Published
By Inez Spring Park Management. Updated November 2026.
Quick answer: For RV winter storage in Texas, drain every water line, bypass the water heater and add RV antifreeze, charge and protect the battery, set tire pressure and block the tires, clear all food, and seal against mice. Do it before the first freeze, which averages November 11 in Abilene per the National Weather Service.
People think Texas means you can skip this. Not in our part of the state. Eastland gets hard freezes and the odd ice storm, and one bad night can split a line that cost a weekend to fix. This is the checklist for anyone storing a rig through a north Texas winter, including at our RV storage near Eastland, in working order.
In north and west central Texas, yes. RV winter storage means preparing an RV to sit unused through the cold months, with the water system drained or filled with antifreeze, the batteries protected and the rig sealed against pests and weather. The freeze dates make the case.
| Station | Average first fall freeze | Average last spring freeze | Earliest freeze on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene | November 11 | March 21 | October 18, 1948 |
| San Angelo | November 10 | March 24 | October 16, 1940 |
Source: National Weather Service San Angelo freeze climatology. Eastland is about 50 minutes east of Abilene, so plan around the same dates. That is about four months where a freeze can happen. Plan your storage prep for late October or early November.
Work from the water system outward. The plumbing is where a freeze does the expensive damage. Check your owner's manual first, because valve locations and bypass setups vary by brand.
| Step | What to do | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Dump and flush tanks | Empty black, then gray, at a sewer connection. Flush the black tank. | Waste left sitting smells and can freeze |
| 2. Drain fresh water | Open the fresh tank drain and the low point drains | Water left in lines expands when it freezes |
| 3. Drain the water heater | Power off, cool, release pressure, pull the plug or anode | A full heater tank is the biggest freeze risk |
| 4. Bypass the water heater | Set the bypass valves | Saves several gallons of antifreeze |
| 5. Add RV antifreeze | Pump pink RV antifreeze through each tap until it runs pink, hot and cold | Protects lines and traps |
| 6. Treat traps and toilet | Pour antifreeze in each drain and flush the toilet | Traps hold water |
| 7. Battery | Charge fully, disconnect or remove, keep on a maintainer | A flat battery can freeze and crack |
| 8. Tires | Set to the sidewall or placard pressure, block off the ground, cover from sun | Prevents flat spots and UV cracking |
| 9. Food and fridge | Empty all food, clean, prop the fridge door open | Stops mold and mice |
| 10. Pests | Seal floor gaps, screen vents | Mice chew wiring |
| 11. Propane and fuel | Close propane valves, add fuel stabilizer, run the generator on treated fuel | Stops gumming and leaks |
| 12. Roof and cover | Check seals, crack a vent, use a breathable cover if not under a roof | Limits moisture and sun damage |
The steps follow the standard guidance in RV.com's winter storage checklist, which also advises professional winterizing where freezes are common if you are not sure of your system.
Most RVs take 2 to 3 gallons (est.) with the water heater bypassed. A rig with a washer, an ice maker or two bathrooms may take more, so buy an extra jug. Use pink, non-toxic RV antifreeze only. Automotive antifreeze is poison in a drinking-water system.
If you would rather blow the lines out with air, use a regulated compressor and stay at a low pressure your manual allows. Many owners do both: air first, then antifreeze in the traps.
Batteries, tires and mice cause most spring surprises after the plumbing. A charged battery resists freezing far better than a flat one, so charge it fully before storage and keep it on a maintainer, or take it home. Texas sun is hard on tires even in winter. Cover them, set the pressure and keep them off bare dirt with boards or blocks.
Mice look for warm, quiet places as nights cool. Pull every scrap of food, wipe the cabinets, and seal where pipes and wires pass through the floor. Steel wool and foam work for small gaps. Set a reminder to check the rig every few weeks.
Covered storage protects the roof from sun and hail and keeps rain off the seals. Outdoor storage costs less. In winter the bigger risk is moisture and wind, so a breathable cover on an outdoor space is a fair middle ground. The trade-offs are laid out in outdoor vs covered RV storage, and the price ranges in how much RV storage costs in Texas.
Winterize if the rig will sit unused. Keep it on a hooked-up site if you want to use it through the season. A plugged-in camper keeps its batteries charged and can run the furnace on cold nights, which suits hunters, anglers and weekend families.
At Inez Spring, storage rates change with the season, so ask the office. A monthly site is $500 for a back-in or $650 for a pull-through up to 100 feet, plus metered electric at 17 cents per kWh. The deposit is $200 and refundable, and terms are month to month. Your total is the rent plus your own meter, and we do not estimate the electric because it depends on your heat and how often you are there. Details are on our monthly RV sites page.
A plugged-in RV still needs freeze care: a heated water hose, a wrapped spigot and a sewer hose that drains clean. If you will live in the RV through a cold snap, read how to winterize an RV in Texas, which covers both storage and living through a freeze. For the wider picture, see our guide to RV storage in Texas.
In north and west central Texas, yes. Abilene's average first freeze is November 11 and the average last freeze is March 21, according to the National Weather Service in San Angelo. One hard freeze can split a water line that still holds water, so drain and protect the plumbing before the first cold front.
Before the first freeze, which around Abilene and Eastland averages November 11. Plan the work for late October or early November, and watch the forecast. The earliest freeze on record in Abilene was October 18, so a warm fall is no guarantee.
Most RVs take 2 to 3 gallons (est.) when the water heater is bypassed. Larger rigs with a washer, an ice maker or two bathrooms may need more. Use pink non-toxic RV antifreeze, never automotive antifreeze.
Charge it fully, then either remove it and keep it somewhere it will not freeze, on a maintainer, or leave it in and disconnect it. A charged battery resists freezing far better than a flat one. If the RV sits on a hooked-up site, it can stay connected and charging.
Remove all food, clean every crumb, and seal gaps where pipes and wires enter the floor. Screen the furnace, water heater and fridge vents. Check the rig every few weeks if you can, because a small problem caught early stays small.
Yes, if you plan to use it. At Inez Spring a monthly site is $500 back-in or $650 pull-through, plus your own metered electric at 17 cents per kWh, with a $200 refundable deposit. You still need freeze prep for the hose and lines on cold nights.
Get the water out before November 11, keep the battery charged, and give mice nothing to find. Do that and spring starts with a trip, not a repair bill.
Ask about storage or a monthly site one minute off I-20 at Exit 343, 10 minutes from Lake Leon. Call (254) 629-1197 or send a request on our RV storage page.
