Community Forums

mrgrayaz · 02-01-2017, 08:27 AM

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?

Cooperhawk · 02-01-2017, 08:36 AM

We did Florida last year and were glad to get the heck out of there. We did find a campground on Lake Okeechobee which had lots of open sites right on the water, but they were a long way from anything. We left early. We found a site right in Ft. Lauderdale but that was a fluke and not a good place to stay. Finally went up to St. Augustine and spent a week there a had a great time. Otherwise the traffic was horrible and everything crowded.

Up the coast we stayed at Apache Campground in Myrtle Beach and that was really nice. Also stayed out on Topche Island east of Savannah and that was great also.

Not going back. This year will be Texas and Arizona.

Floridakamper · 02-01-2017, 08:57 AM

Try the "Red Coconut" on the Gulf of Mexico in Fort Myers beach . They have beach front camping and it's expensive but cheaper than Key West. Not sure about availability.

PanJH · 02-01-2017, 02:12 PM

Ya know , Florida would be a good place to camp in the winter if it wasn't for all them snowbirds that take up all the decent available spots from November till about June. Now, for the Keys, it's packed and expensive all year long. We still go down for a couple months , in the winter and in the spring. But we plan ahead and make reservations a year in advance.

twinboat · 02-01-2017, 02:25 PM

Check out some county campgrounds in FL.

We stayed at 2 in Melbourne, Brevard county, on the way down and then up from snowbirding in the Keys.

One was right near the ocean, called Jetty Park.

CWJK55 · 02-01-2017, 02:33 PM

We're from Illinois so Texas and Florida are about the same distance. To fly in and out for a week I'd choose Florida. To spend a few months camping nothing beats Texas.

twogypsies · 02-01-2017, 02:39 PM

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!

mrfuni · 02-01-2017, 03:00 PM

Yea, I know, I live here. This time of the year when the weather is nice it's hard to enjoy my own back yard.

The Keys are impossible. Book now for next season.

Ft. Wilderness at Disney is nice if you can get a spot. I just reserved Ft. De Soto state park in St. Pete for 3 nights in April and it's right on the water. Good reviews also. Also check out Myakka River State Park just east of Sarasota. On the river, lots of wildlife, and also with good reviews.

When the snow birds take over we hunker down. Stay off the roads, only go to a restaurant where we can make a reservation, and use the back roads.

Good luck in your search.

WendyG · 02-01-2017, 03:49 PM

Oh, yes, Florida s very popular. So many people want to be here, the law of supply and demand yields high prices. One might look at the high prices and wonder if they are too high, but no, people are willing to pay those high prices, and parks are pretty full. Many of those you see in those crowded parks booked many months in advance to get the spot they wanted. So while I understand your desire, expecting to find a spot on the beach at the last minute is a longshot; expecting all that at a low price is just unrealistic...sorry, way too many people knew they wanted that spot months ago. One might get lucky and pick up a cancellation, it odds are it will not be a bargain. If you want a spot on the beach right now, if you can stand cooler temps, you might want to head north.

State parks are a good deal, though only a few are on the beach. Book them 11 months in advance if possible, so it is now time to think of next year. I am.

momdoc · 02-01-2017, 04:27 PM

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

wa8yxm · 02-01-2017, 04:28 PM

If you plan on staying long do two things
1: PM me so I can give you my Membership number (I do get credit)
2: Check out a THOUSAND TRAILS campground... Now A bit about TT

The company is not long on cash or so they tell the parks, thus the parks are a bit well. the polite word would be "Faded" from their original Glory. (Run down is another term but many are still nice) I usually winter in SC at a TT park.

They have a ZONE PASS and just now it's on sale,, you get the proper zone you can stay for 2 weeks out of 3 at any of their parks "in the zone" Pass is around 500 bucks give or take a bit.

You do have to move every week or two... but the first 30 night are 100% "Free" for 30 amps (in quotes cause you do have to by the pass) and it's just a small fee per night after that, still 2 in one out. 10 nights at 50/night (low for a Florida KOA) or 5 at 100/night (more in line) and the zone pass is paid for.....

Unlike my National membership. If you decide not to do it next year. Send them a "no thank you" letter.. You do have to opt out, opt out is not automatic.

smlranger · 02-04-2017, 09:57 AM

Just our take on our first winter visit to Florida. We started last summer trying to make a reservation for a month or so on the FL West coast. Finally got in a fairly new RV park in Bradenton called Timberlane RV Resort. Price was not too bad and the place has some positives but certainly no 'resort.'

It takes 40 minutes or more fighting traffic to get to the Gulf. The beaches are not crowded but the traffic congestion to get anywhere is something. We are chalking it up to experience but we are leaving tomorrow for Myrtle Beach. It won't be as warm but it won't be congested and we can have a site facing the ocean.

This is only our second post retirement winter getaway. Last winter we drove all the way to Tucson, seeing things along the way. That was fun but it is a long way from Virginia!

We are going to try the Texas Gulf coast next January then spend some time in Hill Country.

The Logans · 02-04-2017, 10:08 AM

We always stay at John Prince County park, secure, on a lake, and VERY affordable!

Parks & Recreation John Prince Park Campground

THenman · 02-04-2017, 10:17 AM

Just finishing our first winter trip south. We had trouble finding a spot for 4-5 weeks so moved our trip up to when we could get a spot. Stayed at a nice very large park in Sarasota. About the only thing missing is the ocean as it is about 30 min. to a beach. Price was a bit over 2k for 4 weeks full hookup 50 amp, crushed shell, back in.
Traffic is nuts at times. Plus I can not for the life of me figure out how parking lots can be so full but stores/restaurants are not. Anyhow the weather has been great and that was the biggest reason we came to Florida, we just have to put up with the drawbacks.

Tom