First trip to Florida

We pulled out of Minnesota last September and headed out west, traveled down the whole west coast and than headed east, we didn't have reservations and really didn't have a problem finding a place to stay. We got to Florida in mid January and really have had problems finding campgrounds. We've needed serval weeks just to find a place to stay overnight. Prices are higher about the same as San Francisco. Heading to Florida plan ahead and like others have said make reservations ahead of time.

Check out Big Cypress RV resort near Clewiston, FL.
We've been here since last November & are loving it!
Lots of events on the social calendar & plenty of places to take day trips to. Lots of folks from your neck of the woods too.

We winter a bit south of Sarasota near Venice. If you are thinking of this you may already be too late for reservations. Our park is already putting people on a wait list for next season. The more inland you go the easier it will be.

This is our first winter in Florida. We started at John Prince Park in Lake Worth, moved up to Jetty Park in Canaveral then over to Bradenton. Then north of Tampa to Crystal River, then south of Ocala then out the panhandle going through MS & LA. TX next week.

If I knew in November what I know now, I'd start in the panhandle and end up south of I-4 somewhere for Jan & Feb. Back north in March.

I'm in Fort Meyers/Naples today, if you plan to come this way make reservations NOW. This place is packed with no open vacancies at all. Even next year is booked up at the place I am at right now.

We spent 4 years on the West Coast of Florida on our boat. December/January/February is not always warm, we had several nights in the 30-40's. But access to beaches is easier and there are many nice beaches. We especially liked beachcombing and searching for sharks teeth.

The Florida Keys are warmer, but expensive and require reservations almost a year in advance. Also, access to the Everglades and other south Florida outdoors is several hours north.

Enjoy your trip!

A few in N. Florida.

You can count the beachfront campgrounds pretty much on one hand.
Beverly Beach Camptown is $100+ a night.


North Beach near St Augustine is close enough to walk to the beach and is on the Intracoastal Waterway.

It will be pretty to look at but water will be chilly in the 60s. We swam in Superior in MI 55 in July.

I would recommend Ocala area for a month and visit all the springs. Great campgrounds cheap. Try Grand Lake RV Resort in Citra.

Third area would be a coin toss between St Pete/ Sarasota or South Florida.

Check out John Prince near WPB.

Check out Larry and Penney Thompson near Miami.

Both Excellent county parks that take snow birds.

State Parks only do two weeks and are hard to get into. You can book them 11 months out.

ricelake922 wrote:
I will be taking retirement this year and want to spend the 2016/2017 winter in Florida. I would like to stay at 3 cities in Florida during my 5 months. I will be leaving Ontario Canada in November and returning in April. I am going to be travelling by myself. I would like to be near or at a beach. I want to take day trips using a car to see interesting sites. I am a very active person and like all activities whether they be planned by the place I am staying or adventuring on my own. I have a 38' Class A RV so the places I stay need to be able to accommodate. I like my luxuries and a good social environment. I do not know where to stay or best cities that give a lot of choices. Since this is my first long time away from home I would appreciate any help to me in planning this trip. I do alot of planning and research but have no idea where to start. Thank you in advance.

Beaches in Central Florida, Titusville/Cocoa West to Tampa area are quite usable in all but January and February and part of that time also. Agree that Gulf Coast is the warmest. Have fun.

Florida beaches are useable more on the West Coast than the East Coast during the Winter. In other words, the Gulf of Mexico is warmer than the Atlantic Ocean. This past Winter was warmer than normal during the December and January time frames and the beaches were crowded with plenty of swimmers on the West Coast.
Obviously the temperatures are a little warmer the farther South you go so along the West Coast you have Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Ft Myers, Naples, and other smaller coastal towns.
Here is a link to get free travel guides from the State. Florida Travel Guide
As a point of reference, you can get travel guides from every State if you do an internet search for the OFFICIAL tourism website for the States that you may want to explore. We started a file of all of the different ones from different States that we have visited and they usually include a nice travel guide as well as various maps. All are free. :)

Search this Forum in the Snowbird section for whatever subject is of interest. Alternately search in the RV parks section for `snowbird'. Understand that winter in Florida is not beach weather unless you wear an overcoat. Also, the parks south of the Orlando latitude fill up in February and March so you might think about making reservations soon after you have found places you like.