Top Road Trip Destinations To Stay Warm This Winter
Trying to run away from the snowy states up north? My top advice for road tripping in the United States is to follow the weather. Travel north in the summer and south in the winter! Although it is rare to run away from snow completely, I have provided a list of the best locations to keep warm. This list is only a suggestion so make sure to check the location's weather before arriving, as mother nature follows no rules and travel responsibly! Without further ado, these are my top road trip destinations to stay warm this winter.
1. Lake Mead, NV
Being about a 40 minute drive away from the Las Vegas Strip, Lake Mead is a perfect option for being away from civilization yet close to a city. Lake Mead has over 900 camping and RV sites. There are over 15 locations to stay at in Lake Mead. Lots of the campgrounds offer running water, restrooms, dump stations and picnic tables. It is a perfect destination to stay warm while still being on a lake. The landscapes surrounding the campsites are gorgeous desert mountains - you can be sure to always see a gorgeous sunset at this location.
2. Tucson Mountain Park, AZ
Heading slightly east on the map, Tucson Mountain Park in Arizona is a great place to stay warm in the winter. This park has many beautiful hiking trails. The views here have an incredible range from desert-y and dry to green lush mountains. Here you can find one of the best museums in the US, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. It’s located right next to the Saguaro National Park, another bonus location for your winter road trip! If you wanted to camp at this park the campground that I would recommend is the Gilbert Ray Campground.
3. Grand Canyon, AZ
Much like most of the southern desert in the US, the Grand Canyon is a great location for your road trip this winter. The days are warm and sunny, but make sure you pack super warm for the crispy desert night! The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is open year round, making this place a MUST for road trips in the winter. There is much BLM on the South Rim, meaning you can camp there for free! The Grand Canyon should be on the top of your list for places to travel to when the weather starts to get chilly.
4. Joshua Tree, CA
Joshua Tree is the perfect winter escape. Even in December to February, temperatures can rise up to 70 degrees during the day here. It rains only a couple times per winter and is rare to see any snow! Because of its great climate, Joshua Tree is very busy during the winter season, so make sure to make a reservation before going. If you get up early you can still hit great hikes and avoid the crowds. I would recommend bringing layers here because of the varying temperatures. Visit Joshua Tree if you want to see gorgeous sunrises and sunsets this winter!
5. San Elijo State Beach, CA
San Elijo State Beach is located on the shore of San Diego. This place is perfect if you prefer the beach over mountains. There are camp sites right on the beach, making it easy to go swimming or surfing in the ocean. You should hit this spot during your winter roadtrip if you want a spot that is close to the city. There is so much to do in San Diego including hikes, walking around the city and eating DELICIOUS food (Mexican Food, and Sushi being my favorites!) I swear you can go tanning in San Diego in the winter, the weather is just so nice!
6. Lake Livingston State Park, TX
Lake Livingston is a stunning state park, located an hour and half northeast of Houston. I would recommend this location to be a quick, couple of days compared to the other locations on this list because it is relatively smaller. With that being said, there is still tons to do here! It has five different hiking trails, tons of camping options, and a perfect place to bird watch! This is the place to go if you want to still experience winter with Pine Trees all around you, but not have to deal with any snow!
7. Crystal Cove State Park, CA
Crystal Cove is located in Laguna Beach, Orange County, CA. This is a perfect spot for beach camping. Temperatures here range from mid 40’s to high 60’s in the winter - much warmer than most camping spots in the US. There are 28 trailer sights and 30 tent camping sites at Crystal Cove. The waves are perfect for surfers and there is an underwater park for explorers, snorkelers and scuba divers.
8. Palm Beach, FL
There are many campgrounds around Palm Beach Florida for tents and RV’s alike. Florida is known for its warm weather and for a good reason too. I can still walk around in my bikini at Palm Beach and still be warm over the winter. Peanut Island is one of my favorites if you are looking for more of a tropical park and are willing to take the water taxi. Palm Beach is perfect for camping close to a city. You can still get your errands and gas very close by while camping. This is the perfect winter location for your road trip!
9. Sedona, AZ
Sedona Arizona can reach temperatures up to 60 degrees fahrenheit, making it a must for your winter roadtrip. There is so much outdoor exploring to do here. You will wake up every morning with an outstanding view of the red desert mountains surrounding you. At Sedona, you can find many hiking trails, and even soar above the rocks in a helicopter or hot air balloon. Sedona is one of those places that you can stay here for a while and not get bored - even during the winter.
What are some of your winter spots that you travel to in the winter? Do you also stay up north for the summer and go south for winter? How do you keep warm? Let me know in my social media! I love hearing from you guys!
If you plan on hiking in any of these locations - check out my packing list for hikes.
