Forum Discussion

Lisa_Boyer's avatar
Lisa_Boyer
Explorer
Aug 14, 2018

Winter camping, or not

Hi, I have read the Winter Camping thread with great interest, as we are starting to head into Fall here (PNW)...and I worry. Hey, it's a hobby. I know to avoid Eastern Wa, if I don't want to deal with the freezing temps, can someone give me a direction for the Western side? How cold is too cold? When do I need to stress over frozen pipelines? We were thinking of sticking to the Olympia/Puget Sound area, but I'm wondering if we need to head to CA instead...
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Aug 14, 2018
    Well if next winter is anything like the last couple, we wont need to worry about freezing.
    Looking forward to hearing what others think of winter RVing in our neck of the woods.
  • GordonThree's avatar
    GordonThree
    Explorer
    Aug 14, 2018
    I really enjoy camping in freezing temps.

    Below 20F really cuts down the crowds.
  • Lwiddis's avatar
    Lwiddis
    Explorer II
    Aug 14, 2018
    I suppose you could head to the CA Central Coast during winter but if traveling to the Sierras watch the weather reports.
  • rhagfo's avatar
    rhagfo
    Explorer III
    Aug 14, 2018
    We now full time host for OPRD and spent last winter on the central Oregon coast. Yes cold a couple days, but nothing froze. We winter camped for the last eight years or so.
    We do have heated enclosed tanks, but no polar package.
  • donn0128's avatar
    donn0128
    Explorer II
    Aug 14, 2018
    The coast will always be the warmest here in the PNW. Brookings for example historically has the warmest winter temps of anywhere north of Eureka,CA. It can often be in the 60s during the winter.
  • BarbaraOK's avatar
    BarbaraOK
    Explorer
    Aug 15, 2018
    Lisa Boyer wrote:
    Hi, I have read the Winter Camping thread with great interest, as we are starting to head into Fall here (PNW)...and I worry. Hey, it's a hobby. I know to avoid Eastern Wa, if I don't want to deal with the freezing temps, can someone give me a direction for the Western side? How cold is too cold? When do I need to stress over frozen pipelines? We were thinking of sticking to the Olympia/Puget Sound area, but I'm wondering if we need to head to CA instead...


    About 1/2 of our park seem to have Washington license plates. Arizona winter = PNW summer. No worry about frozen pipes, no drizzle. Your rig has wheels - use them and come on down.
  • pianotuna's avatar
    pianotuna
    Nomad III
    Aug 15, 2018
    Hi Lisa,

    Do you have enclosed waste tanks and pipes? If you don't then about 26 f is the lowest temperature that can be managed. There are ways to improve on that.

    Lisa Boyer wrote:
    Hi, I have read the Winter Camping thread with great interest, as we are starting to head into Fall here (PNW)...and I worry. Hey, it's a hobby. I know to avoid Eastern Wa, if I don't want to deal with the freezing temps, can someone give me a direction for the Western side? How cold is too cold? When do I need to stress over frozen pipelines? We were thinking of sticking to the Olympia/Puget Sound area, but I'm wondering if we need to head to CA instead...
  • Johno02's avatar
    Johno02
    Explorer
    Aug 15, 2018
    Went to Natchez, MS last year to spend the winter because it would be a warmer place to stay. Natchez not only had a major snow storm for the first time in 50 years, but not only one, but TWO big show storms. So much for that idea... Even with two electric heaters, we used two tanks of propane in three months, usually use only part of one per year.
  • SidecarFlip's avatar
    SidecarFlip
    Explorer III
    Aug 15, 2018
    GordonThree wrote:
    I really enjoy camping in freezing temps.

    Below 20F really cuts down the crowds.


    Fair statement but I prefer the Super 8, Motel 6 or even a Holiday Inn when it's cold and snowing. Clean sheets, hot shower (no frozen pipes) and a Continental Breakfast in the morning. ... and the hotel staff makes the bed and provides clean towels too.

    Haven't been on a Michigan hunting trip in the winter and not stayed in a motel.
  • doxiemom11's avatar
    doxiemom11
    Explorer II
    Aug 15, 2018
    We have been in central AL where nights got down to 19 and on the gulf coast in MS where it was below freezing and had an ice storm. Cold some years in south TX, other times it's AZ that's real cold. Never know - it can freeze anywhere.

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