Advice for trip to Key West

[staceyrhood]

Hey everyone! Just wondering if anyone has driven down to Key West and camped along the way and while there. We are thinking of taking a week trip (we live in Celebration, Fl) during July next year. I have been researching campgrounds and rv parks (we have a travel trailer) to stay at and was curious if anyone has any they would recommend (or not recommend. Thanks so much!!!

 

[JanL]

My kids are the 3rd generation of our family to camp at Bahia Honda State Park. I don't think they have sewer hook up, just water and electric? You usually have to reserve 11 months in advance, but keep trying and hope for a cancellation. We also stayed in the cabins there and loved that, too.

 

[bama_ed]

Hey everyone! Just wondering if anyone has driven down to Key West and camped along the way and while there. We are thinking of taking a week trip (we live in Celebration, Fl) during July next year. I have been researching campgrounds and rv parks (we have a travel trailer) to stay at and was curious if anyone has any they would recommend (or not recommend. Thanks so much!!!

Stacey,

Here is my trip report from March 2011 where we went to Key West for spring break and stayed at the Fort one night both coming and going.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2682601&highlight=key+west

We stayed at Boyds Campground. I couldn't get into Bahia Honda plus we spent 4 of the 5 days in Key West proper so it worked out since Boyds was so close. The one non-KW day we spent at Bahia Honda enjoying it and its beaches.

Anyway, read this and if you have any questions I'll help if I can. Since I was camping in a popup, we were unwelcome in some of the more exclusive rv parks in the Keys.

Bama Ed

 

[articfox676]

In July be prepared for sudden and severe storms. No awnings out at that time and bring everything in.

 

[staceyrhood]

Thanks so much! Great trip report Bama Ed! Looking up Boyd's and Bahia Honda now.

 

[brianf21]

Bahia has a couple of spots that cannot be reserved and are saved for walkins. You could push your luck and go without a reservation, just have a backup plan.

 

[jeeptruck]

Tips from a Local:

Bahia Honda fills up WELL in advanced because it has the conception of being one of the only campsites in the keys really. I love Bahia Honda but if it is full here are some other places to check. I will try to keep them in order down the Keys.

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is in Key Largo and is an AMAZING coral reef for diving and snorkeling. They have a glass bottom boat as well if swimming isn't for you.

Long Key State Park is between Islamorada and Marathon, nice hiking trail and fishing here.

Sugarloaf KOA is on Sugarloaf. It actually has Airstream trailers you can rent. They also have a dog park here! Its about 1/2 North of Key West.

Geiger Key Marina. This is actually near my house and I often go here for onion rings The food here is tasty and on Sunday they do a BBQ which is good. There is paddle boarding and kayaking. The view there cannot be beat. The turn off of US 1 is at MM 10.5 so you are very close to Key West. I live at MM 10.5 and commute by bike to work! There is a bike path the whole way from US 1 into Key West.

And lastly there is Boyd's Key West Campground..like the name implies it is in Key West. There are waterfront sites and a boat ramp. Can't say I know much about this because I have a house on the water here so no need to ever go!

 

[bama_ed]

Tips from a Local:

Bahia Honda fills up WELL in advanced because it has the conception of being one of the only campsites in the keys really. I love Bahia Honda but if it is full here are some other places to check. I will try to keep them in order down the Keys.

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is in Key Largo and is an AMAZING coral reef for diving and snorkeling. They have a glass bottom boat as well if swimming isn't for you.

Long Key State Park is between Islamorada and Marathon, nice hiking trail and fishing here.

Sugarloaf KOA is on Sugarloaf. It actually has Airstream trailers you can rent. They also have a dog park here! Its about 1/2 North of Key West.

Geiger Key Marina. This is actually near my house and I often go here for onion rings The food here is tasty and on Sunday they do a BBQ which is good. There is paddle boarding and kayaking. The view there cannot be beat. The turn off of US 1 is at MM 10.5 so you are very close to Key West. I live at MM 10.5 and commute by bike to work! There is a bike path the whole way from US 1 into Key West.

And lastly there is Boyd's Key West Campground..like the name implies it is in Key West. There are waterfront sites and a boat ramp. Can't say I know much about this because I have a house on the water here so no need to ever go!

Nice description, jeeptruck. Thanks for the contribution.

I've considered making a return trip to the Keys and I would stay at Pennecamp this time. I'd like to snorkel there, do the glass bottom boat, run up to the Everglades National Park on the mainland, and maybe do a long one-day visit back to KW. As long as I avoid the snowbird time, it looks like Pennecamp is easier to reserve/get into that Bahia Honda or the others near Marathon. Would that be a safe assumption?

If I could get someone in my family to agree to do it with me I would LOVE to tent camp one night out at Fort Jefferson/Dry Tortugas. You have to pack all your drinking water but I bet when the tourist boat isn't there it's quiet and special. We did the day trip on the boat and saw where the overnight tent option is available. Ever done it?

TIA!

Bama Ed

 

[jeeptruck]

Yes I have had better luck at J.P. I also like it better for seeing reef and fish. It is much better. Bahia Honda is better for a sandy beach to tan and various snorkle areas if you don't care about fish and reef.

I have done the overnight stay at the dry tortugas. It is great! The ferry will take you over. We brought our kayaks with us. It is much nicer once everyone is gone. The park rangers are still there at night. They do stints of a few months where they sleep at the fort.

 

[staceyrhood]

Awesome, thanks!

 

[gwilliamc]

As a keys local - Long Key State park is another option. Nice camp grounds and just south of Islamorada.

 

[tinan]

We are doing a split trip to Disney and the Keys ourselves in Dec. Prior to this post we looked online at all of those campgrounds. Another one that peeked our interest and I believe we are going with is Sunshine Key Resort. It appears to be a newer resort. Has anyone else ever stayed here?

 

[bama_ed]

We are doing a split trip to Disney and the Keys ourselves in Dec. Prior to this post we looked online at all of those campgrounds. Another one that peeked our interest and I believe we are going with is Sunshine Key Resort. It appears to be a newer resort. Has anyone else ever stayed here?

Tinan,

Sorry to reply late - I've been off the boards for several days. Hope you see this.

Sunshine Key is an Encore RV resort which is a network of "time share" campgrounds for RVs. It's been there that I know of for several years. I looked at it too when planning my trip and I recall thinking as I drove past it that it looked like town of RVs. It was a huge grid of RV sites with gravel roads as I recall with very little shade or trees. I have no idea about what services they offer but if it has lasted this long it must have something going for it. Boyds is smaller and has a little more personality to it. I get the sense that Sunshine has a number of long term Rv'ers (snowbirds or folks there for at least a couple weeks).

If memory serves, Bluewater RV Resort in the Keys near Key West is the "high end" RV resort (popups like mine not invited). Boyds is the closest to Key West. There's a KOA down there (no idea about it) and then Sunshine Resort. This is outside of your state park choices.

If you end up using Sunshine please come back and let us know how it went.

Bama Ed

 

[tinan]

Bama Ed,

Thank you! I will definitely have to come back after our trip and let everyone know how it was. We have decided to go with Sunshine Key for this trip. I'm just hoping that since it is a time share resort that they won't be lacking in the upkeep of the resort. You give me hope by saying that they have seemed busy. We requested/reserved an oceanfront spot so that it is literally just outside of our camper.

I recall looking at both Boyd's and Bluewater Key on my search. Boyd's, I don't know why, just didn't appeal to me other than location. Bluewater Key I agree seems like it is geared towards the high end campers. I did enjoy seeing the docks, but I didn't see any beach front (which is part of what we want). We just upgraded from a pop up this year to a class C. Although we enjoyed our popup for 10 years, I have now become spoiled by our new to us camper.

Thanks again!

Tinan

 

[bama_ed]

I hope you get your oceanfront site.

As you drive down US1 in the Keys you will see places all over where you can pull over on the side of the road, slip on some fins and a snorkel mask, and literally walk to the ocean from the car (Atlantic on the left, Gulf of Florida on the right).

Hey maybe since it's a time share spot they might require you to sit through a sales presentation to get the low listed daily rate (leave your checkbook in the RV). Like in Orlando, if you sit through the pitch, they might throw in some free theme park tickets? To Wally World maybe?

"Are you serious, Clark?"

I really need to get back to the Keys someday soon. Post some pix please.

Bama Ed