Its still hot as blazes in September. October starts cooling some but its still hot midday.
The state parks are a good place to start. Especially the ones with springs. Check out reserveamerica.com, which you have to use to make out reservations. You can enter the size RV you have and it eliminates campsites you won't fit in.
Some of our favoriite parks are (in no particular order);
Lake Louisa near Clermont (visit Lake Ridge Winery)
Rock Crusher Canyon in Crystal River (great Gulf seafood),
Silver River State Park-great state park, huge sites, visit Silver Springs. If you want a pool, sewer nearby is Wilderness RV Resort on the Ocklawha River. Takes Passport, has Class A only section.
Bryn Mawr RV Resort-on the ocean in St.Augustine. They have some sites that back up to the dunes and you can watch the ocean. You are far enough away that you won't suffer much if any salt spray. Beverly Beach and Gamble Rogers State Park farther south are directly on the ocean but I wouldn't take a new DP there. St.Augustine is fun to visit. Lots of history, walking tours, music, good eats.
Just north is North Beach RV Park. Its on the intracoastal; they have some deluxe sites that are waterview and you can walk to the ocean. You can hear the ocean if the surf is up. Close to St. Augustine.
Manatee Hammock near Cocoa Beach. County Park with full hookups and a pool, they take Passport (1/2 off) and the park is on the intracoastal waterway.
John Prince Park in West Palm Beach. City park on a lake. Busy in the winter. Lots to see and do, driving tours, museums in WPB.
Lion Country Safari KOA in WPB. Shady, pool, etc. What makes this park interesting is sitting under your awning in the evening listening to the lions, hyenas, tropical birds, etc get noisey when the sun goes down.
Larry Penny Thompson County RV park near Miami. Great park. Pool, nice sites, cheap. Situated in a Mangoe/Alvacado grove, it is near all sorts of stuff to do. Miami Zoo, tour the Redlands ag area, visit Miami Fruit and Spice Park. Great jumping off place to the Keys.
Keys; the state parks are nigh impossible to get into. If you must do Key West, there is Boyds; closet to KW or Blue Water Key at MM14. It is a beautiful place on the water. Each site has a TIKI hut with wet bar, etc. $120 and up. We like the mid Keys better. Knights Key on Marathon is one. On the water, nice view, walk-ride bikes to restaurants, waterfront bars, etc.
Big Katuna had some great suggestions. I would also add Stephen Foster Folk cultural center State Park in White Springs. It is big rig friendly and there are a lot of beautiful springs in the area.
We also just bought a 40 foot DP and are having to re-think the places we can go. Our previous mh was 32 foot, so things are different. Since you are new to rv'ing, you will really need campgrounds with easy to get into sites and wide roads.
Alot depends on your age group and activity wants. we are still young and have kids that go with us. two on our fav list are Rock Crusher Canyon, Crystal river Fl, and North Beach campground, St augustine Fl. both of these appeal to both family and snowbirds. we are from florida and still trying new area's KOA sugarloaf Key, fl Keys is a nice place, not in Keywest but close.
* This post was
edited 08/02/11 09:53am by Firemanfred *
Where to go in Florida depends on why you think you want to go there and what you plan to do. I personally like the area Florida calls the "Nature Coast" because it is far enough away from the overcrowded areas I don't want to revisit (having lived there too long before it got developed) with most of the rest of the state within a day's drive.
If you've not been to Florida before, a trip all the way around the coast, including out to Key West, is a good idea. You will find out which areas you like and which ones you don't like.
September and the first part of October can be mighty sweaty in central and south Florida while it's somewhat more pleasant in north Florida. I'd suggest toddling up US 98, then hang a left at Perry staying on US 98 along the Panhandle coast as far west as St. Joseph Peninsula SP.
There appears to be a wasteland of CGs along 98 until Carrabelle, but Wakulla County operates a CG at Newport just across from the road down to the St. Marks lighthouse; $15 water/electric a couple of years ago. Also, don't even think of going through Tallahassee for any reason.
That's also the time of the year to keep a wary eye out for hurricanes.
Rainbow River State Park Dunnellon. I 2nd Silver River State Park Ocala. Stephen Foster State Park White Springs (not much to do but beautiful). North of Tampa there is a park we like Quail Run in Wesley Chapel. Long paved pull thrus. St Augustine is a great place to visit. Near Orlando is Wekiwa Springs State Park. Enjoy!!
Lonny & Diane
2004 Country Coach Allure 33' "Big Blue"
Towing 2008 Chev Colorado 4x4
Semper Fi
Crystal River - Crystal Isles, is on a canal that goes out to the river, can be crazy on major weekends, But Rock Crusher can get very hot this time of year. If you are going to try the state parks make sure a 40 footer can get in, sometimes they are deep enough but they are narrow. Fort Desoto is great but you would have to check to see if your MH can fit.
LORNADUCK wrote: Fort Desoto is great but you would have to check to see if your MH can fit.
I would never recommend taking a 45' RV into that park. There are damaged trees at everybend and there are corners I had to stop and back up to get around in my 38'.
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