FLORIDA CAMPGROUNDS

[Colliemom]

I'm planning on spending some of next winter down in FL. Not sure just exactly where at this moment, but know not around the crowded cities etc. Probably more up near Ocala and along the Panhandle (have a cousin there). Also have a friend in Jensen Beach. Older lady who lives with her daughter.

I'm not the kind of person who can sit still for long so don't know if I want to park myself in the same park for three months. Maybe do that for a month with option to extend if I want or move around and visit some of the other parks and state parks. I can also spend the max time a state park allows and move from one to another. Figuring about 3 months or 13 weeks, would give me a chance to visit at least 6 state parks. I love to be out exploring trails and what have you or enjoying being by the water. Not a fan of the big entertainment venues. Been there done that anyway.

Was wondering if any of you who have been camping or wintering down there this year (and Liz too) can toss me some suggestions as to the nice RV parks and state parks. I know Silver River is already on my list. At the moment I don't have a generator so no boondocking. I also have my two collies and I know some parks have dog restrictions as to breed and size. They would probably prefer to be someplace where they can be off leash once in awhile and not have to stay tied up 24/7. Well at least when we are outside anyway.

Of course there are also opitions like going over into AL for a bit too and heading home from there.

But I'm trying to establish a budget to see just how and what I can do. Any help appreciated.

[Birdie]

Just a bit of information for you to make note of and then later I'll give you some ideas of places that I have enjoyed on this trip. If you know where you are going to be in a state park, you need to make the reservations for Jan and Feb well ahead of time. Feb books up real quick and then you are left to just a few days. Example we started the FL GTG I think last October and there were some limited dates for spaces in the area we wanted. Everyone could find a spot but maybe not as good as it otherwise might have been. However, if you aren't with a friend or group it may not matter about being 'together'.

When I was reserving in late Jan for Feb, I had difficulty for the amount of time available and the days available. I only looked at State Parks as private campgrounds that I looked at were very high. So plan your schedule and be ready to stick with it. It will cost you to make changes.

I am looking at visiting my friends in Sarasota in 2 weeks and couldn't get a spot in a nearby state park. Looked at private and will end up paying $50 or more per night, they say. I am thinking some of the private parks will deal with you for monthly price much better than daily. But you have to be sure you want to stay there a month, or cost out paying the monthly fee and know that you are leaving early, but it's cheaper to do that.

The planning part is the hardest. After I head back to TX, Sue, I'll let you know what I think of the various parks that I have stayed in this trip.

[carold]

Good info, Birdie. FL is very popular in the winter, especially Jan thru March and private resorts are definitely expensive. Monthly rates are cheaper, but still expensive. If you're willing to boondock, there are more options. Have fun planning. Birdie, have you found a place in Sarasota yet? Let me know when you get here, and maybe we can gtg. carold

[Bethers]

I have liked all the FL state parks I've been in so far. But it's expensive staying by the night. FL residents get 1/2 off - so for them the parks are a great deal. But, like Birdie says, they are much less expensive than most of the private cg's. I liked the county cg I stayed at on the east coast. And, for the price, where I'm at now is good. It's not my kind of park, but I can kayak and see the birds, etc. It's really more year round people here. Very friendly, though.

FL is way more expensive to winter in (IMO) than what I can do in TX or AZ - and AZ can be expensive, except I can boondock a lot there. Also, as Kathleen can tell you - a park she liked last year, she didn't this year - so things can and do change. Take all our recommendations with a grain of salt.

That said, I think you'd like Hillsborough State Park near Tampa - the dogs would love the trails, for sure. You already know you'd like Silver River. If you want to visit the east coast, the Lucie County CG I stayed at was nice and you can get easily into town to see the manatees, and over to the dog beach, etc from there. It's not a fancy place, but the price was right and I would go back. I have a couple other state parks I'll be visiting in the next few weeks - will let you know what I think of them. I doubt you can go wrong with most of the FL state parks - but some are pricier than others. One I'll be visiting is less expensive - I'm told it'll be rough roads going in. Probably is my kind of place

[sunshinecruiserTN]

Here are the FL parks I've stayed in and would return. Manatee Spring, Favre-Dykes, Johnathan Dickenson (love it), Silver Springs, Anastasia SP, Bahai Honda.
FL County Parks-Manatee Hammock & John Prince Park

[Liz]

What Birdie said....plan where you want to go and make reservations months in advance, especially for So. FL state parks, and especially for weekends.

[Bethers]

What Birdie said....plan where you want to go and make reservations months in advance, especially for So. FL state parks, and especially for weekends.

That's a kind of traveling I just can't do - but I have done more planning down here than most places. Although I've changed things several times too. Remember, with many of the FL reservations (state parks are some) there is a fee to even change a reservation, a fee to cancel, etc etc - so when you do your planning, make sure you have it all figured out before you commit. Staying in the state parks all the time would end up being too expensive for me. That's why I'd look around at monthly rates for private cg's - then spend a week at a sp in between them - Just an idea. And the further south you go, the more the monthly rates go up, also. Good luck!

[retiredhappy]

As for letting the dogs off leash there are few places you can do that. The best thing I ever bought was two Xpens that I hook together so the dogs can lay around outside in the pen without being on a leash. They come in several different heights and fold up to about two feet wide and I can carry them in the trunk of my car. Now if your babies would jump out this wouldn't work. My two Labs never try to get out. Sophie is another matter. She will stay in the pen UNLESS someone comes to my site to visit and then she just climbs out to come visit. Most pet stores carry them but I got mine from Tractor Supply.