Want to spend the month dipping your toes into warm sand versus cold piles of snow? Then choose to Winter Differently and check out these camping locations that put you in proximity to sand and far from the slush piles January is known for.
Voyager RV Resort: Known for it’s delicious food, hiking and biking trails, and awesome desert landscapes, Tucson is an ideal spot to hide from the snow and soak up the sun come winter time! And, while spending time in Tucson, there’s no better place to wait out the winter storms than Voyager RV Resort. Guests of Voyager can enjoy a wide range of resort-style amenities, including sixteen pickleball courts, a golf course, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a fitness center, a health clinic, and more!
Mesa Spirit: Mesa Spirit is ideally located near all of the Central Arizona attractions, entertainment and sporting events – including Spring Training facilities. Cheer on your favorite team in the Cactus League while you soak up the sun this winter. With the weather on your side, outdoor activities are possible all winter long, including hiking, biking, golf, and if a more relaxed winter is your vibe, plenty of patios are ready come happy hour.
Meridian: With the Superstition Mountains as a backdrop, Meridian RV Resort offers beautiful amenities, an activity schedule bursting with interesting things to do, from hiking and golf to arts and crafts as well as entertainment. The resort is close to shopping, concerts, restaurants, professional sports and golf, yet far enough away from the bustle of city life to make this your ideal winter home.
Gulf Shores RV Resort: The fact that the street address is Barefoot Way gives you an idea that your toes will be sand-side most of your camping trip at this great Alabama resort. The resort itself has great amenities including a swimming pool, nature trails, volleyball and pickleball courts, plus horseshoes, cornhole, and a stocked fishing lake. And the hidden gem that is the Gulf Shores of Alabama offer plenty more to see and do – from the water and on land. Gulf State Park has more than 3 miles of white sand beaches with activities including kayaking, shelling, surf fishing, and just relaxing. The Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail has 28 miles of trails for biking, birding, walking, and wildlife glimpsing! With 9 distinct eco-systems, it was named by USA Today as 2023’s best recreational trail in the country.
Encore Crystal Isles: If mermaids and manatees are on the list for winter must-sees, then book a stay at this resort on the gulf side and check out the manatee tours offered through Crystal River Watersports (crystalriverwatersports.com) to swim with these gentle giants. On the mermaid front, take a trip to Weeki Wachee Springs State Park to see the amazing underwater feats performed by the mermaids that have been captivating visitors for more than fifty years. Other Crystal River adventures can include kayaking, snorkeling, or fishing.
Fiesta Key and Sunshine Key: These two great Florida Keys resorts each offer something different and make for a great home base when exploring all the Keys have to offer. Sunshine Key is located on Big Pine Key which is also home to Bahia Honda State Park and the National Key Deer Refuge, a natural habitat for the white tailed Key deer. Sunshine Key also has great onsite amenities including sports courts, waterfront sites, boat dock, marina, fishing, and kayak and paddleboard rental. Fiesta Key is located on Long Key and also offers fishing, boat dock and marina, and a swimming pool and hot tub. Attractions nearby include Long Key State Park, great for swimming and beach time.
Tranquility Lakes: The new kid on the block when it comes to our luxury RV resort locations, Tranquility Lakes is located in Cape Coral, Florida, and has 10 pickleball courts, a fitness center, lake views, and swimming pools! Cape Coral is great for paddling coastal waters, visiting nearby attractions including the Edison and Ford Winter Estates, the beaches of Fort Myers and several museums and art galleries.
Terra Ceia: Terra Ceia has been a part of our Florida family of camping locations for some time now, but you might not recognize this great destination if you haven’t visited for a while. There are 190 new RV sites, a new pool complete with deck and pavilion, a new clubhouse, a new fitness center and hold on to your rackets, four, count ‘em, four new pickleball courts. The activities at this resort are action packed, and we’re sure you’ll have plenty of fun in the sun here.
Southern Palms: If Orlando is on your list this winter, Southern Palms is an ideal spot to enjoy the area with a side of quiet. It is centrally located to shopping, restaurants, and plenty of golf courses – ranging from novice to professional. Those who love to antique will enjoy Southern Palms’ location to Mt. Dora, a quaint Florida town known for its antique stores, cute festivals, and cozy inns.
Our South Texas resorts are a great place to stay if hitting the beaches of South Padre Island are part of your winter plans. Just about an hour’s drive from any of our 12 South Texas resorts, South Padre Island has opportunities for beach walking and bird watching, finding spectacular shells and building spectacular sandcastles, and just soaking up as much sun and sand that can be found on the 34 miles of beach found here. Book an excursion to dolphin watch, catch the sunset, or parasail over the Gulf waters. South Texas in winter is a sand-lovers dream.
Marina Dunes: This lovely California coast resort is situated between the two charming towns of Monterey and Carmel and offers a picturesque setting and a locational dream. Opt for the scenic 17-Mile Drive to familiarize yourself with what there is to see and do here and then get ready to enjoy this perfect coastal camping trip. Take a self-guided walking tour of John Steinbeck’s version of Cannery Row, available from getyourguide.com or check out the amazing Monterey Bay Aquarium (montereybayaquarium.org) and see the unique Kelp Forest as well as plenty of other marine life exhibits. Whale watch, shop, and eat your way across the historic Fisherman’s Wharf or take a day trip to Big Sur and explore Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and the amazing Nepenthe, a cliff-top restaurant offering amazing views.
Pacific Dunes Ranch: Located in Oceano, this resort is actually nestled amid the ocean dunes. How about that for a sandy stay! Take a dune buggy ride or a surfing lesson, visit Pismo Beach or take a drive into nearby San Luis Obispo and experience this hip California town where laid-back is the only vibe to feel. The area is home to wineries, breweries, and plenty of shopping and dining.
Oceanside RV Resort: Just north of San Diego, Oceanside offers great beach access minutes from the resort, plus on-site amenities including a swimming pool, hot tub, and clubhouse. Head into San Diego, which is about a 40-minute drive, and explore one of California’s oldest, and most visited, cities. San Diego highlights include the San Diego Zoo, LEGOLAND, and the Maritime Museum of San Diego. The city’s Balboa Park is a 1200 acre urban park with gardens, walking paths, and access to the San Diego Zoo.
Read More:
- Are you a biking enthusiast? With Florida’s rails-to-trails system, the sunshine state is a dream for bikers!
- Foodies should flock to Florida not only for it’s seafood, but for its sandwiches and sweet treats! After all, Florida is for foodies!
- We put together some delicious and healthy dutch oven recipes that will help you kickstart your resolutions!
- Central Florida is an outdoor paradise, and is especially enticing to visit during the winter months.
- Explore the Thousand Trails Camping Pass and the Thousand Trails Cabin Pass!
- Find more campgrounds at ThousandTrails.com.
