Where to go

Our first winter of retirement, two years ago, we explored. We stayed anywhere to a week or two at any given area. Robertsdale, AL, Pass Christian, MS, Lafayette, LA, Willis, TX, Rockport, TX, Edinburg, TX, Mathis, TX and Glen Rose, TX. Of those locations, we chose to go back to Rockport, TX last winter. Unfortunately, that area was ground zero for hurricane Harvey, but as luck would have it, the park we had reservations with, had things cleaned up and ready for our arrival. We stayed four months, Dec-Mar and we are going back this winter. My only suggestion, decide what type of activities interest you and choose accordingly and the sooner the better, check availability for the dates you are looking for. Have fun.

I could be wrong but I don't understand how I would be limiting myself, looking at maps it appears the Gulf Coast extends from Florida to Texas. Quite a distance. The three locations I mentioned it seems that everyone heads to those areas which seems to cause a lot of congestion and from reading on this and other sites a camp site would be hard to come by. Texas would be a possibility.

You pretty much eliminated the 3 warmest locations. If you don't mind an occasional frost or frozen waterline there are options. The states you eliminated are large and have many options. What is it you don't like about them that we can help you avoid.

We're at Ho Hum in Carrabelle FL right now. Depending on what you like to do, this would be a nice place to winter. It's a no frills park right on the water, so fishing & relaxing are the order of the day...no activities. The area is a fishing area and not like central FL where we're from. Small towns/villages with major shopping 50 minutes to an hr. away.

pcaffrey wrote:
Looking to go south for a couple of months this winter and looking for a destination. Places I really don't want to go are Florida Texas, and Arizona, just personal preferences. Looking along the Gulf Coast and would consider the Florida panhandle. Thoughts and suggestions, we are new to extended stay camping, travel with a 31' 5th wheel. Thank you

You have really limited yourself to a very small area. Rule of thumb is to stay below I-10 to try and make sure you stay warm all winter. Personally, the area that you've confined yourself to is one that we have spent time traveling through, a couple of weeks outside of Mobile, and wouldn't do again. Not enough to do, see, enjoy for us.

We loved the panhandle when we did our retirement trip. We went all along the Gulf coast from Sarasota to Galveston and the panhandle was the nicest. We stayed at HoHum in Carabelle and Topsail Hill SP in Santa Rose Beach. Also stayed at Buccaneer SP in Waveland MS. The panhandle doesn't have the crushing congestion of central and south Florida. There are several private and state parks in the area.

We also enjoyed the Homasassa area about an hour north of Tampa. Once again, it's not like the rest of FL.

South of I-4 is fine is you have to have 70 degrees all winter. But parks down there are already booked for next year.