Camping in the Keys?

[stacktester]

When we went we stayed in Marathon. I will suggest using the turnpike for sure because it's way quicker. I also suggest buying a Sunpass. Every 7 miles stopping and going with a trailer stinks. With Sunpass you slow down but don't have to stop. We're going to try and go next month and do Sugarloaf KOA too. I've heard from many people it's really nice. My best advice when driving on U.S. 1 is take your time because it's not a place to fly through. It took us about 1.5 hours to go from Marathon to Key West. Be patient.

 

[loveDmouse]

When we went we stayed in Marathon. I will suggest using the turnpike for sure because it's way quicker. I also suggest buying a Sunpass. Every 7 miles stopping and going with a trailer stinks. With Sunpass you slow down but don't have to stop. We're going to try and go next month and do Sugarloaf KOA too. I've heard from many people it's really nice. My best advice when driving on U.S. 1 is take your time because it's not a place to fly through. It took us about 1.5 hours to go from Marathon to Key West. Be patient.

You definetly don't want to speed on 1 not that we would be zooming along in the motorhome. We have driven it a few times but we flew into Ft. Lauderdale and rented a car. We have never driven all the way to the Keys from home.
Where do you have all those tolls?

 

[stacktester]

The turnpike runs parallel to I-95 from at least Ft. Lauderdale to Miami. When we went last time I went straight down 95 to U.S. 1 thinking I would follow it to Homestead. It was a disaster. Traffic and lights were terrible. It's better to get on the turnpike and it dumps you into Florida City which is the very tip. There are some gas stations there to fill up with fuel and some eats there too. Once you get in the Keys it's tough to pull in places with a 31' camper behind you. When you're driving just remember once you get parked it's a beautiful place and the fun and memories are great.

 

[loveDmouse]

Thanks! You are right, the Keys are a beautiful place. We have enjoyed our trips there and can't wait to go back some day.

 

[Colson39]

March is a great time to visit, great weather, might have to watch for some early Spring Breakers.

Absolutely love the Keys, once of my favorite places to go. Been going there since I was a young'un, it's just tons of fun. Rick's bar is a favorite of mine, watched many a Miami Canes game there

 

[vickikoz]

We have a pop-up too. We stayed in Fiesta Key in April and had a blast, but they sold to developers and are soon to close. For Memorial Day weekend we went to Sugarloaf Key and it was the worst trip ever. We were in with the tenters(not that I have a problem with tenters we did that for years) It was the type of tenters that was the problem. There was a group of at least 50 ppl and there was about 3 or 4 tents on each site. They played their music loud into the middle of the night and were vomiting out side our pop-up at 3am. Plus the traffic was horrible.

All that aside we are booked at sugarloaf Aug11-13th. We will see how things go. We are going to go to Key West for one day and do a glassbottom boat.

I'll update after the trip and let you know if it is worth it. Everyone told us to stay away for Holiday weekends but we didn't listen. We will never go to the Keys again on a holiday.

Also it is a little more expensive in the Keys, but in my opinion it's worth it. I'm sure you couldn't find a hotel on the beachfront for $80 a night.

 

[pammypooh]

I would love to go camping in the keys but it is such a long drive. I guess if we had atleast two weeks off from work we could do it.

How was the drive for you guys? How many days did it take? We are in Virginia so you had even farther to go then we would.

We started south on a Friday and stayed somewhere in the Carolinas. Next day made it to Cape Canerval and spent two nights doing the tourist thing. From there we drove and drove and drove. Stopped in Key Largo for an afternoon scuba dive for DH, then wound up at Sugarloaf Key. We stayed there for 5 nights and then headed north to WDW for another 5 nights. On the trip back north we again stopped in the Carolinas. I think we got home on a Sunday. Would highly recommend doing the trip again....if it wasn't for work and school getting in the way of all my fun! But it is on our list of future trips.

Pam

 

[Minnie's Mate]

When we went we stayed in Marathon. I will suggest using the turnpike for sure because it's way quicker. I also suggest buying a Sunpass. Every 7 miles stopping and going with a trailer stinks. With Sunpass you slow down but don't have to stop.

How does that work with a trailer in tow? In Georgia, our only toll road has a similar pass, but it just debits your account for a car. How does the Sunpass know how much to debit your account? When we did the turnpike and new toll road, the tolls were determined by the number of axles on the camper...got to be expensive on the turnpike!!!!

 

[stacktester]

I'm not sure how Sunpass has it figured out. It is $1.00 extra each axle. I'm not sure if it runs something over or what but it works is all I know.

 

[joha]

Bahia Honda is my favorite, try getting a site there. Nice beach...watch the Sunset at the old bridge.

 

[Disney Campers]

I'm not sure how Sunpass has it figured out. It is $1.00 extra each axle. I'm not sure if it runs something over or what but it works is all I know

When i review my sunpass activity it shows an axle adjustment when i'm towing, so they must have some type of sensor.

 

[tungpo1]

The turnpike runs parallel to I-95 from at least Ft. Lauderdale to Miami. When we went last time I went straight down 95 to U.S. 1 thinking I would follow it to Homestead. It was a disaster. Traffic and lights were terrible. It's better to get on the turnpike and it dumps you into Florida City which is the very tip. There are some gas stations there to fill up with fuel and some eats there too. Once you get in the Keys it's tough to pull in places with a 31' camper behind you. When you're driving just remember once you get parked it's a beautiful place and the fun and memories are great.

The Turnpike south turns into US1 cant go wrong, only road to get to the keys unless you have a boat!!!!! lobster season time to go diving

 

[stacktester]

The Turnpike south turns into US1 cant go wrong, only road to get to the keys unless you have a boat!!!!! lobster season time to go diving

We took 95 to the end Tungpo trying to beat the tolls. Bad mistake. I am pretty sure when you use the Sunpass it's not full price. For example, my camper would be $3 if you stop but with Sunpass it's $2.50.

The turnpike does dump into U.S. 1 and I forgot to mention they built a Super Wal-Mart there. I suggest if you stop there or anywhere else lock your rig and anything loose lock it up. The cops were arresting shoplifters in the store and some guys who stole fishing poles off a boat. The boat was in broad daylight with people parking near it and they just jumped right on it and started pulling rods out of the holders.

 

[tungpo1]

Be careful when you get past florida city lots of construction, they are widening the road and building a bridge just north of Jewfish creek. Stop off at the last chance saloon for a cold one LOL!!!!!!