Overnight in Naples, FL?

[jjinatx]

We'll be traveling through Naples, Fl in early April and would like to visit the Audubon Corkscrew Sanctuary, so need someplace for just one night. All the parks in the directories seem to be ginormous RV resorts where people stay for weeks or months at a time (or permanently). Can anyone recommend a smaller RV park which caters more to over nighters?

Thanks.

-jj

[KenMast]

The perfect park for what you want is Sanctuary RV Resort in Bonita Springs. Nuff Said! 🙂

Ken

[avan]

A bit over a year ago, Collier Seminole SP stopped taking reservations because 'renovations were imminent'. When the renovations kept being postponed and postponed, they started up again but I think being unable to take reservations together with warning folks calling about 'walkup' sites that the cg might be closed when they got there or that once there, they might have to leave took its toll and they lost some repeat business. Snowbirds coming to busy SW FL just didn't want to take the chance that the cg might be closed once they got there. They now seem to have their act together by having a firm reconstruction date. Nice park with some very interesting features.

While at the park, you can head south on San Marco for about 10 miles and visit a pretty much unspoiled old FL in Goodland - a good time can be had at either Little Bar or Stans. 20 mi east to Rt 29 and then south a bit to Everglades City and Chokoloskee Island will provide more old FL. You can wave when you pass me at Port of the Islands. Life here in the glades is great!

[Dog_Folks]

Collier Seminole has been under going renovations for some time now.

Starting April 15 ALL campsites will be closed for renovations.

[jjinatx]

avan wrote:
Crucial bit of info - Easter weekend. I'd think enough snowbirds have left S FL by that time, either due to end of the month stay expired or due to desire to get back home to spend Easter with family or even tax preparation 😞 , that you could easily find an overnight slot. Wouldn't have guessed that there were than many Floridians stepping in to take the spots yet.

I kind of thought so too, but that does not seem to be the case. We wanted to stay at Oscar Scherer SP or Myaka SP while visiting my neice and nephew in Sarasota the week before and those parks are booked solid. I was also shocked that the KOA in Naples was booked solid.

Anyway, I got a spot in Collier-Seminole SP for Easter Sunday evening. I don't understand it, but that campground is only half full. (Is it because they are closing down for full renovation of the CG on April 15th?) It's 55 minutes from Corkscrew via I-75 and it looks like there is a more scenic way back of 1 hour, 7 minutes.

I am sure I am going to be majorly depressed. I grew up in Sarasota in the 50's and 60's and every time I come back to visit I am more and more dismayed by how much of unspoiled Florida has disappeared. Oh well, I'll stop being a curmudgeon now. I'm sure Everglades NP will be nice.

-jj

[JoeH]

jjinatx wrote:
I appreciate the info. State parks are always are first choice, but unfortunately we scheduled our trip to straddle Easter weekend, so all the the state parks in that area are filled to the gills. Even the KOA is sold out. We were looking for a spot on Easter Sunday. I think I may have found a spot in one of the resorts, but have been playing phone tag and haven't done the deal yet.

-jj

Naples RV resort at 8230 Collier Blvd Naples looks like they have sites available per their website . Not really a resort, but adequate. We've stayed there once or twice.

[Can-AmDuo]

Since Corkscrew Swamp is closer to Bonita Springs, you may want to stay up that way. We stayed at Shady Acres RV Park as a base for Ding Darling on Sannibel and Corkscrew. It wasn't fancy but rates were good and clean facilities.

[avan]

Crucial bit of info - Easter weekend. I'd think enough snowbirds have left S FL by that time, either due to end of the month stay expired or due to desire to get back home to spend Easter with family or even tax preparation 😞 , that you could easily find an overnight slot. Wouldn't have guessed that there were than many Floridians stepping in to take the spots yet.

Anyway, I don't know what size RV you have or whether or not you're self contained. I know of a water front camping spot that has no hookups. I don't think there are published size limitations but I think 30' would be max. Dirt site. $2 per person per night - self pay to a metal box. There are a couple of picnic tables and I see many people fishing there. Within easy walk to a hotel restaurant (closed Mondays) and hotel bar, marina and small marina store. Right on Tamiami Trail about 6 miles east of Collier Seminole SP - Picayune State Forest Preserve. Not on any campground map or app that I've seen. Also know of a place where you could probably boondock without a problem for a night in the same area. PM if you want more info or specific directions. You can see the location of the Picayune site in my signature block - lower middle of the pic.

[jjinatx]

I appreciate the info. State parks are always are first choice, but unfortunately we scheduled our trip to straddle Easter weekend, so all the the state parks in that area are filled to the gills. Even the KOA is sold out. We were looking for a spot on Easter Sunday. I think I may have found a spot in one of the resorts, but have been playing phone tag and haven't done the deal yet.

-jj

[JoeH]

If you just want a place to sleep, we've used the Cracker Barrel a few times

[Scottiemom]

As avan suggested, Collier Seminole State Park is a nice campground. Very rustic with a little bit of history. We stayed there when we visited "avan" and it was very adequate and not expensive.

Dale

[Dog_Folks]

Collier Seminole would be a great choice. But you better make reservations soon.

The Naples KOA is O.K. also.

[Hikerdogs]

The Naples KOA has some spots for overnighters.

[avan]

Collier Seminole State Park sounds like what you want. Not sure where "traveling through" Naples would take you but assuming you're coming from TX, the options wouldn't be many - you'd either be heading another 10 mile south to Marco Island or you'd be going eastbound through the glades. Collier Seminole SP beside being only 20+/- miles from your Corkscrew Sanctuary is also located at the intersection of San Marco Rd which heads to Marco and Tamiami Trail (US41) which cuts through Big Cypress Swamp National Preserve and Everglades NP and is a, IMO, much better drive than Southbound (east) I75 (Alligator Alley - where you won't see any wildlife much less gators). JMO.