Snowbirds are those who travel to warmer climates during the winter and colder climates during the summer, following good weather to stay comfortable. Many nomads are snowbirds, especially those with uninsulated vehicles, but many non-nomads make these trips as well, especially retirees who don't have work obligations to stay in one place. Snowbirding reduces the need for expensive and bulky amenities like air conditioning.
Common targets include daytime highs of 60-75F. These highs may seem too cool, but snowbirds often camp in full sun to harvest solar power.
Latitude
Climate averages increase as one approaches the equator[1], at a rate of roughly 1deg F per 50 miles traveled in latitude. This video shows how the latitude of 70deg F. changes throughout the year.
Elevation
Changing your elevation can make a big difference in ambient temperature! On sunny days with low humidity:[2]
- For every 100 meters in elevation change, expect about 1°C temperature change.
- For every 1000 feet in elevation change, expect about 5.5°F temperature change.
During periods of rain, snow, high humidity, or cloud cover, expect less of a change:
- For every 100 meters in elevation change, expect about 0.6°C temperature change.
- For every 1000 feet in elevation change, expect about 3.3°F temperature change.
In mountainous areas, changing your elevation to get a better ambient temperature is almost always a lot faster and cheaper than driving somewhere at the same elevation. Read more about elevation changes …
Efficiency
In order to alter the temperature by 10F, one could either:
Weather
Annual weather patterns and forecasts play a large role in the lives of snowbirds. See the weather page for more information.
United States
In the eastern US, snowbirds will typically move further south into Florida with cold weather and up as far as Canada in warm weather.
In the central US, snowbirds may move to the Gulf Coast (Texas, Louisiana) during winter and up into the mountains of Colorado or further north in the summer.
In the western US, snowbirds often move to sea level in southern Arizona or California in the winter, and either up in elevation (New Mexico) or latitude in the summer.
Draft version of common boondocking spot temps by month - Google Drive (view only, in progress)
Wintering areas
Wintering areas will be closer to the equator and/or lower in elevation.
Popular locations include:[4], [5]
- Arizona
- Ehrenberg AZ (305')[6] -- free camping, cell coverage
- Quartzsite AZ (879')[7] -- free camping, cell coverage
- Tucson AZ (2389')[8] -- free camping, cell coverage
- Yuma AZ (141')[9] -- free camping, cell coverage
- California
- Coronado CA (16')[10] -- free camping, cell coverage
- slab city (71')[11] -- free camping, cell coverage
- El Centro CA (-42')[12] -- free camping, cell coverage
- Holtville CA (-10')[13] -- free camping, cell coverage
- Florida
- south Texas
- Padres Island - Padre Island National Seashore
Summering areas
Summering areas will be farther from the equator and/or higher in elevation.
- Arizona
- area around Flagstaff (6,910')[14], but not Flagstaff proper. -- free camping, cell coverage
- California
- Ft. Bragg (46')[15] -- low elevation but with an "extreme maritime effect of the Pacific Ocean..."[16] -- free camping, cell coverage
- Colorado
- Leadville (10,152')[17] -- free camping, cell coverage
- Pike National Forest (~9,500)[18] -- free camping, cell service
- Steamboat Springs (6,732')[19] -- free camping, cell coverage
- Michigan
- Michigan coast of Lake Michigan -- free camping, cell coverage
- Minnesota
- north shore of Lake Superior -- free camping, cell coverage
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- outside Santa Fe (up to 10,000')[20] -- free camping, cell coverage
- Ruidoso, 7000'+
- Cloudcroft, 8000'+
- Note: New Mexico has an annual camping pass available
- Oregon
- coastal areas -- free camping
- Mt. Hood National Forest -- free camping, cell coverage
Spring and fall
Theory: elevations around 3,000' may be good for "shoulder season" camping.
- Arizona
- Cottonwood (3,314')[21] -- free camping, cell coverage
- Winslow (4,850')[22] -- free camping, cell coverage
- Florida
- Ocala National Forest (104') --
- Nevada
- Carson City (4,802')[23] -- cell coverage
- Pahrump (2,697')[24] -- free camping, cell coverage
- New Mexico - most of NM is at higher elevation.
- Las Cruces area (4,000') -
- Utah
- St. George (2,900') --
- Hurricane (3,200') --
Resources
- Chasing70degrees - a paid web-based app to help you find places in the continental United States within temperature bounds you set. Price for lifetime access is $10 in 2024.
Some or all of the content on this page was originally sourced from this page on RVWiki
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate
- ↑ https://www.onthesnow.com/news/does-elevation-affect-temperature/
- ↑ http://www.city-data.com/states/Nevada-Location-size-and-extent.html
- ↑ http://www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/Thread-Winter-boondock-CA-NM?pid=257155#pid257155
- ↑ http://www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/Thread-Winter-boondock-CA-NM?pid=257149#pid257149
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ehrenberg,_Arizona
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartzsite,_Arizona
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tucson,_Arizona
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuma,_Arizona
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronado,_California
- ↑ https://freecampsites.net/#!2008&query=sitedetails
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Centro,_California
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holtville,_California
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flagstaff,_Arizona
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Bragg,_California
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Bragg,_California#Climate
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leadville,_Colorado
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pike_National_Forest#Climate
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steamboat_Springs,_Colorado
- ↑ https://freecampsites.net/#!1610&query=sitedetails
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottonwood,_Arizona
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winslow,_Arizona
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carson_City,_Nevada
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pahrump,_Nevada