From Snow to Sand: My Winter-Spring Loop (Van/RV Travel Blog)
Spent most of the winter hunkered down in upstate NY at an RV park. Wasn’t exactly by choice — job stuff was in limbo, and I was still technically a government employee trying to figure out the next move. Eventually took a deferred resignation in January and by February, I was heading south with no real plan other than: keep moving, stay warm.
Landed in North Carolina and parked it for a month. OBX is beautiful — that mix of beach, off-season emptiness, and zero crowds is hard to beat. But by the end of it, I had the itch to hit the road again. From there, I bounced all over on a solo RV travel loop across the South and Southwest.
Below are most of the campgrounds and state parks I stayed at during my winter-to-spring RV road trip. I’m working on a dedicated Travel Reviews section on the site that’ll break down each location — amenities, hookups, trail access, dog-friendliness — all of it. No fluff, just honest travel reviews for fellow RVers and vanlifers.
For now, here’s the quick recap of my RV camping route:
Ocracoke, NC (Jerniman’s Campground): Empty in winter, great people, killer beach access.
TN: Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park — yeah, that name... was there for a night.
AL: Cheaha State Park — pretty, but priced like a resort.
MS: Turkey Creek Water Park — elite. Water access, empty, trails. A+ for the dog.
OK: Roman Nose State Park — dry lake, weird vibe.
LA: Lake Bistineau State Park — loved it, one of my favorites. Great vibe.
LA: Poverty Point Reservoir State Park — hated it, suburban RV vibe, packed.
TX: Fort Parker State Park — decent lake, trails hug the road.
NM: Oasis State Park — good desert stop, chill lake (more of a pond) but packed with people fishing.
NM: Lincoln National Forest — free, up on the mountain, dusty but very remote and peaceful except for the ATVs.
NM: Santa Rosa Lake State Park — decent, hot, but great access points to a nice lake.
VT: Silver Lake Campground — Vermont vibes, great trails, completely empty, felt like I was trespassing.
That’s the quick version of my winter-to-spring RV journey. Keep in mind, there were plenty of overnight stops in between — mostly at highway rest areas. I may of also forgot about some places. On the way back east, I spent most nights parked at rest stops. Had to get back quick for easter plans.
If you’re planning a similar trip or just looking for laid-back RV camping spots across the South and Southwest, keep an eye out for the Travel Reviews tab — coming soon.
Thanks for reading!
-Ryan
Eli living his best life at Turkey Creek Water Park in Mississippi — quiet lake, empty trails, and perfect water access.
