comparison Long Key, John Pennekamp,Bahia Honda

riven1950 wrote:

Thanks all for the info. our reservation is for 3/2016 and sounds like we will have a great time.


Which park(s) ?

Sorry, I am OP and I was referring to our reservation at LKSP.

We are also going to BH ( non waterfront ) and JP.

riven1950 wrote:
Thanks all for the info. our reservation is for 3/2016 and sounds like we will have a great time.

Which park(s) ?

Thanks all for the info. our reservation is for 3/2016 and sounds like we will have a great time.

Jack L best described it.

He knows from long experience.

Pennekamp-FHU site (enough said)
Long Key- The best vistas of any of the Keys SP's but a lot of the sites are smaller. Good snorkeling right from your site. Nice quiet spot to unwind.
Bahia Honda- Too durn crowded but access to many amenities.

I have camped at all 4

NanciL did an excellent job describing the parks, especially how they relate to kayaking and bicycling. Our likes are a little different as we travel with dogs, and like to take them to the beach. Our boating is limited to powering around in out Avon inflatable dingy. Last winter and this coming winter, we weren't able to land any state park reservations, so we have resigned ourselves to private campgrounds - which aren't that easy to get into either.

That being said, from north to south: Pennecamp has been refurbished most recently and, as said, is the only one with full hookups. Dogs aren't permitted on the beaches in any state park. There are many restaurants, etc. within easy driving distance, but not many you can bike to. Long Key definitely has the nicest views as all sites are waterfront, and we can anchor out the boat right off the beach. Islamorada is the closest place for a selection of stores and restaurants, but too far to bike. When the wind comes out of the south, it can be very bothersome as it hits you head on. Curry Hammock has nice level sites, but only a few have ocean views. Due to the layout, it is more conducive to socializing, and has weekly jam sessions on the beach, etc. There are a few nice places to eat within biking distance, and Marathon, where there is tons of stuff, is an easy drive. It is very close to the public and dog friendly Cocoa Plum beach, which isn't much for swimming, but the dogs love it. Marathon also has a great dog friendly public beach - Sombrero Beach - complete with rest rooms, trucked in sand, and decent swimming. The Waterfront sites at Bahia Honda are fantastic! Beautiful views of the pass and great sunsets. There is pretty good swimming right off your waterfront site, and there is a store and snack bar on site also. Big Pine is the closest group of stores, etc., but Marathon is also within decent driving distance. Bottom line is you really can't go wrong wherever you get in .....
If you have any specific questions, just ask!

Have stayed at CH and Long Key. Kayaking and bike riding would be good at either. Swimming is not great at either park, shallow waters and seaweed/grass everywhere. BH is by far the best state park. Great swimming, a boat ramp, and beautiful scenery. But its probably the hardest one to get into.

Step into my office !

Every winter, my wife and I spend four months in the Keys, bouncing back and forth between all four parks.

We are hard core kayakers and also do a lot of biking.
Here is my take on the four SP's.

Bahia Honda has the best beaches.
Being the farthest one south it opens up a lot of paddling opportunities in the lower Keys as well as some nice peddling on Big Pine Key.

Curry Hammock has the best camp sites and a few good paddling opportunities, but we like it the least even though it is highly sought after by the RV'rs that like to socialize.

Long Key is absolutely awesome for watching the Atlantic, and you can launch your kayak right from your camp site since they all back up to the water.
There is good paddling there heading around the Key or into Long Key Bight.
They have the best bath houses and in all our years going there I have never had to wait to get into a shower

Our favorite is John Pennekamp.
It is the only SP on the Keys with full hook-ups.
It not only presents the best paddling opportunities, but it is only an hour from the southern entrance to the Everglades National Park where you can find plenty of good paddling opportunities if the winds are blowing high in Florida Bay or the Atlantic.
With that said JP has the worst beaches, (if you even want to call them that)

If you just like to hang out at your camp site I would rate Long Key no 1 unless you have a water front site at Bahia Honda

If you are interested in all the good places to paddle in the Keys, check out our google web site which is:
https://sites.google.com/site/flkeyskayaktrips/

If you have any specific questions on any of the SP's or the paddling trips, just send me an e-mail or ask here.

Jack L

Never able to get into any of them - I like my chances on hitting the lottery better