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Old 09-13-2018, 07:27 AM   #1
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Florida Wintering

Last winter we spent the winter in AZ. We would move to a different city and RV park every 2 to 3 weeks. We just wanted to get a taste of different locations in AZ. I would usually not have any trouble finding a park a week or so ahead of our move.

This year we would like to do the same thing in FL. I have been looking at parks in Fort Myer area to initially head down to. Most places I look at indicate they are full for Jan - Apr.

I would appreciate input from others that go to FL and give me some insight on what to expect. Is it going to be difficult finding short term sites not only in Ft Myers area, but also all of FL? Thanks.
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Old 09-13-2018, 07:44 AM   #2
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Friends of ours winter in Florida and they always look for new parks to stay at the year before because they do fill up quickly.
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Old 09-13-2018, 08:05 AM   #3
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Have you checked state and county parks? Also try COE. Last year I was able to book into those when the commercial campgrounds were booked.
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Old 09-13-2018, 08:30 AM   #4
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They are all busy during the winter. You can call around and find cancellations but often planning ahead is the only guarantee of short or long term stays.
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Old 09-13-2018, 08:46 AM   #5
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Pretty much all the Florida state/county CG's are booked 11 months before the date you want. We have found sites by going on line, with the scheduling sites for these CG's and finding cancellations. This is probably the only way you will get a site here in Florida during the winter. That is how we get our sites in the Key's. The bigger your RV the less camp sites you will be allowed in. Don't be surprised if you book a smaller site on line (they list them by RV size in most cases) and you arrive with a bigger RV, you may be asked to leave or not admitted. Seen this 2x, in the Key's.

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Old 09-13-2018, 10:50 AM   #6
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We stay at a place called Travelers Rest in Dade City, just off of I75. They have all the amenities including 110 avtivities, 9 hole golf course and live shows wednesday and Sunday. We really like it.

https://www.travelersrestresort.com
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Old 09-13-2018, 11:09 AM   #7
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We spent a week at Shady Acres RV Park (Shady Acres RV and Camping Park - Mobile ) last winter... we found an opening a few days in advance without any trouble.

This park has lots of activities in their outdoor pavilion / fire pit almost every evening...
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Old 09-13-2018, 11:44 AM   #8
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Thanks for info. I will check those. I'm not sure what COE means. Please explain.
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Old 09-13-2018, 12:19 PM   #9
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COE Army Corps of Engineers. These are generally along waterways (locks and dams). Nice and spacious generally with good facilities.
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Old 09-13-2018, 01:20 PM   #10
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COE Army Corps of Engineers. These are generally along waterways (locks and dams). Nice and spacious generally with good facilities.
Most COE's we camp in do not have sewer but are usually large sites with strong 30 and 50a power and water. If you have a Golden Age card, you camp for a big discount.
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Old 09-13-2018, 03:08 PM   #11
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I just made three weeks of reservations at some FL State Parks.
TJ Stone near Port St Joe
Collier Seminole
Rainbow Springs
The parks are all quite full and only have scattered available dates if you have a larger unit.
Juniper Run has no hookups but is a lovely NF Recreation area campground. It has quite a few vacancies for Feb.

We needed blocks of three to four days and I think tomorrow reserving would have been too late
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Old 09-13-2018, 04:43 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SloPoke View Post
We spent a week at Shady Acres RV Park (Shady Acres RV and Camping Park - Mobile ) last winter... we found an opening a few days in advance without any trouble.

This park has lots of activities in their outdoor pavilion / fire pit almost every evening...
Steve, I’m surprised you didn’t mention the lovely KOA you stayed at in Davie. Lol
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Old 09-13-2018, 05:04 PM   #13
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Personally I prefer being near the water when I'm in Florida. Those are the areas that tend to fill up first. We prefer the Gulf to the Atlantic. Some years its quite warm (80's) and we can actually head into the water, other years its cooler (upper 60's and 70's) and we just lounge in the sand. Anywhere in Florida in the winter is better than being in Maryland, in my opinion. I imagine you feel the same being from Minneapolis!


Obviously the further south you go, the warmer it gets, but even the panhandle is relatively warm in the winter. Of course don't forget the Keys, Miami, Daytona, St Augustine and everything else on the Atlantic side. Lots of places to enjoy.



You're probably too late for this winter, unless you want to call and hope for cancellations. The place we stay at is SUPER busy. We lost our spot when our son was born almost 4 years ago and finally made it to the top of the list again for this winter. We hope not to lose our spot again!!!
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Old 09-13-2018, 05:22 PM   #14
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There are county campgrounds. Like Shell Mound near Cedar Key.
I don’t know of a statewide database of county campgrounds
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Old 10-03-2018, 01:03 PM   #15
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Paradise Oaks Bushnell FL

We spent 2 winters in Paradise Oaks RV Resort. It is a very nice park - clean, plenty activities, close to fun places, easy access, friendly owners and campers. There is not much for kids to do there, so I would classify it as an adult (50+) destination. Highly recommended.
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Old 10-03-2018, 01:05 PM   #16
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Being a year round resident of Florida, I can tell you that for us it seems like everything is filled during the winter months! Very hard for us to find places to camp in our own state, especially State Parks, unless you find cancellations right when they cancel!
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Old 10-03-2018, 02:09 PM   #17
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We checked around too and most places are already booked. Especially near the coast. This will be our 4 th trip and stay more north but even those places are getting full. We book ahead of time
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Old 10-03-2018, 02:48 PM   #18
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You might consider checking in the so. central area of Florida. We managed to get a site in a nice park in Wauchula, FL for the month of February 2018 while just driving through the area last December. Saw it, liked it, snagged it and it was about 1 1/2 hours drive to either coast. Cost wasn't bad either.
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Old 10-04-2018, 07:16 PM   #19
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NationalPark Pass

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COE Army Corps of Engineers. These are generally along waterways (locks and dams). Nice and spacious generally with good facilities.
If you have a Senior National Park Pass, camping is 50% off. Most folks think it's only good at National Parks.
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Old 10-05-2018, 07:26 AM   #20
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If you have a Senior National Park Pass, camping is 50% off. Most folks think it's only good at National Parks.
Senior Pass is good at any Federally funded campground.. COE or NPS or National Forest. 50 percent off.

But not for FL State parks alas
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