Florida Snowbirds/Full Timers - When to go North ?

[GoPackGo]

I will be starting out as a full timer in a month or so and will stay in Florida over the winter. Since I haven't done this before I'm not sure how long to make a reservation for down here.

When I leave, I intend to head north to explore the National Parks, etc but I'm not sure when to pull up and head out. It seems like sometime in April might be about right, but I lived in Iowa most of my life so I know it's not truly 'warm' until May there (just an example). And I've been in the Rockies in June and almost froze to death too. Don't know about Tennessee/Arkansas and other states in that latitude.

I should make it clear I intend to stay in one place in Florida until I do move out in the spring. So my bottom line question is - When do you leave Florida and where do you go to do your pre-summer camping/exploring ?

Thanks,

Tim

[JW_of_Opechee_S]

We plan on leaving April 1st but the nice thing about a home security camera system is I can look and make sure I don't see anything white in the yard: if I do then just sit tight till its gone:)

[hipower]

The mass exodus from Florida seems to get into high gear around April 1, obviously some go earlier and others later. In our case we have headed north between the 1st and the 10th to be home in time to file our taxes. We may take the stuff with us in the future so we don't have to come north because of that.

[s_N_s]

We leave May 1.

[Roy_Lynne]

Seems to me, if your going exploring, I would start out in March and explore the southern National Parks and play areas, especially if your heading west and not north.

[GoPackGo]

Hey - Thanks everybody. I especially like the map !

Tim.

[sdianel_-acct_c]

We used to see people leave right after Easter.

[sher9570]

We never leave before May 1st...ever. We live in NY, upstate near the Adirondacks so spring comes begrudgingly slow so we watch the weather closely.
Sometimes it gives us more opportunity to visit relatives on St. George Island or spend a few days in Savannah, we have in the past spend extra time on OBX while waiting for the weather to warm up.
If you can, play it by ear, sometimes it's a lot of fun just winging it.

Sher

[Dog_Folks]

Living in Naples all these years, tells me that Easter is the time most snowbirds move on.

I do like the idea that one snowbird shared with me. His neighbor in Canada calls him when all the snow is gone in his driveway. At that point he starts to head north. Not before. I like it!

[ploiselle]

You didn't say where you are going to stay in Florida. I have been staying in Naples for the last 5 years. It starts to get very warm in April. I have left with the snowbirds at the end of March, left in the middle of April and left May 1st. Way to hot at the end of April in Naples.

April at our RV park is at a very low rate so I have been booking April and leaving when I feel like it. Last year I left on a Saturday morning mid April without a reservation for Saturday night. I will never do that again. I couldn't find a site at all my usual stops. A nice lady at a campground in GA moved someone who hadn't showed up yet with a small RV to a smaller site to make room for me.

IMHO, see what they want for April, book it if the rate is low enough and leave when you feel like it. I would leave on Sunday through Thursday in April.

Paul

[Eycom]

Campgrounds in the northern climes ie., Nigara Falls, NY open Apr. 1st and Maine CGs usually open May 15th. Closings are generally scheduled around Oct 15th. You'll find snowbirds in the Carolinas, from the Piedmont over to the coastal areas, with heavy concentrations further south around Myrtle Bch. St. Augustine will average about 10-12° warmer. You'll also find a few C.O.E. parks open year 'round along the Savannah River between Augusta, Ga and Anderson, SC. I don't hesitate to move around between Fl and those areas in Ga and the Carolinas throughout the year. Sure... winter is warmer in Fl. But, I don't mind a little nip in the air at times. I just don't want to endure long hard freezes.

[hawkman541]

Our march starts the May 1st and return about September 15. If you run into weather, go lateral instead of the snow. Good Luck

[John_Joey]

Might sound a little strange, but I try to stay two weeks behind the hummingbirds. That puts me into the 70 degree club, with nights in the 50's. If you think about it, hummingbirds need flowers to survive on during their flight north.

Hummingbird map.

[Ken_O]

A lot of varibles, hard to say. This year I left the first of May, took two weeks getting home, and still got hit with a snow storm late in May. Just watch the weather, and go from there.

I wouldn't worry about the reservations that late in the season, the parks start clearing out the beginning of April, sometimes sooner.

[Dick_B]

There seems to be a mass exodus from Florida at the end of March.