We have a reservation in August for Top Sail Hill SP, but are considering trying to get closer to the Orlando/Lakeland area for Disney & Legos parks for the kids. Does anyone have recommendations for a campground on the east (Daytona Beach-Vero Beach)/west coast side(Spring Hill-Venice area) of Florida that has:Beach camping/easily accessible beachFHU preferred, but at the minimum electric with clean shower/bathroom facilitiesSomething that were not packed in like sardines and have a rudimentary form of privacyPrefer State Park if given the choice & some flexibility in the dates.Thanks for your assistance.

Hanna Park in Jacksonville Parks is really nice - don't know how crowded it gets in the summer ....

The Spring Hill area on the West Coast doesn't have much beach that isn't already condos. My parents camped in the area one winter. What it does have is a thriving Greek community that depends to a large part on northerners that want good food and sponge diver shows. Lots of golf courses, though. That's why my folks spent one winter there.

Gamble Rogers S.P. is just north of Daytona.Another possibility is Jetty Park at Cape Canaveral area. Very nice campground; you can watch cruise ships etc. come/go. Nice wide beach and a long fishing pier. Also can visit Merritt Island Wildlife area and of course all the museums etc. at Cape Canaveral.

Turtle Beach at Siesta Key on the west coast is beachfront but you can't have dogs (because of the turtles). You'd have to go much further south to Ft. Myers Beach to Red Coconuts for the only other beachfront I'm aware of.

We've stayed at Jetty Park several times, but it's more than an hour drive to Disney from there. Close to Jetty Park and a bit more rustic is Manatee Hammock, a Brevard County park (as is Jetty Park). They have hook ups, but no cable tv and the tree cover is heavy.

east/west coast Florida from Orlando | Good Sam Community

Bill_Diana
Explorer
May 05, 2015
If you want the kids to fully enjoy the Disney experience then the best option is to stay at Fort Wilderness. This allows you to come and go from the theme parks as you please. The kids will benefit from taking a rest in the RV during the afternoon so they can enjoy Disney all day. If you stay at a campground away from Disney then you will be facing a 60+ minute drive to and from Disney and the kids will be tired and cranky. While visiting Disney stay at the Fort and then go to another campground near the beach.

Hope this helps and the advice is based on years of actual experience.
djsamuel
Nomad
May 05, 2015
As an alternate, consider staying at Top Sail Hill SP, and then moving to Lake Louisa State park in Clermont (Central Florida) within easy drives to both Disney and Legoland. It's a nice state park with some decent hiking and nice lakes. Campground is nice.
NoVa_RT
Explorer
May 05, 2015
Jetty Park is a pretty straight shot, 65 miles east of Disney World. Nice campground, a very short walk to the beach. In addition to the cruise ships, you're right next to the Kennedy Space Center, although unlike most federal facilities, tours are somewhat expensive. If it were me, I'd stay in Orlando when doing Disney, and stay at the beach when I wasn't, rather than try to go back & forth.
sdianel_-acct_c
Explorer
May 05, 2015
No beach access but lots of water type stuff is Fort Wilderness at Disney. More expensive but tons for kids to do.
sdianel_-acct_c
Explorer
May 05, 2015
Fort Desoto Park in St Petersburg. 90 minutes to Disney.
fla-gypsy
Explorer
May 05, 2015
If your going for the beach experience stay with the panhandle spot.
esyers
Explorer
May 05, 2015
We've stayed at Jetty Park several times, but it's more than an hour drive to Disney from there. Close to Jetty Park and a bit more rustic is Manatee Hammock, a Brevard County park (as is Jetty Park). They have hook ups, but no cable tv and the tree cover is heavy.
phillyg
Explorer II
May 04, 2015
Turtle Beach at Siesta Key on the west coast is beachfront but you can't have dogs (because of the turtles). You'd have to go much further south to Ft. Myers Beach to Red Coconuts for the only other beachfront I'm aware of.
Tripalot
Explorer
May 04, 2015
Gamble Rogers S.P. is just north of Daytona.
Another possibility is Jetty Park at Cape Canaveral area. Very nice campground; you can watch cruise ships etc. come/go. Nice wide beach and a long fishing pier. Also can visit Merritt Island Wildlife area and of course all the museums etc. at Cape Canaveral.
Jim_Shoe
Explorer
May 04, 2015
The Spring Hill area on the West Coast doesn't have much beach that isn't already condos. My parents camped in the area one winter. What it does have is a thriving Greek community that depends to a large part on northerners that want good food and sponge diver shows.
Lots of golf courses, though. That's why my folks spent one winter there.