Living in an RV in winter in West Texas: freeze prep guide

Living in an RV in winter in West Texas is very doable, and most of the work happens before the first freeze. Here in the Permian Basin the cold usually comes in short, sharp snaps instead of long stretches, so a little prep on your water lines, your underbelly, your heat and your propane covers most of what can go wrong.

October is a good month to get ready for winter. If you are still deciding where to park for the season, our guide to long-term RV parks near Odessa is a good place to start.

When does it freeze in Midland and Odessa?

The National Weather Service office in Midland keeps freeze records going back to 1930. Over that span the average first freeze in the fall is November 11 and the average last freeze in the spring is March 27. The earliest first freeze on record came on October 19, 1989, so a cold night in late October is unusual but possible. Our Odessa and Midland local guide lists what is going on around town through early November.

The NWS describes our winters as frequent cold periods followed by quick warming. A cold front blows through, it stays chilly for two or three days, and then it warms back up. Snow is infrequent. That pattern is why people get caught off guard.

It can also get very cold. The lowest temperature on record at Midland is 11 degrees below zero, set on February 2, 1985, which tied a record first set on February 8, 1933. You will not see that most years, but it is a good reminder to plan for more than a light frost.

Protect your water lines and hose

Start with your water lines. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension says water pipes can freeze and burst once the outside temperature reaches 20 degrees or below.

AgriLife suggests UL-listed heat tape, heat cable or pipe sleeves on exposed water lines. In January 2026 their Texas Well Owner Network coordinator also advised Texans to buy pipe wrap and heat tape early, because it tends to sell out once freeze warnings go out. He recommended getting protection in place in October or November and leaving it up through March or April.

A few things that help on an RV:

• Use a heated water hose, or wrap your hose and the faucet connection with heat tape and insulation. Outdoorsy's winter guide notes the city water connection is usually the first thing to freeze.
• Wrap any exposed lines in outside compartments.
• Keep some heat running inside the rig, even when you are at work.
• Keep your gray and black tank valves closed until the tanks are full, then dump and close them again. A sewer hose that stays open and wet can freeze solid.

If a line does freeze, AgriLife says to thaw it with a hair dryer, a heating pad or towels soaked in hot water. Never use a torch, a propane heater or any open flame on a frozen pipe. That is a fire risk and a carbon monoxide risk.

Skirting and the wind

Out here the wind matters as much as the temperature. The NWS Midland records show the fastest one-minute wind speed ever measured at Midland was 67 mph, on February 9, 1960, right in the middle of winter. AgriLife also points out that direct wind speeds up freezing on pipes.

That is what skirting is for. Skirting closes the gap between the bottom of your RV and the ground so cold air cannot blow under the floor. Outdoorsy's full-time winter guide calls cold air under the rig the main reason winter RV living gets hard, and lists skirting your underbelly as one of the most important steps.

Skirting comes in a lot of forms, from vinyl panels to foam board to inflatable kits. Whatever you choose, make sure it is fastened well enough to stay put in a strong West Texas gust, and check it after every windy day. Before you add skirting or heat tape, look at your owner's manual. It will tell you how your rig is rated for cold weather and whether your tanks are heated.

Heat and electric safety

Many RVers add an electric space heater to back up the furnace. Outdoorsy notes that space heaters draw a lot of power, and on a 30 amp service you may only be able to run one at a time. Check your rig's manual before you plug in a second one.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission gives simple rules for portable heaters:

• Keep heaters at least three feet away from bedding, curtains, furniture and anything else that can burn.
• Plug electric heaters straight into a wall outlet, never into an extension cord or power strip.
• Turn heaters off when you go to sleep.

The CPSC also recommends carbon monoxide alarms outside sleeping areas, battery powered or with battery backup, tested every month. In an RV, with a propane furnace and a small space, a working CO alarm is worth checking before the first cold night.

At our park, every RV site has 20, 30 and 50 amp electrical pedestals, and electric, water, sewer and trash are all included in the rate. You can see current rates on our rates page.

Propane in cold weather

Outdoorsy's guide says to plan on using a lot more propane in winter, since the onboard propane furnace is usually the most efficient way to heat an RV. Running out on a cold night is the problem you want to avoid.

The Railroad Commission of Texas, which regulates propane in the state, offers these tips in its Home Safe Home brochure:

• Know how to shut off the gas supply at your tank or cylinder. If you do not know how, ask your propane supplier.
• Never store propane cylinders inside an enclosed building.
• Treat every propane smell seriously. Do not assume the odor only means your tank is getting low. If the smell persists, you may have a leak, and you should call your propane supplier.
• Stay above 20 percent. The Commission requires propane companies to run a leak test before refilling an empty tank, and the brochure suggests a keep full program to avoid that.

A short checklist for October

Here is what we would do this month if we were setting up for winter:

1. Buy heat tape, pipe insulation and a heated hose now, before the first freeze warning.
2. Put up skirting and make sure it is fastened for wind.
3. Test your furnace and your CO and smoke alarms.
4. Fill your propane and learn where your shutoff valve is.
5. Look up your rig's cold weather rating in the owner's manual.
6. Watch the NWS Midland forecast when a front is coming.

A lot of the people who park with us work in the oilfield and keep long hours. If that is you, a winter plan means fewer surprises when you get home after a long shift. Our workforce housing page has more on staying with us while you work in the Basin. If you have questions about a site or the area, call us at (432) 895-4001.

If you want something to do on your days off, our Odessa and Midland local guide has events through November 8.

Sources

All sources were opened and checked on October 15, 2026.

• National Weather Service Midland/Odessa, Midland Freeze Data, annual first and last freeze 1930 to 2025.
• National Weather Service Midland/Odessa, Frequently Asked Questions: Climate of Midland Texas, temperature and wind records.
• National Weather Service Midland/Odessa, Midland Texas Climate Narrative.
• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Winter Storms: Preventing and Thawing Frozen Pipes (PDF).
• Texas A&M AgriLife Today, Protect livestock, plants, pipes and pets from winter weather, January 22, 2026.
• Outdoorsy, Full-time RVers guide: Tips for winter travel, December 15, 2024.
• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Keep Warm and Safe This Winter, January 23, 2026.
• Railroad Commission of Texas, Home Safe Home propane safety brochure (PDF).