Florida Keys March 2013

Hello,

I am planning a 3 week trip to Florida March 2013. One of my bucket list items is to drive and camp along the Florida Keys.

What campgrounds are recommended?

Also, has anyone visited the Dry Tortugaes, 70 miles west of Key West?

Thanks for your recommendations.

Jean

 

Jean, try Bahia Honda State Park in the Lower Keys. I haven't been there in a long time but I bet it still a beautiful spot. Fort DeSoto state park is a good spot in the St. Pete area. Close to the Tampa attractions. For the Naples area, try to find something around Marco Island. Goodlands, FL might offer some real funky camping. Everglades City is an interesting spot to get a feel for old Florida. If you're a baseball fan, check for camping near any of the spring training sites. If you get to Orlando, Ft. Wilderness is a great but pricey camp ground in Disney. Of course you're always welcome to stop by The Villages and camp in our spare bedroom! Uff will have to stay in the driveway.
Mike

 

My parents live near Hawthorne, so Uff Da Inn will spend a few days there before and after visiting Keys.

Checked the Keys state parks, wow, they are booked up mostly, except for a few stray dates. Private camp grounds are pricey!
Tent site starting at $45. Full hook ups, outragous.

I have been to Disney enough times, not going near there. Can't stand baseball, not going near any of that.

Appears I will have to plan activities based upon Keys state park availability.

As much as I would like to visit fellow Florida Camp Inn owners, there just isn't going to be enough time.

 

Hi Jean,

There are a few campgrounds we can recommend:
East Coast (North to south):

Anastasia state parkhttp://www.floridastateparks.org/anastasia/default.cfm is nice it’s on the ocean campground was clean most campsites had plenty of room. Also near St Augustine lots of tourist trap places along with the historical sites.

Jetty Park Cape Canaveral port authority campground.http://www.jettyparkbeachandcampground.com/camp_index
We will be staying there with Mike and Carol to watch a couple of rocket launches in December. This is on the ocean and one of the closest places you can get to see a launch. Kennedy Space Center is a cool place to go as well.


Jonathan Dickenson Statehttp://www.floridastateparks.org/jonathandickinson/default.cfm park is a great way point on the way to the keys. There are 2 camping loops the one by the river were smaller with older but clean faculties the newer loop near the entrance was brand new, spacious sites , but no shade ….. this area was wiped slick by one of the hurricanes and a fire as well so everything is new.


West Coast: (South to North)

Collier- Seminole State Park http://www.floridastateparks.org/collierseminole/default.cfm the closest SP to the everglades. The park was ok it was a little buggy but you’re in the everglades sooooo the bugs live here year round. Some of the sites were on the small side so I would look at the campground map the picture on the reservation site when you choose. We would go again.

Highlands Hammock http://www.floridastateparks.org/highlandshammock/default.cfm near Sebring nice park, good facilities it was very full the nights but didn’t feel that way. We stayed to meet some folks on our way to the keys.

Rock Crusher Canyon
http://www.rockcrushercanyon.com this is a private campground near the crystal river the sites were more like a SP lots of room and vegetation between site. Facilities are good. We used our passport America (PA) card here to get a good rate. The pool and hot tub were good as well. We visited a few of the springs in the area and if you are there in the winter the manatee hangout in the springs. We will return here. Sometimes it’s nice to have a pool and hot tub. We were there in off season (December) so it was not crowded.

Yellow Jacket Rv Resort http://www.yellowjacketrvresort.com near old town another private campground on the Suwannee River used PA as well. Lots of boating and fishing here. Nice hot tub and pool we stayed a few nights here in September on our way back from the FL Panhandle . This one is 8 miles from civilization. Nice sites. We will probably go back again but not in September... too hot

Grayton Beach State Park http://www.floridastateparks.org/graytonbeach/default.cfm We loved this place right on the gulf lots of things to see and do in the area. The some sites can be small but there is lots of vegetation between most site so it’s private and quite. They are renovating the bath rooms so they should be good. This one and Anastasia are our two favorites so far.

Based on our experience most SP in Florida should be
fine.

The one exception was Lake Griffin State park http://www.floridastateparks.org/lakegriffin/default.cfm many of the sites were small, the mosquitoes were ferocious and we had a small stream flowing through our campsite when it rained. We stayed here when we visited with Mike and Carol. Don’t know if was bad timing but we have no plans to return to this park.

The issue at the state parks will be availability if you are planning to go in March I would start looking at the parks and making my reservations now especially for the weekend nights. Look at the campground map and pictures on the reservation site and you can pick out the sites on the small side.

There are a few SP’s and Private Campgrounds we have used as overnights on our way to and from Fl if your interested.



Benn

 

Wow, Benn, great list. I think I'll use it myself this winter. Actually Rock Crusher is on the top of my list to take the Crab Pot in a couple of weeks for more shake down stuff. It's only a few miles away and I always wanted to go there when we were motor homing but never got the chance. I know Lake Griffen is much closer to me but I think I've seen all I want to see of that park!!
See you at Jetty Park for the launches.
Mike

 

If you go to Rock Crusher Homosassa Springs is a nice stake park w/ a wild life park and short boat ride. The state took it over from the commercial operator. This would be a place to go if you are taking younger grand kids.







Pictures of our site 221, this was typical of the ones in the park. We asked for one near the head. When we go next time I will try getting one on the other side of the road or up a couple of spaces due to lights on the bathhouse. Not a big deal.

 

They all sound and look good. I'll have to talk to Jim about a trip south very soon.

Camp On,

Sue