We are looking for a campground to leave a TT for the winter months on the coast of Florida and go down and use occasionally. We were thinking of the Gulf Coast, as we are concerned about storms during that time of year on the Ocean side. We have friends who highly recommend the Siesta Key area, but have never been there ourselves. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Can't comment on any particular CG on Siesta Key. It is a very nice area tho. But what kind of storms are you worried about? Hurricane season ends in October and winter storms don't amount to much in Florida normally. Some wind, rain and the temperature drops. There have been very unusual, once a century, winter storms like the one that hit the Cedar Key area and was called "the storm of the century" no surprise. But that's the only one I recall and I've lived in Florida since 1960.BK

Ok, that's good news! Can you recommend anything on the East Coast then? I am not too familiar with Florida, and not yet at retirement age to buy a home there, but get tired and re-tired of snow, and want to be able to run from it whenever I can get the chance!!!

NY RVer wrote:Ok, that's good news! Can you recommend anything on the East Coast then? I am not too familiar with Florida, and not yet at retirement age to buy a home there, but get tired and re-tired of snow, and want to be able to run from it whenever I can get the chance!!!I would look up RV storage. I found there is a plethora of RV storage places and the monthly cost is WAAAAY lower than any CG will offer you.And the security is far better and actually there IS security where there will not be if you plunk it in a CG.It may not be right on the coast but you can come down and pick it up and drive to ANY coast CG from the storage area in just hours AND save a ton of money.

agesilaus wrote:Can't comment on any particular CG on Siesta Key. It is a very nice area tho. But what kind of storms are you worried about? Hurricane season ends in October and winter storms don't amount to much in Florida normally. Some wind, rain and the temperature drops. There have been very unusual, once a century, winter storms like the one that hit the Cedar Key area and was called "the storm of the century" no surprise. But that's the only one I recall and I've lived in Florida since 1960.BKWait! Hurricane season is from June 01, until NOVEMBER 30. Don't believed me, here is a link: National Hurricane CenterI have also lived in Florida many years, (over 40) and we found September to be the most active month. Not too many storms in October or November, but they have occurred. That is also confirmed by data from the National Hurricane Center.In fact, Hurricane Wilma hit Naples on October 25, 2005. We lived through it. It was a Cat 3, and we had no power for 17 days. It was one on the three major factors that made me retire. So bottom line is: It really depends on how you define "Winter."

I'd rethink that idea. Leaving an RV parked somewhere for long periods of time IN HOPES of using it is not a good idea. I'd look into campground cabins or rending a condo as an alternative; almost anything else is better. Just my $.03 (inflation don't you know)

Gulf Coast in Mid to Sothern Florida | Good Sam Community

jeb5
Explorer
May 13, 2014
Riversidervresort.com can handle your needs. Call and talk to Karen or Sue. They will not store unless you are residents for part of the year. Hurricanes are not much of a risk in Nov., but are possible.
Dog_Folks
Explorer
May 12, 2014
NY RVer wrote:
I was thinking about bringing it down in November or December and back up in March or April.

That helps a lot.

Hurricane season is still in effect through November 30, but there are few hurricanes then. I personally would not worry about them during that month.

You only worry are winter storms that are usually part of a frontal system passing through the entire country. If you get much below I-10, there are not too many of those.

Out by March or April is good.
NY_RVer
Explorer
May 12, 2014
I was thinking about bringing it down in November or December and back up in March or April.
Dog_Folks
Explorer
May 12, 2014
agesilaus wrote:
Those were not winter storms were they? This fellow is asking about the snow bird season.

If you want to bring up hurricanes you can go back to the 1929 Lake Okeechobee storm.

I guess it would all depend on how you define snowbird season, as the OP did not mention what months they were going to be there other than "winter." They need to define "winter."

I don't understand you making the distinction between "winter storms" and hurricanes. Hurricanes are storms are they not? They do occur either close to or in "winter."

The OP said was not referring to "winter storms." They said:"We were thinking of the Gulf Coast, as we are concerned about storms......."

They need to consider what month they put their camper in Florida. It may be venerable to "storms" , no matter what the definition and if they are in residence or not.
agesilaus
Explorer III
May 12, 2014
Those were not winter storms were they? This fellow is asking about the snow bird season.

If you want to bring up hurricanes you can go back to the 1929 Lake Okeechobee storm.
Dog_Folks
Explorer
May 12, 2014
rockhillmanor wrote:
NY RVer wrote:
We are looking for a campground to leave a TT for the winter months on the coast of Florida and go down and use occasionally. We were thinking of the Gulf Coast, as we are concerned about storms during that time of year on the Ocean side. ....

The Gulf Coast is no stranger to storms! Think 2004 Punta Gorda devastation.

And Wilma in 2005
captbru
Explorer
May 12, 2014
Take a look at Rock Crusher in Crystal River. They have a storage lot and will move the rig on and off a site for you. Great campground.
Rock Crusher RV Park
rockhillmanor
Explorer II
May 12, 2014
NY RVer wrote:
We are looking for a campground to leave a TT for the winter months on the coast of Florida and go down and use occasionally. We were thinking of the Gulf Coast, as we are concerned about storms during that time of year on the Ocean side. ....

The Gulf Coast is no stranger to storms! Think 2004 Punta Gorda devastation.
agesilaus
Explorer III
May 12, 2014
One thing to keep in mind: the closer you are to the coast, the more you will pay. Just a guess but 20 miles inland would probably reduce your rent by a third over a beach side CG.

I'm not sure what CG the person who recommended Siesta Key was thinking of, but RVParkreview only shows one beach side CG near Sarasota and that's at Turtle Beach. And that CG has small lots and the beach is the main amenity.

Beach property in Florida is so expensive that there are few CG located on the beach. Someone would buy the CG and build a 20 story condo most likely. There are some in the St Augustine south to the Daytona Beach area. Use RVparkreview.com to look for them.
RoyB
Explorer II
May 12, 2014
Lots of snowbird RV's stored across the US17 in south Myrtle Beach strip. Those RV's are packed in the storage lots like sardines. Looks like a big truck stop area. We usually stay a few days at LAKEWOOD as my sister lives there on the property. You see the LAKEWOOD guys pulling the RV's across the big road and setting up for snowbird arrivals I guess... Lots of folks do it I reckon...

I for one would rather purchase a cabin setup and let it be rented out when we wasn't there. That would most likely pay for everything associated with the cabin.

Roy ken