Camping in the Keys

[NoVaScuba]

My daughter and I will be tent camping on our trip June 21-27. Can someone recommend good campgrounds around Sugarloaf, Marathon and Largo?

Also, are reservations necessary this time of year? We'd rather be free to move around as we want rather than tied to a schedule.

 

[DebbyDiver]

Are you going to Largo (west coast of Florida) or Key Largo?

 

[lmorin]

The Florida State Park system is very nice and there are some good ones in the Keys. See Here. I've never camped in the Keys, but have visited most of the parks. (Note that not all the parks on the list offer camping). Check out Bahia Honda, Long Key, Pennekamp and Curry Hammock. My brief checking suggests that reservations are needed, and that different parks have different ways of receiving reservation requests.

 

[DebbyDiver]

You'll find this very recent thread to be useful.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/trips-local-marketplace-florida/285433-keys-camping.html

 

[NoVaScuba]

Key Largo.

It's strange that my search (Keys camp) didn't turn up that thread.

 

[DebbyDiver]

Glad to help! Warning: tent camping in the Keys in the summer is VERY buggy, and very hot. I HIGHLY recommend bringing at least an electric fan. And you will definitely need your bug repellant.

 

[Jupiter31]

Debby, True true re the heat and bugs

You may find it better to "bite the bullet" and get a motel room during the summer months in FL, but them my idea of camping is the Holiday Inn!

Consider yourself warned, but if you insist.......John Pennecamp is the "big" one in Key Largo; there are other private campgrounds - the other "big" one in the lower Keys is Bahia Honda, about 30 miles north of Key West.

I'd rethink the tent - just because you can does not mean you should! You're on vacation after all!

 

[DebbyDiver]

I've done it...it is doable...the quality of sleep is a bit lacking.

I boat camped down there many times, and my trick was to get in the water after dinner and try to get my core temperature down a little before bedtime, then run a fan right on my face all night.

Bug spray. Lots of bug spray.

 

[Speargirl]

I 100% agree with the others. I would suggest if you are camping to hit Long Key State Park. It's on the Atlantic side and on the water so at least you have a breeze to help keep some of the bugs away. Get lots of sunscreen and bug spray or you will get NO sleep.
Reservations are needed here in the Keys. I'm sure many have started in a tent and ended up at a hotel somewhere.
Good luck in your search and have fun on your vacation
(Remember you want the Atlantic Side it has the breeze)

 

[Buoyant1]

Bahia Honda has shacks you can rent, they actually look pretty nice.

They also allow some camping at Fort Jefferson out in the Dry Tortugas. I had some friends that are residents of Key West do that and they said you will never believe how peaceful it is out there at night! (not to mention freaky quiet)