Florida is KILLING ME $$$$$

[Pappystoy]

Originally Posted by olustee bus

Stop by Ocean Pond Campground in Olustee Fl. East of lake city. Nice little place. Visit the Olustee Battlefield museum. Train station if it is open. That pretty much does it!

Great place to paddle if you have something.

The campground is nice except there are lots of snakes down here. especially around the water. . We are always taking them out of the chicken pen where they eat the eggs.

But it is still paradise. And paradise don't come cheap.

Below is Olustee Civil War Battle.

https://youtu.be/_JeZnSsXkHM

[Badlands Bob]

There are several nice State and Federal campgrounds between Panama City Beach and Pensacola, Fl. St. Andrews, Topsail, Fort Pickens are three we stayed at recently. Weather is a little cooler than South Florida but a lot warmer than at the house. Great seafood restaurants and things to do in the area too.

[mrgrayaz]

Thanks all for the Advise -

We full time and don't know where we will be next week, never mind in 11 months - so that is really what is killing me.

We're currently in the St Andrews State Park and its glorious. We'll be here for two weeks.
Then we found a reservation at the Lake Okeechobee for the following.

We FINALLY found a spot in the keys - for 3 nights - $120/night at the KOA on SugarLoad Key of all places. We've avoided KOAs so far as they are typically quite expensive compared to our normal parks.

I plan is to stay at the Jetty Park at Cape Canaveral - so its not that bad. We're figuring it out.

Thanks for the tips on LaBelle and the others.

Myrtle Beach is on our list as we head north with the warm weather - probably late April or May.

[hoosierrun]

Originally Posted by momdoc

It is not as bleak as you make it out. We just got done spending 6 weeks in Florida and stayed at state parks, which are come of the best in the country. We only had advanced reservations (4 months out) at three of the parks. The other 6 or so parks we stayed at, including a beach front one at FT. Clinch (Amelia island) we made a reservation the day of or day before. The trick to Florida parks is to arrive early in the morning (before 11 am) and ask if they have a "walk in site" available. The hold 10% of the sites back (not on reserve America) for walk ins and for those already there who want to extend their visit. We ended up with some amazing sites and some ok sites but we never were unhappy with them.
You should also check reserve America daily as spots constantly open up and we got a few that way a day or two before arriving.
It is well worth the effort. In the keys however we could not get a spot at any of the parks (New Year's weekend) and ended up spending $75 for a "RV resort" that was dump.
There is also the benefit of being a Florida resident and over 65. You then get a 50% discount. So some of our outstanding sites were $14-16 a night.


momdoc

Actually, the over 65 Florida resident discount was recently modified and not quite as good a deal as previous. Instead of 50% off, it is now $10 off the posted rate. A $30 campsite is now $20. That is still not bad, but when rates go to $50 a night, it will be $40 which puts it out of the budget for many seniors of fixed income.

[momdoc]

When did that change, We were just there (state park) 2 weeks ago and had the 50% discount


momdoc

[hoosierrun]

Originally Posted by momdoc

When did that change, We were just there (state park) 2 weeks ago and had the 50% discount


momdoc

The State Parks have been gradually changing over to the Florida senior $10 discount from the 50%. The change started last year. I'm guessing that not all State Parks have changed over. Which park did you stay in?

EDIT: I just did a search and the page I found still says 50%. I hope the fee change got repealed. Stand by and I'll try to find out more info. BTW, I got dinged for the $10 discount only when I camped at Silver Lake a few weeks ago. However, that is State Forest, not State Park. Maybe I'm wrong about State Parks which would make me happy.

[parkerbill]

We are Florida residents over 65 and have not heard anything about the 50% discount going away, but we haven't stayed at any FL SPs this year yet.

[Mich F]

At the keys state parks you don't get a full 50% discount as a FL senior. The per night camping fee is $38.50, plus a daily tax of $2.25 and if you reserve a site online, a $6.70 fee per reservation (that was added in the last year and 1/2 or so). The FL senior discount is $18 per night.
For all those who hate camping in Florida, please spread the word of how bad it is, so those of us who live here can get a site.

[hoosierrun]

OK, I appears that I am wrong on the senior rates for State Parks in Florida. If you are a Florida resident, age 65 or over, you get a 50% discount for camping at State Parks.

If you are camping in a Florida State Forest at a campground that has water and electric hookups, the rate changed on April 16, 2016. If you are a Florida senior over 65, 100% disabled, HD Veteran, you are entitled to a $10 discount from the published rate of $25 per night. Actually it says specifically, $15.

The rate fees can be found here: http://www.freshfromflorida.com/cont..._4-14-2016.pdf

I apologize for the confusion and I'm glad I just learned something today. .

We often use some of the Forest land camping areas on the west coast of FL and I didn't realize that rates varied between forest lands and State Park lands. For my first 1-1/2 years after turning 65, I always got a 50% discount at those campsites and was disappointed to see the rate go up.

EDIT: one quick notation on the State Forest camping senior discount.... it appears that for State Forests only, they have removed the requirement that you be a Florida only senior. I noticed the Florida designation was removed when I was at Silver Lake a few weeks ago.

[WendyG]

Originally Posted by Mich F

At the keys state parks you don't get a full 50% discount as a FL senior. The per night camping fee is $38.50, with a daily tax of $2.25 and if you reserve a site online, a $6.70 fee per reservation (that was added in the last year and 1/2 or so). The FL senior discount is $18 per night.
For all those who hate camping in Florida, please spread the word of how bad it is, so those of us who live here can get a site.

I believe the state is discounting its share of the fee ($36) by 50%. Monroe county charges $2.50 per night (that's where $38.50 full price comes from), then there is tax, and the reserve America fees. The county and other fees are disclosed on reserve America; you really cannot expect the state to pick up half your county based fee.

Frankly still a wicked bargain for the Keys. They'd fill at current full price or even substantially higher.

[Pigman1]

Originally Posted by twogypsies

We tried Florida 3x with a few year intervals and each time we left after a few weeks. We couldn't stand the prices, crowds, traffic, humidity and bugs. We love the west!

Absolutely. We only did it once and it was late spring when we were there and it still was ridiculous, with people and costs. Give me a BLM piece of land out west anytime.

[hoosierrun]

I just tried this on Reserve America and it worked with the Florida senior 50% discount excluding the reservation fee and taxes. We are staying at Hillsborough River State Park on January 12, 2018 for 2 nights. We got the last RV/Trailer site available on those dates. Cost us $33.58. Water and electric only, but just across the way from the bath house. We have friends staying in a nearby site so this will work out. I can't believe how fast they fill up and this is just near Tampa. I can't imagine what it is like at the popular sites.

[Mich F]

Originally Posted by WendyG

I believe the state is discounting its share of the fee ($36) by 50%. Monroe county charges $2.50 per night (that's where $38.50 full price comes from), then there is tax, and the reserve America fees. The county and other fees are disclosed on reserve America; you really cannot expect the state to pick up half your county based fee.

Frankly still a wicked bargain for the Keys. They'd fill at current full price or even substantially higher.

Thanks, I didn't realize the $2.50 a night was the Monroe County charge. Looking at the FL state park website, it appears that Monroe County is the only county in FL that does that. On a reservation detail print out from Reserve America it just shows $38.50 camping fee per night (without a breakdown) Here is a copy of a fee printout for a 4 night stay I have for the end of this month at John Pennekamp. This will be my 101st time staying there.

• Camping Fee:$154.00
• Discounts:$(72.00)
  FL Senior Resident$(72.00)
• Reservation Fee:$6.70
• Taxes:$9.00
• Total:$97.70

[dexters]

Originally Posted by mrgrayaz

We've just come from Texas and have been enjoying the HarvestHosts (free), boondocking, and cheap camping in Fredericksburg and Corpus Christie/Padre Island. I'm pretty sure the County park at Padre would have let us stay as long as we wanted, it was at like 20% capacity.

Likewise - cheap state park camping in New Orleans $21/n, no big deal to get in at the last minute, LOADS of open spots.

Then we come to Florida.....

The prices are insane! if you can get a spot!
I wanted to go stay in the Florida Keys, cost be damned, for a long weekend with friends late this month. I've never been and might as well do it right. Looking like $150-190 a NIGHT. OK maybe cost does matter.....

Looks like there are some smaller state parks, but all booked out until this summer. How do you do it!? Any advise? I really just want to park on the beach and watch the sunset after work every day... Should I just skip Florida altogether and keep heading up to Georgia?

Look at the west side of Florida - Cedar Key area.