For most of the year they live in the northern U.S., but come January “snowbirds” have no problem heading south, leaving winter far behind.

Bob and Kay Becker of Marietta made it out of town before the first round of cold winter weather struck earlier this month. For several years the couple has wintered in a campground near Kissimmee, Fla.

“It’s about 70 miles south of Orlando,” Kay said. “And we got out of Marietta just in time.”

The Beckers are among several area families who head for warmer climes when winter weather arrives.

Ohio ranks third in states who have the most temporary residents in Florida each year, following New York and Michigan, according to a University of Florida study. The average stay is five months.

“We left right after the first of the year in our 38-foot, towing our Chevy Malibu,” Bob said.

Like many “snowbirds,” Bob, 72, and Kay, 69, have been retired for several years, and for most of those the couple has enjoyed the winter season in sunny Florida.

“The first year of retirement we headed out west, but then we had a couple of friends who came to Florida every year and said they thought we’d like it,” Bob said. “And we really do.”

The Beckers pull into the RV park at Kissammee, which becomes their winter headquarters. From there they can drive the Malibu to any number of Florida destinations.

For example, the RV park cable service doesn’t include ESPN, so on Monday Bob and Kay drove to St. Augustine to watch the Ohio State championship game.

“We drive up and stay at a hotel to watch the game overnight, then return to the RV park the next day,” Bob said. “And we meet so many great people at the RV park. There are at least 30 of us on one street. We’ll often get together and have a covered dish dinner.”

He noted there are many folks from Washington County who head to Florida during the winter.

“There’s even a Washington County, Ohio, reunion in Sebring in February every year,” he said.

Glen Miller, of Beverly, is among the Washington County residents who attend that reunion.

“I’ve probably been coming to Florida off and on for about 10 years now,” he said. “Up until 2005 I had a home in Naples, Fla. I sold that house and didn’t go back down from 2006 to 2009, but in 2010 I bought a duplex in Sebring, which is in the middle of the state, about 70 miles south of Orlando.”

Miller said he has little interest in wandering the state’s beaches, but he does enjoy playing golf.

“It’s a lot cheaper to play golf here in Sebring than on the coast,” he said. “And this is where all the oranges are grown, although the crop is not doing so well this year due to a disease that’s affecting the trees.”

Miller said he doesn’t miss Ohio’s winter weather.

“The only thing I miss is my family,” he said. “But there are a lot of people who come here in the winter. In the summer Sebring’s population is around 22,000, but in winter there are about 45,000 people down here.”

While the high temperatures were in the 20s and 30s in Marietta this week Miller said it was a balmy 75 degrees in Sebring.

The Beckers also have no problem with the warm Florida sunshine.

“I operated a heating and air conditioning business for years, and remember getting called out at all hours of the night, especially during the cold winter months,” Bob said. “So I don’t miss that winter weather at all.”

Florida is by far the biggest winter destination for U.S. travelers. According to a 2014 survey through the American Society of Travel Agents, Florida was the destination for 58 percent of the survey respondents. Hawaii came in a distant second as a winter destination for 20 percent of travelers surveyed.

According to SnowbirdsDestinations.com, approximately 550,000 snowbird travelers visit Florida each year.

The Florida Keys area reports an unusually busy winter season this year, with hotels filling up at a rate of 94 and 95 percent occupancy, according to the Associated Press.

Travel experts say lower gas prices and higher airline costs for overseas travel are prompting Americans to do more traveling in-country this winter, which translates to a boost in tourism for Florida and other southern states.

Ruth Nagy, managing director of travel operations with the AAA East Central office in Pittsburgh, said snowbirds from Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia tend to migrate into central or south Florida during the winter.

“They head for areas like Orlando, West Palm Beach, Naples and other central locations,” she said. “And typically most snowbirds make their trek south regardless of the gasoline prices.”

Nagy noted that some snowbirders will save on fuel by having their personal vehicles shipped south by train. The travelers then fly south and pick up the cars near their destination.

For those who are considering joining the ranks of those making an annual pilgrimage to the south during the winter months, a few tips may be helpful, according to an article in Ruralite Magazine, which advises snowbirders to start small-renting instead of buying an RV, mobile home or apartment for that first trip.

Banking can easily be done online, according to the magazine, and mail can be forwarded for up to six months to an alternate general address.

Another issue to consider is whether your medical insurance is portable and provides equal coverage while traveling from state to state.

Concern for the possibility of a burglary or break-in while away from home is a major issue for many snowbirds, so having a neighbor keep an eye on the homefront is a good idea.

Area law enforcement can provide some limited help there, too.

“We’ll check on properties for at least two weeks if people notify us they’re going to be away from home,” said Capt. Jeff Waite with the Marietta Police Department. “But if they’re going to stay away all winter, it’s best to also tell a neighbor who can keep watch on the home.”

He noted that home security systems are also now available that can allow travelers to monitor their homes with cell phones, tablets, laptop computers or other devices.