New to this, advice for Georgia/Florida

OMG Hankjoe, you couldnt be more RIGHT. We have found this to be the case all year and all over. There are way to many people with Rv's now and being able to come and go which is one reason we started to Rv is almost impossible to do anyore. I think our Rv is getting sold after this year. It's just to stressful anymore trying to find a place to land.

What I've found going to this area N. Fl on & off for over 10 years is that it isn't "forgotten anymore" Years previous we could walz in,stay at a CG for a few days in J/F time period without reservations. Last year we found this very difficult or impossible without a reservation. There seems to be more people doing the same thing - but staying a couple wks moving on -- we like the idea of picking up when we like without planning ahead, but think those days are over.

It's not the forgotten coast anymore, it's the "gouge 'em" coast. Presnell's is climbing on the bandwagon of Coastline and going "resort" and doubling previous prices. And Cedar Key Resort isn't in Cedar Key; it's down the road.

That's not going to change. It's prohibively expensive to open a new RV park in the area so the only option is to buy an older park and "resort" it.

Not sure what size bank you might be breaking, but the areas that work as low cost for me are near the Gulf Coast between Port St Joe down to Crystal River. Think US-98 west of Perry, US-19 south of Perry. This area is mostly coastal lowlands, piney woods, lacking beach resorts and other attractions that draw lots of winter visitors or winter residents, yet close enough to the coast for the Gulf of Mexico to moderate the temperature extremes.

Higher and dryer areas a little more inland will be somewhat more expensive, and by the time you reach I-75 you get into areas that are becoming heavily developed and thus have higher property values (equals higher rent), pretty much all the way to the Atlantic Coast.

I'm not familiar with southern Georgia, as I approach Florida from Alabama, so can't help you there.

Dick_B wrote:
Why limit the locations to north Florida when one has to be at or south of the Orlando latitude for the weather to be decent ie. 60's in the winter.
Check out the Clerbrook Golf and RV Resort in Clermont which is right on that line. www.clerbrook.com/

Absolutely false. We have been in N. Fl. 18 Miles south of Gainsville for the past 5 winters. It is rare to have consistent days below 60. We get many days in the 70's and many in the 80's. Why would you spread BS like that.

GoPackGo wrote:
I don't disagree with your statement because I haven't visited either, but B's has only one review and it's over a year old so there's a flag. The other has two raters, with one person loving the place and the other not liking it at all - thus the '7' rating. So which is correct ? - I would lean towards the negative review because it has more detail. Still, with only 2 reviews . . .

You gotta read the reviews to get a feel for the place !

The more people that review a place, the better one can determine what it's really like.

Many people on this forum like and use RVPARKREVIEWS.COM. I'm not trying to defend it and have no vested interest. It's just the best one I've found.

I think the reviews and ratings for Presnells are very helpful. Ar first glance the 7+ rating seems a little low, but if you read the reviews (13) you find out that there are newer owners that have completely renovated and improved the place. All newer reviews are very high, while older reviews (old ownwers ?) rate it much lower (no sewer hookups, etc).

GPG,
Hopefully I didn't come off as though I was sniping; definitely wasn't the case. I've used RVPARKREVIEWS.COM as well in the past, and I use them as well. The problem is that you've really got to apply a fine eye to picking a camp site. As you said, only one post in a year - when it's a very flattering post, it makes me wonder who actually wrote the review.

I don't disagree with your statement because I haven't visited either, but B's has only one review and it's over a year old so there's a flag. The other has two raters, with one person loving the place and the other not liking it at all - thus the '7' rating. So which is correct ? - I would lean towards the negative review because it has more detail. Still, with only 2 reviews . . .

You gotta read the reviews to get a feel for the place !

The more people that review a place, the better one can determine what it's really like.

Many people on this forum like and use RVPARKREVIEWS.COM. I'm not trying to defend it and have no vested interest. It's just the best one I've found.

I think the reviews and ratings for Presnells are very helpful. Ar first glance the 7+ rating seems a little low, but if you read the reviews (13) you find out that there are newer owners that have completely renovated and improved the place. All newer reviews are very high, while older reviews (old ownwers ?) rate it much lower (no sewer hookups, etc).

GoPackGo wrote:


I full time and always use RVPARKREVIEWS.com to find places to stay. I hate surprises. In 4 years of traveling it has never let me down.

Go look up B's Marina & RV Resort in Yankeetown, FL. I can guarantee you that it is not 4.5 stars.

Now look up Eleanor Oaks as well (in Yankeetown, FL).

http://www.rvparkreviews.com/regions/florida/yankeetown

luvmydogs wrote:
So Jim, can you give me towns and states the top 3 are in? Presnells,Yellow Jacket and Cedar Key. Boy you got it right about pictures. I've always been amazed at how some of these places look online and then how they look when you get there. I also am amazed when we figure because a park has all 8's and 9's in the camp book that "gross" wont be a word that comes to mind when we get there. NOT THE CASE! lol Thank you for all this info, we need to be moving soon again and not sure where to go.

Presnell's: Port St. Joe, FL
Yellow Jacket: Old Town, FL
Cedar Key: Cedar Key, FL

luvmydogs wrote:
So Jim, can you give me towns and states the top 3 are in? Presnells,Yellow Jacket and Cedar Key. Boy you got it right about pictures. I've always been amazed at how some of these places look online and then how they look when you get there. I also am amazed when we figure because a park has all 8's and 9's in the camp book that "gross" wont be a word that comes to mind when we get there. NOT THE CASE! lol Thank you for all this info, we need to be moving soon again and not sure where to go.

Try Google - I googled Presnells and went to their site - it's on the North Florida Gulf coast.

I full time and always use RVPARKREVIEWS.com to find places to stay. I hate surprises. In 4 years of traveling it has never let me down.