Community Forums

8Birds · 04-14-2019, 08:51 AM

Ahoy Fulltimers. 8Birds here.

Want to get a jump on finding a place to scout for next winter as we return to the Smokeys from Tampa.

Looking for a place to perch in a good, friendly, RV park in central-to-northeast Florida. Here’s our wish list —

• No full-time residents (non-traditional RV’ers) who are there for strictly economic reasons.
• No, or precious little, manufactured housing.
• 50 amp, all utilities, WiFi & cable.
• Big rig friendly with easy access to & in park.
• Hard (or well-compacted) level road & site surfaces.
• Adequate maneuvering for a 45’ coach.
• Landscaping between sites, but not in woods that block satellite reception.
• Not situated on an Interstate or noisy arterial highway.
• Priced appropriately for the quality of the park, discounts for seasonal use (Nov-May).

Not interested in premium 5-star parks with perks up the rump. Prefer smaller, family-owned & operated parks where quality of life is king.

I’m a working landscape painter with two Congo African grey parrots and a Havanese guard dog. Don’t care a scrap about a pool, etc., but do care about getting mobile coach service, good local shopping (like the Fresh Market). A decent on-site (on nearby) restaurant would be a huge plus.

Think that this criteria ought to be shared by quite a few FT’rs. We’d greatly appreciate your thoughts and recommendation.

One more thing: Anyone know a better site than Good Sam's for trip planning[/U]?

Thanks folks.

Smooth roads and light winds to all.

Ray,IN · 04-14-2019, 11:33 AM

As you know the GS trip planner is missing, to be replaced with another program in late 2019/early 2020.
Check out https://trips.furkot.com/ I haven't played with it enough to even learn how the software works. It say hotels, but when you click on "begin a trip" it offers the option of traveling by car.
Personally I have been using the Trucker Path app on the cell phone. It does not have the RV stuff like the GS trip planner, but IMO the height, weight, fuel stops, road information is more useful.

As to such an RV park in Florida, bullet #1 is the stumbling block. RV parks need to have sites filled/income during their off-season, full-time residents are the solution.
Property values are so high in Florida, RV park owners cannot afford to pass up any reasonable revenue stream.

8Birds · 04-15-2019, 05:52 AM

Thanks Ray. Called GS and they said their new trip planner would be up in 24-48 hrs. Hope you're wrong about your dates, but I'm never surprised at what GS says or does.

As to the campgrounds, went to top park in Paso Robles, CA last year ($$$$/mo) ... loaded with worker bees. They are lousy neighbors and not RVers.

Sue46 · 04-15-2019, 06:41 AM

We use RVtrirwizard and though not free, like it a lot.

I wouldn't trust GS either. If what they told you was true they would be broadcasting it from the rooftops.