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4 Winter Destinations You Won’t Want To Miss

This post was updated on March 15th, 2024

winter destinations
Samir Mahendra from San Francisco, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

4 Winter Destinations You Won’t Want To Miss

During the winter, many people may be inclined to head to warmer climates. Winter roads can be troublesome, the weather is cold, and the beach sounds like the perfect getaway after the holidays. But visiting areas known for their winters can be its own special treat with crowds dissipated in usually popular destinations and plenty of fun to be had in snowy destinations.

Read on for our suggestions for winter destinations this year, some of them may surprise you!

1. Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas

As the name implies, this national park is known for its amazing hot springs along its historic Bathhouse Row. You’ll keep busy trying to experience the park’s 47 thermal springs. Visit one of the many bathhouses like the Buckstaff, a bathhouse with individual tubs modeled after the early 1900s European spas. The nearby Ouachita Mountains also offer more than 30 miles of hiking trails. 

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winter destinations
Photo by Daniel X. O’Neil, courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons

Camping in the park itself is available at Gulpha Gorge Campground, which accommodates RVs with full hook-ups. Each campsite has a picnic table, pedestal grill, water, and access to modern restrooms, though no showers. 

There are also some RV parks located in the surrounding town of Hot Springs. You can additionally stay in Hot Springs Village, a gated community that offers Discovery Packages for RVers traveling through the area.

2. Lake Tahoe

Located four hours from San Francisco, beautiful Lake Tahoe is a destination for any season. With 2.7 million people visiting a year, the town on the border of California and Nevada is home to soaring mountains and crystal clear waters.

For winter visitors, it also has some of the best skiing in the world, complemented by shopping and dining experiences that rival any city (as well as Vegas-like casinos on the Nevada side of town)!

winter destinations
Photo by jcookfisher, courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons
Winter sunset on Lake Tahoe by Jonathan Cook-Fisher is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Skiing and snowboarding options abound at Lake Tahoe. The area is home to a whopping eight ski resorts: Squaw Valley, Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood, Sugar Bowl, Sierra-at-Tahoe, Mount Rose, and Homewood.

The Lake Tahoe region gets roughly 40 feet of snow each season and 300 days of sun a year, meaning no matter what part of winter you visit in, you’re sure to get a powder fix. In addition to skiing and snowboarding, Lake Tahoe also offers snowshoeing, snowmobiling, sledding, and ice skating.  

South Lake Tahoe is home to numerous RV parks and campgrounds but the five most popular are: Chris Haven Mobile Home & RV CommunityCampground by the LakeCamp Richardson Historic Resort & MarinaTahoe Valley Campground, and Zephyr Cove RV Park & Campground

3. Big Bear Lake, California

Located in San Bernadino County, California, Big Bear Lake has become a popular winter destination for its ski resorts Bear Mountain and Snow Summit. The associated Big Bear Lake Village is also a tourist-friendly draw with shops and restaurants to visit after a day on the slopes.

Photo by Edward Kim, courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons

Bear Mountain is known for its park design and development, with the only halfpipes in Southern California. With 748 acres of terrain, the mountain is home to many world-class athletes. For more family-friendly riding, head to Snow Summit, a 240-acre resort for all abilities. With 11 lifts as well as 5 moving carpets serving their 18+ skiable miles, it’s the go-to spot for beginners and those more advanced to ski as a family.

In addition to skiing and snowboarding, try snowshoeing, snow tubing, or trying bike trails on a fun fat bike!

There are two RV parks in Big Bear: Holloway’s Marina & RV Park and Serrano Campground. Holloway’s has 115 lakefront RV sites with full hook-ups. Serrano is just steps from Big Bear Lake and has 109 campsites, including some with electric. 

4. Duluth, Minnesota

Duluth may not sound like a vacation destination, but during the winter this spot is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. From Nordic skiing to ice climbing to dog sledding, the adventure knows no limits. Combine that with a town full of local breweries and distilleries and you’ve got an under-the-radar winter vacation spot. 

winter
Photo by Mike Ross, courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons

Head to the Snowflake Nordic Center, which operates year-round and is home to 15km of groomed Nordic trails for skiing and snowshoeing. Try riding a fat bike on winter trails or take a tour with Day Tripper of Duluth for two-, three-, or six-hour options.

For adrenaline junkies, try ice climbing at one of the spots nearby including Gooseberry Falls State Park, Robinson Park, and more. Skiing and snowboarding are available at nearby Spirit Mountain, with 22 downhill runs, the Midwest’s largest terrain park. Other activities include snowshoeing, dog sledding, skijoring, ice fishing, or even winter surfing on Lake Superior!

The town has numerous RV parks and campgrounds, just be sure to check the hours since many don’t operate in the winter or have limited amenities.

Start trip planning today

You can find more great winter destinations when planning your route with RV LIFE Trip Wizard. Be sure to also the RV LIFE App to plan your route and find other points of interest in the area. 

Been to a campground lately? Don’t forget to leave a review! Reviews help other RVers like yourself, and they help the campground. Leave a campground review today!

See also: The Top 10 National Parks To Visit This Winter