Florida Keys Campsite Recommendation Sought

[TedandPam]

I am looking for suggestions for a nice campsite in the Florida Keys for next winter from Dec. 1st for 4 months. I have a 30 Classic Airstream. We have a Golden Retriever so the park has to be dog friendly. We would like full hook-ups. A site over looking the water would be appreciated. I look forward to hearing your suggestions.

[pt.reyesfan]

Bluewater Key RV Resort.
(Expensive, but you get what you pay for. Dog friendly.)
Reserve early!

[Moflash]

Geiger Key is very nice


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

[Wingeezer]

Have you checked prices in the Keys yet?!

We went many years ago and it was reasonable then, but a couple of years ago we thought to pay another visit but changed our minds once we started to look into prices!

Nice spot though! Good luck in finding something that suits.


Brian.

[Paddledipper]

Another Bluewater recommendation from us.

[AWCHIEF]

There are parks in the Keys getting $2500 a month from snowbird.

[ArkFortyCal]

Originally Posted by Paddledipper

Another Bluewater recommendation from us.

+1 for Bluewater Key but you might need to start saving now as it's not cheap.

[knunut]

Stayed a month at "The Jolly Roger" MM 59 Grassy Key. Stayed on seawall . Natural setting. Easy in/out. New showers. Large laundry room. Two pets permitted.On seawall ,maybe 10' from ocean.Swimming Pool .Full Hook-ups. Snorkeling and swim area.,dock area,Wi-fi.(Did not use) Cable TV.
Very nice people. We would go back. Nice campground and location. Bike ride to town also. Your just north of Marathon Key .

[BIGgary]

Inexpensive State Park on Marathon Key.

[mike28]

Bluewater @ mile marker 14 is real nice, but they have extended their "season". You can expect to pay $160 plus per night. There are several State Parks with Curry Hammock, Bahia Honda and Pennecamp being the most popular. All have no sewer and limit stays to 14 days if you can get in. Reservation window opens up 11 months in advance. We go every Fall and our new go to location is Boyd's in Key West. Location, location location. They do have seasonal/monthly rates, but you should start making plans now. If you are retired military, check out the Naval base.

[jayseejay]

Don't forget to try Long Key State Park, one of our favorites. All sites are waterfront. Books up fast though. Joe

[Hittenstiehl]

Just looked up Long John and it looks really nice. Looks like all the spots are along the beach and the beach is swimmable and walkable. Maybe some traffic noise(?) but nice trees between each spot.

Airbucketlist.

[GammaDog]

I'm writing from Long Key State Park. The Keys are certainly beautiful in January (and February... and March... and...). Lots of good advice above. As a former Buffalonian and now for many years a Floridian I have to ask "Why spend 4 months in the Keys?" It's beautiful here, certainly. It's also a very small (but long and narrow)"place. Island fever typically sets in after about three weeks. Flight is the only known cure. There is only one road in and one road out of the Florida Keys.

There are lots of areas in Florida that are easier to book in the winter, less expensive and every bit as temperate. Heck, if you live in the Niagara Frontier, even the coldest parts of Florida are a comparative delight in the winter!

Why not move around every two weeks or so? Start near Jacksonville or St. Augustine, meander down the east cost including Daytona, Orlando, the Space Coast, the Treasure Coast (our home) and the Yuck Coast (ok, they don't actually call I it that, but to many Floridians the area from Palm Beach to Miami is no place to camp) then the Keys. Wander back up the west coast including Ft. Myers, Sanibel, Tampa and on up into the panhandle. There are great state parks throughout the state. We especially like the gulf region parks, some have close beach access. By March the panhandle is delightful. For January and February anywhere south of Orlando should do.

There have been lots of posts on Airforums about Florida campgrounds. Google 'AirForums Florida campgrounds' to tap prior posts. If you are going the State Park route, reservations open 11 months to the day from the first day of camping at 8:00 AM. Spots in the Keys (like where I am right now) are taken by 8:00:01. That means you could be on reserveamerica.com tomorrow at 8:00 AM (don't be late!) and perhaps bag two weeks starting December 7, 2017 at Curry Hammock, Bahia Honda, Long Key or John Pennekamp.

Overall, I'd recommend AllStays (Apple App Store or Google Play) which is totally worth the $9.99. I'm using it now to plan our long trip of the year (FL to CO to the UP of MI to Buffalo to MD then home to FL). It includes State, Federal and private campgrounds plus helpful info like where to get propane in Timbuktu and which roads have bridges with clearance lower than an Airstream. ReserveAmerica.com is essential to make reservations at state parks and Google Maps satellite view lets you see just what a specific park looks like (are there any trees?)

Best of luck!

[senioryakker]

Kings Kamp in Key Largo, if you can get in. Least expensive in the keys, not fancy, and sold out early every year. Stayed there several years in a row, opted for Baja this year.

[TouringDan]

Originally Posted by GammaDog

I'm writing from Long Key State Park. The Keys are certainly beautiful in January (and February... and March... and...). Lots of good advice above. As a former Buffalonian and now for many years a Floridian I have to ask "Why spend 4 months in the Keys?" It's beautiful here, certainly. It's also a very small (but long and narrow)"place. Island fever typically sets in after about three weeks. Flight is the only known cure. There is only one road in and one road out of the Florida Keys.

There are lots of areas in Florida that are easier to book in the winter, less expensive and every bit as temperate. Heck, if you live in the Niagara Frontier, even the coldest parts of Florida are a comparative delight in the winter!

Why not move around every two weeks or so? Start near Jacksonville or St. Augustine, meander down the east cost including Daytona, Orlando, the Space Coast, the Treasure Coast (our home) and the Yuck Coast (ok, they don't actually call I it that, but to many Floridians the area from Palm Beach to Miami is no place to camp) then the Keys. Wander back up the west coast including Ft. Myers, Sanibel, Tampa and on up into the panhandle. There are great state parks throughout the state. We especially like the gulf region parks, some have close beach access. By March the panhandle is delightful. For January and February anywhere south of Orlando should do.

There have been lots of posts on Airforums about Florida campgrounds. Google 'AirForums Florida campgrounds' to tap prior posts. If you are going the State Park route, reservations open 11 months to the day from the first day of camping at 8:00 AM. Spots in the Keys (like where I am right now) are taken by 8:00:01. That means you could be on reserveamerica.com tomorrow at 8:00 AM (don't be late!) and perhaps bag two weeks starting December 7, 2017 at Curry Hammock, Bahia Honda, Long Key or John Pennekamp.

Overall, I'd recommend AllStays (Apple App Store or Google Play) which is totally worth the $9.99. I'm using it now to plan our long trip of the year (FL to CO to the UP of MI to Buffalo to MD then home to FL). It includes State, Federal and private campgrounds plus helpful info like where to get propane in Timbuktu and which roads have bridges with clearance lower than an Airstream. ReserveAmerica.com is essential to make reservations at state parks and Google Maps satellite view lets you see just what a specific park looks like (are there any trees?)

Best of luck!

Gammadog, I completely agree with your assessment.

Dan

[TedandPam]

Thank you for all the great suggestions. They are very much appreciated. I think the Forum is a fabulous source of knowledge.