Snowbirding in a car...

[ganchan]

...or technically speaking, in a minivan, which is what I'll be getting. I'd rather not bother with electrical or propane heating devices, at least not at first, so I'm perusing usclimatedata.com for potential winter hideouts (in or near cities) that might be tolerable with the aid of thermal sleeping bag, blankets, etc.. So far I'm considering:

Brownsville TX (low average De-Jan temps of 52-53F)
Yuma AZ (46)
Tampa FL (52-54)
San Diego CA (48-49)

Any additional or alternate suggestions?

 

[DannyB1954]

Looking at average night time temps might be better. Where I live it can be 50 f during the day and 15f at night.

 

[ganchan]

Looking at average night time temps might be better. Where I live it can be 50 f during the day and 15f at night.

Yeah, I'm assuming that these average low temps for December and January will also be the nighttime temps. (Yes?) The average highs in Yuma at that time of year, for instance, appear to be closer to 70, and I'm assuming that occurs in the afternoon....

Also starting to look at summertime haunts. Got my eye on places like St. Paul MN, Chicago IL and maybe Flagstaff AZ....

 

[Vanholio]

...or technically speaking, in a minivan, which is what I'll be getting. I'd rather not bother with electrical or propane heating devices, at least not at first, so I'm perusing usclimatedata.com for potential winter hideouts (in or near cities) that might be tolerable with the aid of thermal sleeping bag, blankets, etc.. So far I'm considering:

Brownsville TX (low average De-Jan temps of 52-53F)
Yuma AZ (46)
Tampa FL (52-54)
San Diego CA (48-49)

Any additional or alternate suggestions?

I'm in Brownsville now and used to live in South Texas.  Bad thing down here is there aren't many places to boondock. I'm visiting family and friends, so it isn't a problem for me. A bit farther north by Corpus Christi you have Padre Island National Seashore. More or less the same weather.

 

[TMG51]

I vote San Diego. There's lots to do there and even though living in a vehicle is illegal, lots of people do it and if you're not causing trouble or being unsightly you won't get hassled.

 

[gcal]

[quote pid='243775' dateline='1480210660']
n, which is what I'll be getting. I'd rather not bother with electrical or propane heating devices, at least not at first, so I'm perusing usclimatedata.com for potential winter hideouts (in or near cities) that might be tolerable with the aid of thermal sleeping bag, blankets, etc.. So far I'm considering:

Brownsville TX (low average De-Jan temps of 52-53F)
Yuma AZ (46)
Tampa FL (52-54)
San Diego CA (48-49)

Any additional or alternate suggestions?
[/quote]

I lived and worked in the Tampa bay area for quite a while. Parks are pricey in season and will often not accept you unless you have an actual rv. Boondocking or stealth will be tricky. Tampa has ordinances against people sleeping in vehicles on the street and will enforce them. People down for the winter in their cars or vans without plenty of tourist money to spend are considered about as welcome as an invasion of roaches. As a group, they annoy the police because they increase the crime rate, both as perpetrators and as victims. The resident poor resent them for gobbling up good parttime seasonal jobs and available social services. Middle class residents resent the panhandlers and petty crime and the increased traffic and crowding by people who they don't see making substantial contributions to the  local economy. Upper class residents don't think much about them at all, but consider them an unsightly nuisances when they do. 

The Tampa Bay area in the winter is a crowded, noisy, and unfriendly place to spend the winter unless you have brought a fat wallet along.

 

[LeeRevell]

North Florida is usually pretty mild in the winter, except for short periods in January or February.

 

[ganchan]

I  guess I should also think about specific overnight spots in whatever areas I try snowbirding in. I am using freecampsites.net and the Allstays website to find multiple truck stops, Walmarts, etc for each town. Can I assume I'll need to rotate between these spots from night to night?

Of course, if I'm out on BLM land out in southern AZ, it'll be less of an issue because there's always The Middle of Nowhere to camp in.  :dodgy:

 

[Ken in Anaheim]

This always irks me when you see folks living in tents not getting hasseled but folks that pay vehicle license fees are......go figure.

 

[Ken in Anaheim]

I vote San Diego. There's lots to do there and even though living in a vehicle is illegal, lots of people do it and if you're not causing trouble or being unsightly you won't get hassled.

This always irks me when you see folks living in tents not getting hassled but folks that pay vehicle license fees are......go figure

 

[Almost There]

I  guess I should also think about specific overnight spots in whatever areas I try snowbirding in. I am using freecampsites.net and the Allstays website to find multiple truck stops, Walmarts, etc for each town. Can I assume I'll need to rotate between these spots from night to night?

IMO it's always wise to rotate spots when you're trying to stay at W/M's/truckstops/Cracker Barrels, etc.

Some will tell you that no one pays any attention at all to who is staying overnight in the parking lots. Most people might not pay much attention but even one is one too many.

This past summer I watched in horror as a couple in a pick up truck/camper spent the whole summer in one W/M location. It isn't a big city, maybe 15,000 people.

Every time I went there to shop, there they were in one of 2 places in the lot. I think they might have been moving each day to stay in the shade during the hot summer. BUT they always were there and always had the step stool set up at the back of the camper along with a bucket that was obviously being used to collect gray water that I'm sure they were dumping in the bushes.

I'm sure I am not the only one who noticed.

If you can find a half dozen spots and rotate them...not pure rotation as in Monday I'm here, Tuesday is B, etc. but randomly, it will probably go much better.

Also check out the regulations for overnighting at the closest rest area in your state. It might be worth a short drive if it's okay to stay overnight there (each state has their own rules so check).