OT - State Park Camping - The DIS Discussion Forums

Jennifer823 · 07-12-2008, 03:51 PM

Hi, I'm a regular here on the Dis, and I know I could get answer to my non-Disney question here!

My family and I are considering doing more camping. (Our forays into camping so far have only been to Ft. Wilderness cabins!) We thought with the prices of everything right now, it would be a less expensive way to get away.

My question.. I hope it's not too dumb! There are lots of great state parks here in Florida, and a lot of them allow camping. The websites say that the parks are open 8 AM to sundown.. or that the gates close at 5 PM.. etc. Would that mean we'd have to be back to camp at 5, if we chose to go explore the town or something? There looks to be an awesome park up near St. Augustine - Anastasia State Park - it's only 10 minutes from the center of town. St. Augustine has lots of "ghost tours" and stuff like that at night. If we camped, would we be able to go "out" at night?

Thanks!!

bama_ed · 07-12-2008, 03:57 PM

I'm not familiar with that particular state park but in Alabama state parks the hours pertain to when someone can check in or general office hours. Usually there is a gate with a keypad/code that you are given when you check in; that way you can come/go at any hour. Call the campground and ask if you have a question.

Now if you stay at a Corp of Engineers campground (CoE) listed on the recreation.gov website, when they say they lock the gate at 10 p.m. they MEAN it (as in chain up the gate no in, no out).

Bama ED

PS-We have a CoE campground near Tuscaloosa where I take my popup to Alabama football games so I speak from experience...

PPS-I've tried to get into Bahia Honda State Park in the Florida Keys via the web but they fill up within 24 hours almost every freakin' day!

Jennifer823 · 07-12-2008, 04:00 PM

OK, great. I'll have to see what Florida does, hopefully it's more like the state of Alabama and less like the Corp of Eng.!

John VN · 07-12-2008, 04:52 PM

Every Fl. state park we have used so far has a key pad.

drafthorsecrazy · 07-12-2008, 05:59 PM

Check here for Fla. S.P's. http://www.floridastateparks.org/default.cfm They reserve through Reserve America. You can check each campsite out there. Anastasia S.P. is a lot like booking FW. Reserve early or check back often to see if anything is available!

disney4dan · 07-13-2008, 06:31 PM

Sounds like the Florida state campgrounds have their act together. Here in Massachusetts we put well intentioned but usually slightly confused college interns at the gates and hope for the best!

Actually, most of the people are great, I'm just still bitter about that teenage girl who was going to insist on charging me an additional fee to dump my waste tanks at the end of labor day.

I would highly recommend the state parks in Massachusetts for a wide variety of scenery and some shaded, typically large sites. The campgrounds at the beach are not so shaded or large, but that means more of us get to go.

Jennifer823 · 07-14-2008, 02:19 PM

Just a quick update.. I contacted the Florida Division of Recreation and Parks, and they said all FL state parks have keypads for after-hours entry

07-12-2008, 03:51 PM	#1
Jennifer823 DIS Veteran Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southwest Florida Posts: 1,040	OT - State Park Camping Hi, I'm a regular here on the Dis, and I know I could get answer to my non-Disney question here! My family and I are considering doing more camping. (Our forays into camping so far have only been to Ft. Wilderness cabins!) We thought with the prices of everything right now, it would be a less expensive way to get away. My question.. I hope it's not too dumb! There are lots of great state parks here in Florida, and a lot of them allow camping. The websites say that the parks are open 8 AM to sundown.. or that the gates close at 5 PM.. etc. Would that mean we'd have to be back to camp at 5, if we chose to go explore the town or something? There looks to be an awesome park up near St. Augustine - Anastasia State Park - it's only 10 minutes from the center of town. St. Augustine has lots of "ghost tours" and stuff like that at night. If we camped, would we be able to go "out" at night? Thanks!! __________________ (Me) (DH) (DD 19) (DS 17) (DS15) (DD 6) Ft. Wilderness Cabins (my favorite) - Polynesian - Swan - All Star Music

07-12-2008, 03:57 PM	#2
bama_ed DIS Veteran Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 2,519	I'm not familiar with that particular state park but in Alabama state parks the hours pertain to when someone can check in or general office hours. Usually there is a gate with a keypad/code that you are given when you check in; that way you can come/go at any hour. Call the campground and ask if you have a question. Now if you stay at a Corp of Engineers campground (CoE) listed on the recreation.gov website, when they say they lock the gate at 10 p.m. they MEAN it (as in chain up the gate no in, no out). Bama ED PS-We have a CoE campground near Tuscaloosa where I take my popup to Alabama football games so I speak from experience... PPS-I've tried to get into Bahia Honda State Park in the Florida Keys via the web but they fill up within 24 hours almost every freakin' day! __________________ Apr 1979 Off-site...................... Jan 2001 FW 2200 Loop (cabin)........Dec 2007 FW 900 loop (pop-up) Apr 1981 FW Creekside Meadow... Jan 2002 FW 2200 Loop (cabin)........Nov 2009 FW 1500 Loop (pop-up) Sep 1987 FW 100 Loop(tent) ...... Oct 2003 FW 2000 Loop (tent).........Mar 2011 FW 900/1500 loop (pop-up) to/from KW Jan 1988 FW 700 Loop (tent).......Jan 2004 FW 2500 Loop (cabin)....... Apr 2011 FW 2000 Loop (pop-up) May 1988 FW 1200 Loop (tent).... May 2006 FW 900 Loop (pop-up) .... Mar 2012 FW 1500 Loop (pop-up) Dec 1995 Contemporary.............. Mar 2007 FW 1000 Loop (pop-up).... Apr 2013 FW 100 Loop (pop-up) plus countless WDW day trips, DL 3X, DLP 2X - TV: 2005 Chevy Suburban - Camper: 2005 Jayco 12 HW pop-up - Nights Camped in Popup: 166

07-12-2008, 04:00 PM	#3
Jennifer823 DIS Veteran Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southwest Florida Posts: 1,040	OK, great. I'll have to see what Florida does, hopefully it's more like the state of Alabama and less like the Corp of Eng.! __________________ (Me) (DH) (DD 19) (DS 17) (DS15) (DD 6) Ft. Wilderness Cabins (my favorite) - Polynesian - Swan - All Star Music

07-12-2008, 05:59 PM	#5
drafthorsecrazy DIS Veteran Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 644	Check here for Fla. S.P's. http://www.floridastateparks.org/default.cfm They reserve through Reserve America. You can check each campsite out there. Anastasia S.P. is a lot like booking FW. Reserve early or check back often to see if anything is available! __________________ Susan Dec. 1980,1986,1987,1988,1992,2008,2009 Ft. Wilderness Jan. 2006,2007,2009,2010 Ft. Wilderness ,2010 CR Feb. 2007,2009,2010 Ft. Wilderness

07-13-2008, 06:31 PM	#6
disney4dan DIS Veteran Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,150	Sounds like the Florida state campgrounds have their act together. Here in Massachusetts we put well intentioned but usually slightly confused college interns at the gates and hope for the best! Actually, most of the people are great, I'm just still bitter about that teenage girl who was going to insist on charging me an additional fee to dump my waste tanks at the end of labor day. I would highly recommend the state parks in Massachusetts for a wide variety of scenery and some shaded, typically large sites. The campgrounds at the beach are not so shaded or large, but that means more of us get to go. __________________ There is nothing more depressing than editing your signature line to remove a countdown sticker and have no new trips planned to replace with a fresh countdown ;-(

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07-12-2008, 04:52 PM	#4
John VN DIS Cast Member N.Y. Style CHEESECAKE RULES! Old Paramus Boy Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Fl Posts: 4,078	Every Fl. state park we have used so far has a key pad.

07-14-2008, 02:19 PM	#7
Jennifer823 DIS Veteran Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southwest Florida Posts: 1,040	Just a quick update.. I contacted the Florida Division of Recreation and Parks, and they said all FL state parks have keypads for after-hours entry __________________ (Me) (DH) (DD 19) (DS 17) (DS15) (DD 6) Ft. Wilderness Cabins (my favorite) - Polynesian - Swan - All Star Music

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