Just bought a class A with intentions of driving it from Maine to Florida and leaving it down there for three or four months. Any advice on locations, pro and con? I will be flying down to Florida in the next couple of weeks to do a tour of prospective sites.

Well, we are heading your direction for the summer to get away from our summer heat in a few days. Bar Harbor area for a few months. It all depends where you want to be in Florida . Used to be the east coast was much more congested than the west coast, but that is changing. The entire state is packed and traffic is horrendous all over . Regardless, If you want pretty much consistently warm weather during the winter months, you need to look south of I-4 . North, you will have frost/freezes, south not so much, although an occasional front will bring frost. For the most part, during the snowbird season ( figure Nov-April) the further south and the closer to the coast will result in higher prices. The peninsula of Florida is about 500 miles long so there are lots of areas that may be of interest. If you narrow down your preferred location and price point , perhaps we can all give some more specific recommendations.

Thanks for the reply. You will definitely escape hot weather in Bar Harbor, the coastal area has much cooler days (and fog) than the inland Maine areas like Bangor. We have been to the west coast many times, Marco and Sarasota and like those areas. Also have friends in Ft. Myers (Estero). Thinking the panhandle might be nice to try. Comments?

Good idea to do a prospective look around. We were looking for somewhere in the Keys and although we didn't go everywhere, the consensus was that we'd have to book a spot a year in advance and the prices were astronomical. Keep in mind that as far south as Ft Myers you'll get a few days over the winter of mid-30's - usually just at night. But it's still a lot warmer than the NE US!

If you're from Bar Harbor, you may be ok on the Panhandle, but be aware it does get pretty cold up there, with frosts and freezes. I over-winter in the Sebring Florida area in the south central part of the state. I like to spend most of the winter in shorts and sandals. Personally, I like to do some gardening during the winter, growing tomatoes, pineapples, and flowers, and you pretty much have to be south of I-4 to do that. As posted, prices will be higher closer to the coasts and closer to Disney, and you'll find some up-scale resorts. Center state, IMHO, seems to be more middle class retiree centric, and I like the Sebring area due to the central location and the access to shopping. I don't care to drive 25 or more miles to get groceries. Sebring/Avon Park area has a couple of Walmarts, Lowes, Home Depot, a Mall, etc., and a bunch of restaurants. If you like to fish, there are lots of lakes and streams, and the ocean is only a couple of hours away. Repost when you decide on something, Happy Camping.

Try Haines Creek RV Village on SR 44 in Leesburg but also close to Tavares.

Florida Seasonal Camping | Good Sam Community

floridacamper
Nomad
Jun 14, 2016
NanciL wrote:
The Keys are the warmest and even in the Keys there will be a few winter nights in the 40's

We winter there for five months every year and like it so much that two years ago we bought a RV site on Key Largo

jack L

Jack, if you don't mind me asking, what does a site cost at Key Largo?
Bea_PA
Explorer
Jun 14, 2016
Traffic on 441 and 19 is usually pretty bad in winter. We stay near Haines City, 18 miles S of Disney. Traffic isn't really bad on 27 and there is lots to do in the park itself and near several bike trails and shopping. Winter Haven, Lake wales, Sebring, all have many campgrounds that offer reasonable seasonal rates and you are less than an hour from either coast.
Ivylog
Explorer III
Jun 12, 2016
South Fla long term rentals are harder to get than short term. From what you've said, I would book a month in five different parks in the SW coastal areas now to find out which you like best. Visiting a vacant park in the summer... yes there are very few in them in the summer will not give you a feel if you will like it for months at a time.
Retired_JSO
Explorer
Jun 12, 2016
Yep, freezes here. I think we had 2 days last winter they said to protect pipes, usually at sunrise.
JoeH
Explorer III
Jun 11, 2016
Your question about just showing up and are vacancies and issue---- most likely an issue at the better places as snowbird season gets underway.
You were thinking about Ft. Myers area... check out Riverbend Resort--- very nice place, but sort of in the middle of nowhere- about 15 miles or so east from Ft. Myers. Another option is San Carlos RV which is just across the bridge from Ft. Myers Beach. You can walk to the beach ,restaurants and stores.
jts140
Explorer
Jun 11, 2016
Looking at your name, is it safe to assume you mountain bike, check out Alafia River state park for their trails, Balm Boyette and Carter. Google all three and you will see some unbelievable riding for central Florida. All three are old phosphate mines from the 60s, where they left the property as they mined it and now owned by the state. Just for your info... Their is also Santos in north Florida..
fla-gypsy
Explorer
Jun 11, 2016
rockhillmanor wrote:
If you are looking for a relaxing quiet rural setting; north central Florida will be desirable and it is much cheaper, less congested, and more laid back than central and south Florida.

X2

Regarding Leesburg: I stayed in the Leesburg area several times. You will be packed in like sardines at all of them on nothing but sand. All the CG's are on the outskirts of a very busy congested city with nothing but big stores and real bad road traffic patterns. No where to go and nothing to do. If you just like hanging out in a CG all the time for the winter months I guess it would be ok.

IMHO, JMHO Check out the Rainbow Springs, Dunnellon area and Crystal River. I just found this area last year. I call it my hidden gem, best kept secret of Florida. :W There is always a breeze almost no mosquitoes and the springs/rivers offers tons of different recreational trips, even just driving to all different State Parks to see the springs and manatees makes for a real nice day trip. Or canoe, kayak or tube down the springs river!

It's like no other part of Florida. For me I can't get enough of all the real trees here, real dirt, and real green grass. And some of the most spectacular clear blue deep springs.

Dunnellon has a nice CG near the Rainbow springs river and a SP that is near and many always post that Rock Crusher CG in Crystal river is good too. I haven't stayed at either. There are also a plethora of CG's within 20 miles or less of this area and the rates are very low for some very very nice CG's.

Yes if you are staying during the winter months there will be some cold days BUT "unlike any where else", the temps ONLY drop about 2 or 3 hours right BEFORE sunrise. Yup! It gets cold for 2 whole hours before sunrise and then its right back up to warm.

Up in the Midwest when they say freezing temps? The minute the sun goes down it's freezing and lasts ALL night long. Not the case in Florida. So don't be swayed about the comments that it freezes up here in the North Central area of Florida.

Sorry for being long winded, I just can't say enough about this part of Florida. I just wish someone would have told me about it way sooner!! But shhhh, don't tell too many people about it! :C

Rock Crusher
https://www.sunrvresorts.com/Community/ROC

http://www.floridastateparks.org/rainbowsprings/

I think we should conspire to quit trying to steer folks to the real Florida and keep it to ourselves.
Mtnbikerx
Explorer
Jun 11, 2016
Thank you all so much for the tribal knowledge. We don't golf nor care much for fishing. My wife is pretty sedentary but loves to take off in the dingy to sightsee and shop. So far I have decided an RV park south of Rt 4 is a necessity and the west coast is our favorite. We just want to experience waking up every morning in Feb/Mar to bone warming temperatures and sun. We would probably like to position the coach in December and bring it back up to Maine in April. Since we have sold our company to an ESOP (employees) but I want to continue in my role as mentor and alpha salesman for a few more years, I plan to return to Maine every couple of weeks. My wife may or may not stay in Fla. while I commute.
My big unknown is the possibility of finding good quality RV parks that we can just show up to and check in. Are vacancies an issue?
joe_b_
Explorer II
Jun 09, 2016
Around here, the Stuart Florida area, we get what seems to be a lot of golf enthusiastic snowbirds/RVers. Golf and fishing seem to be the two big draws, after the weather the top of Lake O is normally considered the no frost line in Florida. I personally enjoy having a few more cold days in winter than we have here, but many like the milder climate. Suspect after living for 25+ years in rural Alaska and about 10 years in western Colorado, Ouray, that I consider some cold as good. LOL
Ivylog
Explorer III
Jun 09, 2016
Unless you go to the panhandle south of AL, there is not much to do other than fish. Many find it worth the price to stay south of I-4 as most cold fronts stall north of it resulting in more rain and colder temps with many mornings below freezing.

More CGs on the SW coast than the SE coast and not much to do in the middle... back to fresh water fishing. I would not check it out in the summer... just come on down in the winter and travel about checking places out.