New to this. Best weather in winter??? Help?

2gypsies wrote:
Bisbee, AZ gets cold in winter and sometimes snow. :E

However, you might want to look into joining the Escapees RV Club which is a great organization for full-timers. If you go to their Benson, AZ park you can stay a week with full hookups for $50. While there you can check out the area, including Bisbee :) and Tombstone.

http://skpsaguaro.org/special-offers.html

Actually, it's cooler in Benson in winter than other Arizona places but you'll have sunny days. Bisbee is higher elevation but a terrific little town.

You mentioned you're anxious to go through Wyoming on your way south... you really don't want to do that in winter with a RV. From Wisconsin head directly south. Don't get on any east/west interstates higher than I-10 in winter. Stay down along the southern states.

I'd also recommend moving around your first winter to different areas or different states. It would be a shame to pay for the whole season somewhere and find out you really don't like it. Test them out. Everyone is different in likes.

You might try Gulf State Park at Gulf Shores, Alabama. Temps aren't as warm as the deep south of Florida but they are nice. At this state park snowbirders can spend the whole winter, not the typical 2-weeks. The beach is awesome and the town and surrounding area has anything you might want, including awesome fresh shrimp off the boats.

Florida to us is buggy with humidity. Naturally, many folks like it.

South Texas down around McAllen can be very windy and humidity.

California is expensive.

New Mexico is higher elevation than Arizona - even in the southern part it can be cold and windy. We tried it but had to leave after a month.

We love Arizona for the winter. As mentioned above, the Benson Escapees park is nice and very reasonable. It will be full of friendly full-timers, has a very active clubhouse and the campsites are large and landscaped.

Other good areas for winter in Arizona are Tucson, the greater Phoenix area, including Apache Junction, and Yuma. Yuma would be the warmest. You don't want to get any further north than Phoenix except perhaps along the Colorado River up to Havasu City.

Quartzsite, AZ in January and February is very popular for boondocking in the desert although there are some RV parks, too.

Lots of good advise here.

First time - the idea to try a few out is really smart - need to find what you enjoy - along with finding people you will share interest in doing things.

Remember you are coming from Wisconsin and all of the choices will be GOOD as long as they are in the South, and weather is the main reason for leaving.

Having never given up the Sticks and Bricks - and only doing the winter a few years in the Coach we found Florida just too sticky - Arizona just too far from everything and the Hill Country of Texas as a nice mix of the two - not too Hot not too Cold .... just right.

So take your time, weigh your options, try a few different places and enjoy the first winter just feeling your way.

Best of Luck,