Most of us start itching for a warm weather getaway soon after chilly winter weather sets in. Fleeing to campgrounds in warm locales can be a much-needed reprieve during the long winter months. If warm winter camping is on your bucket list this year, below are our top warm winter camping places.
1. Buccaneer State Park, Mississippi
Why We Love it:
- Beautiful scenery of sandy beaches, marshlands, and moss-covered oaks
- Fabled locale with history of pirates
- A disc golf course
Located on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, Buccaneer State Park is a storied setting of moss-cloaked oaks, marshlands, and long stretches of sandy beaches. Besides boasting southern scenery worthy of a postcard, the area is a place of historic interest too. The French buccaneer Jean Lafitte and his band of marauders smuggled and pirated throughout the area, and inhabited the old Pirate House near the park. Buccaneer State Park is also sometimes referred to as Jackson’s Ridge after Andrew Jackson. The area served as a military base for Jackson during the Battle of New Orleans and later became his home.
The park offers a wide range of outdoor activities, including an 18-hole disc golf course, a recreation center, bathhouses, a picnic area, and a playground. There is also a 2-mile Pirate’s Alley Nature Trail with an introduction to many native species of oak, Sweet Bay Magnolias, and other indigenous flora. In winter, highs reach at least the low 60s, serving as a tepid getaway for campers. Three hundred campsites are available for overnighters, including developed and primitive camping.
Recommended: Camping Trip Ideas for Couples
2. Oliver Lee Memorial State Park, New Mexico
Why We Love it:
- Rugged and majestic scenery
- Year-round stream allows for rich biodiversity in arid area
- Area has long Native American and settler history
This state park is located in high-altitude New Mexico mountainous terrain. Rugged and majestic, the park spans a large canyon and sweeping ridgelines in the Sacramento mountains. An extension of the Chihuahuan Desert, Oliver Lee Memorial State Park is an arid environment, but uniquely has a perennial stream running through its center. This water source provides for a wide variety of flora and fauna, including cottonwoods, desert willows, fern, and cattail, as well as mule deer, badgers, cougars, and coati.
In addition to being a beautiful and biologically diverse area, the park also has deep Native American roots. Carved tools unique to the area provide evidence that people lived there as early as 9,500 BC. More recently, the canyon was used by Apache warriors as a base during various battles with settlers. The park is named after a rancher whose historic 19th-Century ranch house is a part of the park. The park has nine campsites, including a large group overnight shelter.
3. Lake Corpus Christi State Park, Texas
Why We Love it:
- Ecologically diverse area with large lake
- Lake is a fantastic fishing spot
- Plenty of camping, including full hookups and cabins
The ecology of this diverse park is a mixture of brushlands, woodlands, wetlands, and the wide- open waters of Lake Corpus Christi. The lake itself is 18,256 acres and a favorite spot for anglers looking to pull in largemouth and white bass, as well as catfish, crappie, and redear sunfish. There are two boat ramps, two fish cleaning stations, and two lighted fishing piers – one of which is wheelchair-accessible and 400 feet long. Fish bite year-round in the temperate climate. January is the coldest month, with highs in the mid-60s, while the rest of the winter sees highs into the 70s.
Besides fishing, this lake is great for boating, water skiing, and swimming. Ashore there is plenty to do in the ecologically-rich area, such as bird-watching, hiking, and biking. There are over 120 campsites available, including full hookups, cabins, and screened shelters.
Recommended: Gulf Coast Road Trip
4. Point Washington State Forest – Eastern Lake Campground 2, Florida
Why We Love it:
- Great for the true wildlife lover
- Primitive, secluded campsite
- Great bird and wildlife sightings
This primitive campground is located less than 10 miles from Freeport, Florida on the banks of Eastern Lake. This state forest is a favorite for mountain biking and hiking with three double-track loop trails. Other recreational activities include fishing, picnicking, bird watching, and wildlife viewing – in fact, the forest is part of the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail.
Recommended: Relaxing Beach Camping Destinations
5. F.D. Roosevelt State Park, Georgia
Why We Love it:
- Scenic views and historical significance
- Great fishing near campsites
- Beautiful stargazing away from the city
At 9,049 acres, F.D. Roosevelt is the largest state park in Georgia and a hiker’s and backpacker’s paradise. The park is located along the rolling mountains of King’s Gap about 90 minutes from Atlanta. A life-size sculpture of President Franklin D. Roosevelt welcomes visitors to the Dowdell’s Knob overlook where he would picnic and ponder world affairs.
Several park amenities were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression, including cottages and the Liberty Bell Swimming Pool fed by cool springs. A wooded campground sits near the edge of a small fishing lake with 115 electric sites for tents and RVs.
6. Camp Florida Resort, Florida
Why We Love it:
- Warm all year-long
- Park with pool and lots of amenities
- Close to a quaint downtown
Nestled in the quaint town of Lake Placid in south-central Florida, Camp Florida Resort is a hidden paradise. It is a 397-lot resort with RV lots and park model homes for rent nightly, weekly, monthly, seasonally, and year-round.
The park overlooks Lake Grassy and has a pool among other great amenities. There is also plenty to do close by including the town’s downtown, and Fort Myers and West Palm Beach are both less than a two hours drive away.
Are you ready for your adventure? Plan your camping trip!