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Old 05-08-2020, 07:29 PM   #57
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My wife and I are looking to get out of the cold weather for the first time. We would like to stay below the freeze line to at least Tampa or south during January, February and/or March. I am more familiar with the Gulf coast.

Can anyone suggest a relatively descent campground? Not too expensive as this is our first our first winter out.

We have a 30 foot class A.

We don't have to be right on the beach but would like for one to be drivable. A clean and friendly campground is what we are looking for.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Phil
Sun & Fun in Sarasota is a really nice campground. You might need reservations for a winter's stay. Naples has some nice places, but I don't imagine they are "affordable". Sarasota is a great town with much to offer and worth exploring. Good Luck!
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Old 05-08-2020, 10:24 PM   #58
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As many have said the further south the warmer it is. Orlando is considered the frost line. I can't tell you were to stay but I suggest the East coast. West coast has become over crowded.


Wondered about that, thx. I spent the winter in North Fort Myers, and toward March I visited the other newer Encore parks in Port Charlotte (spring training baseball) and nice parks, and Labelle, including the Army Corp of Engineers campgrounds, they were small but nice and full. Reservation.gov
The one had volunteers on one side of the river, before Grandmas, and public on the other side, and boats can pull up and dock/camp also.
North Fort Myers was busier after New Years, and my park had a lot of repeat customers, and was completely full.
Newer bigger parks were more expensive, and had concrete pads, instead of grass/sand or gravel. All were nicely maintained, but I started last year in a park mom had a trailer there permanent a lot of years, and next year I might go west. But traveling around was impossible,
Some young campers told me they were going to more primitive boondocks camping two week max, then leave and then go back.
All kinds of places, I had scads of Canadians if you want to practice your French!
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Old 05-09-2020, 10:17 AM   #59
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Check out Saddlebag Lake Resort in Lake Wales FL. - about 75 miles East, SE of Tampa. Great over 55 retirement resort with both park models & RV lots for rent by owners on a lake with great Crappie fishing nearby. This a deeded community with owners renting lots on a seasonal & monthly basis. Monthly rents in the winter months are in the $675-$800/month depending on the term-range which includes utilities. You get inland 60-80 miles, prices are 25% lower and traffic congestion is 50-75% less as long as you stay away from I-4 & Orlando/Kissimmee area.


Happy Trails-
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Old 05-09-2020, 10:12 PM   #60
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Originally Posted by aa9zz View Post
My wife and I are looking to get out of the cold weather for the first time. We would like to stay below the freeze line to at least Tampa or south during January, February and/or March. I am more familiar with the Gulf coast.

Can anyone suggest a relatively descent campground? Not too expensive as this is our first our first winter out.

We have a 30 foot class A.

We don't have to be right on the beach but would like for one to be drivable. A clean and friendly campground is what we are looking for.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Phil
Why not try South Texas rather than FL? If you look at the latitude of southern TX, you are almost the same distance from IN.
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Old 05-10-2020, 05:15 AM   #61
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Jensen Beach has a couple of campgrounds that could work. Sorry I don't know the names but one is a sun community which is probably expensive but there are 2 small ones. You are 1mile from the ocean. Port Saint Lucie has a nice one. It is 4 or 5 miles from the beaches and walking distance fro all the shopping you will ever need.
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Old 05-10-2020, 08:10 AM   #62
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Red face nice campground

We have been staying at paradise oaks in Bushnell. Place has 499 camp sights and lots of amenities. They prefer 6 month stays but will accommodate shorter ones for additional cost. Been there the late 3 years and going back in November for 5 months. Have to call for prices, but definitely affordable. campground is appx 50 miles from the gulf but you have to watch out for the noseeums, they are ten times worst than mosquitos.
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Old 05-10-2020, 09:36 AM   #63
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Jensen Beach has a couple of campgrounds that could work. Sorry I don't know the names but one is a sun community which is probably expensive but there are 2 small ones. You are 1mile from the ocean. Port Saint Lucie has a nice one. It is 4 or 5 miles from the beaches and walking distance fro all the shopping you will ever need.
The nice one in Jensen Beach is actually in Ocean Breeze (an enclave of Jensen Beach) and is called Ocean Breeze Resort. We are staying there for 7 months beginning in October. I didn't recommend that one to him because they are only staying for three months and OBR requires a minimum 6-month stay.

The two in PSL are both decent looking parks (clean and very basic for amenities) and we would definitely have considered staying at either one but neither one called us to let us know a place had opened up. Both had pretty good-sized waiting lists. A couple thousand cheaper for the 6-month prices but that doesn't matter much if there are no spots available. One is called "Port St Lucie RV Resort" and the other is "PSL Village".
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Old 05-10-2020, 06:03 PM   #64
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There is some info that seems inaccurate: lived in SW FL for 36 years, currently Ft. Myers Beach-originally from Indiana

1. There are beaches in every community from Clearwater to Marco Island
2. Red Tide is a natural occurring thing which is most prevalent in hot summer months
3. The west cost has a more Midwest feel, still has many small to medium communities, as do some on east coast north of Palm Beach
4. Weather we get northern cold fronts that normally last only a few days. Tampa South seldom get frost.

Crowds are always an issue on coastal communities when our northern visitors arrive. My community has 6K permanent residents that become 4 times that during "season"
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Old 05-11-2020, 08:36 PM   #65
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Great information here. Thanks a lot.

I have always traveled to the Florida panhandle through Alabama and have found Alabama rest stops to be very RV friendly and many overnight campgrounds along I-65.

What About Georgia? Are rest stops RV friendly and are there interstate campgrounds available with easy access off I-75?

I think it will take three days to get to mid Florida and arrive at a convenient check in time.

I don't see well to drive at night. I have no day issues, just night.

Anything I should stop to see along the drive? I consider driving days part of the vacation time and don't like to rush but enjoy the trip as much as the stop.

Phil
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Old 05-11-2020, 09:00 PM   #66
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Great information here. Thanks a lot.

I have always traveled to the Florida panhandle through Alabama and have found Alabama rest stops to be very RV friendly and many overnight campgrounds along I-65.

What About Georgia? Are rest stops RV friendly and are there interstate campgrounds available with easy access off I-75?

I think it will take three days to get to mid Florida and arrive at a convenient check in time.

I don't see well to drive at night. I have no day issues, just night.

Anything I should stop to see along the drive? I consider driving days part of the vacation time and don't like to rush but enjoy the trip as much as the stop.

Phil
Coming from Southern Indiana as you are, you're stopping points are going to be a bit different than mine, coming from Southern Michigan. That said, the rest areas we have encountered have no problems handling big RV's, but do your homework well in advance. Scope out what they look like on Google Maps. The newest ones, especially in Florida, are FABULOUS, as they have THREE sections: one for cars, one for trucks, and one for RV's! Much nicer than having to park amongst the big rigs. Also, check out potential fueling issues if you have a long-ish rig with a toad. Knowing where you will stop for fuel beforehand is a huge deal for some, myself included.

The drive on I-75 south of Macon all the way to Gainesville is my favorite part of our 1300 miles. It is mostly flat, wide (6 to 10 lanes), and heavily patrolled, so you don't see the usual gang of idiot drivers. It's not too bad south of Gainesville, but a lot more congested, especially as you get close to Tampa.

Have you contacted any parks yet to see about your chances?
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Old 05-12-2020, 05:55 AM   #67
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We have been staying at paradise oaks in Bushnell. Place has 499 camp sights and lots of amenities. They prefer 6 month stays but will accommodate shorter ones for additional cost. Been there the late 3 years and going back in November for 5 months. Have to call for prices, but definitely affordable. campground is appx 50 miles from the gulf but you have to watch out for the noseeums, they are ten times worst than mosquitos.
I have to correct what I mentioned above about the noseeums, We stayed in crystal river one year and the noseeums were bad toward the evening so we stayed in Bushnell and were not bothered.
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Old 05-12-2020, 10:21 AM   #68
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Gorgeous RV park on east coast FL

Hi Phil,
If you want to try a great area on Florida's east coast, give Outdoor Resorts Melbourne Beach a look.
Located on a barrier island, private beach on Atlantic Ocean, Indian River frontage with long fishing dock, boat ramp to river, 3 pools, 2 tennis courts, gym, hot tub, shuffleboard, post office, 2 recreation buildings, many planned activities.
Price varies depending on whether you choose river front lot or interior lot, also higher during winter.
Price very reasonable compared to Tampa area.
Many excellent restaurants, clean comfortable movie theaters, outstanding surf fishing, 1 hour from Orlando attractions, and you will see a number of space launches up close.
All lots are privately owned but Outdoor Resorts rental office books rentals for the lots.

Debbie
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Old 05-12-2020, 11:00 AM   #69
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Its not just 14 day limits at Fl. State Parks.

After 28 days you need to be out of all state parks for one day. There is also a max # of days you can stay. I think its 56 days.
Never heard of those limit(s) and never been forced to comply with same.
Whats the reference ? We don't stay in same park back to back. Only two week stays at each a park.
Been snow birdin in FL for past 19 winters.
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Old 05-12-2020, 11:57 AM   #70
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Never heard of those limit(s) and never been forced to comply with same.
Whats the reference ? We don't stay in same park back to back. Only two week stays at each a park.
Been snow birdin in FL for past 19 winters.
I had seen this before when investigating just staying for a week last year. This is from the floridastateparks.org website:

Length of stay limits are established to protect the quality of the visitor's camping experience. Limitations on camping nights and site capacities seek to achieve this protection while providing adequate camping opportunities to park visitors.

During periods of high demand, the maximum length of a camping or cabin stay is 14 nights. After 14 nights, the camper must leave the park for at least three nights before returning for a new stay.

Based on availability and once the camper is registered and on-site, the Park Manager or designee, at their discretion, may extend a camper’s current stay up to an additional 14 nights. Maximum continuous length of stay in any one park is 28 nights.

Campers are permitted up to 56 nights total occupancy in any one park in each six month period, defined as October 1st - March 31st and April 1st - September 30th.

Changing the registered name of a group or individual, or if the same individuals or the same persons in a family group or camping rig make multiple advanced reservations, through any means, including the use of multiple user profiles, to circumvent the 14-night maximum or 56 nights total length of stay limit is prohibited. If a reservation or series of reservations is determined to be out of compliance with the maximum length of stay policy, then the camper will be contacted and directed to determine which reservations will be canceled to bring the camper into compliance. Refunds will be applied to any advance reservations, as necessary, to bring the total nights within the allowable limit. Cancellation fees will be applied for any advance reservation canceled for this reason.


Sounds like you might have gotten away with it or it hasn't been that crowded that they actually cared. (?)
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