Very New to Snowbirding Florida Question Please

Florida doesn't have to be expensive in the winter. We mostly stay at the Escapees owned park about an hour west of Orlando for about $11/night + electric at the monthly rate for FHU, and the rest of the time at state parks south of there at an average of $25/night or the NPS Midway campground on the Tamiami Trail for $15/night. If you don't require an ocean view and lots of amenities, keeping warm in Florida for the winter can be reasonably inexpensive.

TomG2 wrote:
I won't Winter anywhere north of a Fort Myers-West Palm Beach line. The rest is easy, "Bring a truck load of money".

Agree, why be cold.

We stayed in the panhandle last year and the temps got as cold as 25 in January. Emerald Campground was a nice place to stay in Navarra.

A few years ago, on our first month-long stay in warmer weather, we discovered the beauty, and COLD that is the Florida panhandle in January. I'm from Michigan - and feel like a damp, windy, low-50's day feels colder than a "dry" 20 degree day back home. Since we didn't have heated tanks, we found ourselves many times, adding antifreeze at night to the tanks, just in case....

The next year we stayed north of Orlando, and found better temps, but still had the occasional nighttime winterization of the tanks.

Last year we stayed south of Orlando, and had no problems. LOVED Bonita Springs (near Naples); and ultimately bought a condo near Melbourne :-)

To the OP: a little note about Navarre Beach: it get noisy. Eglin AFB occasionally does weapons testing and "night operations" which sounds like WWIII at about 2 AM! The locals are used to it - but WE sure weren't.

I won't Winter anywhere north of a Fort Myers-West Palm Beach line. The rest is easy, "Bring a truck load of money".

Hank MI wrote:
We stay at Miami Everglades RV park. Southwest of Miami and a little north of Homestead, 30 miles to Key Largo. Miami is considered sub-tropical so it's going to be pretty warm most of the time. We used heat at night for 3 or 4 days the first week of February this year but temps were in the 70's once the sun came up, shorts and t-shirt every day. It's not on the water but has a nice pool, miniature golf, volley ball, etc. Close to the keys, the everglades, Miami if you choose to drive there. It's an older park so some the sites are smaller but overall a decent place and you're pretty much guaranteed the weather will be warm. Temps and humidity don't get too high until end of March beginning of April. April 1st the place is just about empty, time to head north to cooler temps.

Back on 04/23/15 09:49am I answered this and said South of Orlando and North of Key West.... I stay with that statement. I also have been to the campground that Hank suggested and yes it would be a good first year Snowbird park for you until you learn the Florida area. Even in Orlando this last year it was very cold a few days.... I live in Northeast Florida and REALLY until you get south of I4 you are REALLY in Georgia weather wise. Many mornings this last few years there is ice on the windshield.

We stay at Miami Everglades RV park. Southwest of Miami and a little north of Homestead, 30 miles to Key Largo. Miami is considered sub-tropical so it's going to be pretty warm most of the time. We used heat at night for 3 or 4 days the first week of February this year but temps were in the 70's once the sun came up, shorts and t-shirt every day. It's not on the water but has a nice pool, miniature golf, volley ball, etc. Close to the keys, the everglades, Miami if you choose to drive there. It's an older park so some the sites are smaller but overall a decent place and you're pretty much guaranteed the weather will be warm. Temps and humidity don't get too high until end of March beginning of April. April 1st the place is just about empty, time to head north to cooler temps.

Spent 2 mo. here http://www.citrusvalleyrv.com/resort-map/ about 3 yrs ago. Very nice accomodations. Have since sold RV and purchased a home about 50 miles south at Winterhaven.

Check out parks in the Haines city area, Central Park is nice, West View Ridge is privately owned but many rent their lots out for around 400 plus electric. We get 30's a couple times a year mostly around 70. Clermont has several parks, Lake Magic(on192) and Citrus Valley(on 27) are nice but probably higher. they are not really in Clermont they are on 192 and 27 close to 192 Why don't you try Central Park in Haines City for a month or 3 and look around.

Bob Shaw wrote:
I stand by my earlier post, come to the Avon Park/Sebring area where the rates are from about $300-$350 up to about $900-$1,000 depending on amenities and location. A lot of the parks are mostly park models, with a number of spaces for trailers. Check-out RVparkreviews.com, that's how I found my current park. Only I ended up buying a park model, after I decided I liked the area, the park, and the people. Look, I was in Miami when it snowed (the only time in recorded history) so it can still get cold anywhere in Florida. Sometimes the Alberta Clippers make it that far south, but it's usually short lived. I like the Sebring area due to the weather, proximity to shopping, fishing, golf, and the major attractions are a little over an hour away, and several ports are about 2 hours away, as are the beaches.

Let us know what you decide to do. Come to Florida and be active all winter, don't sit inside and watch it snow outside the window.

Bob Shaw is right, this is a very nice area. My parents lived in Sarasota for 14 years and moved to Avon Park and lived there for 15 years at Reflections on Silver Lake, I even loved that park and it may some day be where we end up settling.
The weather was always pretty nice, might get cooler at night and some cooler days in January but the sun is still warm and even at 68 degrees you don't need jackets.
Enjoy your winter in Florida.

Sher