Key West

[wowens9716]

Going to key west next week. Winnebago vista c-more. We have reservations there but would like to know if any place to boondock coming back. I know a lot of places down there won't allow overnight parking. Any help or advice

[bobkatmsu]

TCmart wrote:
Just stayed overnight at the Micosukee Casino in the Miami area just north of Florida City.
Easy free overnight boon docking spot. Pull into rear lot, check in with security and you get a pass for your windshield.
We went into the casino, joined the players club and got $30.00 free play voucher.
Also ate at their buffet.
24 hr. friendly security. Well lit area. Felt completely safe. No rush to leave in morning.
We will definitely stay again when traveling to or from the keys.

Have stayed there a number of times while heading to the keys. We always enjoyed the casino. Don't even try boondocking in the Keys. They have no sense of humor about it at all.

[RoadVenture]

You might want to consider looking into Boondockers Welcome. For a yearly fee you can search for a place to stay with other members. If you can offer your property as a place to stay it's $20, if you can't accomodate other RV'ers, it's $25.

I just looked and there are 41 members in Florida (none in the Keys).

While traveling around the US/Canada we've probably stayed on the property of 15 Boondockers Welcome members over the past 2 years, and have always had a wonderful experience.

[tropical36]

robert.heidman wrote:
We are heading to Marathon in April. The rest stops in Florida do not allow overnights. We joined Passport America to get half price camping and staying at a park right off 95 for $20 a night full hookup. We are staying in Marathon at Jolly Roger for $48 a night. We did not look at Walmart's for parking, wanted to be hooked up so we could shower, cook, etc.

I must be missing something here, as we cook and shower when without hookups and have a choice between gas and full electrical power, utilizing the genset. Not to mention TV and DVD movies with using the inverter. Not so well equipped for spending day after day, but for an overnight, it works very well. Temp. has to be right, though, as we don't like running the generator constantly for the ac's

[holstein13]

The Texan wrote:

robert.heidman wrote:
We are heading to Marathon in April. The rest stops in Florida do not allow overnights.

All state operated rest stops in Florida allow you to rest for a reasonable time, usually 10-12 hours. They do NOT allow camping for an extended period. You will NOT be hassled by FHP or the local SO, as long as you are not camping. Their rule, and that is all it is, a rule NOT a law, is a tool for law enforcement to deal with the mobile homeless, NOT the regular traveler.

There is a 3 hr maximum stay in Florida rest areas.

However, you are correct that they will rarely hassle you.

[boomersooner198]

The Texan wrote:

robert.heidman wrote:
We are heading to Marathon in April. The rest stops in Florida do not allow overnights.

All state operated rest stops in Florida allow you to rest for a reasonable time, usually 10-12 hours. They do NOT allow camping for an extended period. You will NOT be hassled by FHP or the local SO, as long as you are not camping. Their rule, and that is all it is, a rule NOT a law, is a tool for law enforcement to deal with the mobile homeless, NOT the regular traveler.

The Florida DOT states 3 hours.

http://www.dot.state.fl.us/statemaintenanceoffice/RestAreaQA.shtm

I was quoting the law (or regulations) of the state, what is the law and what happens in reality are usually two different things.

[leaddog]

You can park your RV next to a fishing bridge and if one person form the group is fishing, then you can stay overnight. Don't try it if one person isn't fishing all night. They love to issue the expensive tickets.

Make sure you have a current and valid fishing license since they do check for them. Trust me, I know. They even wanted a friend who wasn't fishing and standing there talking to me to show his fishing license. The friend spoke to him in Danish and the game warden walked away. If you touch a fishing pole, then they consider that fishing.

[TCmart]

Just stayed overnight at the Micosukee Casino in the Miami area just north of Florida City.
Easy free overnight boon docking spot. Pull into rear lot, check in with security and you get a pass for your windshield.
We went into the casino, joined the players club and got $30.00 free play voucher.
Also ate at their buffet.
24 hr. friendly security. Well lit area. Felt completely safe. No rush to leave in morning.
We will definitely stay again when traveling to or from the keys.

[Markiemark32]

wowens9716 wrote:
Going to key west next week. Winnebago vista c-more. We have reservations there but would like to know if any place to boondock coming back. I know a lot of places down there won't allow overnight parking. Any help or advice

Need to be more specific on "coming back", from where to where, and potentially where are you looking to stop?

The Keys in general, is pretty much no overnight, due to the popularity of the destination, so technically boondock'ing not legal (supported). I was down at Cudjoe Key, over the holidays, there was one Class C, I noticed not far from Bahia Honda State park on one of those areas, people fish from a bridge, and it appeared it was boondocking, but I would bet, not technically legal.

The more popular touristy spots(Keys, Orlando, Miami) the city ordinance, most likely are against boondocking, to head off parking lots full of RV's, just visiting the hot spots.

There is still areas where a overnight stop is safe & viable.

Couple of trips down to South Florida from Atlanta, we have stopped at Walmart "The Villages" in central Florida and we stop at a Walmart Fort Pierc off I-95, and overnighted along with 14 other Rv's, still well over to the side, and no issues.

Markiemark:C

[busb2]

Almost all rest stops in Florida allow overnights. I have spent the night at multiple rest stops on I75, I95, and I10. If it says 24 hour security provided it will be filled with RVs.

[The_Texan]

robert.heidman wrote:
We are heading to Marathon in April. The rest stops in Florida do not allow overnights.

All state operated rest stops in Florida allow you to rest for a reasonable time, usually 10-12 hours. They do NOT allow camping for an extended period. You will NOT be hassled by FHP or the local SO, as long as you are not camping. Their rule, and that is all it is, a rule NOT a law, is a tool for law enforcement to deal with the mobile homeless, NOT the regular traveler.

[robert_heidman]

We are heading to Marathon in April. The rest stops in Florida do not allow overnights. We joined Passport America to get half price camping and staying at a park right off 95 for $20 a night full hookup. We are staying in Marathon at Jolly Roger for $48 a night. We did not look at Walmart's for parking, wanted to be hooked up so we could shower, cook, etc.

[RayChez]

You are not going to find any place to boondock on the Keys. Florida might have some places, but I notice you live in Florida and probably know more then we do. All the places I have stayed I have to pay.