Looking for a Park in central Florida without alligators

Santos, Ross Prairie, any other place that does not have a lake or river. Any park on the ocean. Check the activities they offer. If it has canoeing it has water.

Good luck with that. Gators can turn up in the strangest places all over Florida. Same with snakes. Watch where you put your hands and feet. Yesterday, I brought groceries home to the RV. I was met by a 5 foot rat snake hanging on the ladder. Of course there's a couple of gators in the retention ponds at the entrance to the park.

The only gator I ever saw right inside a park was at St. George Island state park. Even though the park is technically on the ocean/Gulf of Mexico, there were two freshwater ponds on the property, and that was just enough fresh water to become home to a pretty good sized gator. If there is no river, lake, retention pond, canal, or swamp, then there probably is very little likelihood of encountering gators. That does not 100% necessarily mean that there cannot be any, just that you won't probably won't ever encounter one.

Do you have a problem with alligators? Might want to avoid Florida as well as other southern states. Alligators pretty much go wherever they want to. Will cross streets, driveways, whatever going from one wet spot to another or just out for a crawl. Unlike snakes and roaches (now there is a reason to avoid Florida), they are big and you can see them. Good luck in your quest. lizzie

Last trip to Florida, Saw a sign on a pond. "Warming. There are Snakes, and Alligators in every lake and river in Florida" Kind of says it all.

Florida RV Park with NO alligators | Good Sam Community

55 Replies

jeb5
Explorer
Nov 07, 2013
We had an accident in our area a few days ago. The car hit a deer. The deer came through the windshield kicking. The deer kicking killed the passenger. A direct hit to the head and neck. Minimal damage to the car. Driver was not injured.

Problems can happen anywhere. I believe that you need to respect the alligator, but it is not a reason to stay home.
Spleenstomper
Explorer
Nov 07, 2013
In Florida and Louisiana and probably coastal Alabama and Mississippi, if there is a body of water, a gator could be lurking, though you likely won't see it or know about it,

Mostly, they leave everyone alone, though I do know people who saw an alligator eat their dogs. I lost an 80 pound dog 2 years ago and I suspect an alligator.

If they are hungry, they will find something to eat. Those suckers are fast runners too....
GoPackGo
Explorer
Oct 21, 2013
And for all you folks that stay in Wal-Marts down here . . . . . heh heh heh.

Dateline - Apopka Wal-mart, today.

http://www.wesh.com/news/central-florida/orange-county/shoppers-find-alligator-outside-walmart/-/12978032/22531394/-/o54a3p/-/index.html
RVUSA
Explorer
Oct 15, 2013
lizzie wrote:
I'm happy for the OP wherever he/she goes but for others going to Florida, alligators also live in rivers, swamps, brackish bays, and bayous. Not just lakes. You can go to Florida for years and not see an alligator or you can see one every day. Pretty much the same as wildlife anywhere. lizzie

Dont forget swimming pools. :B
CKNSLS
Explorer
Oct 15, 2013
CountryCoachrv wrote:
Kittykath wrote:
Geez, I didn't realize how prominent the gator population is! And I've visited Florida a few times, never leaving the rental car other than to park at an attraction. Glad we only have monster mosquitoes to contend with.

Lots of exaggeration on this thread, you can go to parks without ever seeing an alligator.

If you read the whole thread it was stated by someone who lives in Florida even if you don't see them they are around. You can't see termites then all of a sudden your floor caves in.....
lizzie
Explorer
Oct 15, 2013
I'm happy for the OP wherever he/she goes but for others going to Florida, alligators also live in rivers, swamps, brackish bays, and bayous. Not just lakes. You can go to Florida for years and not see an alligator or you can see one every day. Pretty much the same as wildlife anywhere. lizzie
CountryCoachrv
Explorer
Oct 15, 2013
Kittykath wrote:
Geez, I didn't realize how prominent the gator population is! And I've visited Florida a few times, never leaving the rental car other than to park at an attraction. Glad we only have monster mosquitoes to contend with.

Lots of exaggeration on this thread, you can go to parks without ever seeing an alligator.
CKNSLS
Explorer
Oct 15, 2013
The OP already stated he is not going to Florida.
Merry
Explorer
Oct 15, 2013
We winter at Sterling Heights RV Resort in Zephyrhills. No gators that I've ever seen. I am not a fan of them except at Busch Gardens
CountryCoachrv
Explorer
Oct 15, 2013
Patter wrote:
Thankyou all for your replies. I think we will try another State.
Terry

There are plenty of parks in central Florida where you will never see an alligator, no lake then no alligator. Check around Dade City and Zephyr Hills, lots of very nice snowbird parks and many of these parks have no lakes so you will have not have to share your campsite with an alligator. Check Grove Ridge in Dade City. Nice park with lots of activities and friendly snowbirds.