Difficulty With Florida State Parks

Thanks to everyone for their comments, especially Dutch_10278 who had a good suggestion. I've had luck in the past by trolling parks for cancellations.

fla-gypsy wrote:
Some serious misconceptions going on here. The booking window is 11 months out at 8 am. Except for the Florida Keys, booking parks 11 months out is generally easy for the summer time. The parks with FHU (yes our parks have some of these) will book quicker. Booking in the winter time from Ocala south is just the luck of the draw and for Christmas/New Years you may not get lucky. One of my favorite things about RA in FSP's is that I get to choose my site. Being a frequent user I know what I am looking for, the size site I decide works for me is no one else's business if I pay for it. Why would anyone fault a reservation system that offers first come, first served reservations? Equipment length is camping equipment only, driveway length is usually listed separate and in most cases long enough to leave the TV hooked up. taking the time to do your research ahead of time and planning ahead will lead to success in securing a great campsite in one the best park systems in the country.

I completely agree !
My wife and I have managed to get sites at all four of the Florida Keys state parks for the past ten winters, bouncing back and forth for two weeks at a time for the entire winter season.

To me it is a way better system then it was years ago when you had to sit in a line up at the gate waiting for it to open and then not getting a spot.

Jack L

Forget the rest of Florida. The panhandle is fine.

One of the reasons we downsized but now our friends or family can't get a site. It's tough if you want to go at a moments notice. Luckily now we camp Sunday through Friday. I guess our state parks are just too nice plus our great winter weather.

rr2254545 wrote:
Way to long people sit on the internet exactly 11 months to the day to make reservation which makes you good today for reservation next May

Yup have been doing exactly that for 12 years to get into Topsail during Easter break. Always works!

Some serious misconceptions going on here. The booking window is 11 months out at 8 am. Except for the Florida Keys, booking parks 11 months out is generally easy for the summer time. The parks with FHU (yes our parks have some of these) will book quicker. Booking in the winter time from Ocala south is just the luck of the draw and for Christmas/New Years you may not get lucky. One of my favorite things about RA in FSP's is that I get to choose my site. Being a frequent user I know what I am looking for, the size site I decide works for me is no one else's business if I pay for it. Why would anyone fault a reservation system that offers first come, first served reservations? Equipment length is camping equipment only, driveway length is usually listed separate and in most cases long enough to leave the TV hooked up. taking the time to do your research ahead of time and planning ahead will lead to success in securing a great campsite in one the best park systems in the country.

Big Katuna wrote:

The length is listed as equipment length and does not include your extra vehicle.

Unless, of course, you want to leave everything connected all or most of the time. Then you had better specify your overall length or you might be in for a nasty surprise.

Fl. has great state parks but, yes you probably waited too long for getting a southern or coastal site in winter. However, even trying 11 months ahead is still problematic because people get on the phone or internet at exactly mid-night 11 mos. advance to get sites. So the only hope is to get on everyday and hope to time it when someone cancels. We've been doing Fl. snowbirding lots of years and have pretty much given up at parks like Myakka River, Oscar Scherer and other southern coastal parks. Often you can get sites at St Pks more in central and northern Fl. and the ones on the panhandle don't seem to fill up as quickly in mid-winter because it can be chilly.

Remember too that Florida is filled with retirees age 65+, who receive half price camping if they are residents of the state.

Obviously we are a warm weather destination in the winter months and everybody, including residents, loves camping at that time of year when the bugs are less aggressive - especially by the water.

We have parks close to very high-demand areas like the Florida Keys. If you have a camper or tent, your family can stay on or within walking distance of the ocean for $40 a night (or $20 - see above) if you are lucky enough to book a campsite. Check the price on a condo rental in the Keys (hint: it is NOT $40).

Myakka River is close to Sarasota, which is swamped with winter visitors paying big bucks to rent condos and hotels, and yet it has airboat rides where you will see so many gators, you'll think you're in the Everglades.

One reason for the popularity of our state's parks is that they have sites you can reserve ahead with electric hookups, so you don't need a generator and if it gets hot, you can run the AC.

Other states' parks with campgrounds don't necessarily offer all these good reasons to book.

Everyone has problems with getting into our State parks. Florida parks are very popular. We gve up trying to get into them. Summertime schools out and locals do the 11 month sign up. Wintertime snowbirds do the 11 mo but switch sites every two weeks usually with each other. Only Luck will help getting into sites.