The Snowbird's Guide to RV Campgrounds

Jessica Johnson-profile-image
Jessica Johnson
July 24, 2023

Looking for warm weather campgrounds? Not sure what to look for in a winter destination? We’ve got you covered! Let’s check out the best RV parks in Florida and Arizona.

The Snowbird's Guide to RV Campgrounds

Best RV Destinations for Snowbirds

Are you wanting to escape the cold weather this winter? Finding the best RV destination for snowbirds is incredibly subjective. What is great for one person might be awful for another—and vice versa. Identifying your preferred winter RVing experience is of the utmost importance! But sometimes you don’t even know where to begin.

The more you know what to look for, the easier it will be to identify your perfect place this winter RV camping season. Here are some things to look for, or to ask yourself before we jump into some of the best Arizona and Florida RV parks for snowbirds.

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Look For RV Parks with Pet-Friendly Policies

If you are a pet parent, this is something you are going to need to pay attention to. There are RV parks that love pets, and others that merely tolerate them. If you wound up at the latter option, how awful would that be?

A good pet friendly campground has several things:

  • Clearly-communicated pet rules
  • A designated place for your pet to do their business
  • Large off-leash areas
  • A well-maintained pet space
  • Large RV lots
  • A friendly, pet-loving staff

A lot of campgrounds struggle with some or all of these. And if you are one of the many RVers who travels with your pups, it is worth taking this into consideration.

Look For RV Parks with Snowbird Activities and Amenities

A lot of RV parks—especially in Florida, Arizona, and Texas—are used to accommodating a large number of snowbirds every winter. Because this is their norm, they’ve realized the benefits of creating programs, attractions, and events to help their snowbird communities connect with one another, and create a home away from home.

Snowbirds that love activities and connecting with other snowbirds ought to look for an RV park with these types of amenities. When considering your winter RV park, look for the following.

  • Do they have a pool area?
  • Do they have a clubhouse?
  • Do they have a calendar of events?
  • Do they have weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly events?
  • Do they acknowledge snowbirds in their advertising and communication?

If you were able to answer “yes” to the majority of these questions, there is a pretty good chance you’ll find friends here, and be happy during your winter travels.

Look For RV Parks with Beach And/or Golf Access

Some RV campgrounds will have direct beach access and or a golf course. These campgrounds are more resort-style RV parks, and really seem to offer it all: Wi-Fi, cable, full hookups, activities, and more.

If you are a golf lover, there is nothing better than having a course right on your campground. This will allow you to stay pretty insulated in your RV park, and all but guarantee that you’ll find some people to play a few rounds with.

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Look For RV Parks That Are the Most Affordable, Offer Cable, Internet, and Long-Term Discounts

Some other things to look for and consider when finding your winter RV campground are things like cable, Wi-Fi signal, long-term discounts, etc. There are a lot of things that one must take into consideration when looking at the overall cost of a winter RV campground.

If you don’t have to pay for internet or cable, that could save you a nice amount of money. Sometimes, they will even offer month-long discounts to help cut back on the costs. Do your due diligence in searching for all the fine details of these campgrounds.

RV Parks for Snowbirds in Florida

Central and south Florida are incredibly popular destinations for winter travelers and snowbirds alike. With the sunny weather, palm trees, beaches, amusement parks, and endless activities available, it’s no wonder snowbirds flock to Florida. Below we have a list of several great RV parks options—including some that are 55+ communities.

Winter Quarters Pasco RV Resort: Year Round This is a year-round RV Resort located just north of Tampa. With its close proximity to Tampa Bay—just 20 miles north—and a day trip to Orlando—about 100 miles—you’ll have a wealth of activities to enjoy.

This RV resort is an example of what you get when you stay at a snowbird-minded resort. It has an active clubhouse that hosts socials, chair yoga events, card nights, and more! Plus, the resort has a pool, library, horseshoe pits, bocce ball, billiards, corn hole, the list goes on.

Winter Quarters Pasco RV Resort has 256 sites and offers 30+ day stays. It is highly-rated on TripAdvisor.com, and is a top pick for your snowbird stay in Florida.

Winter Garden RV Resort: Location If you aren’t looking for a park that has so much going on, Winter Garden RV Resort could work for you. Here you can take a deep breath in a natural setting, but be only minutes away from some of Florida’s biggest attractions. While you are a 90-minute drive to the coast, you are incredibly close to Disney World and Universal.

This park has a clubhouse, swimming pool, restroom facilities, a playground, fitness center, basketball, laundry facilities, and advertises itself as pet-friendly. This RV park would be great for the entire family—even the furry canine family members. With plenty of stuff for the kids or visiting grandkids to enjoy, everyone will want to hang out on the premises. And if you want a day away, you can be at Disney or Universal in under 30 minutes.

This park has 368 sites and offers 30+ day stays. This is a great RV resort for families or grandparents thinking their family might visit.

Olde Mill Stream RV Resort: 55+ The Olde Mill Stream RV Resort is a great place for those who are 55 years and over to escape the cold, find a retreat, and what inland Florida offers in winter. It is a gated 55+ RV community with 484 spacious sites and it’s a great place to enjoy an entire winter camping season without moving.

The lots are large and include a generous 8 foot by 20 foot concrete patio with full hookups with 20, 30, or 50 amp service. On the grounds, they have 3 different hot spot areas for Wi-Fi and the mature trees, flowers, shrubs, provide a nice resort feel.

They have several places to connect with other snowbirds on the grounds—a clubhouse, rec hall, multi-purpose building, billiard hall—and they have a swimming pool, shuffleboard courts, pickleball courts, horseshoes, and more.

The Olde Mill Stream RV Resort is perfect for those 55 and over to relax and enjoy life with other snowbirds during their winter camping experience.

Riptide RV Resort & Marina: Keys If you are looking for those crystal clear waters, white sandy beaches, and the typical Florida salt life experience, Riptide RV Resort & Marina is your spot. Located in Key Largo, you’ll get those island vibes all winter long.

Whether you are headed to the keys for snorkeling in and around the mangroves, sunbathing on those white sandy beaches, or just wanting a change of scenery, there aren’t too many places better than this spot.

Riptide will give you a 35-foot gravel site with full hookups, cable, Wi-Fi, and access to the resort's private beach. Other amenities include a clubhouse, planned activities, fishing access, and an outdoor fire pit.

The people who will most appreciate a place like this are those looking for a way to drive to island life and really enjoy the ocean. CampersCard Snowbirds Guide Arizona.jpg

RV Parks for Snowbirds in Arizona

Southern Arizona might be one of the best locations for snowbirds who are active outside. With hiking, birding, golfing, off-roading, trail running, and more being so easily accessible here, you’ll love this area for winter camping.

Palm Creek Resort & Residencies: 55+ An oasis in the desert is how people describe this 55 and over RV Resort. At Palm Creek Resort & Residencies, RVers can find great sites with even better amenities. Here you’ll get back-in sites that are 40 foot wide and 50 foot deep with patio pads, full hookups with 50 amp service, cable tv, and Wi-Fi.

On top of great sites, you will have access to swimming pools, hot tubs, on-site dining options, pickleball courts, tennis courts, and even softball leagues. And that isn’t all, there’s also a fitness center, laundry facilities, planned events, and even 9 different dog parks to choose from.

This is one of those parks that realizes the importance of community and they demonstrate that with different clubs you can join. Current clubs include: arts & performance, cards & games, sports & fitness, and even a special interests group. There are so many things happening at this 55+ community that you’ll be sure to love it.

Desert’s Edge RV Park: Location Desert’s Edge RV Park is located just north of Phoenix and offers access to everything the Phoenix metro area offers without being overwhelmed by it all. This park was rated as a top 10 park in the country by USA Today.

Desert’s Edge RV Park has pull-through sites for people just passing through or checking it out for a week, but offer double-lots for those looking to stay for a winter camping season. They are a place that truly offers everything one might need for their RVing experience including storage units, overflow parking, 50 amp hookups, concrete patios, and more.

This is a mix of desert recreation paradise with big city conveniences. With its close proximity to desert hiking, trail running, mountain biking, and off-roading, you get the beauty of the desert life. But with its close proximity to the Phoenix metro area, you’ll have the chance to take in spring training games, access to great hospitalities, and world class golfing. This is worth checking out.

Kofa Co-Op Retreat & RV Park: 55+ Another great area for winter camping is the Yuma, Arizona area. It is known as the sunniest place in the United States, offers easy access to Mexico, and is rather inexpensive. The area surrounding Yuma is known for boating, sand dunes, cycling, hiking, and more. It is an amazing place, but quite remote.

Kofa Co-Op Retreat & RV Park is one of the parks in the Yuma area. It has 154 large sites with up to 50 amp electric service, clean facilities, heated pools and spas, cable, Wi-Fi, laundry, and an active clubhouse. For pet parents, they will be pleased to know this is a pet-friendly location and offers a large off-leash dog park.

Kofa Co-Op Retreat & RV Park is a truly unique experience in one of America’s best desert RV parks.

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Your Guide to Winter Camping for Snowbirds

We know that finding the best fit for you and your needs can be a bit tricky. Mixing budgets, driving distance, visitors, interests, and activities all play into your decision. But rest assured, CampersCard is here to help.

We can help you save time by doing some of the vetting process for you, giving you some things to consider, and more. And we can also save you money with our CampersCard membership too. Sign-up today and experience the benefits of CampersCard tomorrow.

About CampersCard
CampersCard is the latest campground discount program by the team at Harvest Hosts. This program connects campers on a budget with high-quality campgrounds. Campgrounds offer CampersCard members exciting benefits such as early check-in, late checkout, and discounts on nightly rates to be part of the program. The benefits will quickly offset the membership cost. It’s a win-win for everyone!
Jessica Johnson-profile-image
Jessica Johnson
Traveling with her husband, three children, and their dog, Chili, Jessica explores America via road trips. Jessica's unique perspective focuses on genuine experiences rather than typical tourist routes. She uses resources like CampersCard, CampScanner, and Harvest Hosts to ensure every journey is memorable. Despite a busy schedule, she captures and shares serene moments amid the chaos of family life and travel. Her work offers a unique journey through less-traveled Family Friendly roads.