My wife and I just bought a 31-foot Jayco TT, both of us have just retired, and we have never been to the Keys; been to the FL gulf many times as we live in Alabama. We would like to make a "tour" of Florida - Gulf coast, Keys, Atlantic coast; preferable staying in state parks. I know that the winter-spring months may be a problem with getting reservations. How are other times of the year weather, bug, crowd-wise? We like kayaking, swimming, lazing around, snorkeling. How is mid-late summer; too hot/muggy? Any tips/advise would be much appreciated.

May and October will be less busy and still good weather

Anytime there is no hurricane threat!

fla-gypsy wrote:May and October will be less busy and still good weatherLess busy, perhaps, from an RV'ing standpoint, but very busy from a general tourist standpoint. But then again, its the Keys...its always busy with tourists.If it were me, I would prefer the spring time of year for a visit to Keys ONLY if I couldn't get there during the winter (which presumably you can't at this point). The summer can be excruciating due to heat moreso than bugs.

If you check reserveamerica.com every couple of days, you can usually find cancellations during any month. It seems people typically cancel 4-8 weeks out, giving you a month or two to plan your trip. Doing this, I've managed to get up to 9 days at an oceanfront site in both long key and bahia honda - well worth the five minutes a day it took me to look.For me, any time of year is great for the Keys. But, I have been there in March when the temps were in the 50s and in August when the temps were in the 90s. You just never know with the weather.I would guess April - after snowbirds and before summer break, and October - before snowbirds and after summer break, would be the easiest to get reservations. But they are also really nice, often mild, weather months.Another must stop, though not a state park: Fort DeSoto Park, just south of Clearwater. Probably one of the most beautiful calm water parks in Florida.Enjoy your trip and retirement!

Something to keep in mind. The keys are a string of coral reefs. Unless an RV park imports sand to make an artificial beach, wear shoes when you go in the water. Coral is very sharp.

Best time of year for the Florida Keys? | Good Sam Community

Klueck
Explorer
Jan 25, 2015
We love the Keys in the winter, but since we're Floridians, we're kind of wimpy regarding the water temperature for snorkeling and diving. We found the water started getting nice and warm towards late April and into May last year. It does get pretty hot but if you're close to the water, you'll most always have a nice sea breeze. The water is nice and warm from May through October and it may be easier to get reservations than in the winter. Of course you do have to consider hurricane season which is from June 1 thru November 30.
ekirkland
Explorer
Jan 09, 2015
I'm pretty sure you won't have a problem getting into Knight's Key in April. They are in Marathon and just a few miles south of Curry Hammock.
We will be at Bluewater Key the last week of March then the first 2 weeks of April at Curry Hammock.

I booked a night at Knights Key; thanks for the suggestions.
dieharder
Explorer
Jan 09, 2015
Doug33 wrote:
Are there tolls on the roads/bridges (assume it's mostly Route 1) in the Keys? I just estimated that drive time to Key West is 20 hours and 30 minutes!

No tolls once in the Keys the entire way to Key West, at least not the last time I was there a couple of years ago. Highly doubt that's changed.
Luke_Porter
Explorer
Jan 09, 2015
Doug33 wrote:
Are there tolls on the roads/bridges (assume it's mostly Route 1) in the Keys? I just estimated that drive time to Key West is 20 hours and 30 minutes!

Also, do FL state parks have set prices/night or does it vary by park and time of year, etc? Do they offer electric/water/sewer?

There are no tolls once you get off the turnpike.

The State parks in the Keys are $43 a nite and have water and electricity at the site. Dump station available.
LarryJM
Explorer II
Jan 09, 2015
We spent the last 1/2 of Apr and whole mo of May of last year (2014) doing the entire loop around Fl including 2 weeks in KW (1-15May). Weather was great and crowds manageable. I would bet Oct time frame would also be good.

Plans are to hit KW again in May 2016 along with the Fl Penn. and Ms/Al gulf coast.

Larry
agesilaus
Explorer III
Jan 09, 2015
Myakka is near the top of my favorite Florida parks. They have a tree top walk, they built a walkway about 40 feet up in the trees. And more gators than you'll see anywhere outside of the Everglades. Not near the Keys tho, or I-95.

Jonathan Dickenson is a park near I-95 and a popular favorite for camping. It's one of the few older parks we haven't been too but it is frequently mentioned on the forum here. It would be a good stop before driving the rest of the way down to the Keys.
kevden
Explorer
Jan 09, 2015
Myakka state park near Sarasota is a very nice park with FHU sites if you need to stop. Not too far off of I75.
agesilaus
Explorer III
Jan 08, 2015
Doug33 wrote:
Are there tolls on the roads/bridges (assume it's mostly Route 1) in the Keys? I just estimated that drive time to Key West is 20 hours and 30 minutes!

The Florida Turnpike has tolls, but they are worth it in the Miami area to avoid the traffic. There are other toll roads in Miami too. But US 1 and US A1A are toll free.

Also, do FL state parks have set prices/night or does it vary by park and time of year, etc?

The fees on the parks in the keys are higher than in the rest of the state, But they are constant and don't vary by time of year.

Do they offer electric/water/sewer?

Most have electric and water and some have FHU. The parks are slowly upgrading campgrounds to FHU. So check on reserve america to see what that particular park has. That will also tell you what the camping fees are. At least Florida does not charge a separate park entry and camping fee like some states do.
Doug33
Explorer
Jan 08, 2015
Are there tolls on the roads/bridges (assume it's mostly Route 1) in the Keys? I just estimated that drive time to Key West is 20 hours and 30 minutes!

Also, do FL state parks have set prices/night or does it vary by park and time of year, etc? Do they offer electric/water/sewer?
dieharder
Explorer
Jan 08, 2015
Probably not a problem getting into Jolly Roger on that date either.

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