How difficult is it to get into a Florida State Park?

[GettinAway]

We are looking at a State Park in the Ft Meyers area. But really anywhere from Tampa south for next February. Two weeks then maybe one week in another park.
I’ve looked at COE campgrounds also. They all look great. It looks like the book six months in advance. What is the likely hood of actually getting a campsite? Is it best to call or try online? Phone lines open at 8:00 eastern? When does the online reservation process open up? Midnight eastern? Can you search by any open site, or best to pick a site and go for it? Just hoping to get a site, any site..
will be our first attempt at it just retiring in August. Also, I’m assuming panhandle sites would be easier to get in Feb due to weather. I’d be happy at 50 degrees vs 10..
Thanks for any help.

[Al and Missy]

Florida State Parks book 11 months in advance. February is prime time for our "snowbirds" to visit. Book your reservations online at 8:00:01 AM EST exactly 11 months before your arrival to be sure to get the spot you want. Go to the park's website, find the camping tab, and click on reservations. That will take you to ReserveAmerica who handles reservations for Florida State Parks (and many others). The search will let you enter some parameters like date, trailer size, 50A if you need it, etc. and show you all the available sites on a map. You can pick one by clicking on it.

While I have stayed at COE parks and love the ones I've been to, I'm not familiar with their policies.

Al

[azflycaster]

I was shocked that I was able to reserve a site at Bahia Honda State Park for two weeks next winter. Tried and tried a couple of years ago and got nothing.

[trumpetguy]

I have had some success with wanderinglabs.com. Give them your location, dates, etc. and they check for availability twice daily. They found us a site in Anastasia SP over New Years. When they send the text a site is available you need to move quickly to grab it.

[MsRivet]

Try Koreshan State Park in Estero at exactly eleven months prior to your arrival. It’s just south of Ft. Myers.

http://https://www.floridastateparks...han-state-park

It’s a nice park. Has history. Quiet but close to what you need.

[SuzyHomemakr]

Difficult for me to add to the fine advice already given. Not a State Park, but I like Trail Lakes campground near Everglades City. Probably easier to get reservations. If you go there, be sure to post if you happen to see the elusive Swamp Ape. Rumor has it that they're attracted to unfinished beverages left outside, so bottom's up!

There are also lots of County Parks, and parks that are first-come-first-served no reservation. Show up on a Monday and you'll probably get right in.

[Schnepel]

St Joseph State Park is a pristine area located on St Joe Bay and the Gulf of Mexico in the Florida panhandle. Unfortunately, the road to the park was cut when the Gulf of Mexico breached the peninsula during Hurricane Michael in October of last year. As of this date no joining of the road has taken place, and the park remains closed. Sadly, don't know when to tell folks that that area will be open again.

[SuzyHomemakr]

So I guess that you've looked into the W.P. Franklin COE campground on the Caloosahatchee? I haven't actually been there, but the times that I've locked through, I saw it from the river and it looked nice.

[Kilroy]

Originally Posted by trumpetguy

I have had some success with wanderinglabs.com. Give them your location, dates, etc. and they check for availability twice daily. They found us a site in Anastasia SP over New Years. When they send the text a site is available you need to move quickly to grab it.

Checked this site, Blank page came up. When was last you used?

[EricLee]

Paradise park is an Airstream/class A 55+ retirement community. It also has a 26 lot campground with full hookups. It is quiet and affordable. All campers have access to all the amenities. We have a private 9 hole golf course, large pool, community center, wood/metal shop, large fishing pond, etc.
Its where I retired to. About 25 miles north of Ft. Myers and a little over 20 miles east of Punta Gorda.
941-639-2680

[Natomb]

First, find state parks that you’d like to visit that have availability. Once you have decided on a state park that has open sites, I have found it helpful to go to campsite photos.com to see pics of each site. This website has over 1400 state and national park, national forest, COE and many private campground campsite photos. Seeing the site pics lets me find sites that are roomier, have trees or shrubs for privacy, or grass for dogs.

[TouringDan]

You have gotten great advice so far. I will try to add to it.

Get the ALLSTAYS camp & RV app and the Campendium app.

Expand your horizons. Look at National Forest CG, County Park CG, National Park CG, COE CG and also private CG.

Learn how to camp without hookups. It is not that hard in Florida in the winter time when you generally don’t need heat or AC.

Florida is really great in the winter time and not that hard to find a place to camp if you avoid the crowded areas.

For example, I just returned from a trip to Cedar Island. This place is like a small Key West. It is uncrowded with three private campgrounds and one county campground within 10 miles. Google it.

Here are 3 photos. #1 is from the public free fishing pier. #2 is a map of the area and #3 is camping at Shell Mound County Park.

Good luck, Dan

[airstreamhobo]

Last week while in Florida I called to make a reservation. I was told all state parks were full for the month of February within a 100 miles of the Everglades. I had to take a non electric site in the Everglades for a week. When we got there a lot of sites sat empty overnite. They were all booked but people did not show up. I would follow the advice above and keep calling 11 months ahead. Good Luck. After March the sites start to open up. Snowbirds are going home !!

[cando]

Check out WP Franklin Park in Alva, FL - just north of Ft. Myers. I believe that it is a National Forest campground located on an island in the middle of the Chloosahatchee River. Have sent other friends there and they have loved it. They take reservations 6 months in advance and it's half-price if you have the Golden Age pass.

[TouringDan]

Originally Posted by airstreamhobo

Last week while in Florida I called to make a reservation. I was told all state parks were full for the month of February within a 100 miles of the Everglades. I had to take a non electric site in the Everglades for a week. When we got there a lot of sites sat empty overnite. They were all booked but people did not show up. I would follow the advice above and keep calling 11 months ahead. Good Luck. After March the sites start to open up. Snowbirds are going home !!

One of my favorite campgrounds is Long Pine Key in the Everglades, about 15 miles from Homestead. No hookups and no reservations, but show up Sunday or Monday and you will have lots of great sites to choose from and you will be able to stay on that site for 2 weeks.

Dan

[WhereStream]

Originally Posted by EricLee

Paradise park ... We have a private 9 hole golf course, large pool, community center, wood/metal shop, large fishing pond, etc.

You have a metal shop!

[GettinAway]

Originally Posted by Natomb

First, find state parks that you’d like to visit that have availability. Once you have decided on a state park that has open sites, I have found it helpful to go to campsite photos.com to see pics of each site. This website has over 1400 state and national park, national forest, COE and many private campground campsite photos. Seeing the site pics lets me find sites that are roomier, have trees or shrubs for privacy, or grass for dogs.

Thanks, I’ve done this in the past when looking in CO and WY in late summer. My impression of FL is, that by the time you try and look up a site on campsite photos and go back to reserve it, it’s already gone. Maybe it’s not as intense as I thought.
Thx

[GettinAway]

Originally Posted by Al and Missy

Florida State Parks book 11 months in advance. February is prime time for our "snowbirds" to visit. Book your reservations online at 8:00:01 AM EST exactly 11 months before your arrival to be sure to get the spot you want. Go to the park's website, find the camping tab, and click on reservations. That will take you to ReserveAmerica who handles reservations for Florida State Parks (and many others). The search will let you enter some parameters like date, trailer size, 50A if you need it, etc. and show you all the available sites on a map. You can pick one by clicking on it.

While I have stayed at COE parks and love the ones I've been to, I'm not familiar with their policies.

Al

I thought it was six months! Thanks for letting me know. I already had it in the calendar to start calling in August. Disaster..
Hopefully we can get three weeks strung together. Hauling bikes and 2 person kayak. This has been a very cold Feb in Missouri. I won’t miss it next year.
Thx

[GettinAway]

Originally Posted by SuzyHomemakr

So I guess that you've looked into the W.P. Franklin COE campground on the Caloosahatchee? I haven't actually been there, but the times that I've locked through, I saw it from the river and it looked nice.

Yep. Looks nice. Trying it also, although I’d prefer to be closer to coast. Beggars can’t be choosers.
Thanks

[GettinAway]

Originally Posted by Kilroy

Checked this site, Blank page came up. When was last you used?

Same result..