South or bust, camping, March, how far?

[Killswitch]

I want to plan a week-long camping trip,
during the last week of March.
How far south do I have to go to reach
mild (say 45° at night) camping weather?
I'm in Northern Illinois.

[bigTom]

Last week of March? You are likely to find 45º for a high and a low in Arizona:)

To guarantee good weather you'd better be thinking California, Arizona, Texas, (some of New Mexico), Louisiana, South Missouri and or Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida. Probably true until the end of April, matter of fact.

[Killswitch]

Looking at the map, I'm thinking...
California and Florida are out.

How 'bout...

Arkansas... Hot Springs... Ouachita National Forest
N. Carolina... Asheville... Great Smoky Mts.

Comments?

[Mr. Guy]

You'd be pretty safe in Oklahoma too. We're having near that now. But could still get cold till the last of Feburary.

Guy

[George]

I want to plan a week-long camping trip,
during the last week of March.
How far south do I have to go to reach
mild (say 45° at night) camping weather?
I'm in Northern Illinois.

I have left Chicago land at 20F in April and not gotten above freezing until Atlanta. All depends on the weather (D'Oh!) :rolleyes: :D

[Ironheadziggy76]

Welcome to the site Killswitch!

It's kind of iffy in KY. We have left for Bike Week in Daytona with beautiful weather, only to freeze our butts off on the way back with temps at or below freezing.

[Triker tom]

i live in panhandle of fl, panama city beach and stay in racoonriver campground on gulf of mexico. it will be spring break here so alot of things going on. we have tent camping here in this park and u can walk to beach. www.racoonriver.net


tom

[Beemerchef]

Pretty safe in Cancun right now... :D

[shalomyoseph]

I'll second Oklahoma being a safe bet. Arkansas too. There's some awesome riding, and camping, around the border between the two. Devil's Den State Park in Arkansas is a favorite of mine.

To be fair though, I think it was Will Rogers who said, "If you don't like the weather in Oklahoma, wait an hour."

[ImRubicon]

Austin TX was 38 last night but march should be warm but maybe rain ?

[bobalou]

March in Arkansas has its good, bad and downright ugly days.
Good, 70s/50s sunshine and bluebirds
Bad, Snow & Ice
Downright Ugly, believe this is when Mena, Atkins and Clinton got blown away by a tornado and we have lots of them. Oh, I had to replace the roof.

But then again any place can have issues. Just use your common sense the Man upstairs gave you and you'll be OK.

I'd suggest Key West. Snowbirds are getting reay to fly North...Hurricanes start around June through December. Just book your camping spots early (Check http://www.motocampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2437&highlight=boyter Ironheadziggy76's post on an Alaska trip He ran into a man and son on a BMW GS/sidear rig. I followed up on this guy and he has a nice site - I can't find right now. Anyway he wrote they needed to get camping spot in advance through Florida.)

Here it is:
http://www.wboyter.com/WBoyter/Trip_Reports___Email/Entries/2009/3/28_Key_West.html
Ironheadziggy76' page in his report on this site is: page 6
Both are great reads!

Anywhere in the South and at lower elevations should be good.

[Triker tom]

Check out www.bikercamps.com

[Liv2Ride]

Georgia should be good to go around that time of year.

[Whosoever]

Looking at the map, I'm thinking...
California and Florida are out.

How 'bout...

Arkansas... Hot Springs... Ouachita National Forest
N. Carolina... Asheville... Great Smoky Mts.

Comments?

Here is a direct quote from Smokey Mountain National Park.."March through May: Spring brings with it unpredictable weather. Changes occur rapidly––sunny skies can yield to snow flurries in a few hours. March is the month with the most radical changes; snow can fall at any time during the month, particularly in the higher elevations. " Lots of good info on the SMNP website...their info goes on to say April brings at least 4" of rain. I would point my bike due south and be prepared for a lot of rain. You might get lucky and find perfect weather but the way this winter is going in the eastern half of the country....I would guess the spring will be long cold and wet.

[DILLIGAF61]

Looking at the map, I'm thinking...
California and Florida are out.

How 'bout...

Arkansas... Hot Springs... Ouachita National Forest
N. Carolina... Asheville... Great Smoky Mts.

Comments?

Asheville... Great Smoky Mts..........won't be in the mid 40's or warmer at nite till mid April in Asheville never can tell in the mountains







sunrise sunset avg high low daily records
1 7:00 AM 6:25 PM 54°F 32°F 43°F 75°F (1972) 16°F (1949)
2 6:59 AM 6:26 PM 54°F 33°F 43°F 79°F (1976) 7°F (1980)
3 6:57 AM 6:27 PM 54°F 33°F 44°F 81°F (1976) 4°F (1980)
4 6:56 AM 6:28 PM 55°F 33°F 44°F 79°F (1976) 9°F (1960)
5 6:55 AM 6:29 PM 55°F 33°F 44°F 78°F (1955) 5°F (1960)
6 6:53 AM 6:30 PM 55°F 34°F 44°F 76°F (1956) 5°F (1960)
7 6:52 AM 6:31 PM 55°F 34°F 45°F 79°F (1974) 15°F (1960)
8 6:51 AM 6:32 PM 56°F 34°F 45°F 80°F (2000) 9°F (1996)
9 6:49 AM 6:32 PM 56°F 34°F 45°F 79°F (1974) 6°F (1996)
10 6:48 AM 6:33 PM 56°F 35°F 45°F 77°F (1974) 10°F (1996)
11 6:46 AM 6:34 PM 57°F 35°F 46°F 81°F (1990) 16°F (1996)
12 6:45 AM 6:35 PM 57°F 35°F 46°F 82°F (1990) 13°F (1998)
13 6:44 AM 6:36 PM 57°F 35°F 46°F 80°F (1990) 12°F (1998)
14 7:43 AM 7:37 PM 57°F 36°F 47°F 83°F (1967) 13°F (1993)
15 7:41 AM 7:38 PM 58°F 36°F 47°F 82°F (2002) 10°F (1993)
16 7:40 AM 7:39 PM 58°F 36°F 47°F 77°F (1977) 16°F (1949)
17 7:38 AM 7:40 PM 58°F 37°F 47°F 76°F (1963) 24°F (1947)
18 7:37 AM 7:41 PM 59°F 37°F 48°F 81°F (1982) 17°F (1967)
19 7:36 AM 7:41 PM 59°F 37°F 48°F 78°F (1968) 23°F (1960)
20 7:34 AM 7:42 PM 59°F 37°F 48°F 83°F (1948) 19°F (1965)
21 7:33 AM 7:43 PM 59°F 38°F 48°F 82°F (1948) 14°F (1965)
22 7:31 AM 7:44 PM 60°F 38°F 49°F 80°F (1948) 19°F (1986)
23 7:30 AM 7:45 PM 60°F 38°F 49°F 79°F (1995) 21°F (1960)
24 7:28 AM 7:46 PM 60°F 38°F 49°F 78°F (2007) 20°F (1968)
25 7:27 AM 7:46 PM 61°F 38°F 50°F 83°F (2007) 23°F (1956)
26 7:26 AM 7:47 PM 61°F 39°F 50°F 78°F (1967) 13°F (1955)
27 7:24 AM 7:48 PM 61°F 39°F 50°F 79°F (2007) 11°F (1955)
28 7:23 AM 7:49 PM 61°F 39°F 50°F 80°F (1989) 19°F (1982)
29 7:21 AM 7:50 PM 62°F 39°F 51°F 82°F (1998) 22°F (1947)
30 7:20 AM 7:50 PM 62°F 40°F 51°F 87°F (1985) 15°F (1964)
31 7:18 AM 7:51 PM 62°F 40

[TXST_Rider]

Echoing above comments, I've camped in the low 40's / high 30's in middle TN area in the latter half of April - and this is not in the Smokies...

Plan for rain! We are having a very wet winter thus far - more so than we have had the last 2 or 3 years, so, factoring in Whosoever's comment above, there may be an increased opportunity to test your gear's keep-ya-dry capabilities.

[LowRyter]

here's a motorcycle camp out the last weekend of winter, 12-14 March.....I'd like to try it myself, but the weather never seems to cooperate.

http://www.members.cox.net/fools/

[Mr. Guy]

Welcome LowRyter,

It's nice to see another Okie here.

The campout looks interesting, but I already have conflicts with it. Maybe next year.

Guy

[LowRyter]

Hi Mr Guy. I'm not much of a camper. I'm here to update my camping gear so I could perhaps try a trip like that and not worry about freezing or starving to death. At least I know enough to take a flask along so I can freeze happy.

BTW, it's to twisty to take my toy hauler up there.

[LowRyter]

Hope to see you on the road and at the camp ground

Is that blue bike a DR650 ?

[Mr. Guy]

Yep, That's mine, an '03 DR650. So far I've got 30,560 miles on her and I'm betting I'll top over 40,000 this year. The dang little thing is the most FUN bike I've had. Not the best at anything, but able to do everything.

Guy

[LowRyter]

wow....really piling up the mile

[Whosoever]

One of my sons lives in Waco, TX...he called me yesterday with this question: "Dad, do I still live in Waco?" My reply: "yes why do you ask"? He sez'..."Dad it snowing AGAIN so hard I can't see down the road"!

With that said, this is a hard year to predict any warm weather....anywhere in the country. I recall when that boy was just a little fella...one April 1st it was 104 degrees in Waco....the following year...very same date...there was 4" of new snow. Really crazy weather. If it where me...I'd pick two locations and plan for both of them. Pick your date for departure and when you hit the end of your driveway turn toward the one that will have the best weather. Planning for a weeklong ride is fun....planning two locations is even better. Ride Safe!P^