Top 5 Reasons To Take a Campervan Road Trip in the Winter

Reason #1 – Fewer Crowds

Imagine this: you’ve planned your dream trip, you’ve made all your preparations and reservations, then you get there and WAIT. Nothing kills the adventurer vibe more than a long wait or a super crowded landmark. What about all those beautiful photos of nature, wildlife, and geological formations? Somehow the images lose their luster when they’re full of people- especially total strangers.

So, if you’d prefer a bit more solitude on your sightseeing journey, then winter is a fantastic time for you to plan your trip. As we stated earlier, there are far fewer travelers on the road and in the national parks during the winter, so it’s an excellent solution for people who hope to avoid the crowds.

Okay, okay, we admit there will likely still be some crowds in certain places. After all, we’re not the first ones to come up with the idea of winter travel. You will find this especially true for those places specific to winter activities like ski resorts, but even then, there are ways around crowds. For instance, starting as early in the morning as is allowed is a sure-fire way to beat the crowds.

Another benefit of traveling in the winter is the ability to wander more freely and worrying less about making reservations for every place you go. However, being ever the cautious planner, I still advise you make reservations whenever possible and always have a plan B! Maybe even a plan C!

Reason #2 – Lower Costs

Because the winter is considered the off-season, prices typically go down in the winter for reservations and admission to many of the national parks. That’s supply and demand for you! However, you usually won’t find lower prices for places like ski-resorts that operate primarily in the winter.

Therefore, if you’re sticking to a strict budget for your trip and want to get the most for your money, winter is an excellent time to travel. It can also enable you to go to some places, or additional locations, that you wouldn’t ordinarily be able to afford.

National Parks are both less crowded and less expensive during the winter, so make sure you plan to stop at a few!

Reason #3 – Personalized Service & Activities

During off-peak season, travelers tend to get more attention from tourism vendors who value the business during their “dry” season. Not only will they offer more personalized services, but they will typically offer several perks to obtain your business. Don’t be afraid to ask for off-peak specials and let them work to gain your business.

In the national parks, you are very likely to find a ranger that will give you tips and tricks and even a guided tour through an area of the park. Make sure to visit the welcome stations inside the parks to find out what’s available to you.

Also, the winter gives access to all the fun winter activities that you can’t do any other time of the year. There’s skiing, snowshoeing, snowboarding, sledding, the list goes on and on. And you can end your days settling up next to a cozy campfire and some hot cocoa.

Reason #4 – The Weather

This should go without saying, but we’re going to say it anyway- winter weather is an excellent reason for travel. You’ll find it’s a dramatic change not only in temperature but in landscape. Even if you’ve seen a park or a particular landmark in the summer or fall, trust us- it’s going to look completely different in the winter. Majestic mountains, towering sequoia trees- they all have an entirely new level of beauty when covered in a layer of glistening white snow.

I find it’s always easier to put on some extra layers during colder temps then it is to sweat under the sweltering heat and humidity of the summer. Traveling in the winter is just more comfortable for a lot of people.

Reason #5 – Try Something New

If you’ve heard a lot of negative opinions about traveling in the winter, maybe you should give it a try and decide for yourself. The sun and the sand are great and have their place, but limiting yourself to that kind of vacation can get old pretty fast. How about cuddling up next to a warm fire underneath the glowing stars?

Maybe you’ll try it and find it’s not for you, but you’ll never know until you try! Plus, how awesome would it be to be able to gloat to all the nay-sayers about all the wonders you were able to see and how lovely your trip was.

Whether you live somewhere that doesn’t see a winter season, or somewhere that’s so heavy with snow and quarantined to your house, a trip could do wonders for your wintertime blues. So give it a try!

By now, you have ample reason to get out and embark on your winter wonderland adventure! Don’t forget to plan, so you’re prepared, and if you need any help deciding where to go, check out our Top 5 Winter Road Trips For Camping Enthusiasts. Happy trails!