Wouldn’t it be nice if every stop on your RV journey came with mild days, cool nights, and little need for the A/C or furnace? That’s the goal of chasing 70 degrees—a seasonal travel strategy to stay in the comfort zone year-round.
Traveling this way helps you avoid wild weather swings, reduce energy use, and enjoy nature at its best. Here’s how to follow the 70-degree sweet spot around the U.S.—with tips on beauty, weather quirks, and what to watch out for in each region.
Winter: December–February
Where to go:
• Southern Arizona: Tucson, Quartzsite, and Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
• Southern California: Palm Springs, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
• South Texas: Hill Country, Padre Island, and South Padre
• Florida: Ocala National Forest, the Nature Coast, or Everglades-area campgrounds
Why it works:
These regions’ average highs are in the upper 60s to mid-70s. You’ll get plenty of sun, minimal rainfall, and mild nights.
Heads up:
• Arizona & California: Wind storms and dust can affect driving and solar panels.
• Florida: Watch for mold and humidity buildup inside your rig.
• Texas Gulf Coast: Be aware of flooding risks after rainstorms.
• All: Holiday crowds and snowbird traffic can make getting reservations harder.
Scenic bonus: You’ll get wild desert blooms by late February in the Southwest, and the Everglades are bursting with birds and wildlife this time of year.
Spring: March–May
Where to go:
• The Southeast: Georgia’s state parks, the Blue Ridge foothills of South Carolina and North Carolina
• Central California: Paso Robles, Big Sur, and Sequoia foothills
• Southwest Utah: Zion, Capitol Reef, and surrounding BLM lands
• Texas Hill Country: Near Fredericksburg, San Marcos, or Bandera
Why it works:
These areas warm up to the 70s by March or April, with wildflowers and green hills galore. Spring is shoulder season in many of these spots, meaning fewer crowds.
Heads up:
• Utah and California: Spring storms can bring flash flooding—avoid dry washes.
• Southeast: Tornado season kicks off in March. Use weather apps and NOAA alerts.
• Texas: Bluebonnets are beautiful—but also bring allergy season.
Scenic bonus: April in the Smokies or Shenandoah is pure magic. Waterfalls are gushing, trees are budding, and wildlife is active.
Summer: June–August
Where to go:
• The Rockies: Colorado’s Front Range, central Idaho, Montana’s Bitterroot Valley
• The Pacific Northwest: Oregon Coast, Washington’s Olympic Peninsula
• Northeast: Adirondacks, Green Mountains (Vermont), or Acadia in Maine
• Upper Michigan & Wisconsin: Door County, UP coastline, or Apostle Islands
Why it works:
Elevation and latitude are your friends in summer. These places average highs in the mid-60s to low-70s and offer cool nights that are ideal for sleeping with the windows open.
Heads up:
• West: Wildfire season begins in July; monitor air quality and road and campground closures
• Rockies: Afternoon thunderstorms are common—be off high trails by midday.
• Northeast: Bugs (especially black flies) can be intense in early summer.
Scenic bonus: You’ll find alpine lakes, wildflower meadows, and firefly-filled forests. The Oregon coast in July is stunning—and often 30 degrees cooler than inland areas.
Fall: September–November
Where to go:
• New England and Appalachia: Vermont, New Hampshire, Shenandoah, Great Smoky Mountains
• Four Corners region: Northern Arizona, New Mexico’s mountains, Moab
• California coast and wine country: Sonoma, Monterey, and Santa Barbara
• Ozarks: Arkansas and southern Missouri offer crisp days and changing leaves
Why it works:
Fall offers stable weather and shoulder-season availability. Temps drop into the 70s across these regions from mid-September onward.
Heads up:
• New England: Book early—leaf-peeping season is short but wildly popular.
• Desert Southwest: Watch for sudden monsoon rain through early fall.
• Ozarks: Beautiful, but remote—check cell coverage and carry extra water.
Scenic bonus: The Blue Ridge Parkway in October is breathtaking. And November in Sedona or Zion? Quiet trails and golden cottonwoods make for unforgettable hikes.
Tips for 70-degree chasers
• Stay flexible. Weather’s not always predictable—have a backup plan.
• Use tools like Campendium, Windy (app), and NOAA for planning and alerts.
• Consider elevation. Every 1,000 feet adds about a 3.5°F drop in temp.
• Watch for seasonal closures. Some high-altitude roads and campgrounds close early or open late.
The comfort of constant spring
70 degrees is pretty close to perfect, so why not plan your travels around this ideal temperature? With smart planning and a little weather–watching, you can keep your travels in the sweet spot all year long.
Have you ever traveled the 70-degree weather route? Have a favorite 70-degree destination we didn’t mention? Please leave a comment and share your thoughts. Thanks!
RELATED
• Roadtrippers unveils ‘Trending Spots’ feature and 2025 off-season travel destinations
• The best Eastern U.S. railroad destinations for train lovers
• Popular HGTV show destinations for RVers
• Five fall ‘can’t miss’ RV destinations
RVT1213
As someone who has migrated for 8 years between Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and Texas Hill Country, I can say your ‘map’ is pretty accurate. But at the same time, those are average temps. You still need to be prepared for a range of weather. Texas Hill Country routinely has 1-2 weeks of nights near or below freezing with a few days in the 40’s or 50’s in either January or February. June is very unpredictable in Michigan; very rarely below freezing, but highs one day can be in the low 70’s and 50’s the next.
I lived in the Hill Country for 15 years. I agree that averages can be misleading. There can definitely be a winter season that lasts 1 -2 months with freezing nights and cold days. Like any place else, it can vary each year, and if you’re escaping frigid Minnesota or Michigan (for example) that will probably feel balmy. With all that said, it will often break for a bit, then come back with a vengeance. There IS winter, but again, it’s all perspective. As an aside, I was still living there during the insane 2021 “Snowmageddon”. Now THAT was one heck of a ride! Hill Country Snowbirds certainly weren’t expecting that!!
You forgot New Mexico, has great parks both north and south. Friendly people. Go south in the winter and North in the summer, east peasy.
Ugh…I grew up in NM …Raised a family and we all eventuall left because of the high crime high taxes and devestating result of widespread drug abuse. Please everyone just pass through NM. It’s another blue state destroyed by liberalism and apathy,
Snow lingers in high elevations, and this depends on the year.
Report two days ago, friends from Germany in a camper van:
“Today we went to the Crater Late NP in Oregon.
“Unfortunately, most of the roads in the park were still closed. Even the hiking trails were mostly impassable – we tried, but got stuck in the snow…
“It’s the third NP now, where we’re not able to visit larger areas due to the snow.”
This is true of many high mountain areas: there may be limited access all year, but some roads are closed by snow until mid-summer.
The road to Crater Lake Lodge at the scenic lake rim usually is open year ’round. The spectcular drive around the crater rim may be closed until July.
Same with Yosemite – the valley is open year ’round, Tuolomne Meadows and Tioga Pass may be closed until mid- summer.
Glacier, Rocky Mtn, Rainier etc NPs, many other high altitude roads: look before you leap!
We used to use “monthly climate averages” to plan our autumn travels, but we kept encountering uncomfortable heatwaves. For example, this article suggests Washington’s Olympic Peninsula for June through August. Well, last year there were many days with temps over 90 degrees, and some over 100 degrees.
So here’s how I research now… On the AccuWeather website, I get the forecast for my potential destination, then click on the ‘Monthly’ tab, and then change the dates in the upper-left corner to the previous year, to see how the temps are running recently, instead of the old averages that no longer apply.
While this seems like a reasonable guide, it’s way too simplistic and not accurate for our area. Typical daytime summer temps in the northeast US are well into the 80s, with 90s not uncommon and the humidity can be high. We occasionally break 100. We’ve experienced 90+ degrees as far north as Quebec City, although that’s somewhat unusual.
Emily! wow great journalism. Thank you for the effort and research on this article. Your information will help many travellers for sure. Thumbs up!
Thank you,
Thank you for the story, locations, and times of year, Emily! Sounds great. Were we full-timers, then we’d be all-in. Have a great week and safe travels!
I lived less than 2 miles from the Forest in Ocala for 8 years. The low temps were in the low 20’s and the highs could be mid 40’s. This was the norm for winter. Most days were a little warmer. You really need to be honest. The temps you are talking about are further south. I lived in Englewood for 13 years and they have lovely winters but they could still get 1-2 frosts a season.
We call it living in the dandelion time warp or eternal springtime: lower elevations and more southern states in the winter, higher elevations and farther north (including Alaska and Canada) in the summer. Lots of choices for moderate temps in spring and fall.
I know a guy who boondocks in the Tucson area. He moves up and down Mount Lemmon as the weather changes.