Campgrounds on drive to the Fort (Florida state parks, esp) -favorites?

[sweet maxine]

Thoughts on some of these parks for an overnight stay? Only one, Lake Louisa, has availability for the night I need before check-in to the Fort. Was hoping for a spot at Silver Springs, but am on the waitlist for now. Would really like something with manatees/activities. Thoughts?

Edit...I do have one night booked at FL Caverns, and a ticket for the tour

 

[bama_ed]

Would really like something with manatees/activities.

Blue Spring State Park is a little over an hour northeast of WDW through Orlando and up I4 and has manatees in the winter months. I stayed there with DD in December 2018 and did a trip report.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/camping-with-the-manatees-a-ccb-trip-report.3725426/

Not a LOT of campsites and popular with day trippers.

The best time to see manatees is on VERY cold days. In that case, they gather close to the spring water source. On warmer days, the water temps in the adjacent river or canals is comfortable enough for them to spread out so the likelihood of seeing them in any one place is less.









Hard to get a campsite on short notice but worth the try.

Bama Ed

PS we were at the Fort a few days before we went to Blue Spring

 

[sweet maxine]

That one is definitely on my radar! Only thing available right now is a cabin though. Just checked again, and there is actually only one site left at Lake Louisa for the night I need. Maybe I should go ahead and book that, but wondering if a waitlist comes through, how would i be able to change to the new campground? I don't think the system lets you book and then cancel the other site at another park, right? I know I'm not explaining myself very well here...

 

[Teamubr]

I really like Lake Louisa, but that is due to proximity and it isn't far off the route I normally take to WDW. It has a number of lakes, but I'm not sure about activities. We usually come in around dinner time and head out early morning.

j

 

[sweet maxine]

I really like Lake Louisa, but that is due to proximity and it isn't far off the route I normally take to WDW. It has a number of lakes, but I'm not sure about activities. We usually come in around dinner time and head out early morning.

j

I should have booked it when I saw it, instead of thinking it over. That one site has been booked already!

Most likely, I would be arriving around dinner time anyway. I don't have much of a window to play around with, and I can't move check-in day for the Fort. I did sign up for waitlist alerts for Lake Louisa.

 

[bama_ed]

That one is definitely on my radar! Only thing available right now is a cabin though. Just checked again, and there is actually only one site left at Lake Louisa for the night I need. Maybe I should go ahead and book that, but wondering if a waitlist comes through, how would i be able to change to the new campground? I don't think the system lets you book and then cancel the other site at another park, right? I know I'm not explaining myself very well here...

If you find another LL site then you can cancel it later if your waitlist comes through.

Thing is, though, the campsite is about $30 and you pay a small reservation fee of like $5 IIRC. But when cancelling I think you pay a $15 cancellation fee (regardless of how many nights the ressie was) and the reservation fee is non-refundable. So you will get about a $15 refund for 1 night.

There is also quicker ways now to get from LL to the WDW complex as new roads have been built between the two. No longer a need to go down to Hwy 192 as I used to do.

ED

PS - LL is my go-to night-before-the-Fort-arrival place. Easy in, easy out, and convenient and close. Only downside is as a non-Floridian I have shorter booking window (10 months) than Floridians do (11 months). But that practice is becoming more common...

 

[wabbott]

We're not campers, but we visited this state park a couple of years ago. A zoo and underwater viewing area. No camping facilities, but likely plenty of places close by.

We stayed in a hotel, and would go back in a heartbeat.

https://www.floridastateparks.org/p...chiller-homosassa-springs-wildlife-state-park

 

[sweet maxine]

I have several parks waitlisted for now. Hopefully something comes through, but if not, I can book a motel and should probably do so for insurance.

Thanks for all your help and suggestions!

 

[sweet maxine]

To update.....

I found two nights at Anastasia State Park. Was going to book only one, but there were two for the weekend, and I was able to move my Fort reservation back one day, so it all worked out for me. I'm hoping to see the Night of Lights in St. Augustine, as well as some of the other sights while I'm there.

 

[bama_ed]

I like Anastasia SP - stayed there twice. Sites can be on the small side although their website does a good job of laying out the useable dimensions. So book sites (those of you reading this) after you see the dimensions of what's available. Oh - my pro hint for ASP - the racoons there are not amateurs - They.Are.Professional.Hustlers. Take extensive steps to protect your food and smellables. Don't ask me how I know.

The St. Augustine Lighthouse is not far from the entrance to ASP on the way into St. Augustine. We visited as many lighthouses as we could in a 3-year span about 5 years ago (all over the state). And St. Augustine was one of the first ones. Nice climb, good museum at the base.

I recommend Sunset Grille which is south of ASP in the town of St. Augustine Beach on Hwy A1A (Beach Boulevard). Lunch or dinner. It was all good for us.

That's a great pre-visit before FW. There is a Buc-cees south of Jacksonville before St. Augustine and also one just to the north of Daytona Beach before the i4 turnoff. If you're a beaver fan.

I'm excited for you. St. Augustine is a historical gem and underrated IMO.

Bama Ed

 

[sweet maxine]

I like Anastasia SP - stayed there twice. Sites can be on the small side although their website does a good job of laying out the useable dimensions. So book sites (those of you reading this) after you see the dimensions of what's available. Oh - my pro hint for ASP - the racoons there are not amateurs - They.Are.Professional.Hustlers. Take extensive steps to protect your food and smellables. Don't ask me how I know.

The St. Augustine Lighthouse is not far from the entrance to ASP on the way into St. Augustine. We visited as many lighthouses as we could in a 3-year span about 5 years ago (all over the state). And St. Augustine was one of the first ones. Nice climb, good museum at the base.

I recommend Sunset Grille which is south of ASP in the town of St. Augustine Beach on Hwy A1A (Beach Boulevard). Lunch or dinner. It was all good for us.

That's a great pre-visit before FW. There is a Buc-cees south of Jacksonville before St. Augustine and also one just to the north of Daytona Beach before the i4 turnoff. If you're a beaver fan.

I'm excited for you. St. Augustine is a historical gem and underrated IMO.

Bama Ed

Thanks for the advice about the racoons! I'll be diligent about any food or smellables for sure!!

Buccees is definitely on my to-do list. I've not been inside the store yet. I'm hoping to visit the Robertsdale location if possible on the drive down.

I'm definitely excited to visit St. Augustine! It was such a surprise that I was able to book the nights at Anastasia, so I just decided that should become the plan.

I would love to actually do an "old school Florida" state park/sightseeing tour soon. I remember Cypress Gardens and Weechee Wachee from long ago. Would be fun to explore what's left of some of the old places, and find some new favorite state parks to visit. I used to collect the wax figures from the machines at all of the tourist spots when my family went on vacation.

Editing..
The Sunset Grille!! How did I miss that?!! Now I've got Don Henley singing in my head....