Admittedly, I don't have a large sample, but it seems to me that certain areas of Florida attract people from the same area in the north. In Palm Beach area campgrounds, we noticed the majority were Canadians, specifically Québécois. Jetty Park seemed to be a lot of easterners, NC, SC GA ,and now we're in Crystal River at Rock Crusher Canyon and the place is load with Michiganders.So that gets me to wondering if there are areas in FL that are preferred by people from the same area up north, and where are the New Englanders?

I see people from all over when I was camping in Quartzsite AZ and other boondocking locations. Here is a website listing many free or less than $15 a night places to boondock. You are not paying for electric, or a dump station. Many are on a lake, or out in the desert, or a National Forest. Yes there are a few listings such as "Parked at Bob's tire service overnight for free, got tires the next morning" - that is not really boondocking, but overnight parking while in route to someplace that you want to be.FreeCampgrounds.comHave fun camping!Fred.

The parks in our area of SW Arizona is a very mixed group. Our park probably has a majority of Canadians, in a normal year. However, there is no one Province that dominates and we have them from as far east as Quebec and as far north as the NWT. Quiet a few Alaskans in the area also. Otherwise, you will see plates from almost every state in the union here.

jplante4 wrote:Admittedly, I don't have a large sample, but it seems to me that certain areas of Florida attract people from the same area in the north. In Palm Beach area campgrounds, we noticed the majority were Canadians, specifically Québécois. Jetty Park seemed to be a lot of easterners, NC, SC GA ,and now we're in Crystal River at Rock Crusher Canyon and the place is load with Michiganders.So that gets me to wondering if there are areas in FL that are preferred by people from the same area up north, and where are the New Englanders?Possibly.Could be one group gets started going and they all tell their friends and family about it.Same reason everyone in TN goes to Destin or Panama City in the summer.

"Follow the money". If it is closer (cheaper) for folks from Iowa and Minnesota to visit the RGV than Florida, guess where you will find them. The closest warm winter weather for someone from Pennsylvania is not Arizona, but Florida. Naturally, there are exceptions, but count license plates in your winter destination.

southern NM Elephant Butte NM, The parks are full from folks all over the country, The price is right the climate is consistent Winter birds. My home base but we are taking off to Quartzsite and Yuma Az next week for our winter trip.

Favorite Snowbird Locations by State? | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

TomG2
Explorer
Jan 07, 2016
Not sure what you are disagreeing with. Are you saying that the beach at South Padre Island is equal to or better than the ones at Siesta Key near Sarasota, Sanibel Island, or Fort Myers Beach? Are you saying that the touristy things in the Rio Grande Valley are as plentiful as places like Busch Gardens or Disney World? I can have fun with twenty dollars in the RGV or a fifty in South Florida. That's a big reason why I love the Valley.
John_Joey
Explorer
Jan 07, 2016
TomG2 wrote:
John&Joey wrote:

For us it's not so much about saving money as it is what you get for your money.....snip.......

That seems to be a distinction without much difference. It still comes down to cost versus benefit and the RGV is by far less expensive. That's why I have spent the last several winters here.

Not everyone feels that way as we have a ton of vacancies here and I am having some difficulty reserving where I want to stay in Florida.

I think I'll agree to disagree. Everyone has a budget, if cost was the sole factor then we would all stay home. In economics they call it Utils. We all are willing to spend a certain amount of money for a given amount of enjoyment. If that amount does not return that amount of enjoyment we move on.
TomG2
Explorer
Jan 06, 2016
John&Joey wrote:

For us it's not so much about saving money as it is what you get for your money.....snip.......

That seems to be a distinction without much difference. It still comes down to cost versus benefit and the RGV is by far less expensive. That's why I have spent the last several winters here.

Not everyone feels that way as we have a ton of vacancies here and I am having some difficulty reserving where I want to stay in Florida.
John_Joey
Explorer
Jan 06, 2016
TomG2 wrote:
pawatt wrote:
I will be very interested in your impressions of FL compared to Texas. We have been to Texas and AZ but not FL.

I $pent three winter$ in Florida before switching to the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. South Florida has more attractions, nicer beaches, and better weather. At twice the price for parking, it should. Looking forward to some Bluegrass music, Grouper, and time on the beach.

For us it's not so much about saving money as it is what you get for your money. We allocate $500/month for lot rent, more then that and I might as well not RV, but buy property instead and hope for a ROI.

In FL we had a very nice park that was 60 miles away from just about anything you wanted for $500/month. At first it seemed like a perfect spot, but at the end of the season I realized we were 60 miles away from everything!

Here in TX, for that same money we get to walk the beach everyday, fish when we want, and eat/drink every night at a different place if we wanted too for that exact same $500/month.
TomG2
Explorer
Jan 06, 2016
pawatt wrote:
I will be very interested in your impressions of FL compared to Texas. We have been to Texas and AZ but not FL.

I $pent three winter$ in Florida before switching to the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. South Florida has more attractions, nicer beaches, and better weather. At twice the price for parking, it should. Looking forward to some Bluegrass music, Grouper, and time on the beach.
pawatt
Explorer
Jan 06, 2016
TomG2 wrote:
It's a phenomenon that I started observing many years ago. My home state of Illinois is nearly equally divided in the number of people wintering in Florida and Texas because of the similar mileages to either one. This year, I plan to visit both.

I will be very interested in your impressions of FL compared to Texas. We have been to Texas and AZ but not FL.
lbrjet
Explorer
Jan 06, 2016
Several IL people enjoy AZ as well. Even some people from Florida believe it or not.
TomG2
Explorer
Jan 05, 2016
It's a phenomenon that I started observing many years ago. My home state of Illinois is nearly equally divided in the number of people wintering in Florida and Texas because of the similar mileages to either one. This year, I plan to visit both.
John_Joey
Explorer
Jan 05, 2016
I'm guessing 80% or more drive straight south for the winter. Which means you have I95/I75/I35/I15&I5 as the main routes. Those that live closest to those routes will winter in the southern states that are closest to those routes.

Most snowbird RVers I know will only go 200-400 miles a day. Drive a few days then maybe take a break to rest up (and explore) for a day or two. That type of snail pace might explain why most don't do much sideways distance.
shepstone
Explorer
Jan 05, 2016
For the most part I prefer the state parks over the private ones