My DW and I are thinking of driving from Chicago area to Texas in January for a couple of months. Our 24' class C does not have the insulation for winter weather so we are planning to drive South with our plumbing winterized until we get down to the gulf area.Looking for suggestions for places to see and stay at. We love National Parks so are thinking of visiting Big Bend N.P. for awhile. Also, are there places we should avoid for safety reasons, etc?Appreciate any and all suggestions, tips, etc.. We have not explored Texas before so we figure there is lots for us to see and do.

Been there done that, and packed up and went to Florida. It was freezing and windy in Brownsville in late December and got worse. Florida with Atlantic on one side and Gulf on the other stays warm. The lowest recorded temperature in Key West is 45 F. It's usually 90F in February and water is 84F. Of course as you go north it can get colder and freeze a few days during winter.

I really didn't know it got that cold in Brownsville, not that I ever want to go back there to visit again.

South of I-10, east of I-35, is all OK in January provided you have power to keep the furnace running. I am comfortable anywhere in this area, and to some extent also the East Texas forests further north. In these parts of Texas you can expect temperatures above freezing most of the time, short freezing spells that won't hurt a eated 3 season RV.The further south, more likely it is to be warmer, coastal areas less likely to freeze.Hill Country south of i-20 can be riskier, with freezing temperatures more often and longer, though above freezing most of the time.All these areas, I will take, havebtaken, my RV in winter. But camping, would't try that without checking for a warm forecast for the time I'd be living outdoors. Used to winter camp, sleeping on frozen ground in Canada, but too old for that now. Don't pitch the tent unless going no colder than 50 at night.I find San Antonio a fabulous place to visit, usually go spring or fall. I like Houston, Galveston, Rockport, Mustang Island in winter, though more recently I've been going to the Mississippi Gulf Coast or west central Florida at that time of year.Further west in the high desert (including the Big Bend) and in the southern Rockie, more likely to experience extended freeze. North Central Texas and the Panhandle are subject to invasion by cold continental air masses, think Dakotas winter conditions, just for short periods December-February. But it can get very cold (sub-zero) for extended times, several days to a few weeks.Texas is a big place, has room for different climates:)Safety? I know some neighborhoods in Houston I wouldn't wander at night, there are probably the like in the other large cities. In border cities you might not be wanting to try to cheat the drug dealers. From Chicago, you likely understand the big city safety issues, people who get in trouble are usually looking for it.

How freezing was it in Brownsville when you were there?

We've been staying in the Rockport TX area about 40 miles north of Corpus Christi since 2004 for 4 months every year. December through March and in the past 2 winters it only dropped below 32 for a couple of hours 1 time. Three winters back it did freeze up for a couple of days but no more than for 3 days in a row. Rockport area is $300 a month, Key West is $3,000 if you can find a place to stay.In Texas you can fish most places on the Gulf, fishing access is restricted in FL.

Winter camping in Texas? | Good Sam Community

13 Replies

John_S2
Explorer
Oct 03, 2013
Hhhhmmmm margaritas sound inviting!!
2112
Explorer II
Oct 01, 2013
We had snow on Christmas eve in 2004. It was gone and I was back in my shorts and flip flops by noon Christmas day. I'm close to Galveston and we haven't had a freeze in two or three years.

Come on down to say howdy. The air is warm and the margaritas are cold.

It can get windy in the valley and there may be a cold snap for a week or so in the hill country. If you can plan it to have a secondary location in the valley tour the hill country until threatened with a cold spell. Go on down to check out what the valley has to offer and then move back up once that pesky cold air has moved on.

There is a saying here in Texas; if you don't like the weather stick around, it will change.
Bull_Rider
Explorer
Oct 01, 2013
Walked out of the house this morning to get the paper, and up on the foothills in Eastern Washington was a fresh skiff of snow. We're heading south again this winter, and will spend some time in the San Antonio area. We were there last year around Thanksgiving.

The Hill Country around San Antonio is a great place to spend the winter, you can't hardly buy a snow shovel or a snow blower.
Mtn_Mike1
Explorer
Oct 01, 2013
I spent the winter in Alamo, Tx. which is 40 miles West of Brownsville and it never got below 40 degrees all winter.

If that's freezing I'll take it every time.

Mike
Heisenberg
Explorer
Sep 30, 2013
I spent a winter @ US Steel in Gary Indiana, I do not know of any place in Texas that is as cold as that lake air.
Bonefish
Explorer
Sep 30, 2013
It all depends on what comes down from the north. Even out here in west TX it can be a warm winter. Then at times it can be really cold. The same goes for south TX. It has even snowed along the coast, rare, does happen. The chance you take when traveling. One thing is if it does snow it will be gone in 24 to 48 hours. At Easter April 2007 had 2 inches of snow at Hords Creek near Coleman, TX. By the next 2 days it was melted and back in the mid 60's.

Sharon
hoopers
Explorer
Sep 30, 2013
Us out West wrote:
trop-a-cal wrote:
It's usually 90F in February and water is 84F. Of course as you go north it can get colder and freeze a few days during winter.

Usually 90F in February?

Not according to those that keep records.

Check for yourself.

Average temp Brownsville in January is 71. Key West is 69. Very similar.
Us_out_West
Explorer
Sep 30, 2013
trop-a-cal wrote:
It's usually 90F in February and water is 84F. Of course as you go north it can get colder and freeze a few days during winter.

Usually 90F in February?

Not according to those that keep records.

Check for yourself.
chris3403
Explorer
Sep 30, 2013
We've been staying in the Rockport TX area about 40 miles north of Corpus Christi since 2004 for 4 months every year. December through March and in the past 2 winters it only dropped below 32 for a couple of hours 1 time. Three winters back it did freeze up for a couple of days but no more than for 3 days in a row.
Rockport area is $300 a month, Key West is $3,000 if you can find a place to stay.
In Texas you can fish most places on the Gulf, fishing access is restricted in FL.
Us_out_West
Explorer
Sep 30, 2013
How freezing was it in Brownsville when you were there?

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Winter camping in Texas?

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