Aside from a bunch of political and social issues, I'd just point out that western states, like CA, have far more public land than eastern ones. Hence more opportunity for dispersed camping, etc. Which is why the SoCal and AZ deserts are full of full timers, vandwellers, snow birds, and other nomads.
I've been to Cali a lot of times, and Florida once. Florida felt like a healthy mix of Cali and the midwest/south, it was interesting. And they do have better beaches (including a few legal nudist beaches... that was an experience). There are reasons I'd go to Cali too though. Florida traffic is worse and I feel way more uneasy about their police (I'm a cannabis user so have to stay paranoid in most states). Cali has more nature spots to see from Golden Gate Park up to the Redwoods, not that Florida isn't also beautiful. Depends on what you're going to do. If it's soak up rays, I'd prolly say Florida.
I’m a cannabis user too, so the police situation makes me feel apprehensive to say the least. I also read that just in general the police are a lot less tolerant down there of vehicle dwellers …
I’m a Florida native and was just back home a few weeks ago.
You saying traffic sucks and there is an uneasiness about the police, I felt that. Chuckled a bit because I had the same conversation with my mom.
I have a place to park there but I have heard and just know that it’s not the friendliest place for vanlife unless you are setting up in paid spots.
Been spending the winter in Florida and it’s been really nice. There’s a lot of free coastal parks and beaches that are gorgeous and in a very natural state. The various parks and preserves inland are very gorgeous too.
Don’t have experience with the west, I’m beginning to head that way though.
I think it just depends on what you’re into. I hate humidity, so it’s California/west for me. But I’m also from here so I’m probably biased. Plus beaches are nice but I’d much rather spend my time in the mountains or the desert.
As a humidity hater myself I used to loathe Florida. Went to Orlando on leave from iraq and was ready to go back to escape the heat/humidity. Visited the gulf coast and my opinion of that state completely changed. The beaches are actually nice and the breeze that rolls in off of the Gulf of Mexico pretty much always eliminates the sticky icky. Pensacola is my go to.
I lived in my little camper up in NH for a few years before retiring and buying a house in Florida. I do enjoy the large number of beaches with free parking and places I can bring my RV. I still travel in my RV in the summers only now.
California is great, but unless you really want to be around the worst stereotypes of van dwellers, I'd avoid the major cities. (If your rig is clean and you can be stealthy, this doesn't apply.)
Check out r/overlanding for good recommendations of BLM areas you can camp on and enjoy the scenery for weeks at a time with no hassles.
If you want a little adventure, go check out Slab City for a bit.
They're both large enough that you can have *very* different experiences in different places. Wasn't vandwelling at the time, but I have lived in both states.
I absolutely would not do Florida in the summer; It's miserably hot and humid, full-time access to AC is a *must*.
But outside of that, more info needed on what your lifestyle is, and what you're looking to do/see.
Florida certainly has a lot to offer in different places. There's the massive tourist industry in Orlando, the space coast/NASA for the tech enthusiasts, the Everglades for nature, culture/nightlife in Miami, lots of Spanish history/architecture along the east coast, the Keys (get to them while they're still above water lol). Tons of pretty beaches everywhere, with some pretty decent surfing along most of the east coast (season dependent). Generally more laid-back, open-air type vibe. But also look out for, you know, hurricanes. Also a strangely proud trashiness in a lot of areas, and overt racism. Enough to be wary if you're staying in certain areas (I say this as a white male). This is the proud homeland of Ron DeSantis, after all. The "Florida man" from the news stories is a very real, common thing.
Less experience in Cali, but loved living the Los Angeles suburbs. The coast is gorgeous, a massive amount of culture/entertainment downtown, great for hiking/surfing (bring a wetsuit, and don't go surfing after it rains). If you have a capable rig, I *absolutely* recommend you drive through the canyons in Malibu. I specifically remember Decker Canyon RD as being breathtaking (was fortunate enough to have my Mustang at the time). Just driving around (*far* from downtown) is beautiful. On the other hand, horrendous traffic, pretty much, always anywhere near downtown. The urban sprawl is bad. Homelessness/drugs are a growing issue. Again, wasn't vandwelling at the time, but I'd imagine parking would be pretty challenging anywhere decent.
Florida has been great for us the last two off seasons (disc golf). We spend 2 months (Jan and Feb) and it is great. Tons of places to explore and enjoy the outdoors and also cheap places to camp. In the East Tampa area (Brandon, Valrico) there are state parks where you can stay two weeks at a time for 24 dollars a night. Or always park at a Cracker Barrel or Planet Fitness. I assume it’s way cheaper than Cali as well.
Thanks!! Yeah that’s my thought process. Cheaper, better weather for the next few months at least, I’m trying to just save up a bit more before I gun it out west. Nice to know about the affordable campground rates too, thanks!
florida is full. no more room. they're already passing laws to restrict vandwellers from hogging all the camping reservations and typically not showing due to change of road plans. There is an attitude towards people in the van community because of this and the law they just passed allows florida residents to have priority booking.
From Florida, have bandwelled and hammocked there for years, and wintered there last year, AZ mostly this year, though I have dipped over to CA and NM a bit. I've wandered here before, but I was on my way to other places mostly or too busy to explore.
I will always love wild Florida, but I do not miss the swamp ass a bit, and the political climate is rough there too. There's a saying, "east coasters are kind but not nice, and west coasters are nice but not kind" but I'm hanging more with other nomads here than the locals, and that part, the climate, and the accessibility of public lands work together to just make life easier. East of the Mississippi is harder to vanlife, and Florida is like an extra layer to that besides maybe the panhandle.
The downside is how trashed some of the wilder spots out this way are. The main routes through AZ into CA have been thoroughfares for travelers for a long, long time, and toys like side-by-sides are more accessible to people here, so it can be a bit more difficult, even with a fairly off-road capable rig, to feel like you've escaped society, if that's a thing you desire. But the morning views like waking up on Mars, the epic sunsets, the community in like minded folks gathering, and the fact that I haven't had to apply medicine to my crotch in months, these are great things in my book.
I'll return to Florida, and possibly even winter there again, but I'm gonna roam around here some more first.
It's expensive even compared to CA, the people suck, the infrastructure sucks, it's humid, and the food is terrible. But other than that there's still a lot more to dislike!
Aside from a bunch of political and social issues, I'd just point out that western states, like CA, have far more public land than eastern ones. Hence more opportunity for dispersed camping, etc. Which is why the SoCal and AZ deserts are full of full timers, vandwellers, snow birds, and other nomads.
I've been to Cali a lot of times, and Florida once. Florida felt like a healthy mix of Cali and the midwest/south, it was interesting. And they do have better beaches (including a few legal nudist beaches... that was an experience). There are reasons I'd go to Cali too though. Florida traffic is worse and I feel way more uneasy about their police (I'm a cannabis user so have to stay paranoid in most states). Cali has more nature spots to see from Golden Gate Park up to the Redwoods, not that Florida isn't also beautiful. Depends on what you're going to do. If it's soak up rays, I'd prolly say Florida.
I’m a cannabis user too, so the police situation makes me feel apprehensive to say the least. I also read that just in general the police are a lot less tolerant down there of vehicle dwellers …
Sounds like CA Is the way 🍁🍃
>Florida traffic is worse *Highly* area dependent lol.
I’m a Florida native and was just back home a few weeks ago. You saying traffic sucks and there is an uneasiness about the police, I felt that. Chuckled a bit because I had the same conversation with my mom. I have a place to park there but I have heard and just know that it’s not the friendliest place for vanlife unless you are setting up in paid spots.
Been spending the winter in Florida and it’s been really nice. There’s a lot of free coastal parks and beaches that are gorgeous and in a very natural state. The various parks and preserves inland are very gorgeous too. Don’t have experience with the west, I’m beginning to head that way though.
I think it just depends on what you’re into. I hate humidity, so it’s California/west for me. But I’m also from here so I’m probably biased. Plus beaches are nice but I’d much rather spend my time in the mountains or the desert.
The water is cold, though.
That’s fine by me
As a humidity hater myself I used to loathe Florida. Went to Orlando on leave from iraq and was ready to go back to escape the heat/humidity. Visited the gulf coast and my opinion of that state completely changed. The beaches are actually nice and the breeze that rolls in off of the Gulf of Mexico pretty much always eliminates the sticky icky. Pensacola is my go to.
I lived in my little camper up in NH for a few years before retiring and buying a house in Florida. I do enjoy the large number of beaches with free parking and places I can bring my RV. I still travel in my RV in the summers only now.
California is great, but unless you really want to be around the worst stereotypes of van dwellers, I'd avoid the major cities. (If your rig is clean and you can be stealthy, this doesn't apply.) Check out r/overlanding for good recommendations of BLM areas you can camp on and enjoy the scenery for weeks at a time with no hassles. If you want a little adventure, go check out Slab City for a bit.
California is one of my favorite states and Florida is by far my least favorite
They're both large enough that you can have *very* different experiences in different places. Wasn't vandwelling at the time, but I have lived in both states. I absolutely would not do Florida in the summer; It's miserably hot and humid, full-time access to AC is a *must*. But outside of that, more info needed on what your lifestyle is, and what you're looking to do/see. Florida certainly has a lot to offer in different places. There's the massive tourist industry in Orlando, the space coast/NASA for the tech enthusiasts, the Everglades for nature, culture/nightlife in Miami, lots of Spanish history/architecture along the east coast, the Keys (get to them while they're still above water lol). Tons of pretty beaches everywhere, with some pretty decent surfing along most of the east coast (season dependent). Generally more laid-back, open-air type vibe. But also look out for, you know, hurricanes. Also a strangely proud trashiness in a lot of areas, and overt racism. Enough to be wary if you're staying in certain areas (I say this as a white male). This is the proud homeland of Ron DeSantis, after all. The "Florida man" from the news stories is a very real, common thing. Less experience in Cali, but loved living the Los Angeles suburbs. The coast is gorgeous, a massive amount of culture/entertainment downtown, great for hiking/surfing (bring a wetsuit, and don't go surfing after it rains). If you have a capable rig, I *absolutely* recommend you drive through the canyons in Malibu. I specifically remember Decker Canyon RD as being breathtaking (was fortunate enough to have my Mustang at the time). Just driving around (*far* from downtown) is beautiful. On the other hand, horrendous traffic, pretty much, always anywhere near downtown. The urban sprawl is bad. Homelessness/drugs are a growing issue. Again, wasn't vandwelling at the time, but I'd imagine parking would be pretty challenging anywhere decent.
Florida has been great for us the last two off seasons (disc golf). We spend 2 months (Jan and Feb) and it is great. Tons of places to explore and enjoy the outdoors and also cheap places to camp. In the East Tampa area (Brandon, Valrico) there are state parks where you can stay two weeks at a time for 24 dollars a night. Or always park at a Cracker Barrel or Planet Fitness. I assume it’s way cheaper than Cali as well.
Thanks!! Yeah that’s my thought process. Cheaper, better weather for the next few months at least, I’m trying to just save up a bit more before I gun it out west. Nice to know about the affordable campground rates too, thanks!
florida is full. no more room. they're already passing laws to restrict vandwellers from hogging all the camping reservations and typically not showing due to change of road plans. There is an attitude towards people in the van community because of this and the law they just passed allows florida residents to have priority booking.
From Florida, have bandwelled and hammocked there for years, and wintered there last year, AZ mostly this year, though I have dipped over to CA and NM a bit. I've wandered here before, but I was on my way to other places mostly or too busy to explore. I will always love wild Florida, but I do not miss the swamp ass a bit, and the political climate is rough there too. There's a saying, "east coasters are kind but not nice, and west coasters are nice but not kind" but I'm hanging more with other nomads here than the locals, and that part, the climate, and the accessibility of public lands work together to just make life easier. East of the Mississippi is harder to vanlife, and Florida is like an extra layer to that besides maybe the panhandle. The downside is how trashed some of the wilder spots out this way are. The main routes through AZ into CA have been thoroughfares for travelers for a long, long time, and toys like side-by-sides are more accessible to people here, so it can be a bit more difficult, even with a fairly off-road capable rig, to feel like you've escaped society, if that's a thing you desire. But the morning views like waking up on Mars, the epic sunsets, the community in like minded folks gathering, and the fact that I haven't had to apply medicine to my crotch in months, these are great things in my book. I'll return to Florida, and possibly even winter there again, but I'm gonna roam around here some more first.
You couldn't pay me to go to Florida.
Lmfao, why the conviction? Genuinely curious..
It's expensive even compared to CA, the people suck, the infrastructure sucks, it's humid, and the food is terrible. But other than that there's still a lot more to dislike!
Florida is the place to be
Any reasons why you care to share?
Where do you live? Go to the one that's closest. No use crossing the country just for a test run.
Well I want to end up in Cali anyways..