Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > MOTORHOME FORUMS > Class A Motorhome Discussions
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 05-17-2022, 03:42 PM   #1
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 42
Day trip to Key West? Will a class A fit on those roads?

I'm going to be camping the family right near Key West, Florida soon, and they are begging to drive down for the day.

I'm getting extremely mixed reviews regarding whether the roads are safe for a Class A when I Google the topic, so I was hoping I might find some folks here with personal experience.

I'm driving a 2017 Thor Outlaw 37 BG, which is 39' long. My Garmin RV 770 doesn't show any warnings when I map it out, but it's betrayed me before.

Our main goals were to go to the "southernmost point" site, get some key lime pie, hopefully the butterfly house, and maybe hit a beach. Even just the southernmost site thing would at least satisfy everybody's "bucket list" motivation.

Any recommendations would be extremely welcome. If there are specific roads/destinations to stick to or avoid, if we should call the whole thing off, etc. Please let me know if there is a better forum for me to move this to.

Thanks!
StarBlocked is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 05-17-2022, 05:07 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Domo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Fort Myers, FL
Posts: 1,660
If you are a veteran of US service you may be able to get a site at Sigsbee Campground for your stay. There are a few other campgrounds on the nest key east of Key West you can try and you'll be about 5 miles from Hemingway's drinking place. Bring a Toad or bikes (or rent them) to get into Key West.


In direct answer to you question, having been there last December with our 36' motorhome - NO, NO, you do not want to drive your MH into Key West, you'd never find a place to park, the roads are narrow and the traffic/pedestrians/bikes/construction/streets are crowded.

There is also ground transportation but we had more fun using out bikes.
__________________
2008 Phaeton 36QSH, Safe-t-Plus, Quadra Bigfoot
2017 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk w/ flat tow wiring mod.
Blue ox, BrakeMaster + BrakeAway, diode lights and charge.
Domo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2022, 05:12 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: LBS, FL
Posts: 149
Agreed. Find a place to park your rig as close to Key West as you can find. Maybe the hospital lot on Stock Island which is close. Uber or Taxi to Duval or if you have bikes ride from there. Lots of bike rentals, electric carts to rent or just walk. You won’t regret leaving the coach behind I promise you.
Rick
Ri-Di is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2022, 05:15 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
hilgert's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 827
I don't think the issue will be the roads to/from Key West...those the Class A can handle. Navigating Key West will be a challenge in a Class A (doable, but both you and others around you will get frustrated).

The real issue will be where to park for the few hours you are there. A Class A is not going to fit in a normal parking spot, and Key West is an island with limited space.

Domo and Ri-Di have the better approach...find a local RV park (on another island) and take your towed vehicle (if you have one), or maybe look into an Uber to get to/from Key West.
__________________
2019 Fleetwood Discovery LXE 40D
2023 Ford Expedition Limited Stealth Edition Towed
Full-Timers since 2018
hilgert is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2022, 05:27 PM   #5
Member
 
osull's Avatar
 
Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 34
Big rig key west ??

NO NO NO way Jose sorry
__________________
Tom & Elizabeth O' 2008 DSDP 43ft TAG
Happy Wife Happy Life
osull is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2022, 06:43 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Isaac-1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: SW Louisiana
Posts: 8,824
Someone on another forum recently suggested getting a day pass to the state park (Fort Zachary Taylor SP?) , then parking the coach there while going the last mile or so into town on I think a bicycle.
__________________
2002 Safari Trek 2830 on P32 Chassis with 8.1L w/ 400 watts solar 420Ah LiFePo4
2017 Jeep Cherokee Overland & 2007 Toyota Yaris TOADs with Even Brake,
Demco Commander tow bar and Blue Ox / Roadmaster base plates
Isaac-1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2022, 07:00 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Ray,IN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: North America somewhere
Posts: 30,593
Even if you find a place to park a CL A on Key West island/city you won't have much time to sight-see. If I remember correctly it's 6 hours drive from the mainland to Key West, the highway speed limit is 45 mph and traffic is too heavy to attempt to drive faster.
It's my guess, every RV site from Homestead FL to Key West is already booked for the year-well with the exception of June through November when they might be dodging hurricanes.
__________________
2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD, ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA IN 1SG 11B5MX,Infantry retired;Good Sam Life member,FMCA." My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy
Ray,IN is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2022, 07:01 PM   #8
Community Moderator


 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Full timing
Posts: 6,151
No, the Class A is too big. Duvall Street is narrow, and the traffic is heavy. We spent 2 weeks there over last Thanksgiving. We stayed at Sunshine Key, an Encore Park, it is almost 40 miles from Key West.
Going to "The Southern Most Point" in the Class A is not advisable. That turn is tight then at the buoy, real tight turn.
Parking in Key West, behind The Bull & Whistle Bar is $5.00/hr. It is a small tight lot.
The lot close to Kermit's is the same price and there is only room for cars & it is tight for dually pickups.
Near to Smather's Beach is parking, but not sure if they would allow a big
Class A to take up so many spots.
__________________
2018 Road Warrior 427
2013 Can Am Spyder RT Limited
2017 Ram 3500 w/Aisin w/4:10
2 Dachshunds DJ (RIP 9-12-19) & Joey (RIP 5-14-21)
hamm2018 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2022, 07:16 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
RVThere's Avatar
 
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Florida Keys
Posts: 2,687
I live in Big Pine Key and drive down to KW all the time. In my car.

Let's be honest. Don't be an idiot and drive your Class A to KW. Old Town is tight, Southernmost Point is tight, Duval Street is tight. Truman Ave (Rt. 1) is tight with cars parked on both sides.

If you're staying at Boyds, you can easily Uber or even bike.

If you're staying at Bluewater, there's a busstop right outside the campground.

If you're staying at the Sugarloaf KOA, you may be able to get an Uber.

Uber to Southernmost Cafe to get Key Lime Pie. Walk 1 block to Southernmost Point and be ready to wait on line to take a selfie. Walk 2 blocks to Butterfly House.

I also recommend Hemigway's house.

KW beaches are not that great. Better to go to Bahia Honda State Park about MM35.

Enjoy but use common sense. KW is great but the worst part are tourists who think there are no rules or everyone in KW is there to accommodate their bad decisions.
__________________
Tom and Katharine
'07 Winnebago Tour 40TD, 400hp Cummins
'17 Winnebago View 24V, '02 R-Vision B+
RVing for 20 years & 200,000+ miles
RVThere is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-18-2022, 11:33 AM   #10
Senior Member
 
Ray,IN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: North America somewhere
Posts: 30,593
Have you by any chance pulled up Google Earth and looked at Key West City streets and parking? When you do you'll see why driving a MH through Key West city is discouraged.
We tow a 2013 Chevy Silverado K1500 cc pickup and it's almost too large/long for parking on the old town streets, when I could actually find a vacant spot.
__________________
2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD, ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA IN 1SG 11B5MX,Infantry retired;Good Sam Life member,FMCA." My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy
Ray,IN is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-18-2022, 11:44 AM   #11
Senior Member
 
GypsyR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Upstate SC
Posts: 2,932
A trip to Key West of some sort has been on my bucket list for a while. I never thought about the potential incompatibility between the area and my class A until this thread. I appreciate the on-the-ground info provided. So now when the time comes I will certainly have a much better plan of attack.
GypsyR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-18-2022, 01:19 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,317
Hop on the $1.00 bus from as far East as Marathon to reach the Hop on Hop off bus depot in Key West. They make all the tourist stops.

Wintered in Book Key harbor, Marathon for 8 years.

Between Christmas and New Years the bus is free.
twinboat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-19-2022, 05:15 AM   #13
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Apollo Beach & Key West , FL
Posts: 3,803
Quote:
Originally Posted by StarBlocked View Post
I'm going to be camping the family right near Key West, Florida soon, and they are begging to drive down for the day.


It would help if you told us where you are going to be camping....
__________________
2013 DS 4338
2015 F-150 toad with kayaks,bicycles and a Harley in the back
PanJH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-19-2022, 05:47 AM   #14
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 949
Bring a toad
__________________
2020 Chevy Blazer Premiere AWD Toad
2021 Newmar Ventana 4369 Freightliner Chassis
Winger2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
class a, hose



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Over night spot along a trip from SC to Key West booger Camping Locations, Plans & Trip Reports 11 06-02-2015 06:00 PM
Route and Campground Suggestions for Key West Trip reubenray Navigation, Routes & Roads 71 02-17-2014 03:04 PM
Blue Water Key RV Resort Key West islander Florida Cooters 0 02-06-2013 05:17 PM
First RV Trip to Key West bzumwalt Camping Locations, Plans & Trip Reports 20 03-18-2012 10:14 AM
Update on Trip - Here in Key West JavaJelly Newmar Owner's Forum 25 12-26-2007 06:37 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:07 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.