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One of the main reasons you’ll hear in the RV world that people took the leap to hit the road is the option to have a snowbird rental. But what are snowbird rentals?
Snowbirding is a massive deal for RVers and gives a method to their traveling madness. Plotting and planning to chase the sun and good weather year-round so you may never be stuck in the snow again.
That sounds like a dream come true for someone who despises to be cold!
It also sounds like an excellent way to save some space in your RV. Imagine all the fun items you could store in place of bulky winter coats and sweaters!
We will give you the inside scoop on snowbirding in your RV. What it’s all about, where you can go, and why others love the practice so much that it’s become part of their yearly journey.
What Is A Snowbird?
A snowbird isn’t just a cute little white, fluffy flying animal. In the RV world (and the regular world), a snowbird is anyone, young or old, who likes to escape the cold weather and keep their shorts out year-round!
Snowbirds have figured out the perfect formula to escape the winter weather at all costs.
Most of them are from a climate where they have the perfect summers but pretty chilly winters. Once the fall hits, they head south to warmer weather, avoiding the cold altogether.
In order to really be considered a snowbird, you typically spend at least 3-6 months of your year seeking out a warmer climate than where you’ve been living or traveling.
While many people in what we call “regular” life are doing this, too, it’s much more popular in the RV world. This is mainly because it is easier and cheaper to pull your RV to separate places than to have two separate houses.
This has long been thought of as a retirement plan, but with remote jobs absolutely booming in the last several years, it has gained popularity amongst younger people and families as well.
What Are Snowbird Rentals?
Technically, snowbird rentals could be a house, condo, RV site, or any other living arrangement that people seek out in the winter months to keep away from the cold.
We are going to stick with RV sites, though, as that’s what life most of us are living.
When choosing a place you want to park for the winter, especially if you want to find a spot to return to year after year, it’s important to distinguish between the types of sites you could have.
Typically, snowbird RV sites are one of three things:
1. A Permanent Spot
In places like Florida, it is popular to have a permanent site that is yours throughout the entire year and that no one else stays in.
You can either leave the site empty with only your permanent outdoor setups, or you can have a camper that stays there all year long and is ready for you when you come down in the winter.
Either way, your spot never changes, and you can rest assured that your experience will stay the same year after year that you book there.
2. A Permanent Campground, But The Spot Changes
Some campgrounds choose to do their spots differently and only guarantee you a site in the resort, not a specific permanent site.
While it may not be for everyone, many RVers really enjoy this practice as it lets them experience different places and people throughout the park year to year.
It is something to keep in mind when looking for places that you may want to call a permanent winter home in the future.
3. Moving from Campground to Campground
Some snowbirds drive from the colder areas of the US and Canada to warmer states like Florida, Texas, and Arizona, and then they hop from campground to campground. This is very common with people who belong to campground memberships like Thousand Trails.
With camping memberships like Thousand Trails you can only stay for 2 or three weeks and then you have to move to a different campground. Mike and Susan, the owners of RVBlogger, belong to Thousand Trails and they schedule their winter camping spots as far in advance as possible because booking campgrounds during the winter months in warm weather states is very difficult.
How Much Is A Seasonal RV Site?
The cost of a seasonal RV site ranges widely for several reasons.
Location, amenities, length of stay, and even when you arrive, or your age can be factors in the final cost of a winter snowbird site.
Location is top on that list. The prices can get pretty steep based on the area’s population and proximity to certain big attractions.
Amenities play a significant factor in the price of snowbird rentals as well.
An RV resort with no pool, pickleball court, laundry facility, or shower house will cost dramatically less than one that has all of those things. People pay for convenience, and that is reflected in the prices you’ll see.
One element that people often don’t think about is the length of the stay. There are many campgrounds and resorts out there that do pro-rated rates for the longer you stay.
For example, staying one month may cost you $1,700, but paying and staying for six months will cost you only $1,300 monthly.
Yes, those numbers are accurate, too. While they aren’t the prices everywhere, winter spots in popular places like Phoenix, Arizona, for example, can be that high.
Typical prices will range anywhere from $500-$1,500 per month, though, but there are always those high-dollar resorts that charge more.
What States Are Best For RVers Looking For Snowbird Rentals?
1. Florida
The Sunshine State. By far, it is the most popular escape for snowbirds and the hardest to get into for that exact reason.
Florida is a bumpin’ place to be in the winter months because of its mild temperature and, of course, the ocean.
During the winter, Florida is fast to fill up, and it’s advised you schedule your stay far in advance.
2. Arizona
Arizona is the second most popular state for snowbirds to escape the winter freeze. Between Tuscon, Yuma, and Phoenix, snowbirds here will likely not even have to put on a jacket.
The weather is exceptionally mild and dry in the winter in Arizona, making for the perfect RV living conditions.
Arizona has a vast landscape that allows snowbirds to stay as warm as they want, but within a few hours’ drive, they can be back in the snow-capped mountains skiing.
It’s the best of both worlds, making it a popular spot.
3. Texas
Texas is a huge state with so much to offer for snowbirds! Some of the state gets pretty chilly still in the wintertime, but for the most part is mild.
You can stay in the southeast of the state near Galveston Beach, Close to Mexico in Corpus Christi, or venture up to Austin.
The state gives you so many options, and you could move from place to place all winter and never see the same things twice.
4. California
California dreamin’! That’s what snowbirds sing when they roll into the state, and it’s still seventy degrees in southern Cali.
California, on its southern half, boasts some of the most mild and consistent temperatures through the winter. San Diego, for example, stays a perfect temperature all year round, making it ideal for RV life.
Closer to the border, the weather also stays good and allows snowbirds to easily cross into Mexico for a change of culture and scenery.
How Do You Find Seasonal RV Sites
Finding seasonal RV sites for a snowbird rental is easy nowadays.
There are a plethora of resources that can find you exactly what you’re looking for in no time and get you on your way to sunshine.
The easiest way to start looking is to do a quick Google search. This will bring up many options for where you are looking.
We all know Google can be intimidating, though, so there are other options as well.
There are many Facebook groups for snowbirding spots, as well as blogs and other online groups.
RV booking sites like Campspot are other good resources for finding snowbirding sites.
Is It Better To Buy Or Rent A Seasonal RV Site?
Deciding whether to rent or buy a seasonal RV site has a lot to do with what your future looks like.
Have you found the perfect place to settle in each season for several years? Or are you still looking for that one-of-a-kind spot you can call your half-year home?
If you’ve found a perfect spot to call home and know you’ll be coming back year after year, buying a spot may be best for you.
Buying a spot can be a lot cheaper, but remember, once you buy it, you’re locked in for a while, so make sure you’ll be happy.
Renting can be more expensive, but it does give you so much more freedom to find a specific area that you like, or if plans change one year, to go elsewhere and not be paying for two spots.
Final Thoughts For RVers Looking For Snowbird Rentals
If escaping the winter blues is something you’ve always dreamed of, snowbirding could be the perfect idea for you.
It truly is the best of both worlds. Snowbird rentals allow you to split your year efficiently just as you want.
When you’re planning your new lifestyle, make sure to consider some of the factors mentioned above to get precisely what you want in a seasonal site.
Consider the amenities, your budget, the weather, and even how you want your site to be year after year.
Once you lock down exactly what you’re looking for, it’s time to start enjoying being warm and toasty all year long!
Related Reading:
–10 Cheap Snowbird Destinations In The Sunbelt
–Full-Time RVing: Life Changing Or Huge Mistake?
–10 Best RV Parks In South Florida
–Can You Afford To Live In An RV On SSI?
Carley Thompson – Author and Full Time RVer
Carley Thompson is a former teacher turned freelance copywriter, stay-at-home mom, and full-time RVer from southern Ohio. She and her husband, Steven, have been traveling the country in their 5th wheel for the last decade.
Four years ago they decided to sell their house and take their two young girls, Harper and Ensley, on the road full-time. Since then, Carley and her family have visited 26 states with no plans of stopping.
Being immersed in the RV world for over ten years, Carley has gained valuable experience in RV living and how to navigate it. She writes about her RV experience and knowledge on several platforms and has been included in RV lifestyle magazines like Rootless Living and RV Today.
She loves homeschooling her girls on the road, giving them unlimited opportunities for hands-on learning.
Outside of educating others on how to make their nomadic journey more enjoyable, she also enjoys hiking, spending time on any body of water, and meeting new and old friends on the road.
Traveling full-time as a family has always been her dream, and she is loving it!
