Forida Gulf Coast

[Just Beachy]

Can anyone suggest a good CG on the Florida Gulf Coast? One with beachfront campsites would be awesome!! I'm trying to talk my dh into a trip down for our anniversary (October). I would really like to do a cruise (), but I'm ok with camping so he can fish, as long as I get to see that beautiful gulf water!!! Thanks!!

 

[MandMLUVMMandDVC]

Kelly, go to www.pinellascounty.org and look at Fort DeSoto. It's a great place on the gulf. the sites are on water, but not directly facing the gulf (kinda like inlets). anyways, you will love it. The beach is great and so is the fishing!

 

[Born 2 Fish]

but I'm ok with camping so he can fish, as long as I get to see that beautiful gulf water!!! Thanks!!

Dang Kelly,,that is awfully sweet of you ! I don't know about your hubby, but that'd sure touch my little heart,

 

[auntie]

We have driven into this RV resort several times. Very nice. Sites are not on the beach itself but there are some on the canal that have piers and are great for fishing and boating.
The resort sits right before the bridge that takes you over to Anna Maria Island. The beaches are BEAUTIFUL. If we ever get to take our RV to the gulf coast, I'd love to stay here.
Debbie got us hooked on Anna Maria about two years ago...we can't get enough of the place, and hope to go back in May for another visit. VERY relaxing and pretty sunsets.

check this out..

www.Holidaycovervresort.com


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[LORNADUCK]

Holiday Cove is really nice now that they fixed it up. We haven't stayed there but have been by it. Nice location right on the water and they have boat docks. We might go down there for a weekend this summer with the boat.
Ft. Desoto is also really nice, we have stayed there and taken the boat. It is a St. or County park and the rates are really good, but you have to book early, we never can seem to get a site.

 

[BigDaddyRog]

We had a great time at St. Joeseph Peninsula State Park and will return for another visit very soon. I also have some pictures here on my FB account.

 

[I'mDownWithDisney]

We had a great time at St. Joeseph Peninsula State Park and will return for another visit very soon. I also have some pictures here on my FB account.

I have been wanting to go there for some time now.

I can't see you FB pics....sent a request, BTW.

 

[OK GRUMPY]

Topsail State Park San Destin very cool! They have a trolley that takes you to the beach. Sites are not right on the beach but the trolley drops you off pretty close. Camp ground is beautiful!
Henderson in Destin is pretty to!
http://www.floridastateparks.org
Also I'll tell you another one that is nice Fort Pickens Pensacola Beach very beautiful!
http://www.nps.gov/guis/index.htm

I really like Topsail I went for the first time this last weekend and I'm going back soon!

Oh yes a Destin has there Fishing Rodeo the month of October!

 

[BigDaddyRog]

I have been wanting to go there for some time now.

I can't see you FB pics....sent a request, BTW.

I KNEW I recognized that profile picture...but I want sure!!! And Im terrible with real names....most people I know have STAGE NAMES or SCREEN NAMES!!!! Please accept my appology and resend the request!!!

 

[Just Beachy]

Dang Kelly,,that is awfully sweet of you ! I don't know about your hubby, but that'd sure touch my little heart,

What can I say, Frank? I'm a giver.

Thanks everyone for your ideas!! I really hope we get to go to one of these places!! I'll let you all know...

 

[Flametamr]

I have two suggestions. But both have lagoon camping near the beach.
The first is Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores Alabama. Its a very nice park but with that it also stays booked up in warm months. Hers a pic of our spot.

The second one we just stayed at this week was St Andrews State ark in Panama City Florida. The facilities were a little below par but the location was great. Here is a pic of that site.

 

[keylime359]

Another Vote for Holiday Cove. We stayed for Spring break last year and really enjoyed it. There is a great homemade ice cream place across the street. (That is the measure of a great campground . We were at Topsail over Christmas break and it was great as well. It is really close to this place called Doughnut Hole while not ice cream is also a great measure of a CG. We live in Fort Myers and most of the places here I would not stay at. Riverside RV is nice, but more local in nature as it is not really close to anything. (including ice cream and doughnuts) HTH

 

[BigDaddyRog]

Flame...we may be heading back to Gulf State at the end of may, thats one of our favorites too...and I agree, ya gotta get a waterfront site!!! I noticed it looks like they are encouraging reservations on the website now....and they used to avoid taking them. With almost 500 sites, it seems like they almost always have SOMETHING available, but theres what, like maybe 30-40 waterfronts.....so Im assuming that a ressie is a good idea for a waterfront.

 

[Flametamr]

Hey Rog, Yea they only have so many water front sites. I rode thru there last weekend and they are finishing the new upgrades and will open the new pool and tennis courts soon. I always try to reserve if possible. According to my BIL they will give you a reservation but won't assign you to a site until you arrive. So who knows where you will end up.

 

[Eagle~]

Also I'll tell you another one that is nice Fort Pickens Pensacola Beach very beautiful!
http://www.nps.gov/guis/index.htm

Ft Pickens aka santa Rosa Island ftw if you fish. I've been tent camping there since the 70s. you can walk from the campground and surf fish the bayside or the gulf side of the island, or drive down to the pier at night to fish. Unfortunately you can;t explore the old WWII gun emplacements anymore.

You better bungee shut every cooler you got or the coons will steal all your stuff. Little rascals will get into anything that isn;t locked or bungeed shut.

 

[ftwildernessrick]

Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores is usually my first choice, since it is closer to where I live. But, you have two options to get to the beach. At the end of the road leading to the park entrance, there is a parking area. Then you walk across the highway & down a boardwalk to the beach. The other way is to go to the state park beach pavillion which is a little further down the road but has free parking for people staying at the state park. The pavillion is very nice with clean bathrooms, several picnic tables, and a snack bar. We usually go there fairly early in the morning, pack sandwiches, set up our beach umbrellas and stay until after lunch then reaturn to our site. The campground has also recently completed their swimming pool (so I have been told). We have ressies for the last week of June there - depending on the oil slick.

Another campground is Henderson State Park, in the Destin beach area. This campground has 60 sites & is on the beach side of the highway, but there is a long boardwalk to walk to get to the beach & the beach cannot be seen from the campground due to the dunes & brush.

The only true campground that I know of that is on the beach (in the panhandle area) is Camping on the Gulf in Destin. (http://www.campgulf.com/ ) I have stayed here before and though it is convenient to the beach, it has drawbacks. First, it is expensive, more than FW, rates dependant on how close you are to the gulf. The actual beach front sites have no sewer, but they do offer pump out for a fee. Second, since space is money, you are crammed in like sardines & sometimes can't even get your awning out. Third, they need to update their utilities, brownouts are common with low voltage at peak air conditionong times. Fourth, the bathrooms are not kept well cleaned, mostly due to a large amount of traffic, coupled with inadequate housekeeping. And, unless they have changed it, one of the bathhouses has toilets that are designed as squat toilets, they are the same height as a regular toilet, but has no seat (the first time I have seen anything like this in the US).

 

[des1954]

Kelly - How could I, the Gulf Coast of Florida tour director (or at least that's what Auntie calls me) miss this thread??? I am ashamed of myself.

You want a campground on one of the most beautiful beaches in the WORLD? And don't doubt my word - this beach has won the top ten beaches in the world award for as long as I can remember.

http://www.simplysiestakey.com/Turtle-Beach-Campground.html

Turtle Beach is located on the south end of Siesta Key, Sarasota, Florida. I have been to beaches just about everywhere on the east coast of the US and up and down the Florida coast of the G.O.M, and there is no beach anywhere that can compare with Siesta Key beach. It is pure white sugar sand for as far as the eye can see. The public beach has not been trashed over with condo's, and it's....well.....just beautiful!!!

Auntie is now a confirmed "Anna Maria Island" junkie, thanks to my recommendation. If you go to Siesta Key - you can thank me later!