June 2017 trip to Florida keys, any advice?

[dlipps]

We'll be pulling our 25'Safari south to Florida from Virginia with a well behaved hound dog. We're looking for pet friendly state park campsites along the Atlantic coast down into the keys, then up the gulf coast over to the panhandle(St. Andrews SP) before heading back to the Blue RidgeMts. Any suggestions for sites or routing would be appreciated. We'd like to avoid Atlanta on the return trip north, maybe stray into the Smokeys or Western NC. Are bugs a concern in the keys that time of year?

[jayseejay]

As you come down the east coast toward SE GA and NE Fla, consider Crooked River SP (St Mary's Ga), Fort Clinch SP (Fernandina Beach FL), and/or Anastasia SP (St Augustine). Joe


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[n2916s]

Gamble Rogers near Flagler Beach is also beautiful as are Curry Hammock and Bahia Honda in the Keys.

[Lily&Me]

You might be overcome by the heat in Florida in July...may not be the best time to visit.

Maggie

[n2916s]

It will be toasty. Stay near the coasts -- the sea breeze can make life tolerable. Be ready for daily thunderstorms.

[m.hony]

Advice?
Have fun!
Enjoy yourself!
That's all I got.

[B00merang]

Couple of thoughts...strictly my own from growing up in Florida: Once you pass Cape Canaveral/Titusville....at the latest Vero Beach... I'd head inland since you won't be able to see the beach anymore due to the high-rises, and inland Florida has a lot of history left (U.S. 27 takes you all the way to Homestead through some interesting country). Once in the keys, check your dates since they have a two-day early lobster season during which time there will be no camp sites or related facilities available. And yes, mosquitos can be bad, tho less so when you have ocean breezes. Bahia Honda SP has my favorite campsites, but there are numerous others.
On the way back north, the Ft. Meyers/Sanibel Island area has a lot of history and beautiful county, but then I'd drive back along the interior until I hit Tarpon Springs, the old sponge fishing port. Then along the coast north to the Big Bend area of Florida. Don't expect any beaches along this stretch, but cool little towns (e.g., Cedar Key). You'll hit the beaches again west of Panacea (Alligator Point peninsula), and especially approaching East Point/Apalachicola. St. George Island SP campground lies offshore (tho in pine woods with lots of mosquitos), and St. Joe Peninsular SP will show you the finest, cleanest beaches you have ever seen. More mosquitos since both campgrounds lie adjacent to saltmarshes. From there its just a short haul via Mexico Beach to your St. Andrews SP and fishing on the jetties (catch the mangrove snappers next to the jetty right in near the surf). Safe travels. jon

[UKDUDE]

There's an article about The Keys on Campendium:
https://www.campendium.com/camping/f...0b12-101457513
You may have to register to read it.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by Lily&Me

You might be overcome by the heat in Florida in July...may not be the best time to visit.

Maggie

I wondered the same thing. In June most Virginia folks might be thinking about heading north, or up into the mountains. In the South you will need A/C all the time, so state and local campgrounds without electric hookups will be difficult to bear IMO.

Hopefully you have been to southern Florida in summer before, so you know what you are getting into. At least the campgrounds should be fairly easy to book for reservations.

Have fun!