL using them. They would spend a few weeks here, then take off for a week or 2 and then come back here for a few weeks before taking another week or 2 trip.

quote:

Originally posted by Warhorse:
Anybody familiar with the area that could point out places of interest, restaurants etc.?

If you haven't seen Cape Canaveral, definitely head over there for a couple of days.

St Augustine is also a nice place to check out.

We full time and head south for the winter every year. This year we are staying in AZ. Surprise to be exact. We plan on doing some trails with our Polaris RZR, and the Wrangler. I just love the weather here better then Florida. Also our Son and his wife have recently moved to the area

quote:

Originally posted by Warhorse:

quote:

Originally posted by smlsig:
I hope you already have your Florida reservations!

I have discovered what you said to be true. Of the two places I have stayed at so far, what is kept open for transient travelers are not the "premium" sights.
Found a new RV Resort in Chiefland FL, it is very nice, and I was able to get one of the last two sites left for the winter. So here we are for the winter, end of road trip for this winter. This town is a little west of Gainesville, so it is a little cooler than down south here in Florida, but it seems very comfortable for us compared to winter in Michigan where we are from.

Anybody familiar with the area that could point out places of interest, restaurants etc.?

Take a ride to the tiny town of Dunellon a couple of breakfast spots: Breakfast Station and Reds (Reds might be in Ocala - the towns border one another). A casual lunch spot on the Rainbow River is Swampy’s. There is also the Blue Gator and The Front Porch in Dunellon. Local joints serving the bass fishing community. I think Chiefland might be a relative food desert. Crystal River might also have some places to explore. Those spots are all near you. Florida is a large state with lots to explore. Enjoy !

Over the past 2 years we have wintered in Destin Florida. We love it there and will be heading back before Christmas.
In the interim, we are gonna spend next week near Goodyear AZ to check it out. The cost of housing is much cheaper in AZ than in FL. Time will tell.
Mike