Community Forums

rvgreg · 03-05-2015, 03:45 PM

We are going to Myakka River State Park (near Fort Myers, Florida) for a week to take in some spring training games at the end of March. We have reservations at Bahia Honda state Park in the Keys in early April. I have 4 days between reservations. I was looking at Everglades Isle Motorhome Resort as a base for visiting the Everglades. Has anyone stayed there? It is pricey but looks like a good place prior to "roughing it" at Bahia Honda. Any suggestions for Everglades camping or things to do would be appreciated. Thanks.

f14av8r · 03-05-2015, 04:58 PM

Why not just stay at Everglades National Park? They have full hook up sites are are definitely right in the middle of the everglades!

Dennis4809 · 03-05-2015, 05:07 PM

Midway is half way across 41. Pretty bare bones but does have hook ups for a fair price. We also spend a night at the casino near Homestead as we enter and exit the Keys. No hook ups but it's free and a huge secure parking lot and you can't beat the $9.95 steak and lobster. From the casino its a straight shot south to the overseas hwy.
http://www.miccosukee.com/gaming/

Steve Ownby · 03-05-2015, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dennis4809

Midway is half way across 41. Pretty bare bones but does have hook ups for a fair price. We also spend a night at the casino near Homestead as we enter and exit the Keys. No hook ups but it's free and a huge secure parking lot and you can't beat the $9.95 steak and lobster.

I agree with the Casino. Great place to overnight. Also agree with the poster about staying in the park. They have hookups out at Flamingo.

Steve Ownby
Full time since '07

reubenray · 03-05-2015, 05:14 PM

We stayed at Midway last spring coming back from Bahia Honda to Myaaka River State Park. Midway is the only campground that has given us the creeps. I even pulled out my pistol from the bedroom. When we got there it was storming and there wasn't a person anywhere. There was no cell or data service either. We was debating on not staying the night and trying to find another spot when some more campers finally pulled in. For an overnight site it ended up being OK, but beware it out in the middle of nowhere. It had some gates, but I don't believe they have been closed for a long time. The sites was a little hard to get into being they are just about 90 degrees from the road.

PanJH · 03-06-2015, 06:02 AM

Midway has water and 50 amp electric at the sites- no sewer, but does have a dump station. Lonely place, like the prior post, I make sure my gun is loaded when I sty there. Everglades Isle is very nice. For things to do in the area, go to Stan's on Sunday ( Goodland ,FL), big party. An airboat ride with Corey Billie, just outside of Collier Seminole State Park is interesting. To explore some more off the main path areas, take a ride on Janes Scenic Drive and Loop Road. On Loop road, there may be a sign that says local traffic only, just go by, you'll see some great scenery and will eventually swing back to US41. Stop and visit Shark Valley. Take the tram or bicycle and go up on the tower. For maps and other interesting things to do, there is a visitor information center on the corner of US 41 and 29, which is the way you go into Everglades Isle.

ChallengerRN · 03-06-2015, 08:24 AM

West of Homestead you can go into Everglades National Park. It's 35 mile or so to the end of the road in the park. Road ends at Flamingo. Two lane road going in there. We did it with a 40' coach. Good road. They have an RV park there. All sites are 60' pull thru's. 1/2 the sites have electric and water I think. Dump station available. $15 per night with senior national park pass.

Not much there. Ranger station & cafe. Two different boat tours and canoe rental. Campground was very clean. Just another place to say that you have been too. Make sure and stop at visitors station on the way in.

Russell

Saltydog44 · 03-06-2015, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rvgreg

We are going to Myakka River State Park (near Fort Myers, Florida) for a week to take in some spring training games at the end of March. We have reservations at Bahia Honda state Park in the Keys in early April. I have 4 days between reservations. I was looking at Everglades Isle Motorhome Resort as a base for visiting the Everglades. Has anyone stayed there? It is pricey but looks like a good place prior to "roughing it" at Bahia Honda. Any suggestions for Everglades camping or things to do would be appreciated. Thanks.

We stayed at Everglades Isle last year - great spot and great owners. Lots to do and some good restaurants, especially Havana Cafe on Chokoloskee Island. It's a hidden gem.

On the east side we stayed at Miami Everglades - very convenient for Shark Valley and eastern entrances. Not as upscale as Everglades Isle but good people - a 7-8 vs 9-10

Steve Ownby · 03-06-2015, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saltydog44

We stayed at Everglades Isle last year - great spot and great owners. Lots to do and some good restaurants, especially Havana Cafe on Chokoloskee Island. It's a hidden gem.

On the east side we stayed at Miami Everglades - very convenient for Shark Valley and eastern entrances. Not as upscale as Everglades Isle but good people - a 7-8 vs 9-10

There is another one on Chokoloskee Island. An old Outdoor Resorts of America. It's very well maintained.

Steve Ownby
Full time since '07

rvgreg · 03-06-2015, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saltydog44

We stayed at Everglades Isle last year - great spot and great owners. Lots to do and some good restaurants, especially Havana Cafe on Chokoloskee Island. It's a hidden gem.

On the east side we stayed at Miami Everglades - very convenient for Shark Valley and eastern entrances. Not as upscale as Everglades Isle but good people - a 7-8 vs 9-10

I will look at Miami Everglades. Do you have any recommendations for a particular site at Everglades Isle? I called and it seemed to be open and you can request a spot. Thanks.

rvgreg · 03-06-2015, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dennis4809

Midway is half way across 41. Pretty bare bones but does have hook ups for a fair price. We also spend a night at the casino near Homestead as we enter and exit the Keys. No hook ups but it's free and a huge secure parking lot and you can't beat the $9.95 steak and lobster. From the casino its a straight shot south to the overseas hwy.
Gaming

I am a little hesitant to stay at Midway even though it is a good bit cheaper. I am strongly considering the casino for overnighting. I called and they still allow boondocking in their parking lot. They said there is a good fuel station at the nearby intersection of 41. Thanks for the recommendation.

J Birder · 03-06-2015, 06:36 PM

There two camp grouinds within Everglades N.P.m Neither Has full hookups. Long Pine Key, which is fairly close to the entrance has water hookups only. Flamingo, which is 40 miles into the park has water, and also has electricity as some of their sites.

I have stayed at both, and prefer Long Pine Key. It has more vegetation between sites, and gives more of a feeling of privacy.

One problem at Flamingo, is that they sometimes get invaded by swarms of hungry mosquitoes, even in mid winter.

Midway is not located in Everglades N.P. Rather, it is in Big Cypress National Preserve, which is adjacent to the National Park. It is the only one of the camp grounds in Big Cypress with electric hookups. It is quite close to the Shark Valley entrance to the Everglades. It is about an hour drive from there to the main entrance.

Joel

Saltydog44 · 03-07-2015, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rvgreg

I will look at Miami Everglades. Do you have any recommendations for a particular site at Everglades Isle? I called and it seemed to be open and you can request a spot. Thanks.

Try to get a site on the water. You can walk to some pretty good restaurants.

I probably should warn you that the airboat traffic goes right by the park. It didn't bother us, but it might some. Also FWIW we did not enjoy the airboat ride. The idea that you might see animals is pretty ludicrous given the commotion and the noise.

We saw a lot of stuff at Shark Valley which we visited from Miami Everglades. ME used to be a KOA but it is really well maintained with level (grass) sites. We also drove down toward Flamingo from there. All three areas are very different.

GREGORYJ · 03-07-2015, 07:02 PM

We liked Everglades National Park last fall. As ChallegerRN mentioned above, there it not too much to do but has a great campground with large sites and it was a nice quiet place to relax for a few days & take the boat tours. No reservations required here as it will not be too busy with lots of sites.