stopping on the main land before the Keys

[ford_truck_guy]

We are taking our first trip to the Keys this year and will be stopping somewhere between Port St. Lucie and West Palm for the night. Are there any decent easy access RV parks that you could recommend ? Maybe a wee bit farther south ?? We are leaving from south of Charlotte NC that AM...

[Big_Katuna]

John Prince is a nice park. County Park. Our favorite jumping off CG to the Keys is Larry Penny Thompson Park in Miami. Right off 95. The problem with John Prince is driving thru Miami in the AM unless its a weekend. Also, take Turnpike instead of I-95 at Jupiter to the south of Miami. Worth every penny. Less broken down cars, less traffic, less beds and couches in the roadway, fewer guns.

[Doug_and_Cassi_]

I asked and was granted permission. Others I know have done the same thing.

[NCBounder]

joe b. wrote:
Miami Everglades is a good stop for us on the way to the Keys.

Same here, thats our usual stop before we get to the Keys. Not really easy off/on from the turnpike, but it is a nice quiet place in the middle of the Redland Farms agricultural area. This time of year the place will be nearly empty.

Thats really pushing it from Charlotte though. Last time we tried it in a day we rolled into Miami Everglades after dark!

[JoeH]

We stayed at Jonathan Dickinson SP last fall and found the new section to be very roomy with full hookups.
As mentioned, Miami Everglades is also a good stop over as is Larry and Penny Thompson Park in Miami. Southern Comfort , in Homestead is an OK spot for a stopover and it's just before the 18 mile stretch that takes you into the Keys.

[dieharder]

Doug and Cassi Glass wrote:
Although I have only done it once, Florida rest areas allow overnighting and have armed guards on duty.

Wouldn't be so sure about that.

Florida DOT indicates "Overnight camping is not permitted, but visitors may stay for up to three hours."

[Doug_and_Cassi_]

Although I have only done it once, Florida rest areas allow overnighting and have armed guards on duty.

[soos]

TonyInPa wrote:
John Prince Park Campgrounds
4759 S Congress Ave Lake Worth, FL 33461
(561) 582-7992

I checked it out last month, and will be going there next year. Very nice place.

x2
stayed there a week. great park, huge, with easy access sites.

[TonyInPa]

..

[joe_b_]

Miami Everglades is a good stop for us on the way to the Keys. From here in Stuart, it is about a 5 or 6 hour drive to Key West area. It is only a couple of hours from here south to Miami Everglades RV, which is west of Miami a ways. Often we will leave here on a Friday after my wife gets off work, drive to Miami Everglades for the night and then drive on down the next day to the Keys.

This campground is an old KOA that dropped that franchise probably 10 or 15 years ago and is well kept and well run. Large place with good pull throughs if needed. We are only a few miles north of Dickerson SP so we don't stay there but like to go down to bike ride and hike. It isn't too far off the Interstate or the Turnpike for a short stay. Often is full so a reservation would be recommended.

[Eycom]

Might try Phipps Park, a Martin County park, between Port St. Lucie and Jupiter. Or just north of Jupiter, Jonathan Dickinson SP, as mentioned by fla-gypsy, would be a good choice.

[Dance_Chick]

We stayed at C.B. Smith Park in Pembroke Pines on our way leaving the Keys and going to west Florida. It's county (?) run and was really, really nice.

[fla-gypsy]

Not to familiar with the south Florida mainland but I have stayed at Jonathan Dickinson SP near Jupiter. Have you considered stopping in central Florida and driving on down from there? There are some good choices further north. Also you could push a little further and make John Pennekamp SP in Key largo just after leaving the mainland.