RV Florida Snowbird | What I Learned After 6 Weeks
After 6 weeks of being a RV Florida snowbird for the first time, I learned a thing or two. My family of 4 took our travel trailer Callie down to Florida from New Hampshire in February of 2023 to embark on our first snowbird journey.
We had to figure out how to cook, do laundry, and take showers at our campsite. What an adventure it was!
Here are some things that I did that helped make our snowbird stay feel a bit more comfortable.
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Ear Plugs
If you are a light sleeper, I highly recommend investing in some comfy ear plugs.
We used a sound machine during our RV snowbird adventure, but for me it just isn’t enough to cut out some of the noise.
Especially when we were staying in parking lots between camp sites.
Most campgrounds are quiet, and if we have our A/C fan running it blocks out all of the noise, but when we have to use our heater it kicks on and off all night long. I wake up in the night often when that happens. I love my Loop Ear Plugs.
I can even sleep in them. They come with several different sizes in the box and you can use whichever plug fits your ear. I highly recommend them!
Bring lots of quarters
Being a traveling snowbird definitely has its benefits, but it also has some challenges. Laundry is one of them. I found that laundry is typically between $4.00 – $6.00 a load, but it could be even more in some places.
Be sure to bring lots of quarters with you on your trip so you aren’t scrambling to find cash to put into the quarter machines, or getting cash back at a gas station. This is especially true if you are traveling with young children.
They love to get wet and dirty in their adventures and it is always helpful to have some quarters on hand to throw their clothes into the washer when needed.
Instant Pot
What a time/life saver an Instant Pot was for our 6 week RV snowbird trip. I’m not sure what we would have done without an Instant Pot (or a slow cooker at least).
We cooked almost all of our meals with this device. I love how I can set it and forget it, allowing me to go off exploring with my kids all day. It also allows for some easy cleanup after the meal.
If you are looking for Easy Camping Meals or you are in need of some inspiration, take a peek at this post.
Shower Shoes and Caddy
When picking a campground that is secluded or off the beaten path, you may find that there are no full hookups. Most of the campgrounds we went to while on our snowbird RV trip were water/electric only.
In order to not have to dump our tanks in the middle of our stay, we chose to take our showers at the bathhouse. Don’t forget to pack your shower shoes and shower caddy!
You certainly do not want to walk barefoot on a public wet bathroom floor.
Variety of Clothes – different seasons/temperatures
As a snowbird, you are traveling through different states, temperatures, and essentially different seasons! It is important to pack a variety of different clothes so that you can be dressed for the weather on any given day.
Be sure to bring lots of layers, rain gear, and beach gear! It can be difficult to plan what type of temperatures you will encounter, but you can try your best to pack what you may need.
We experienced a crazy 80 degree temperature swing throughout our RV Snowbird trip. What a wild experience that was.
Organizing baskets/bins
Spending weeks at a time in your camper as a RV snowbird can feel a bit tight at times. I highly recommend purchasing some organizing baskets as well as bins to try to control the space.
It also helps if you make sure you have a place for everything and be sure to put everything back in its place. We lived in a 21 ft travel trailer this winter.
My husband, me, and my two children. It was very important to have these baskets and bins to organize the chaos.
Noise Cancelling Headphones
If you plan on working remotely while on your Florida snowbird trip, we highly recommend investing in some good noise cancelling headphones.
Especially if you are traveling with children. If you are easily distracted or have a focus intensive job, these headphones are essential for you!
What is a RV Florida Snowbird?
A RV Florida Snowbird is somebody who travels south to a warmer climate during the wintertime in their RV.
I hope that my story and tips can help you get started as a RV Florida snowbird, or at least give you some things to think about as you embark on your own adventure.
I’ve already started looking at our calendars to determine where we’ll be going next winter! Wherever you might end up, have fun with it! Learning the ins and outs is part of the adventure.
More Resources:
10 Travel Trailer Must Haves For Beginner RVers
