1st RV Road Trip - Florida itinerary

Hi,

We have just purchased our first travel trailer. 2019 Kodiak Cub 19BHSL towed with 2012 Tacoma 4x4 with towing pkg.

She did beautifully on a nasty-weather shakedown trip close to home for 2 nights at a state park. We'll be camping at least once more, this time towing a few hours north to DeSoto State Park in AL and doing some testing on our ability to conserve tank capacity and batteries while we're there. Hopefully we'll have some more nice weekends before March to break her in further.

We've researched for a year and been buddying with my sister's family in their camper for longer than that. I grew up in a family with travel trailer and class C which we used extensively, so in that respect we are not complete newbies.

DH, myself, DD14 and DD11 would like to have our first road trip for spring break. I need help considering our route and timing, as we are pretty sure these are the places we want to stop. Looking for any input others can provide.

Fri., 3/20 - leave Birmingham, AL after school; overnight near Dothan, AL (170mi). - probably Blue Springs State Park. full hookups

Sat. 3/21 - drive to Juniper Springs (339mi). 2 nights in the NF campground. no hookups, dump station and hot showers. water available.

Sun. 3/22 - canoe Alexander Springs (20 min drive), see the springs at Juniper Springs area.

Mon. 3/23 - depart for Atlantic coast with stop on the way for an airboat tour (St. John's River? Cocoa area - Twister or Grasshopper were both recommended.) Or this is a good day to stop at Blue Spring State Park in Orange County possibly. stay 3 nights in campground near Titusville or Port Canaveral (115 mi). Manatee Hammock or Wickham Park (both full hookups) are now our top picks but Wickham will probably win out due to noise mentioned in reviews of MH.

Tues 3/24- explore Merritt Island, Cape Canaveral National Seashore, kayak or airboat?;

Wed. 3/25 - Kennedy Space Center

Thurs 3/26 - after lunch drive to Manatee Springs State Park (197 mi) Chiefland, FL;. overnight in state park (water/electric/dump station)

Fri 3/27 - morning explore Manatee Springs or canoe Suwanee River. afternoon drive to possibly to Three Rivers State Park. (182 mi) stay overnight in the state park (water, electric, dump station); Three Rivers is just a stopover to shorten the drive home.

(We considered spending Fri night at St. George's Island and move Three Rivers to Sat. night but DH would like to have Sunday free to rest.

Sat 3/28 - home to BHM! (245 mi)

RobWNY
Explorer
Jan 15, 2020
We are staying at Seasons in the Sun RV resort in Mims, FL. (6 miles north of Titusville). It's a Very nice and clean resort. We've driven through all of the RV parks in and around here including Manatee Hammock Campground in Titusville. None of them are very nice but most would suffice for an overnight stay. Manatee Hammock is not very nice, not clean but would probably be ok for an overnight. The bathrooms were a mess when we checked it out and the pool was filthy. Also, don't even consider the KOA on Rt. 46 next to Seasons in the Sun resort. There's a lot of homeless people hanging around and the police are there quite often for domestic issues.
Scottiemom
Nomad
Jan 15, 2020
We've stayed at Manatee Hammock twice and never had any problem with noise. Oh yeah, let me think. This was right after Hurricane Irma (?) went through and they had a lot of devastation and closed areas of the park. They inherited a young rooster from the storm who was blown in by the hurricane. He obviously was confused about where he was. People fed him and he became very tame. Beautiful little guy and would come running when you called him. Yes he crowed and yes heartless people complained. So the next time we went he was gone. I don't know what happened to him but the office said too many people complained about him so they had to "relocate" him whatever that meant. Poor thing.

Dale
Guy_Roan
Explorer
Jan 15, 2020
You say "see the springs at Juniper Springs", but you are going to paddle at Alexander Springs.
I strongly advise if you only have time to paddle one or the other; make sure it is Juniper Springs.
They both are beautiful spring runs, but Juniper is the best

Guy
agesilaus
Explorer III
Jan 14, 2020
brandicj wrote:
Hi,

Fri., 3/20 - leave Birmingham, AL after school; overnight near Dothan, AL (170mi). - probably Blue Springs State Park. full hookups

Sat. 3/21 - drive to Juniper Springs (339mi). 2 nights in the NF campground. no hookups, dump station and hot showers. water available.

Sun. 3/22 - canoe Alexander Springs (20 min drive), see the springs at Juniper Springs area.

I assume you plan to run down Juniper run in a canoe/kayak. So far as I know this does not run to Alexander Springs. Both Juniper and Alexander are worth a visit.

Mon. 3/23 - Or this is a good day to stop at Blue Spring State Park in Orange County possibly.

Another good springs for swimming, Manatees will probably be gone by then depending on the weather.

Tues 3/24- explore Merritt Island, Cape Canaveral National Seashore, kayak or airboat?;

Wed. 3/25 - Kennedy Space Center

Thurs 3/26 - after lunch drive to Manatee Springs State Park (197 mi) Chiefland, FL;. overnight in state park (water/electric/dump station)

Fri 3/27 - morning explore Manatee Springs or canoe Suwanee River. afternoon

Manatee has trails but they are sandy and boring to us, you may like them more. The canoeing on the river is excellent tho

drive to possibly to Three Rivers State Park. (182 mi) stay overnight in the state park (water, electric, dump station); Three Rivers is just a stopover to shorten the drive home.

Three rivers is another boating park. We didn't explore the trails tho. Florida Caverns isn't too far and the cave tours are mildly interesting, not much compared to the Federal Caves but better than Russel Caverns.

(We considered spending Fri night at St. George's Island and move Three Rivers to Sat. night but DH would like to have Sunday free to rest.

Sat 3/28 - home to BHM! (245 mi)
VoodooMedicineM
Explorer
Jan 14, 2020
There's always Wal*Mart
johnhicks
Explorer
Jan 14, 2020
Dial that way back. Seems like just a driving trip, guaranteed to leave everyone worn out and grouchy every day.

If you're going to KSC and Canaveral, you need to be at Manatee Hammock, not the backside of Melbourne an extra hour away.
brandicj
Explorer
Jan 14, 2020
agesilaus wrote:
Sounds good except for one thing: do you have reservations? For one thing this is the end of snowbird season and the parks are booked solid. And secondly it is also spring break for schools down here.

We're coming to the end of our planning. I have checked all within the last week and there was availability at each. Just need to get DH to sign off on the general outline so I can get something booked. Those non-refundable booking fees add up fast so I want to get close to our final itinerary. We have already crossed some popular locations off of our route because of availability. St. George may be full now. It was pretty limited when I looked.
agesilaus
Explorer III
Jan 14, 2020
Sounds good except for one thing: do you have reservations? For one thing this is the end of snowbird season and the parks are booked solid. And secondly it is also spring break for schools down here.

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