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Old 10-22-2007, 10:03 AM   #1
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Florida Everglades

Does anyone have any experience camping in the Everglades? The park does not offer hook-ups, so I am looking at the surrounding towns. Because the park is so large, I can't really get a grip on which side is the best to stay on.
Thank you.
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Old 10-22-2007, 10:10 AM   #2
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I would go with the west side. Less crowded and nicer area.
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Old 10-22-2007, 10:26 AM   #3
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Hi Paul,
It's been a while. Maybe overlander63 will chime in on your question. Terry knows the area, and gave me some excellent direction when I was in southern Florida a couple of years back.
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Old 10-22-2007, 12:42 PM   #4
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There are several campgrounds in and around Everglades City and Chokoloskee, also some BLM areas where they dug borrow pits for road meterials. US 41 is now considered a scenic highway, and there are several BLM areas on and near it.
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Old 10-22-2007, 01:19 PM   #5
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Paul -

Page and I stayed at the Miami-Everglades campground near Homestead and day-tripped into the Everglades (and down to Key Largo as well). If it were me, I would camp in the no-hookups in the park for a few days - and then go out to a hookups park to recharge, refill, laundry, etc.

Have a great time!

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Old 10-22-2007, 01:46 PM   #6
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Thanks, Pat. I was thinking about that but would prefer to stay put. Also, I am always optimistic about being able to live without electicity and inevitably regret it! I see the park campgrounds in Flamingo are closed because of past hurricane damage.

Terry, I found plenty of campgrounds on the Everglades City side. Do you have any first hand experience with any of them over that way? I am looking at CHOKOLOSKEE ISLAND PARK & MARINA. It seems to be in a beautiful area.

Thanks everyone!
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Old 10-22-2007, 01:48 PM   #7
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Southern Florida camping

Living here, hopefully I can be of some assistance. Everglades camping is definitly remote from the rest of the world. The Keys are futher south with many sites (might add pricey compared to the rest of the world). Chosculuski (? sp) is to the west and does have some quality sites. As for going in and out of the EG park, you are talking about many miles. Camping on the west coast of south FL, there are more places to camp then the east side. Most central and east camping is north of the Palm Beach area with many private, county and state parks. Enjoy Florida, the best season is now through May!
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Old 10-22-2007, 01:54 PM   #8
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Thanks raveson! I plan on coming down in March. I hear the Everglades are unbearable after April, which is when the wet season begins, because of all the insects.
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Old 10-22-2007, 02:39 PM   #9
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Paul, there are two main RV sites in Everglades Park one just inside the gate that is in the pines and is only about 10 miles from Florida City. The other is at Flamingo at the end of the road on the West side. More open space with boat launch and facilities. Neither have hook-ups. Also look at Collier-Seminole Park. It has hook-ups and is on the West side of the glades near Marco Island. It's also very nice. There are some bare essential sites in between on the Tamiami trail. December to April are the bearable months when the days are cool and the bugs are bearable.
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Old 10-22-2007, 04:36 PM   #10
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i'll be here from dec. until the end of march. it might be a bit out of the way but i'm told the rates are cheaper as it is a county park. by march it starts to open up. you might want to check availability now.
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Old 10-22-2007, 04:51 PM   #11
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Paul,

I am in the Marco Island/Naples area for the entire winter. Collier-Seminole is a nice cheap place to stay, but has a 2 week limit. Old style camp grouns with fires allowed (they even sell fire wood) with grassy, full hok-up sites.

There are lots of other 'improved' parks like the KOA in Naples, Silver Lakes RV Resort and Paradise Point RV Resort.....both in Naples ans the Outdoor Resorts on Chockaloskie Island just below Everglades City. There are also several state run camp grounds right along US 41 right within the Everglades.

Let me know if you need any help in finding them.
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Old 10-22-2007, 08:29 PM   #12
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Everglades NP

If anyone goes to Everglades NP, look us up. We are working as volunteers in the Park this winter, from Nov 19 to end of Mar. Cyndi will be working in the Coe Visitor Center and I will be roving and giving tours in the Pine Island area. This is our first time volunteering, looking forward to the experience. We'll be staying in the volunteer housing area with full hookups. Will be looking for Airstreamers during our time there so if anyone visits and stays in the park we'll probably stop by and say hi. If anyone is just visiting the park, drop a line and come see us, we'd love to sit and chat a while.
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Old 11-11-2008, 12:37 PM   #13
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This is the only thread my search brought up on the Everglades. Helpful but I need a little more info. We will be returning from Bahia Honda SP in Key West on Wednesday December 3 and want to take Hwy 41 through the Everglades. Can anyone give me a little input on driving time from Key West to Homestead? Trying to decide if we should plan on driving from Key West to Everglades City or maybe hold up in Homestead Wednesday evening and allow a full day (Thursday) to enjoy the swamp.

All comments appreciated.
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Old 11-11-2008, 03:08 PM   #14
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This is the only thread my search brought up on the Everglades. Helpful but I need a little more info. We will be returning from Bahia Honda SP in Key West on Wednesday December 3 and want to take Hwy 41 through the Everglades. Can anyone give me a little input on driving time from Key West to Homestead? Trying to decide if we should plan on driving from Key West to Everglades City or maybe hold up in Homestead Wednesday evening and allow a full day (Thursday) to enjoy the swamp.

All comments appreciated.
Roadtoaster,
We drove from Key West with numerous stops on the way to Homestead.
Spent the night at Homestead Wal MART to resupply then proceeded to Collier Seminole SP to explore the glades.Very doable.
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Old 11-11-2008, 04:47 PM   #15
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Roadtoaster,
We drove from Key West with numerous stops on the way to Homestead.
Spent the night at Homestead Wal MART to resupply then proceeded to Collier Seminole SP to explore the glades.Very doable.

Sounds good. Collier Seminole is on the list of possibles.

Thanks
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Old 11-11-2008, 10:36 PM   #16
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An interesting "swamp" experience can be found along the Tamiami Trail (41) at Shark Valley. It's a paved bike trail loop that extends 7.5 miles into the Everglades to an observation tower. Bike rentals are available or there is a guided tram that you can ride. Gators slide up along side the trail to sun bathe and you can see them up real close. Lotsa birds.

Collier-Seminole is a nice park. Also check out Koreshan State Park in Naples. It was the home to a turn of the century cult that believed we lived inside the earth which was hollow. Interesting buildings and history plus canoe rentals and camp sites.
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Old 11-12-2008, 06:22 AM   #17
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It's great area but I thought Everglades city was a big waste of time.
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Old 11-12-2008, 06:37 AM   #18
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FL Keys

Have driven Bahia Honda to Homestead many times. Should take you about two hours with the exception of a Sunday afternoon. Homestead to everglades city is about the same, maybe a little less time. This is the time to enjoy the Keys and the everglades without the bugs! Enjoy!
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Old 11-12-2008, 10:46 AM   #19
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Can anyone give me a little input on driving time from Key West to Homestead? Trying to decide if we should plan on driving from Key West to Everglades City or maybe hold up in Homestead Wednesday evening and allow a full day (Thursday) to enjoy the swamp.
We do this trip each winter. I now go straight to Collier-Seminole from the Keys. We once stayed overnight at the Homestead City campground, an experience we will not repeat.
Nick.
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Old 11-12-2008, 01:00 PM   #20
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We do this trip each winter. I now go straight to Collier-Seminole from the Keys. We once stayed overnight at the Homestead City campground, an experience we will not repeat.
Nick.
I agree,we felt 100% safer in the Wal Mart lot than we would have felt in the Homestead city campground.
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