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Snowbirds
A snowbird is a traveller who “follows the weather” to stay comfortable. Common targets include daytime highs of 65-75F. These highs may seem too cool but snowbirds often camp in full sun to harvest solar power.
Snowbirding reduces the need for expensive and bulky amenities like air conditioning.
altitude
A general rule of thumb is that the temperature will drop 3.5F for every 1000' increase in elevation.1) Low humidity will cause a greater swing, as it does when the sun goes down in the desert. A theoretical location with 0% humidity would see a 5.4F drop per thousand while a 100% humid location would see only 2.7F.2)
= 7000' is a good rule of thumb for summer boondocking.3)
Nomads who regularly change altitude significantly may benefit from fuel injected (FI) vehicles over carbureted ones; FI systems automatically compensate for varying oxygen levels.
latitude
Climate averages increase as one approaches the equator4), at a rate of roughly 1deg F per 50 miles traveled in latitude.
efficiency
In order to alter the temperature by 10F one could either:
- change elevation by ~3000'; or
- change latitude by 500mi, about the length of Nevada's eastern border5); or
- some combination of the two
wintering areas
Wintering areas will be closer to the equator and/or lower in elevation
Popular locations include:6), 7)
- Arizona
- California
summering areas
Summering areas will be farther from the equator and/or higher in elevation.
- Arizona
- California
- Ft. Bragg (46')17) – low elevation but with an “extreme maritime effect of the Pacific Ocean…”18) – free camping, cell coverage
- Colorado
- Michigan
- Michigan coast of Lake Michigan – free camping, cell coverage
- Minnesota
- north shore of Lake Superior – free camping, cell coverage
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- Note: New Mexico has an annual camping pass available
- Oregon
- coastal areas – free camping
- Mt. Hood National Forest – free camping, cell coverage
spring/fall
Theory: elevations around 3,000' may be good for “shoulder season” camping. 
- Arizona
- Nevada
- Carson City (4,802')25) – cell coverage
