Christmas camping in an RV means waking up to desert sunshine, a beach breeze, or snow on the mountains — with your own kitchen, bed, and string lights along for the ride. The easiest holiday RV getaways pair a mild December destination with a real holiday event nearby, then ring in the New Year somewhere quiet. This guide covers where to go, which light shows have confirmed 2026 dates, what the fireworks rules actually are on public land, and how to keep a rental warm on a cold night.
Quick Summary
- Go south for warmth: southern Arizona, the Palm Springs area, the Texas coast, and the Florida Keys stay mild in December.
- Pair it with lights: Galveston, Tucson, Palm Springs, and Pigeon Forge all have 2026 holiday events on the calendar.
- Leave the fireworks home: they're prohibited on national forests and in national parks, generally banned on BLM land, and prohibited in all Florida State Parks.
- Plan for frost: even Tucson has hit 10°F in December.
- Book early: popular desert campgrounds fill on fall-to-spring weekends.
Where is the best place to camp in December?
The best places to camp in December are the Sunbelt's mild-weather regions: southern Arizona, the California desert around Palm Springs and Joshua Tree, the Texas Gulf Coast, and the Florida Keys. For a snowy Christmas instead, the Great Smoky Mountains offer cold nights, holiday lights, and the occasional dusting at higher elevations.
- Tucson & southern Arizona — December weather: Normal high 65.5°F, low 40.5°F; Holiday highlight: Winterhaven Festival of Lights (free).
- Palm Springs & Joshua Tree area — December weather: Mild, dry days and chilly desert nights; Holiday highlight: Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade.
- Galveston & the Texas coast — December weather: Normal high 65.5°F, low 51.6°F; Holiday highlight: Moody Gardens Holiday in the Gardens.
- Florida Keys — December weather: The warmest stop on this list; Holiday highlight: Boat parades and beach days (check local listings).
- Great Smoky Mountains — December weather: Gatlinburg averages 52°F highs, 28°F lows; Holiday highlight: Pigeon Forge Winterfest.
Tucson and southern Arizona
Tucson's December normal high is 65.5°F and its normal low is 40.5°F, with a record low of 10°F — sunny afternoons, sweater evenings. Our Arizona winter RV season guide covers campgrounds and routes across the state.
Palm Springs and the Joshua Tree area
The Coachella Valley trades snow for palm trees and dry, sunny days, with desert nights that call for a jacket. Joshua Tree's reservable family sites run October through May and can be booked up to six months ahead, so book holiday dates early. Find RV rentals in Palm Springs for an easy start.
Galveston and the Texas Gulf Coast
Galveston averages a December normal high of 65.5°F and low of 51.6°F, so beach walks stay on the menu. Our Texas Gulf Coast winter RV guide breaks the coast down region by region.
Great Smoky Mountains
For a frosty Christmas, the Smokies deliver: the park notes that most nights have lows at or below freezing in winter, and snow is most likely up high in January and February. A cabin-cozy RV fits right in.
Which RV getaways have the best holiday lights and events?
The best holiday RV getaways pair warm weather with a big light display or festival. Four with confirmed 2026 dates: Moody Gardens in Galveston, the Winterhaven Festival of Lights in Tucson, the Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade, and Winterfest in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
- Holiday in the Gardens, Galveston, Texas: November 21, 2026 to January 2, 2027, nightly 6–10 p.m., with more than two million lights, an outdoor ice rink, and a New Year's Eve celebration.
- Winterhaven Festival of Lights, Tucson, Arizona: a free neighborhood light festival from December 12 to 26, 2026, 6–10 p.m. nightly, with food-bank donation stations at every entrance.
- Festival of Lights Parade, Palm Springs, California: Saturday, December 5, 2026, at 5:45 p.m., rolling north on Palm Canyon Drive.
- Winterfest, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee: November 6, 2026 through January 31, 2027, with more than six million winter lights across town.
RVers we talk to who spend Christmas on the road say the campground light walk and a nearby festival quickly become a new family tradition. If you want more warm-weather ideas, our roundup of warm-weather winter getaways and our list of winter RV destinations are good next reads.
Can you set off fireworks at a campground on New Year's Eve?
Usually not. Fireworks are prohibited on national forest land and in national parks, they're generally banned on Bureau of Land Management public lands, and they're prohibited in all Florida State Parks. Private RV resorts set their own rules, so ask the office before New Year's Eve — and assume the answer is no unless they say otherwise.
Here's how the rules break down by land type:
- National forests: the Forest Service says fireworks and explosives are always prohibited on national forest lands, citing federal regulation 36 CFR 261.5(h).
- BLM land: BLM state offices set fireworks rules through fire prevention orders. BLM Nevada states that fireworks are prohibited on BLM public lands, BLM California bans all fireworks year-round on its southern California public lands, and people who start wildfires can be held liable for suppression costs.
- National parks: the National Park Service notes that using or possessing fireworks within a park site is prohibited.
- State parks: rules vary. Fireworks are prohibited in all Florida State Parks, while Arizona State Parks bans them under Stage I fire restrictions and individual campgrounds may add their own rules.
In our experience, pet owners have the calmest New Year's Eve at public campgrounds, precisely because fireworks aren't allowed. If you want a show, park somewhere quiet and drive to a public display — our list of New Year's fireworks shows has a few favorites.
How do you decorate an RV for Christmas?
Decorate an RV for Christmas with lightweight, low-power touches: battery or LED string lights, a small tabletop tree, removable hooks, and a wreath on the door. Keep decorations clear of slide-outs, vents, the furnace, and the propane detector, and take everything down before you drive.
A few ideas that travel well:
- LED or battery lights along the awning or windows — they draw very little power if you're dry camping.
- A mini tree strapped to the dinette table, or a tree decal on the fridge.
- Command-style removable hooks for stockings, so you don't leave marks on a rental.
- A door wreath that comes off before every drive.
We've watched families turn a 25-foot Class C into the coziest rig in the campground with nothing more than a strand of lights and a cardboard fireplace. Ask your host before using adhesives on walls or cabinets.
How do you keep a rental RV running in freezing weather?
Keep a rental RV running in freezing weather by keeping propane topped off, running the furnace overnight, and protecting water lines. Disconnect the outdoor hose on freezing nights and use the fresh tank instead. Even the desert freezes sometimes — Tucson's December record low is 10°F.
Tucson's December record low of 10°F, from the same National Weather Service climate sheet, is a reminder that "warm destination" doesn't mean warm nights. Before your trip:
- Ask your host whether the rig has tank heaters, heated underbelly, or a four-season rating.
- Fill propane and check how long a tank lasts with the furnace running.
- Disconnect and drain the hose when temps drop below freezing; keep the fresh tank partly full.
- Open cabinet doors under sinks at night so warm air reaches the plumbing.
- Test the smoke, CO, and propane detectors before the first cold night.
Our tips for first-time winter RV travelers go deeper, and our list of winter-ready RVs helps you pick a rig built for the cold.
When should you book a Christmas RV trip?
Book a Christmas RV trip as soon as reservation windows open — up to six months ahead at federal campgrounds like Joshua Tree, and months ahead at many state parks (Florida State Parks open campsite bookings 10 to 11 months out). Holiday week is one of the busiest of the winter season in warm destinations, and the best waterfront and desert sites go first.
Hosts tell us holiday rental requests start arriving in late summer, especially for rigs in Arizona, California, Texas, and Florida. If your favorite campground is full, look at nearby private RV parks or consider arriving after December 26, when demand eases.
Ready for a holiday on the road? Browse RV rentals near you and plan your Christmas or New Year's getaway. Find what moves you.
About this guide
This guide was researched and written by the Outdoorsy editorial team. Our information draws on National Weather Service climate normals, USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Florida State Parks, and Arizona State Parks fireworks rules, official 2026 event pages from Moody Gardens, Winterhaven, the Palm Springs Festival of Lights, and Pigeon Forge tourism, plus conversations with Outdoorsy hosts and renters. We have no commercial relationship with the businesses mentioned unless explicitly noted. Event dates and rules can change — confirm before you go.
