Best Off-Season RV Destinations to Beat the Crowds

RV camping has gotten popular in recent years. The result? A lot of crowded campgrounds. RV destinations that were once remote and nearly completely free of other campers are now chock-full.

My family values having peace and quiet much of the time, and we are finding ourselves wandering further and further off the beaten path to find the solitude we love. 

Fortunately, it is still possible to find that peace and quiet that so many RVers seek out. One way to do this is to travel to off-season RV destinations and enjoy those spots while everyone else is off having different adventures. 

When is the Off-Season?

Of course, the first thing you have to know when planning a trip to an off-season RV destination is when exactly off-season is. Generally speaking, summer is both peak travel season and peak camping season. This would lead you to believe that winter is off-season, and in many places that is true. 

That said, there are plenty of full-time RVers who stay on the road right on through the winter months, meaning popular snowbird destinations such as Florida, Arizona, and SoCal see their peak camping seasons during the winter. 

Therefore, instead of trying to assign a blanket “off-season” to every location, it’s better to figure out when each individual destination sees the biggest crowds and plan around that. 

Benefits of Visiting Off-Season Destinations

Not sure off-season travel is worthwhile? I can see that. After all, there are reasons people decide to travel to certain places when they do. For instance, RVers like to visit Florida in winter for the warmth and sunshine, and families like to visit Disneyland in summer because school is out. 

Still, there are plenty of benefits to choosing off-season RV destinations as well:

• There’s the obvious and already mentioned benefit of lower crowd levels. 
• Lower crowd levels also means it is much easier to get into campgrounds, making it 1) less necessary to book months in advance and 2) more possible to hop around spontaneously. 
• The fact that campgrounds are less crowded means you are also more likely to be able to stay for extended periods of time, something that is nice for slow travelers like me. 
• Many campgrounds and attractions offer reduced rates during off-season.

Off-Season Destinations for Winter

As mentioned above, during the winter a lot of destinations are in “off-season” mode. The exceptions would be the aforementioned snowbird destinations, but there are plenty of wonderful places that don’t fall into this category. 

Here are some top picks for off-season winter destinations. 

Big Bend National Park

As long as you avoid the weeks of winter break, Big Bend National Park doesn’t tend to be busy during the winter and can be a good place to soak up some sunshine. The park offers tons of amazing hikes and some of the best stargazing we’ve ever come across. I easily could have spent a few weeks here without getting bored. 

White Sands National Park

While most visitors choose to visit White Sands in the spring or fall, we visited in December and had the time of our lives. We had the whole place to ourselves and the kids enjoyed sledding the dunes for hours on end. The weather was chilly but not unbearably so, and there was inexpensive camping at a nearby state park. We also noticed some boondocking nearby. 

Cumberland Island 

Want a beach getaway during the winter? You could head to the Florida beaches, but finding a campsite will be tricky. Instead, consider Cumberland Island in Georgia. No, the beaches here won’t be as warm, but with an average high of 68 degrees Fahrenheit in January, the weather doesn’t tend to be too bad either. 

Off-Season Destinations for Spring and Fall

Spring and fall are great times to enjoy those destinations that might be too cold in the winter while still enjoying lower crowd levels.

Most vacation destinations are much less crowded when school is in session, and the weather tends to be nice in most parts of the US in April, May, September, and October. This is the time to visit those must-see places that are just way too busy in the summer. 

Here are some of our favorite off-season RV destinations for spring and fall. 

Yellowstone National Park

We absolutely adored Yellowstone, but we visited in the summer and the crowds were ridiculous and kind of tainted our experience. From what I understand, the crowd levels are much lower in the spring and fall when school is in session, so I suggest seeing this park then. (And yes, it is a must-see.)

Acadia National Park

Acadia is another of those national parks that everyone should see at least once. It’s easily in my top 5. That said, with the exception of the Schoodic Peninsula, the whole park is crowded during the summer months.

Many fellow travelers have told us that if you stay the week before the campgrounds close in the fall, you’ll be treated to an empty park with gorgeous fall colors!

South Padre Island 

We visited South Padre Island in Texas over the winter. What we learned was that while winter is technically “off-season” down there, a great many snowbirds like to spend the cold months there. This means the campgrounds are fully booked even in January.

My suggestion? Visit in April or May. This will allow you to avoid snowbird season, avoid summer crowds, and enjoy some warm temperatures without the threat of hurricanes.

Off-Season Destinations for Summer

Summer is peak camping season in most places, and finding less crowded camping can be tricky. Generally, doing so means wandering pretty far off the beaten path. That said, those snowbird RV parks in Florida, Arizona, and SoCal that fill up during the winter are likely to have more availability during the summer months. If you’re willing to deal with the heat, these parks can be a good option.

Here are some good spots for off-season camping in summer. 

Sarasota, Florida

Parts of Florida are going to be flooded with vacationers as soon as the snowbirds clear out. That said, there are some areas that are definitely less crowded in summer.

Sarasota is one of these and also happens to be one of my favorite cities in the state. From here, you can easily reach gorgeous beaches (be sure to check out Siesta Beach) and see some amazing museums. We also really love the circus-themed playground in this town. 

Joshua Tree National Park

We’ve spent many winters exploring Joshua Tree and honestly, even in winter the park never feels very crowded. That said, summer is off-season in this park, so you’re very likely to have the whole place to yourself.

Make sure to hike to the oasis and watch the sunset. I also highly recommend stargazing in this park, as the night skies are up there with Big Bend’s night skies. 

Tucson, Arizona

Lastly, I must mention Tucson. This is a popular snowbird destination, but not really a popular vacation destination. This means that once the snowbirds clear out, the campgrounds and attractions sit pretty empty for the hot season.

I will say that it is really hot, but you can do the scenic drives through Saguaro National Park from your car, explore the two awesome indoor visitor centers in the park, and then check out the museums and other indoor attractions in the city. 

More Tips for Beating Camping Crowds

Looking for more tips for avoiding crowded places during your RV travels? I personally use the tips below on a pretty regular basis. 

Consider Boondocking

First, if you aren’t a fan of crowded campgrounds, you might consider boondocking. While this does require some special tools, setup, and planning, it allows you to camp off-grid in the middle of nowhere. Often we can’t see any other campers from our site while boondocking. 

To ensure you have some solitude, look for boondocking spots that are off the beaten path, and don’t be afraid to drive further into whatever area you visit to find a secluded spot. 

Think Outside of the Box

It also helps to think outside the box. While we adore some popular destinations—Disney World and popular national parks come to mind—we have also found some spots that are very rarely talked about that we absolutely love. (Theodore Roosevelt National Park and Lassen Volcanic National Park, for instance.)

Some of these are mentioned above, but you can also use your own preferences and interests to find hidden gems. Just consider what your family loves doing and the places they love visiting, and then search the internet or ask in forums and social media groups for places that are lesser known but still similar. You might be surprised by the cool attractions and destinations you can find!

Extend Your Personal Camping Season

Like I said above, summer is peak season in most places, meaning most campgrounds and attractions are going to be crowded. Consider camping earlier in the spring and well into the fall so you can take advantage of the slower season.

Yes, the weather is likely to be chillier, but I’m betting you’ll still have a blast and there’s nothing quite like having a campground almost entirely to yourself.

Finding the Perfect RV for Off-Season Adventures

There you have it—all the reasons you should try camping in off-season places, some awesome off-season RV destinations, and some other tips for beating the crowds. Use all this info to plan some amazing, crowd-free trips and have an amazing time making memories with your loved ones!

If you’re thinking your RV no longer matches your dreams of quiet, off-season getaways, we can help! 

Whether it’s better fuel consumption, more features, or simply a different layout that fits your lifestyle better, the perfect RV can change your entire travel experience.

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