Made plans to camp at Flamingo in January for 3 nights. I see that there are no hookups. This will be the 1st time we camp w/o water & electric ( almost really camping LOL). Can anyone who has camped there give us a little advise on what we will need.
Flamingo is great, one of my all time favorites - you'll love it. CG does have cold showers - and water pretty much all over, and a dump station right there too. Just need to be careful about your batteries so you have lights, etc.
Has a small store and gas station right on the dock - but it's expensive, so know it's there, but bring supplies.
Make sure your screening is the no-see-um, (fine mesh type).
We have seen several pop-up campers forced out due to the no-see-ums getting through their screening.
You might also want to bring a small 12v DC fan . It can be cool, but it also can be very hot.
Bring a coleman lantern also.
- Love Flamingo- bring kayaks and a canoe- Paddle the Hell's Bay Trail, The nine mile POnd Canoe trail, The West Lake trail and a lot of others,
Nice campground, not much shade if its warm, very strict on generator usage, take everything you will need, not many resources available down there and a long drive to go back and get anything. Quiet and peaceful.
Great campground. No sites are reserved. You get there and fins a site you like and park. There really is no shade so come prepared with an awning preferably one with a screen. Bring a telescope or really good binoculares the stars are amazing. Lots of hiking, bird watching, etc.
Best bet is to have a generator if you don't have one on board. they are strict with when you can run it but we appreciated that. It was very peaceful when they were off. think boy scout camping. Everything should be able to be used without electricity if need be. We brought our lantern, cook stove to use outside so we didn't make the MH hot inside. We were gone most of the day: took tours and hiked, went to visitor centers and observation areas, did ranger talks. The only power in the campground is the outlet in the bathhouse. Anytime we went in there someone's phone was plugged into the wall. I made a few calls to Japan while it was handy .
If you need water when you get there there is an area to fill near the dump station which is in front of the bathhouse. (We don't run with full tanks too much water). Enjoy! Can't wait to go again.
Don't know much about which generators they allow...or the rules there. We spent some time at both campgrounds in the park last winter. Flamingo is the nicest, being right on the bay, but cell phone use is strictly AT&T. There's a tower right there. No other carrier gets a signal. The store at the marina is pretty well stocked....but expensive. They do have fuel pumps. As said above, the no-seeums go right thru standard screen at dusk.
If we get to S. Florida, I might stop down there to just check on the employees at the marina concessionaire. Quite a fun group...
Generator hours are 8 am to 8 pm. Many loops were closed after the 2005 hurricane season and will never be reopened. When the campground is rebuilt, plans are for 40 RV sites and 40 tents sits. Before the 2005 hurricane season the campground had 255 sites. There are no water or electric hookups. They have flush toilets and cold water showers only. They have a small store with limited items, fuel, small boat rentals, dock space, fishing bait, and a boat ramp. There are tour boats for Florida Bay and White Water Bay (back country) that operate during the winter season. The hotel and restaurant were damaged during the 2005 hurricane season and will not be repaired. Planes are for a new lodge and nature center.
The campground is located 35 miles from the entrance (70 miles round trip). I would suggest you stop in Homestead or Florida City before entering the park and gas up before you enter the park. That way you have fuel for sight seeing.
Don't forget to stop at the visitors center before you enter the park, it is worth it.
I think they now have a reservation system for Flamingo.
Camping in June, July and August is free. It is hot in the summer with more bugs they any place in the states. Most places have black flies or misquotes. Flamingo has mosquitoes, earwigs, no-see-ums, spiders, ants, etc. in large quantities. You will have few in the winter but not that bad.
Flamingo will be rebuilt when the park gets $30 million.
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