camping in florida keys?

[GoBlue!]

Anyone have any experience camping in the Florida Keys? Thinking of a diving/camping trip in March 2004 & looking for suggestions. I've only dove Marathon Key before, which I highly enjoyed, but time to experience something else!

Thanks,
Jim

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

I have been tent camping at Bahia Honda and Pennekamp State Parks. Both are nice, but if I had to choose one, it would be Bahia Honda.
Thanks for posting your question, it will be interesting to see the responses...

 

[DennisS]

If you're planning on camping in the state parks make sure you make reservations, they fill up fast.

A commercial campground I like is the Big Pine Fish Camp at the north end of Big Pine key. You have Marathon to the north and Key West 27 mi to the south. There are key deer that wander through the campsites. They have a canal for boats and some huge brain coral off shore.

 

[Bob3]

Bahia Honda state park is always the good old standby, but make sure to lock any valuables in your trunk.

Like DennisS sez, the Fish Camp is also a good place, they have a store onsite so you don't have to worry about starving.
If you keep on heading down the road the Fish Camp is on you'll run into a couple spots where you can do some shore diving. (expect a fair surface swim though).

Bahia Honda has turned out a couple of Godzilla size bugs from the nearby bridge pilings.

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

KOA Campground Sugarloaf Key

Very close to Looe Key, Adolphus Busch & other great dive sites.

 

[FLArmyBrat]

I too have camped at Pennekamp Park. But that was years before diving. We loved the park itself and did go out on a snorkle boat straight from the park (seeing the statue was probably the start of my desire to start diving).

I am looking forward to more responses as well for more ideas for camping. Dove Marathon and Key Largo this past weekend but we did it from the comfort of a hotel room instead of a tent!

Laurel- The Frog Queen
:royal:

 

[eggman131]

Not sure what sort of experience your up for, but if you really want to spice up the nightlife of your dive/camping trip--and do it very inexpensively, consider Jabour's campground, which is the ONLY campsite on Key West proper, and literally a 2-minute walk to Duval St. You could drive the 1/2 hour or whatever to better dive sites. Jabours is entirely RV's, but I'm pretty sure they'll let you pitch a tent under a tree. I did so my Sr. year of college for a VERY low-budget spring break. You can imagine what the tent smelled like after a week of 3 guys living in it, but all-in-all it was a blast. Too bad I didn't dive in college!

 

[DandyDon]

I've thought of camping there, but with rooms starting at $50, didn't think I'd save enough to bother? :$$:

thanks, don

 

[dutchfin]

Bahia Honda is a great choice, as it is kind of centrally located in the keys. Make sure you reserve a site in advance. Can get pretty crowded at times

 

[scubanole]

If you are planning on going in March of 2004, you may have to stay at a private campground. I know Long Key SP is full, and Baiha Honda and Pennekamp were very close if not full also. I have reservations at Baiha Honda March 27-April 1. Can't wait.