Snowbirds – How to RV Florida in the Winter

Want to escape cold weather in New York, Canada, or the mid-west and spend the winter in Florida? We’re sharing why we love to snow bird in Florida and enjoy milder winter weather.

What is a Snowbird?

Snowbirds Meaning: A snowbird is anyone who leaves a cold weather climate in the winter to an area that has warmer temperatures. Snowbirds can travel to Florida, Arizona, Mexico, the Caribbean, Southern California, or Hawaii.

How to be a Snow Bird?

Many snowbirds own a home in Florida that they live in for part of the year, but many others are RV snowbirds, traveling south to the sunshine state every year in their RV or motorhome.

Why Do We RV Florida in the Winter?

The Florida snowbird life is not just for retirees, we do it too! We might not be able to spend the entire winter in Florida, but we every year, we try to spend 4 or 5 weeks in our RV somewhere warm… or at least warmer than home! Florida is our favorite place to travel in the winter, because there is so much to see and do there! Being Florida snowbirds for a few weeks gives us a chance to get outside the house and enjoy some fresh air and sunshine. It’s not always 70 degrees all the time, but we’re happy as long as we don’t need our winter coats. The Florida snowbird life gives us a break from the dreary weather and keeps away the winter blues.

When Do Snowbirds Come to Florida?

Winter weather arrives early in northern parts of the US, so it’s common for Florida snowbirds to arrive in November. RVers who choose to snow bird in Florida might spend the holidays near family before moving to Florida in January for the rest of the winter.

When Do Snowbirds Leave Florida?

The short answer is whenever they want to! Many people snow bird in Florida to avoid cold weather in their home state, so people who live in Minnesota will want to spend longer in Florida than people who live in milder parts of the US. We live in South Carolina, so we start to get nice spring weather in March, but many Florida snowbirds will not travel north until April or even early May.

This means that the busy snowbird season in Florida is from November to early May, but we’ve found that the hardest months to get winter RV sites in Florida are January to March.

#1 Tip to Snow Bird in Florida – Plan Ahead

As you can imagine, winter in Florida is incredibly popular for RVers. Florida is one of the top winter destinations, so you will need to plan ahead and be ready to book when campground calendars open. Do a little research on areas you’d like to visit and find out when those campgrounds open up availability for next winter.

How to RV for the Winter in Florida

Most Florida snowbirds are trying to spend 4-6 months in warmer weather, so they usually book long term sites to keep things simple. After all, it’s more about the temperature than seeking adventure. Since we have a much shorter trip, we also tend to move around a little bit more.

Our Favorite Florida State Parks for Snowbirds

Every good Florida snowbird knows about Florida state parks. Whether you camp here or stop by for a visit, you’ll find plenty of sunshine and outdoor recreation available to you during the winter. This list of fun things to do in Florida are a mix of our favorite spots and a few high on our ‘next to visit’ list:

Anastasia State Park – Enjoy the beach at this state park or visit St. Augustine, just a short drive away

Silver Springs State Park – Glass bottom boat tours and also a great place to paddle

Ichetucknee Springs State Park – Beautiful place to go for a paddle

Blue Springs State Park – One of the best places to see manatees in the winter

Weeki Wachee Springs State Park – Don’t miss the iconic mermaid show

Rainbow Springs State Park – Another beautiful place to paddle

Curry Hammock State Park – Of course the state parks in the Florida Keys would be high at the top of any good Snowbird’s Florida list

Bahia Honda State Park – We are so excited to have snagged a campsite here in the Keys for this winter!

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park – We’ve heard the reef has seen a lot of damage recently, but it’s still worth a visit for the beautiful fish

Campsites at Florida state parks are highly competitive, so you might need to be flexible with your bookings and have backup options available. And of course, you can visit these amazing state parks while camping at an RV park nearby.

For more ideas, check out our best things to do in Florida with kids blog post.

Have Trouble Booking Florida RV Sites?

Like I mentioned, booking campgrounds and RV parks in Florida can be challenging in the winter, especially if you’re not used to planning ahead. Having a membership like Harvest Hosts can be a lifesaver when you find yourself with a day or two gap between campground reservations. We also love to book Harvest Host locations on our way to and from a destination like Florida. Many of these amazing hosts have year-round availability and we certainly won’t need electric hookups to run our AC in the winter! Join Harvest Hosts with o u r referral link and save 15% off your yearly membership.

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