Heading south the middle of the winter from upstate NY

Four years ago we left the Rochester area on the 5th of February. We didn't have any major plans or reservations. So we just watched the weather looking for a break. Due to all the storms that we moving up the coast that year, we headed more inland using I81, I77. I26, then finally I95.
Even tho we had to dig out from under 18" of snow, we had none once we hit the road.
We actually un-winterized while hooked up at the house, loaded we everything we needed and set the furnace at 50-55 to keep things from freezing. The first couple of days we traveled with the furnace on at that low setting.
Now we leave in early October and don't return till May.
Good Luck and just take it slow and easy if you hit bad weather.

Wait until the next storm is forecasted to be two days away and the leave. Roads will be clear and you will. E ahead of the next.

Leave when no snow is called for a couple days. Take water food and some of the pink stuff to flush the toilet, until you get to warmer weather. Carry elect heaters for your stay at campgrounds, I dislike TV dinners, but eat them when traveling.

We go thru the same jitters every year as we leave on 12/28 and return early February. One time, on the way back, we had to stay at a campground an extra day to let a `front' pass from our path. Much better than being stranded on the highway.

I81 has motels and other services every exit if you hit weather you find a place to park or get a room. As you get further south in VA. the chance of snow or ice decreases, by the time you get to I77 you should have no worry. If you are going I77 into NC be aware just before the NC border you will come down Mt Airy it its very steep and very long they have ramps for runaway trucks go easy and save the brakes. Have a safe trip and enjoy the sunshine.

This is our second trip to Florida during the week of Christmas. Last year Falling Waters State Park. This year St. Joeseh State Park. Like you, two years in a row when we made the reservation we had no idea on weather conditions in Indiana for this week. We had a contengency plan in the event so snow at home when planning to leave....trip canceled and just forefoot our reservation. So far Santa has been good with the weather. You just have to plan on a contengency.

We head down each year a day of two after New Year's Day, from mid-Michigan. It seems like each year it snows the night before we leave, but since we never plan to go more than 200 miles in the first day we are not in a big rush. Hook up and put 4WD on and go slow and safe. We usually run out of the snow somewhere in Indiana, although one year we did not thaw out until Tennessee. We always plan to stay in hotel at least the first night out, but have a couple 2.5 gallon water bottles with us in the truck. Always worked for us.

What do you do about road salt on the underside of your trailer?

We make that trip every year in February. From coast of NH to Jonestown KOA, Jonestown PA in one day 6-7hrs (they're open year round). We use their facilities and eat their featured meals, love their fired chicken... Did I mention they deliver to you rig... They are real easy to get to, less than 1 mile from I81. Next stop Ridgeway, NC, there's a campground behind a convince store just off I77... What a dump, but it's clean, cheap and no one bothers you... ($21.50/night full hook ups, this is not a place I'd camp at, but for one night and the cheapest gas around works for me. The next night I'm in good ole FLA. I've been traveling this route for years, it's by far the best way south.

We leave on a different date every year from central Illinois to SW Florida. Last year we were leaving around the 15th of December and had to get ice off the tops of the slides and thaw out the hitch. Ran the furnace while towing the first day so we didn't have to winterize, but it was a huge problem just getting hooked up.

This year we pulled the fiver down to Tennessee early. Spent some time down there, left the fiver and just drove the TV back to spend some time with family.

Christmas day we will hook up in Tennessee and start heading south.