I believe that right now "the desert" is a goal for them. They are actively in round up family and immediate supplies mode. As we see they are running into unforeseen roadblocks--kid getting off bus, partaking in a protest which turns into a riot and having to take refuge in a barber shop...or kid going into withdrawals and doctors not being available so having to go to school to pick up drugs. They haven't had time to plan the whens and wheres least of all the hows. We, as the viewers who understand what they are heading into, know that they have only scratched the surface and that they are probably way ahead of the general public of donks...Witness Travis at the protest and than the rest of the crowd at the protest. Travis had a clue while the rest of the crowd was reacting to what they thought was another police killing of an innocent.

 

Yeah - They are never going to get to the desert. Other events will change the plans, as is the usual case when dealing with TWD universe.

 

Fore sure. Or at the very least, definitely not this season, since they filmed the entire season in Vancouver, BC.

 

I think a desert location would be fun ...but after around a year into the ZA, with dessicated Z's [ cast call for really skinny people ! ].