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GaryS1953's avatar
GaryS1953
Explorer
Nov 12, 2018

Dewinterize en route to Quartzsite

Hi All - We'll be headed to Quartzsite from Michigan and looking for suggestions as to where to de-winterize. We are looking to head straight south on 65 to Nashville, then west to Little Rock. Not the fastest route, but gets us out of the snow faster. Looking for recommendations as to where to stop for a night and de-winterize. We plan on taking about 5 days to get there and will spend most of those nights at Cracker Barrel, Walmarts, etc, but we need one campground with water and dump, preferably sooner rather than later. Any suggestions?
  • By the time you reach Kentucky, you'll pretty much be out of the snow belt. Anything South of Indiana will be a good place to unwinterize.


    Louiville South KOA (Open all year, right on I-65 route)
    https://koa.com/campgrounds/louisville-south/


    Horse Cave KOA (Open all year, right on I-65 route)
    https://koa.com/campgrounds/horse-cave/


    Bowling Green KOA (Open all year, right on I-65 route)
    https://koa.com/campgrounds/bowling-green/

    We've stayed at all 3 of these in the past at one time or another.

    Good Sam Cave City RV Campground (Open year round, right on I-65 route)
    https://www.goodsam.com/campgrounds-rv-parks/details/default.aspx?cgid=260001214

    Good Sam Elizabethtown Crossroads Campground (Open year round, right on I-65 route)
    https://www.elizabethtowncrossroadscampgroundky.com/?utm_source=GoodSam

    Good Sam Singing Hills RV Park (Open year round, right on I-65 route)
    https://www.goodsam.com/campgrounds-rv-parks/details/default.aspx?cgid=210100115

    Good Sam: Camping World of Bowling Green (Open year round, right on I-65 route)
    https://www.goodsam.com/campgrounds-rv-parks/details/default.aspx?cgid=780002918

    There may be more, These are one's I'm familiar with.
  • Make a short term decision after you watch the weather. If there's going to be a warm period, dewinterize sooner; if a "norther" is coming in, then hold off.
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    Lynn
  • You could probably get away with doing it before you leave if you have lots of propane and battery and don't mind travelling with the furnace on. I see you have decent solar so that's a help. Boondocking in freezing cold is not my idea of a nice trip, especially with no water. You're brave - or cheap! :)

    Otherwise, wait until anywhere the nighttime temps will be above 30.. is what I'd do. And carry lots of propane and batteries!
  • DutchmenSport wrote:
    By the time you reach Kentucky, you'll pretty much be out of the snow belt. Anything South of Indiana will be a good place to unwinterize.


    Louiville South KOA (Open all year, right on I-65 route)
    https://koa.com/campgrounds/louisville-south/


    Horse Cave KOA (Open all year, right on I-65 route)
    https://koa.com/campgrounds/horse-cave/


    Bowling Green KOA (Open all year, right on I-65 route)
    https://koa.com/campgrounds/bowling-green/

    We've stayed at all 3 of these in the past at one time or another.

    Good Sam Cave City RV Campground (Open year round, right on I-65 route)
    https://www.goodsam.com/campgrounds-rv-parks/details/default.aspx?cgid=260001214

    Good Sam Elizabethtown Crossroads Campground (Open year round, right on I-65 route)
    https://www.elizabethtowncrossroadscampgroundky.com/?utm_source=GoodSam

    Good Sam Singing Hills RV Park (Open year round, right on I-65 route)
    https://www.goodsam.com/campgrounds-rv-parks/details/default.aspx?cgid=210100115

    Good Sam: Camping World of Bowling Green (Open year round, right on I-65 route)
    https://www.goodsam.com/campgrounds-rv-parks/details/default.aspx?cgid=780002918

    There may be more, These are one's I'm familiar with.
    Hi Dutchmen, thanks for all the helpful information. I had been thinking Tennessee would be good, but probably Elizabethtown KY would be fine as well, assuming there is not an incredible cold snap, and if there is we won't be traveling anyway. That RV park in Elizabethtown is probably just about the right distance for us to stop at for the night. Thanks again.
  • 2oldman wrote:
    You could probably get away with doing it before you leave if you have lots of propane and battery and don't mind travelling with the furnace on. I see you have decent solar so that's a help. Boondocking in freezing cold is not my idea of a nice trip, especially with no water. You're brave - or cheap! :)

    Otherwise, wait until anywhere the nighttime temps will be above 30.. is what I'd do. And carry lots of propane and batteries!
    Hi 2oldman, We've done driveway camping in the cold and our batteries held up just fine with furnace usage and TV watching. All of our lights are LED, and we only burn a couple, and our TV is only 19", so doesn't take a lot. We will probably only have about 2 really cold nights, and then we'll be far enough south and west that it should be fine. Thanks!