From Snowbirds To Snowboarders – Winter Camping Is Booming

As winter settles in, camping season is over for many in the northern third of the U.S. However, that leaves 65% of the country with RV campgrounds still open for business with many claiming this is the best time of year for a camping adventure.

According to a recent study by the RV Industry Association, 78% of RVers say having an RV cold-weather equipped is important, supporting the growing trend of winter camping. The desire for more cold weather features means people in cooler climates are wanting to continue RVing into the winter months.

Kampgrounds of America has also seen this with their data showing 8.2 million households (20 million people) are planning to camp this winter. That is a sizeable increase over the 6.9 million households that winter camped in 2021, a growth of 19% in just one year. 

For the outdoor adventurer who loves to ski, snowboard, snowshoe, snowmobile, or ice-fish, Go RVing compiled a list of nearly 40 campgrounds across the country that can serve as base camps for winter recreation pursuits in Northern California, Colorado, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Utah.

For those campers looking for comfortable warm days and cooler nights, states such as Florida, Arizona, Texas, and Southern California have always been popular destinations over the winter months. Vacationers without an RV are flying in and renting one that they can pick up or have delivered to the campground. Many campgrounds also offer park model cabins to book on-site with a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and more. The snowbird tradition of northern travelers heading south for the entire winter is booming too. “With the lasting trend of remote working, we’ve seen a surge in people camping and RVing year-round,” Go RVing Spokesperson Monika Geraci.

In the states such as Alabama, Louisiana, New Mexico, Nevada, and South Carolina, the weather is cooler in the winter months but there are still great camping options to explore state and national parks and local attractions. Rates are attractive and there’s often availability without having to book months in advance.

The cost of vacation travel is also a driving factor in the continued growth of RVing year-round. With RV vacations costing 50% less than comparable hotel and plane ride trips and a third less than hotel and car ride trips, RVing is an attractive and often more affordable option for people looking for the freedom to travel while also controlling their travel expenses.