need help with gulf trip

[MO_Rookie]

Next summer we are planning a two week trip from Kansas City MO considering Gulf State Park Gulf Shores Alambama. Top Sail, Henderson and Orlando just a couple nights to do Universal Studios already done Disney. Open for suggestions want to hit the beach on the way down and on the way back from Orlando before we head home. I know we need to make reservations early I see they book 11 months out. Open for any ideas any other beach or campgrounds and also looking for a place to stop on the way down and back from Kansas City. We are planning on going the first two weeks of July.

[MO_Rookie]

Thanks for the help looking into St Andrews near Panama City. Going over the 4th of July is there one campground in this area that you think will be less crowded than the others really looking at the beach area we know all of the campgrounds will be full. Do you think we will need to book out 11 months in advance.

[TPUC]

Florida Caverns for a stop over for a night is nice. We stayed at Lake Lousia State Park the first of June as a base to go to Universal. It is 14 miles to the park and $22 a night.

[Brandon327]

We the resort style rv parks so campgulf is a favorite of ours.

[cindik]

We have stayed at Topsail, Henderson, and Ft. Pickens. Drove thru Gulf Shores,and Grayton, but haven't stayed there. My fav is Topsail, Hubby likes Henderson better. Really, you can't go wrong with any of these cgs. I will have to say if you stay at ft. Pickens, stay in the A loop, beach is very close, but campsites don't have a lot of privacy. Henderson has the most privacy and huge campsites, closer to the beach than Topsail, and Destin is right outside the park. Topsail is more manicured, has a pool, beautiful beach, but it is a farther walk, bike ride, or tram to it.

[MegaJohn]

We've stayed at St Andrews in Panama City Beach & Ft Pickens in Pensacola. Both have nice beaches within the park.

We've driven through Top Sail, Henderson, & Grayton. They're all very nice.

Top Sail has a lot of really nice grassy sites compared to the others... and a pool, I think. Top Sail has access to the beach, but you cannot drive to it. You can ride the shuttle, bike or walk.

Our favorite is Ft Pickens (Loop A). It's a short walk to the beach across the street and the beach is not crowded. We returned Sunday and all last week there were typically no more than 6 or so groups on the beach. Ft Pickens also has the old fort to explore and the Naval Air Station has a very nice aviation museum... and the price (free) is right too!

Happy Camping!
John.

[ngreen]

We drove from Joplin to Top Sail one year and stayed in Louisiana state parks on the way down. Loved Top sail although you must make reservations and you have to ride your bikes to the beach. It was a close drive to Henderson and Destin.

[tnscoutr]

We have stayed at Topsail and Gulf Shores, and have driven through Henderson and Grayton Beach. I don't think that you can go wrong with any of them, it just depends on what you want in a park. Search the forum and you will find many posts that offer the pros and cons of each park. You can also check rvparkreviews.com for reviews.

[noe-place]

Depending on your route; we have been going to the beaches from Pensacola all the way over to Destin. There are more than a few good rv campgrounds in the area and the most beautiful beaches on Santa Rosa Sound. Check them out to see if they interest you. Have a safe trip and happy planning.

[fla-gypsy]

Go north from Orlando and hit North Beach in St Augustine or Ft Clinch SP in Fernandina Bch. (both are great places to visit). A stop at Stephen Foster SP along the Suwannee River is also a nice stop over. If you want to experience the best of Florida camping when you leave Orlando and go back north take a trip through the Ocala National Forest and stay at Salt Spgs Rec area. Just a suggestion, Henderson and Topsail are just a few miles from each other you may want to trade some of that time for Grayton Bch SP or St Andrews SP, both very nice.