Best time of year for the Florida Keys?

If you're looking to see the conditions in Key West just click on the link below. It's a live cam posted in front of Sloppy Joe's and the intersection there. It's fun to watch, especially when you're sitting at home in the winter.

http://www.liveduvalstreet.com/

I just booked a week (April 12-18) at Curry Hammock SP. Someone must have cancelled; now I need to fill in a week or so both sides of that week. We will be coming from Alabama down the Gulf coast to the Keys and then up the Atlantic coast and back home. Any suggestions?

Anytime from May to November will be less busy. I have been in May/June when the weather was beautiful and I have been there in May when it was scorching hot. I would rather deal with the heat than a bunch of tourists during the winter months.

May and September is love bug season in Florida. Best time for Keys weatherwise is Feb to April.

Jim Shoe wrote:
Something to keep in mind. The keys are a string of coral reefs. Unless an RV park imports sand to make an artificial beach, wear shoes when you go in the water. Coral is very sharp.

That's not always the case. The state parks don't build up the beaches and you can wade out a long way on sand. I think the bottoms may have more coral in the lower keys than the upper keys.

The bottoms are covered about 60% in sea grass. You can see this from the surface just pick the clear areas for wading since there are all sorts of critters living in that grass: sponges, fish and sea urchins to name a few. And you absolutely do not want to step on a sea urchin with a bare foot.

But those grass beds are great to snorkel over so you can see all the critters.

Definitely go on at least one snorkeling trip on a dive boat. They'll take you out to the reefs and it's a great trip. They'll rent snorkeling gear to you if you need it.

Even in the summer the sea influence usually keeps the Keys from getting too hot. We often go down in July or August. There are fewer tourists and it's a lot less hectic. Besides you will have a difficult time making reservations at a campground during the season (Dec-Apr) unless you do it well in advance. And they really run the prices up too.

My experience has been in May and October. You are there after and before the snowbirds and usually you don't have to worry in October anyway about hurricanes.

Next week.... :) :)

soricobob wrote:
Anytime there is no hurricane threat!

Hmmmmmmm Let's see. Where did the last major hurricane strike the U.S.? The answer is New Jersey!

Hmmmmm When was the last major hurricane to hit Florida? 8 years ago.

April/May and October are the best months.

Something to keep in mind. The keys are a string of coral reefs. Unless an RV park imports sand to make an artificial beach, wear shoes when you go in the water. Coral is very sharp.

If you check reserveamerica.com every couple of days, you can usually find cancellations during any month. It seems people typically cancel 4-8 weeks out, giving you a month or two to plan your trip. Doing this, I've managed to get up to 9 days at an oceanfront site in both long key and bahia honda - well worth the five minutes a day it took me to look.

For me, any time of year is great for the Keys. But, I have been there in March when the temps were in the 50s and in August when the temps were in the 90s. You just never know with the weather.

I would guess April - after snowbirds and before summer break, and October - before snowbirds and after summer break, would be the easiest to get reservations. But they are also really nice, often mild, weather months.

Another must stop, though not a state park: Fort DeSoto Park, just south of Clearwater. Probably one of the most beautiful calm water parks in Florida.

Enjoy your trip and retirement!