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Matthew · 01-27-2003, 07:48 AM

Could anyone recommend between the KOA outside of Key West and the campground within Key West which is best?
Thanks!
Matthew

apple 1 · 01-27-2003, 07:58 AM

Matthew,
Last March we stayed at Boyds Key West campground at mile post 5 on Key West. I would not recommend this campground as sites were small and roads were narrow making it difficult to get into the camp site, had to have others move there trucks to be able to back in, and did not have room to open the awning. It might be OK if you could get one of the outside water sites, but none were avaliable when we were there. A friend recommended Bluewter Key RV Resort at mile post 14.5 an it is listed as Big Rig sites.
Jim

heybeep · 01-27-2003, 02:41 PM

Mathew,

Two years ago we stayed at KOA while friends stayed at Boyd's. Both were cramped for space. KOA was far cleaner appearing, but pricey. Couple of days you can probably put up with either.

Last year we stayed the entire month of Feb. at Bluewater Key RV Resort in our little 25' Excella. "Very Pricey, $2000.!" But--you can't see the rigs next door because of the Bouganvilla, Frangipani, Palms, etc. Your pad connects to the wooden decking that sports a private thatch roof Tiki with hot and cold water, refrigerator and ice maker in the bar. The decking continues on the back side of the Tiki and becomes your private dock for your boat or fishing (I caught a six pound grouper and I stink at fishing). You will go native. We sold ourselves on the old, "We owe it to ourselves one time in our lives" theory. It was worth it, but we can't seem to justify it again.

If interested search for Blue Water RV Resort, but look for the name Rita Clark. She owns several of the sites and will have openings that the RV Association at Bluewater is not even aware. She is a square shooter and very helpful during your stay.

Hope this was helpful.

Bruce,

rtaylor537 · 01-27-2003, 06:26 PM

Although we were not camping this past New Year's week, we did visit Boyds in Key West and another small under new management RV park adjacent to them (I'll try and find their information sheet). Boyds is small but is convenient to Duvall and Mallory Square (via a bike). They accept no reservations during the Christmas holidays but there are monthy season as well as off season rates. We have a 30ft Excella and with some patience I believe I could get it backed onto a lot.

RTaylor

Matthew · 01-29-2003, 09:53 PM

Thanks to all for the info. I'll let you know how it goes.
-Matthew

Matthew · 07-27-2003, 08:36 PM

We stayed at Boyds and were generally pleased. Sites are a bit small but no trouble backing in the 32 foot Excella. It was very clean and well managed. I will stay again this Fall.

Horrible event though, I sat down at the Picnic Table to read a magazine and there was a huge class A next door obviously packing up to leave. I had noticed when we pulled in that their sewer hose was about 20 feet longer than required for the short distance to the site hookup, it lay there all looped around itself. Just a mess. Anyway, Well the fellow while wearing no shirt and smoking a pipe was obviously disconnecting all his lines for departure disconnects the sewer line....then opens the valve in an apparent misguided check to see if he had already drained his tank.

He had not.

Clenching the pipe in his teeth he tried to stem the geiser-esque flow of black water with open hand while calmy stating in a rather British sounding accent.."well now, that's rather embarassing."

Thats all I heard over my gagging...

-Matthew

nds · 07-28-2003, 06:17 AM

This one isn't in Key West but it looks pretty decent and puts you close to it.

Campsite

Pick · 07-28-2003, 08:09 AM

nds, their high rate is $95

I thing Blue Water Key is about $10 less than that, and it looks a lot nicer. Typical KOA.

74SovereignInt. · 07-28-2003, 08:31 AM

We stayed at Fiesta Key KOA in December and totally loved it. A site on the Gulf ran about $90.00 per night the week before Xmas.

74SovereignInt. · 07-28-2003, 08:40 AM

pic this time?

nds · 07-28-2003, 10:25 AM

John Pennekamp State Park in Key Largo is nice too.

I think you're going to find most of the campsites in the Keys to run expensive during the season, since they can get it.

John Pennekamp State Park

74SovereignInt. · 07-28-2003, 12:31 PM

We stopped at Pennekamp and stayed only one night. While the showers were great we felt that the camping area itself was a bit overgrown and on the "beatnick" side. Maybe we were just a little spoiled after Fiesta Key but it was not really what we wanted. Also, as is apparently typical with Keys beachs it was very small and "dirty?", due to the large amounts of seaweed and vegetation. If anyone goes here be sure to find your site before you pass it up as the turn-around area was a bit tight for our 30' and Excursion.

While it is much further north we stayed at Vero Beach Kampground and were blown away. The sites were huge with so many amenities available. Maybe two miles away was a great beach with great photo ops due to the Disney Resort right there.

Just my 2 cents

74SovereignInt. · 07-28-2003, 03:02 PM

This was our site, it was on the water one site away from what they call Sunset Point. Great view!!

74SovereignInt. · 07-28-2003, 03:23 PM

the back side, hanging at the Gulf

74SovereignInt. · 07-28-2003, 03:26 PM

another view... anyone tired of seeing them yet? *S*

Matthew · 07-28-2003, 09:10 PM

Great shots 74SovereignInt.

When we were leaving the Keys the Highway had a fatality accident and all traffic was halted for the day as the coroner had to drive down from Miami. So we were in one of the few spots where I could hang a U turn and we went back to one of the KOAs I belive was Fiesta (the one on the ocean side) and just stayed the night. It was quite clean and we had plenty of room.

There is a campground (Jabours?)right in downtown Key West but they cannot handle large trailers at all.

raebaker06 · 07-29-2003, 08:56 AM

The Jabours trailer park has been sold, and there is going to be (of course) a hotel.

You might look into Lazy Lakes at about MM 18 US #1. Not super fancy,but many people like it. Don't know the prices, But Maryln Bell (the ist person to swim across lake Ontario stays there.

Boyds is OK but cramped. Also Johnson on Big pine key very cramped..KOA on Cudjoe key Nice but as usual limited room. They have a dock , a store and security.

Blue water is nice but expensive, all privately owned. I recall when there was nothing there but the troops in preparation to go to Cuba.

I have a little place on Bay Point the next Key.

I suggest that you call Key West chamber of commerce in Key West. They are always willing to help (the money is the driving force)

You should have been there in the 50s Park anywhere FREE.

The coolest time of year is last week of Dec through Jan. Then it is Hot. OH! you should have a water filter, the calcium carbonate is heavy in the tap water.

Rae Baker Burlington, Ontario
Bay Point Key West Fl.