Earlier I had asked about RV parks near Key West and several people recommended the Jolly Roger park. We have reservations coming up there and need some advice. If you have been there, any info on the surrounding area would be greatly appreciated. From looking at Google maps, it looks like there isn't a place to fill up (diesel) within a couple of hundred miles. I'm hoping that is wrong! Also, any close grocery stores?And also, anything local that is a "must see or do" for people who have never been to the Keys?Thank you so much!!I guess I should have said, we usually fill up at truck stops because we have a 38 ft class A and can't fit into every type of station :)

Google "marathon florida gas station" and "marathon florida grocery"...there are avarious places in Marathon...

It's a nice park, we stayed there a couple of times. There are lots of Diesel stations in the area as well as a Walmart and other supermarkets--Publix and Winn Dixie. You can think of the upper keys as one very long strip mall.If the weather cooperates you should go out one snorkeling trip on any of the dive boats operating down there. Otherwise it's mainly the beaches. At least one day trip to Key West is called for. Watching the sunset off the dock at Key West is a major local event.

Plenty of diesel. We usually fill up in Florida City on the way down for better prices.We often stop at the Winn Dixie in Tavernier on the way to Marathon, but there are at least three nice WDs in the Keys.If you like vintage breakfast places, stop in at the Stuffed Pig in Marathon. Good Tiki garden with tables and servers.

You don't want to fill up in the Keys. It's just more expensive there. Just before getting there, in Florida City you'll pass by at few stations on the way. The last one you pass (I think it's a Racetrac), just past the Holiday Inn Express, should have more than enough room for whatever rig you are driving.Fill up a Class A and you should have more than enough fuel to get to Marathon and back, unless you're doing other touring in your rig, which I doubt.

That sounds great, thanks for the advice!

Jolly Roger Travel park in Marathon Florida | Good Sam Community

wbwood
Explorer
Dec 23, 2014
Google "marathon florida gas station" and "marathon florida grocery"...there are avarious places in Marathon...
agesilaus
Explorer III
Dec 23, 2014
It's a nice park, we stayed there a couple of times. There are lots of Diesel stations in the area as well as a Walmart and other supermarkets--Publix and Winn Dixie. You can think of the upper keys as one very long strip mall.

If the weather cooperates you should go out one snorkeling trip on any of the dive boats operating down there. Otherwise it's mainly the beaches. At least one day trip to Key West is called for. Watching the sunset off the dock at Key West is a major local event.
NCWriter
Explorer
Dec 23, 2014
Plenty of diesel. We usually fill up in Florida City on the way down for better prices.

We often stop at the Winn Dixie in Tavernier on the way to Marathon, but there are at least three nice WDs in the Keys.

If you like vintage breakfast places, stop in at the Stuffed Pig in Marathon. Good Tiki garden with tables and servers.
dieharder
Explorer
Dec 23, 2014
You don't want to fill up in the Keys. It's just more expensive there. Just before getting there, in Florida City you'll pass by at few stations on the way. The last one you pass (I think it's a Racetrac), just past the Holiday Inn Express, should have more than enough room for whatever rig you are driving.

Fill up a Class A and you should have more than enough fuel to get to Marathon and back, unless you're doing other touring in your rig, which I doubt.
EydieG
Explorer
Dec 23, 2014
That sounds great, thanks for the advice!
Bill___Kate
Explorer
Dec 24, 2014
The last service plaza on the Turnpike before the end is the easiest place for a big rig - they have a truck island. The Racetrack mentioned is reasonably easy access for a class A, also. There are a couple places in Marathon with adequate RV access for diesel. There are plenty of good restaurants and tiki bars up and down the keys ....
owenssailor
Explorer
Dec 24, 2014
The turtle rescue hospital is not far from Jolly Roger. Definitely of interest.
Also the Key deer on the way down to Key West.
ependydad
Explorer
Dec 24, 2014
dieharder wrote:
You don't want to fill up in the Keys. It's just more expensive there. Just before getting there, in Florida City you'll pass by at few stations on the way. The last one you pass (I think it's a Racetrac), just past the Holiday Inn Express, should have more than enough room for whatever rig you are driving.

Fill up a Class A and you should have more than enough fuel to get to Marathon and back, unless you're doing other touring in your rig, which I doubt.

Believe it or not, we saw diesel for not a whole lot more than it was on the mainland. In fact, we saw it cheaper than some of the places along I-95 when we came south from MD.

Bill & Kate wrote:
The last service plaza on the Turnpike before the end is the easiest place for a big rig - they have a truck island. The Racetrack mentioned is reasonably easy access for a class A, also. There are a couple places in Marathon with adequate RV access for diesel. There are plenty of good restaurants and tiki bars up and down the keys ....

I agree on the service plaza fuel station. We did that and it worked well for us.

What I didn't notice were a whole lot of places that would be big rig friendly for filling up. But I wasn't looking too hard as I knew we had plenty of fuel to make it down and likely even back up before needing to fill up again.
Allworth
Explorer II
Dec 24, 2014
You are just talking about the Florida Keys, not Outer Mongolia!

Civilization does exist South of Homestead!
agesilaus
Explorer III
Dec 24, 2014
"Believe it or not, we saw diesel for not a whole lot more than it was on the mainland. In fact, we saw it cheaper than some of the places along I-95 when we came south from MD."

Yeah I agree, the fuel prices in Marathon and Largo were a few cents higher than that in Florida City. And fuel on the Turnpike is never cheap. I only buy fuel there is if I absolutely need to do it.

But further south, past Marathon the fuel prices increase quite a bit.