Key West Bound

[The Colonel]

OK, I know it's winter and some, no many, no everybody from the north go south for the winter and it's most likely crazy trying to go to Key West without a reservation. BUT, I really want to go down there for a few days. We are prepared to dry camp, if necessary, and are retired military so the Navy base is a possibility, but haven't been able to contact them today. I'll keep trying. Is it futile or is there hope? Also we need to get there, so should I expect no availability on our way down Florida? Thanks, we really need a break.

[TouringDan]

First, get the ALSTAYS CAMP AND RV APP if you have an iPhone.

No problem finding a spot in plenty of the National Forest campgrounds if you don’t need hookups.

Show up at Long Pine Key CG in the Everglades NP by Homestead, FL on Sunday or early in the week and you will be able to find a spot. This is one of my favorite CG’s.

Good thing you’re retired military. This will be your best bet for finding a spot near Key West. Hopefully someone will chime in to help out.

Good luck, Dan

[GMFL]

You should be fine. As retired military the navy base will have a spot.
Blue water key at mile marker 14 is also a possibility.
Big Pine Key fishing club. Should also have room.
O and most of all enjoy

[The Colonel]

Originally Posted by TouringDan

First, get the ALSTAYS CAMP AND RV APP if you have an iPhone.

No problem finding a spot in plenty of the National Forest campgrounds if you don’t need hookups.

Show up at Long Pine Key CG in the Everglades NP by Homestead, FL on Sunday or early in the week and you will be able to find a spot. This is one of my favorite CG’s.

Good thing you’re retired military. This will be your best bet for finding a spot near Key West. Hopefully someone will chime in to help out.

Good luck, Dan

Thanks, I love Alstays and use it 'all' the time. We'll give it a shot just after the holidays.

[n2916s]

The Navy has two campgrounds. One is a mix of full, two-way and dry camping with a rational and fair rotation scheme. The other is all dry camping. They seldom turn anyone away.

There are campground hosts at both locations.

[polarlyse]

Things have changed a lot in the past 2 yrs. for camping on the Navy base Key West. Reservations are required these days so do call ahead and check. They will turn you away ( up the road, or UTR in their language). They MAY let you stay in the MWR parking lot overnight, sometimes. Best to check so there's no surprises after that long trip down to KW. In the past they had a "never turn anyone away" policy but that's history these days.

Good luck. We'll be there on 9 January

[mixedpuppy]

You might also try https://keys.craigslist.org/. Search for "RV" under vacation rentals. That's how we found a spot on Cudjoe Key. There are a couple spots listed there right now, one in Marathon, a shorter term here on Cudjoe.

[JMynes]

The Coast Guard base on Marathon has 4 sites. More than likely they are full, but worth a try...

[Blucolt]

On a related note; we are camping next year at the Dry Tortugas for part of our trip, looking to just park the trailer for 4 days. I did find several places to park in Key Largo, but haven't had luck in Key West proper. Ideally we'd park the trailer and cab it over the morning we leave, do the reverse on the way back.