When Do You Leave Arizona in the Spring ?

[GoPackGo]

I've only been fulltiming since the end of last year, which I spent in Florida. This year, I'm thinking of spending the coming winter in Arizona, possibly the Phoenix area.

I've visited Arizona but have never stayed more then a few days so I don't know when the temps start getting really warm in the spring. So my question is - when does everyone leave Arizona in the spring ? 1 March ? 1 April ?? 1 May ???

Especially interested in those who've stayed in the Phoenix area.

When does it start getting hot ? I don't want to pre-pay for a month if all I'm going to do is sit there and cook !

Also - I'm targeting 1 November as an arrival date. Does that sound like a good date ?

Thanks much,

Tim

[restlesswind]

We are booked into our "winter home" in Mesa,AZ,arriving Nov.1st leaving Apr. 1st.We may slip a few days either way.The rest of the year we travel.

It works for us.We will drive to CA for Christmas with family,leaving the fifth wheel there in AZ.

Departure date for many winter visiters is dependent on the weather "back home" or in the case of Canadians,not being out of country too long. As fulltimers,we don't worry about such trivial things

However you decide to do it,you can always change your plans for the following year.

[Scott16]

Good information. Thanks GoPacGo for the post.

[GoPackGo]

Wow, this is great - just what I hoped to hear.

Explaining myself a little bit - I lived in Iowa for a long time and the Midwest can get pretty hot, but nothing like Arizona in summer for sure. And I've been in the Orlando, Florida area for the last 18 years. I'm actually a fan of hot weather. But I find as I get older that moderation is a good thing !

Sounds like 1 Nov - 1 April might work.

Thanks again to all. This really helps.

Tim

[4advtr]

As others have mentioned, April 1 is the big day at the park we stay. We ended up staying through Mid-May this year and when we left it was pretty hot. Next year we think we'll leave in early April like others.

[BarbaraOK]

April 1st seems to be a good "get out of Dodge" time for a lot of people, including us. Max would be April 15th in a normal year. Same with Palm Springs. In fact a lot of restaurants go to summer hours (or close down for the summer) and a lot of RV parks are closed by the end of April.

Barb

[Clay_L]

We stayed through April one year and the last part was too hot for us. Through the end of March is what we settled on.
We were about 25 miles from Quartzsite in Bouse.

[crabbin_cabin]

WE are "full-time" residents of an RV Resort in Mesa. The last few years we have managed to stay until mid-June. Yes hot in the day but as long as nights cool down we can tolerate it. Come mid June we head to the pacific NW - Washington & Oregon coasts - until late Sept.
Come on down and enjoy!
John

[samsontdog]

We arrive in Yuma 3rd week in Oct leave 2nd week in April. If I did not have rentals to get ready for the Renters I would arrive 1st Nov and leave 1st April

[Sandia_Man]

At least through March should be fine although there may be a couple of days where temps can get warm. November works fine as well but again there may be a few days where it might be warmer than usual. After spring training is over there always seems to be a mass exodus from the Valley of the Sun, pool season begins in late March and lasts through October for the tens of thousands of backyard pool owners in the metro area. For those accustomed to the area heat it doesn't really get hot until June.

[Nolan]

Working in the office at a campground near Casa Grande, AZ. (located south of Phoenix) It's a mass exit the last week of March to the first week in April.

November 1st is a good come in date. April 1st good day to head out.

[2gypsies1]

To us, March and April are wonderful times - less crowds and gorgeous flowers. May is hot. Arriving in November is perfect.

As full-timers, we found that March and even April can be way too early to begin heading too far north. Southern Utah would be great at that time but not mountainous areas. Although each year is different with no guarantees.

[JohnInAz]

it kind of depends on what you consider hot. I live here and in some years the daytime high is 90+ in March, although it is nice in the evening. If it was me, I would book through March, then play it by ear. If it is a warm spring, head to a higher elevation.

[dbbls]

I leave when spring arrives at home.

[darsben]

You do not say where you are bound for the summer. I left Fiesta Grande RV resort in Casa Grande March 15th this year. I then spent 10 days camping on the Apache trail near lake Roosevelt. Next year plan to leave April 1 then spend time on the trail until it warms up where I am from. You could do the same. The campsites on the trail are pretty empty in March. Also an alternative is to not prepay for March. With folks packing up and leaving during March there are usually plenty of sites available.
BTW I recommend the RV park I stayed at highly.