Conditons heading south after Christmas

doxiemom11 wrote:
Until you get into southern Alabama, you could have nights that are down into the 30's and 40's. Unless you have solar and boondock, you will want to try to find electric so you can have heat.

We use the propane furnace to heat our RV when dry docked for the night at a WalMart or Flying-J. No solar needed.

golfknut wrote:
We are planning to head to Florida from Michigan (I-65) within a few days after Christmas....departure date will be weather dependent.

I was wondering what accomdations along the way are like at that time?

We also head for FL about that same time. We stay night's in WalMart parking lots with the other RVs heading south. Most are near but not so close to the Interstates that noise is a problem. We go in the store and buy Rotisserie chicken, potato and macaroni salad for dinner. The stores make money on us. Several times we picked up things not on the list. These lots are safe, well lit and have security cameras if not security guards themselves.

Are the RV parks near the highway in Kentucky and Alabama full?

We don't go through those states but I doubt they'd be full that time of year. Avoid traveling on the weekends if possible.

Are the rest areas packed full of overnighting RVer's?

I never saw one anywhere packed full of overnighters. Not all RSs allow overnighting so keep that in mind.

Do we need to make reservations for stops along the way or can we safely wing it?

reservations will limit your mobility. If you want to keep going or stop for the night... you can't. Your "paid for spot" is awaiting you. We hated dealing with that. If you want a CG you can wing it. None are 100% full in midwinter.

People have told me of their experiences coming north the first of April (packed rest areas, etc.) and I was wondering if conditions are similar around the first of the year when heading south?

Geeze, that's not what we found in TN,GA and FL. We leave Fl the last day of March or April 1st. Rest areas are not packed, but here again, not all allow overnighters. We also found them noisier than WalMart parking lots. We avoid traveling the weekend if possible, but even on the weekends the traffic isn't bad except around Atlanta GA. We try and hit Atlanta late at night.

Turning right at the same exit as Camping World will take you to a Sams Club. Can be seen from I-65.

tripalot:
Thanks for the info. on Camping World. That will be a good option for us.

golfknut wrote:
Parrothead Mike:
Funny you should mention the Camping World at Exit 22. I had checked the exits along I-65 in the Bowling Green area on the Google satellite images and had seen the Camping World at that exit. I saw that they have many RV parking spaces but wasn't sure if they allowed overnight parking. There is also a Cracker Barrel at that same exit which might also work.

I also found Cave Country RV Park north of there at Cave City, KY which might work if it's very cold out and we want electricity. They have all pull-through sites and looks convenient to the highway.

I called the C.W.at Bowling Green last December to ask if they had overnight RV parking. They do allow it but have no hookups - some CW do. He suggested the KOA across the highway. KOA wanted about $45 - we decided to go to our usual spot at Cave City. Singing Hills is a PA park - $14 a night, pull thrus and friendly. We usually de-winterize there. They have water and electric available. The only downside is their washrooms are not great but we never use them
anyhow. Park is about 3 miles off I-65.

In the winter we are not interested in Flying J or W.M. - electricity is a must.

Although I understand a person's desire to stay in a hotel we would prefer to sleep in our own beds....and I most likely wouldn't sleep well in the hotel room anyway knowing that our RV was unattended, given the increase in break-ins/thefts over the past few years. :(

Parrothead Mike:
Funny you should mention the Camping World at Exit 22. I had checked the exits along I-65 in the Bowling Green area on the Google satellite images and had seen the Camping World at that exit. I saw that they have many RV parking spaces but wasn't sure if they allowed overnight parking. There is also a Cracker Barrel at that same exit which might also work.

I also found Cave Country RV Park north of there at Cave City, KY which might work if it's very cold out and we want electricity. They have all pull-through sites and looks convenient to the highway.

Water-Bug wrote:

Steeljag wrote:

The_Painting_Teacher wrote:
After 5 yrs in campgrounds, we've settled into hotels. Most campgrounds aren't opened; those that are have limited sites and charge full price; it is cold setting up and breaking down. There are hotels along any route that have restaruants, bars, RV parking and indoor pools. Much nicer to just get out after a long day on the road and proceed into a nice warm room, have a good meal, a drink or two, then a dip in the pool with no need to break down a campsite in the cold the next morning. Just my two cents worth ..... camp on!

I do not make these type trips, but if I did.......^^ sounds like the best plan.

I'm not a clean freak or anything like that but one reason for owning an RV is to avoid other people's bedbugs. Somehow, it doesn't make sense to me to spend $40K+ on an RV and then sleep in a motel room, while the RV is parked outside.

Well we camp in our rv between 140 to160 days a year however when it 15 degrees outside, snowing and I've just driven 400 miles in the stuff, a nice hotel room with a restaurant and bar sounds pretty good to me. :E

Steeljag wrote:

The_Painting_Teacher wrote:
After 5 yrs in campgrounds, we've settled into hotels. Most campgrounds aren't opened; those that are have limited sites and charge full price; it is cold setting up and breaking down. There are hotels along any route that have restaruants, bars, RV parking and indoor pools. Much nicer to just get out after a long day on the road and proceed into a nice warm room, have a good meal, a drink or two, then a dip in the pool with no need to break down a campsite in the cold the next morning. Just my two cents worth ..... camp on!

I do not make these type trips, but if I did.......^^ sounds like the best plan.

I'm not a clean freak or anything like that but one reason for owning an RV is to avoid other people's bedbugs. Somehow, it doesn't make sense to me to spend $40K+ on an RV and then sleep in a motel room, while the RV is parked outside.

The_Painting_Teacher wrote:
After 5 yrs in campgrounds, we've settled into hotels. Most campgrounds aren't opened; those that are have limited sites and charge full price; it is cold setting up and breaking down. There are hotels along any route that have restaruants, bars, RV parking and indoor pools. Much nicer to just get out after a long day on the road and proceed into a nice warm room, have a good meal, a drink or two, then a dip in the pool with no need to break down a campsite in the cold the next morning. Just my two cents worth ..... camp on!

I do not make these type trips, but if I did.......^^ sounds like the best plan.