Florida beaches in February

[michigansandzil]

With 12 inches of snow on the ground, I'm currently pipedreaming about winter of 2018.

Looking for suggestions for campgrounds in Florida that are on the ocean with nice beaches. I realize it will have to be far south to swim in February and that I'll have to have good luck to score a site.

3 kids, they'd be ages 15-9. We'd need electricity.

We prefer parks that have nice beaches, hiking trails, biking areas, etc. We prefer to stay in a more natural setting like state parks and travel to the city briefly in the evening.

I've heard of Bahia Honda, but the pictures make this park look really crowded. Is that the reality?

Thanks for suggestions.

[TriumphGuy]

Another vote here for Fort de Soto. We stayed there almost a year ago. But it was hard to get sites for sure. County residents can reserve before out of towners and I was lucky to land something.

If you can't get in there, a Mangrove site at the KOA near St Pete is not bad. Yes the CG is in the middle of everything but it's on the "Bayou" and generally quiet. Very short drive to the beach. Some of the interior sites aren't all that great though.

[dakasa47]

Except for August or September or October( and these are far and few) the only way I have been able to get into Bahia Honda is through checking and rechecking the website for cancelations.....checking and rechecking all times of the day and night at least 10-15 times a day....as a night owl getting up before 8:00 to sit at 3 computers tapping away at the keyboard is never going to happen. One time I asked a Ranger there if she had any secret tips as I already knew about the 8:00 am 3 computer thing 11 months ahead and she said....you have to be online at 8:00am with 3 computers, know what site you want and just start tapping away....and also remember that you are competing with people from all over the world who also want to stay at Bahia Honda. We are booked at J Pennycamp, Long Key from 1/17-1/28 moving backhand forth and from site to site through my constant and I mean constant checking.....I have been trying for about 4 months to get a cancelation at Bahia Honda and have found nothing...not even one night.....but I will keep checking....but I am not holding out much hope....last February when we were traveling around the The Keys a last minute cancelation appeared in a waterfront site in BH... I wanted to grab it and go back there but my husband wanted to head north to get home...it was a DUMB move....but I couldn't get him to do it....dont think that opportunity will come up again:(

[agesilaus]

Just for giggles I just searched three of the waterfront sites and no availability for a three night trip anytime in the next 11 months. A guy can dream..
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Well yeah, it's probably not as bad as the Yosemite lottery but it's close. I actually got a site by just pulling in and asking if they had an open site. That was the last time I stayed there. We just stay at Pirate's Cove at Marathon when we go down there, but that is not during the winter season.

[All_I_could_aff]

I should clarify that I was referring to the Buttonwood area where only about 10 of the sites are right on the water, because that is the area where you would want to be if you had anything bigger than a pop up or hybrid.

Sandspur area if I recall is the wooded section with small sites where about half of them you can walk through the bushes from your site to the water, but I believe officially limited to 14 foot trailers.

And most of us can forget about staying in the third area where you have to go underneath the 6 foot clearance bridge in less you are tent or pop up camping.

Just for giggles I just searched three of the waterfront sites and no availability for a three night trip anytime in the next 11 months. A guy can dream..

[agesilaus]

You may be thinking of the old CG. They have added a second CG for RV's which is located behind that bridge you see in the photo above (if it is looking south). Unlike the old CG which was wooded this one is bare sand. But it has room for larger RV's. You have to understand that some of these Keys are very small. You want to watch the waves, which are almost nonexistent in the keys unless there is a storm, then take your lawn chairs out and sit out on the beach.

[All_I_could_aff]

Michigansandzilla... I have stopped and visited Bahia Honda on three different occasions in the last three years. Never for camping, but just a day trip passing through on the way to Key West. Although it is on my list of places I would love to spend a few nights when I work up the courage to drag my camper 1300 miles each way.

The beach is small and a bit rugged and yes lots of seaweed. Images of the old TV show "Gilligan's island" come to mind. The sites are rather close together, and only about 10 of them put you directly on the waterfront where you can watch the waves from your site. I attaching a few pictures from my recent trip.

[Us_out_West]

I prefer our water temps here in SW Arizona.

[fla-gypsy]

Appropriate water temp is very subjective. Us native Floridians will not go in the water until May.

[Triker33]

Average Coastal Water Temperatures for the Southeast
Location JAN FEB
Key West FL 69 70
Key West FL(MLRF1) 69 70
Miami Beach FL 71 73
Naples FL 66 66

[Stormy_Eyes]

agesilaus wrote:


I'd get on ReserveAmerica and do some exploring of the beach parks. That will give you an idea of when you need to try to get reservations.

Another possibility is Myakka River SP and Oscar Scherer SP aren't directly on the beach but you can drive to the beach in 30 minutes or so. Myakka has some good hiking trails, lots of alligators, and a walk in the top of trees. Demand probably won't be as great for those. They are both in the Sarasota area which has a lot of interesting places to visit. Tomoka SP is on the east coast and is even closer but not on the beaches.

To expand on this post a bit, near Tomoka is Gamble Rogers State Rec Area. Half the campsites are on the beach. The others are just across the road (A1A) near the intercostal. Quick walk between the two campgrounds; both are nice in their own way. Easy to get to that park. Again maybe a bit cool to swim in February, but way, way warmer than home. Book at reserve America 11 months in advance.

[michigansandzil]

TrailerTraveler1 wrote:
For nice beaches, our favorite is Fort DeSoto County Park in Pinellas County (just south of Tampa), it's much farther north than the Keys

That looks like a really nice campground! And farther north would be a benefit as well. February might be too cold though.

I think what I'll do is try to get into Bahia Honda in February or Fort De Soto in April. If either of those pan out, I'll consider myself lucky.

[TrailerTravele1]

No real "beaches" in the Keys, Bahia Honda is nice - and the main "beach" is protected between two bridges, but it is difficult to get into and a LONG way down from MI. The beach is "natural" - i.e. not cleaned which means lots of seaweed, be prepared. The weather in February is a ****-shoot - we spent the last two winters in Key West and got to swim/snorkel a few days between cold fronts. Late February can be warmer. Cold fronts there are just as frequent as up north, but contain wind and rain, with moderate temps.

For nice beaches, our favorite is Fort DeSoto County Park in Pinellas County (just south of Tampa), it's much farther north than the Keys - but further south than the panhandle where we are right now - no one swimming here even in December. But reserve WELL in advance - another of those reserve the second the window opens - you'll need to google it, but I think it's either 11 months or a year in advance.

Good luck - we've wanted to camp there for the past two years after visiting the campground and checking out the sites. But can't seem to make plans far enough in advance to score a reservation. 😞

[MandKJohns]

fitznj wrote:
You may want to consider the "Panhandle" of FL; I've bee there twice in Fed and although the evenings can get a bit chilly, the daylight temps are ~70 and the Gulf water can be a bit chilly but it is swimmable. Crystal River Area was also
nice in Feb.

I live in the "Panhandle" and fitznj is right. The water will be chilly but the air temps are usually around 60 to 70 degrees here in February. If your wanting warmer water then you will need to go farther south. At least mid-Florida. Somewhere Orlando or farther. Hope this helps.

[Fizz]

If you are willing to settle for a 20 minute drive to the beach you will have tons more to choose from.