Winter in Los Santos is a vibe. It's messy, chaotic, and suddenly everything is white. You’re driving a Comet Safari through the Vinewood Hills, sliding all over the place, and then you see it. A tiny, frozen dude just standing there in someone's front yard. That’s your target. If you've played during the Festive Surprise events, you know the drill. Rockstar likes to make us work for our cosmetic rewards. This isn’t just about the money, though the GTA$ and RP are a nice bonus. It’s about that ridiculous Snowman Outfit. You want to look like a sentient pile of snow while robbing a bank? This is how you do it.
Finding all 25 snowman locations gta 5 spread across the map is a legitimate grind. It’s not hard in terms of combat, but it’s a massive test of your patience and your ability to navigate Los Santos when the traction is basically nonexistent. Honestly, if you aren't using a Buzzard or an Oppressor MK II, you're making life way harder for yourself than it needs to be. Trying to do this in a ground vehicle is a nightmare because of the ice. You’ll spend half your time spinning out in the Tongva Hills.
The logic behind the hunt
You can’t just find one. You have to destroy all 25 in a single "event" period. Rockstar usually triggers this during the final weeks of December. When you smash one—whether you ram it with a car, kick it, or use a grenade—you get a notification. 1/25. 2/25. The game tracks it for you in the collectibles menu, but let's be real, the in-game map won't help you find the next one.
Most people think these things are just randomly scattered. They aren't. Rockstar placed them in clusters. You’ve got a dense group in the city, a few scattered along the western highway, and then the nightmare fuel that is the Grand Senora Desert and Paleto Bay. If you miss one in the middle of the woods, you’re going to be backtracking for an hour.
Why bother with the snowmen?
Look, 2026 is here and GTA 5 is still kicking. We’re all waiting for the next big thing, but these seasonal challenges keep the map feeling alive. For every snowman you destroy, you pocket GTA$ 5,000 and some RP. Smash all 25, and you get a bonus GTA$ 125,000. That’s 250k total. In the modern GTA economy, that buys you... maybe a new set of tires for a supercar? Okay, it's not a lot of money. But the The Snowman outfit is the real prize. It’s a permanent unlock. It’s one of those rare items that shows you were actually there for the event.
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Navigating the city clusters
Starting in South Los Santos is the smartest move. There’s one right near Mirror Park, tucked away near a house. Mirror Park is actually a hotspot for these. You’ll find them in backyards and near the community park areas. It feels deliberate. It’s like the developers wanted to reward you for exploring the suburban parts of the map that we usually just fly over at 130 mph.
Move toward Vespucci Canals next. There’s usually one hanging out near the walkways. Then hit the Rockford Hills area. The wealthy neighborhoods are crawling with them. It’s kinda funny—the rich NPCs in the game have the best-decorated yards, so naturally, they have the snowmen. Check the porches and the manicured lawns. You’re looking for a classic three-ball snowman with a top hat and a scarf.
One specific spot that always trips people up is near the Legion Square area. Everything is so cluttered there during the holidays with the big tree and the decorations that a small snowman can blend into the background. Don't rush. If you hear a slight jingling sound, you’re close. Rockstar added a subtle audio cue for collectibles, and it’s a lifesaver when you’re squinting through a blizzard.
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The long haul to Paleto Bay
Once you clear the city, you have to head north. This is where the snowman locations gta 5 hunt gets tedious. You’ll find one in the Banham Canyon area, usually near a residential driveway. Then you’ve got the Great Chaparral region. It’s mostly empty space, so finding a tiny white statue in a world of white snow is frustrating.
Pro tip: use the thermal goggles if you have them. Snowmen don't have a heat signature, but they stand out as cold "dead" spots against the environment if you’re looking closely, or at the very least, they provide a silhouette that breaks the repetitive texture of the hillsides.
- Chumash: Check the back decks of the houses overlooking the ocean.
- Zancudo: There’s often one near the outskirts of the base or the surrounding marshlands.
- Grapeseed: Look near the farmhouses. They love putting them near the tractors.
- Paleto Bay: This is the finish line. There are usually three or four tucked away in the northernmost town. Check the park and the residential streets near the forest edge.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
People get lazy. They see a snowman, they shoot it from a distance with a sniper rifle, and they move on. Sometimes, the game doesn't register the "kill" if you're too far away or if the physics engine glitches out. It's better to get up close. Use a melee attack or just drive over it. You want to see that notification pop up on the left side of your screen before you leave the area.
Another big mistake? Forgetting which ones you’ve already hit. Since the snowmen don't disappear from the map in a permanent way across different play sessions (they reset if you haven't finished the set), you need to do this in one go. If you log off at 24/25, you might find yourself starting over the next day depending on how Rockstar's cloud servers are feeling. Set aside 45 minutes. Grab a fast helicopter. Do it all at once.
Also, watch out for the NPCs. For some reason, hitting a snowman in a residential area sometimes counts as property damage or "disturbing the peace," and suddenly you’ve got a two-star wanted level. Trying to find a tiny snowman while the LSPD is peppering your car with bullets is not ideal.
The reward is worth the weirdness
Once that 25th snowman crumbles, you’ll get the notification. "The Snowman Outfit has been added to your wardrobe." You can find it under the "Outfits: Festive" category at any clothing store or in your apartment. It’s a full-body suit. You look like a mascot for a frozen food brand. It’s glorious.
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The money hits your Maze Bank account almost instantly. $125k bonus plus the $125k from individual smashes. It's a solid chunk of change for what is essentially a scavenger hunt.
Honestly, the best part isn't the outfit or the money. It's the exploration. GTA 5's map is over a decade old, but when the snow falls, it feels different. You notice details you usually ignore. You see the little parks in El Burro Heights or the weird small businesses in Grapeseed. The snowman hunt forces you to look at the world Rockstar built instead of just staring at your GPS mini-map while hauling cargo.
Actionable steps for your hunt
To get this done efficiently, follow this workflow:
- Call in a Sparrow or Buzzard: You need verticality and speed. Ground vehicles are too slow in the snow.
- Start at the Southern Tip: Begin at the Port of Los Santos and work your way up the eastern side of the map toward Sandy Shores.
- Use a Map Overlay: Keep a fan-made interactive map open on your phone or a second monitor. Cross them off as you go.
- Listen for the Jingle: Turn your in-game music down. The audio cue for the snowman is a faint, tinkling bell sound. It gets louder as you get closer.
- Confirm the Kill: Always wait for the +$5,000 and the counter (e.g., 14/25) to appear before flying to the next spot.
If you get stuck, check the Vinewood Hills one more time. There are a few tucked behind gates of mansions that are incredibly easy to fly right over without seeing. Once you’re done, head to the nearest clothing store to equip your new suit and enjoy the rest of the winter season in style.