Florida Seasonal Camping

[Mtnbikerx]

Just bought a class A with intentions of driving it from Maine to Florida and leaving it down there for three or four months. Any advice on locations, pro and con? I will be flying down to Florida in the next couple of weeks to do a tour of prospective sites.

[floridacamper]

NanciL wrote:
The Keys are the warmest and even in the Keys there will be a few winter nights in the 40's

We winter there for five months every year and like it so much that two years ago we bought a RV site on Key Largo

jack L

Jack, if you don't mind me asking, what does a site cost at Key Largo?

[Bea_PA]

Traffic on 441 and 19 is usually pretty bad in winter. We stay near Haines City, 18 miles S of Disney. Traffic isn't really bad on 27 and there is lots to do in the park itself and near several bike trails and shopping. Winter Haven, Lake wales, Sebring, all have many campgrounds that offer reasonable seasonal rates and you are less than an hour from either coast.

[Ivylog]

South Fla long term rentals are harder to get than short term. From what you've said, I would book a month in five different parks in the SW coastal areas now to find out which you like best. Visiting a vacant park in the summer... yes there are very few in them in the summer will not give you a feel if you will like it for months at a time.

[Retired_JSO]

Yep, freezes here. I think we had 2 days last winter they said to protect pipes, usually at sunrise.

[JoeH]

Your question about just showing up and are vacancies and issue---- most likely an issue at the better places as snowbird season gets underway.
You were thinking about Ft. Myers area... check out Riverbend Resort--- very nice place, but sort of in the middle of nowhere- about 15 miles or so east from Ft. Myers. Another option is San Carlos RV which is just across the bridge from Ft. Myers Beach. You can walk to the beach ,restaurants and stores.

[jts140]

Looking at your name, is it safe to assume you mountain bike, check out Alafia River state park for their trails, Balm Boyette and Carter. Google all three and you will see some unbelievable riding for central Florida. All three are old phosphate mines from the 60s, where they left the property as they mined it and now owned by the state. Just for your info... Their is also Santos in north Florida..

[fla-gypsy]

rockhillmanor wrote:

If you are looking for a relaxing quiet rural setting; north central Florida will be desirable and it is much cheaper, less congested, and more laid back than central and south Florida.

X2

Regarding Leesburg: I stayed in the Leesburg area several times. You will be packed in like sardines at all of them on nothing but sand. All the CG's are on the outskirts of a very busy congested city with nothing but big stores and real bad road traffic patterns. No where to go and nothing to do. If you just like hanging out in a CG all the time for the winter months I guess it would be ok.

IMHO, JMHO Check out the Rainbow Springs, Dunnellon area and Crystal River. I just found this area last year. I call it my hidden gem, best kept secret of Florida. :W There is always a breeze almost no mosquitoes and the springs/rivers offers tons of different recreational trips, even just driving to all different State Parks to see the springs and manatees makes for a real nice day trip. Or canoe, kayak or tube down the springs river!

It's like no other part of Florida. For me I can't get enough of all the real trees here, real dirt, and real green grass. And some of the most spectacular clear blue deep springs.

Dunnellon has a nice CG near the Rainbow springs river and a SP that is near and many always post that Rock Crusher CG in Crystal river is good too. I haven't stayed at either. There are also a plethora of CG's within 20 miles or less of this area and the rates are very low for some very very nice CG's.

Yes if you are staying during the winter months there will be some cold days BUT "unlike any where else", the temps ONLY drop about 2 or 3 hours right BEFORE sunrise. Yup! It gets cold for 2 whole hours before sunrise and then its right back up to warm.

Up in the Midwest when they say freezing temps? The minute the sun goes down it's freezing and lasts ALL night long. Not the case in Florida. So don't be swayed about the comments that it freezes up here in the North Central area of Florida.

Sorry for being long winded, I just can't say enough about this part of Florida. I just wish someone would have told me about it way sooner!! But shhhh, don't tell too many people about it! :C

Rock Crusher
https://www.sunrvresorts.com/Community/ROC

http://www.floridastateparks.org/rainbowsprings/

I think we should conspire to quit trying to steer folks to the real Florida and keep it to ourselves.

[Mtnbikerx]

Thank you all so much for the tribal knowledge. We don't golf nor care much for fishing. My wife is pretty sedentary but loves to take off in the dingy to sightsee and shop. So far I have decided an RV park south of Rt 4 is a necessity and the west coast is our favorite. We just want to experience waking up every morning in Feb/Mar to bone warming temperatures and sun. We would probably like to position the coach in December and bring it back up to Maine in April. Since we have sold our company to an ESOP (employees) but I want to continue in my role as mentor and alpha salesman for a few more years, I plan to return to Maine every couple of weeks. My wife may or may not stay in Fla. while I commute.
My big unknown is the possibility of finding good quality RV parks that we can just show up to and check in. Are vacancies an issue?

[joe_b_]

Around here, the Stuart Florida area, we get what seems to be a lot of golf enthusiastic snowbirds/RVers. Golf and fishing seem to be the two big draws, after the weather the top of Lake O is normally considered the no frost line in Florida. I personally enjoy having a few more cold days in winter than we have here, but many like the milder climate. Suspect after living for 25+ years in rural Alaska and about 10 years in western Colorado, Ouray, that I consider some cold as good. LOL

[Ivylog]

Unless you go to the panhandle south of AL, there is not much to do other than fish. Many find it worth the price to stay south of I-4 as most cold fronts stall north of it resulting in more rain and colder temps with many mornings below freezing.

More CGs on the SW coast than the SE coast and not much to do in the middle... back to fresh water fishing. I would not check it out in the summer... just come on down in the winter and travel about checking places out.

[joe_b_]

A seasonal camper in Florida needs to decide if they are going to take their RV back north with them or leave it here in Florida. When we were fulltiming in our Rig, we spent one winter season in the Homosassa/Krystal River area at Nature's Resort RV Park. Met at least a dozen couples, from eastern Tennessee, Crossville area that when they got ready to return home for the summer, called one of the local storage places that sent out a truck to haul their trailer to storage for them. In the fall, the storage place would bring it back to the campground and set it up. The couple setup next to us said he sold his truck as he no longer needed it to tow his large 5th wheel. Most of these Crossville couples just brought their cars/SUVs down to Florida.

Recently I got an email advertising from a campground in the Ft Meyers/Naples area offering a 7 and 5 plan. If I would pay for 7 months in advance, then I could leave our RV on the same site, unoccupied for the 5 months. We weren't interested as we went back to being extended travelers living in a stick and brick.

For us personally, I would try to stay south of the top of the Big Lake, Okeechobee. I would just have to factor in costs, any needed specialized medical care needed, family, hobbies, climate desired, etc. Florida has something for every taste or lack of taste. lOL

I tend to like the Crystal River area and both sides of it. This is Old Florida, the Non-tourist Florida, Third World Florida, laid back, backwater of the state, eat but it appeals to many. For short stays over there we like Rock Crusher RV, Wintered at Natures Resort and had friends that stated at the Encore Park and enjoyed their stay according to them.

[phillyg]

Haven't you heard, Florida is full!

[sdianel_-acct_c]

We like Suwannee River Rendezvous in Mayo FL. Reasonable rates. You might have some frost and cool weather but not everyday and usually warms up in the afternoon.
Farther South, more expensive but they do have seasonal rates and storage - Quail Run RV Resort in Wesley Chapel FL about 20 mins. north of Tampa.
Also look around Arcadia. Inland less expensive but still close enough to drive to the beach in a day.

[Mr__Camper]

rockhillmanor wrote:

If you are looking for a relaxing quiet rural setting; north central Florida will be desirable and it is much cheaper, less congested, and more laid back than central and south Florida.

X2

Regarding Leesburg: I stayed in the Leesburg area several times. You will be packed in like sardines at all of them on nothing but sand. All the CG's are on the outskirts of a very busy congested city with nothing but big stores and real bad road traffic patterns. No where to go and nothing to do. If you just like hanging out in a CG all the time for the winter months I guess it would be ok.

IMHO, JMHO Check out the Rainbow Springs, Dunnellon area and Crystal River. I just found this area last year. I call it my hidden gem, best kept secret of Florida. :W There is always a breeze almost no mosquitoes and the springs/rivers offers tons of different recreational trips, even just driving to all different State Parks to see the springs and manatees makes for a real nice day trip. Or canoe, kayak or tube down the springs river!

It's like no other part of Florida. For me I can't get enough of all the real trees here, real dirt, and real green grass. And some of the most spectacular clear blue deep springs.

Dunnellon has a nice CG near the Rainbow springs river and a SP that is near and many always post that Rock Crusher CG in Crystal river is good too. I haven't stayed at either. There are also a plethora of CG's within 20 miles or less of this area and the rates are very low for some very very nice CG's.

Yes if you are staying during the winter months there will be some cold days BUT "unlike any where else", the temps ONLY drop about 2 or 3 hours right BEFORE sunrise. Yup! It gets cold for 2 whole hours before sunrise and then its right back up to warm.

Up in the Midwest when they say freezing temps? The minute the sun goes down it's freezing and lasts ALL night long. Not the case in Florida. So don't be swayed about the comments that it freezes up here in the North Central area of Florida.

Sorry for being long winded, I just can't say enough about this part of Florida. I just wish someone would have told me about it way sooner!! But shhhh, don't tell too many people about it! :C

Rock Crusher
https://www.sunrvresorts.com/Community/ROC

http://www.floridastateparks.org/rainbowsprings/

With all due respect to the post above Florida is packed and with heavy traffic in most places. Haines Creek is worth a look look at and the sites are on concrete pads. It has its own boat ramp with a long fishing boardwalk, clubhouse and very friendly campers and staff. Their website is lacking but the campground is not.