What better place to spend the cold, snowy, winter- than in the sunny, tropical, Florida Keys? The keys are made up of small islands that are connected by roadways that spans 110 miles on the Overseas Highway. Due to the narrow two-lane roads and low speed limit, it could take over two hours to get from the top of the Keys (Key Largo) down to Key West. Here are some of the things you need to be aware of before RVing to the Florida Keys.
Book in advance
The number one piece of advice that we can offer is to book your campsite in advance! Now is not too soon to start looking into your trip for this winter. State Parks fill up fast because you can’t beat the $38/ night price tag. During the winter months, state parks fill up 11 months in advance – often to the second that they become available. We attempted to get a reservation at Bahia Honda State Park. On the first day we tried, the sites had sold out within the first 2 seconds. Armed with our computers, we were both ready on the second. At 6:58 a.m. ET, we started to hit refresh until the reservations opened at 7 a.m. and one of us was able to snag a coveted spot. The other failed. While this cutthroat reservation system seems ridiculous (because it is), there’s a reason why they fill up so quickly- and that’s because you can’t beat the location, the price, and the views! We camped right on the water and couldn’t have asked for a better campsite.
If you’re not able to book 11 months in advance, we recommend checking out the RV Parks in the area. The downside here, is that you’ll have to shell out some big bucks to stay there. They are often about $100 a night, so the best deal would be to get a monthly site for around $2,000. However, many of them come with their own tiki hut, gorgeous views of the water, and full amenities, so you get a lot more comforts for the price. Plus, you can wait a little longer to book these, as they often don’t fill up as fast as the State Parks. Many also have access to a marina, so you can launch your own watercraft if you have it.
Bring a tow vehicle
If you’re in a Class A, definitely bring a tow vehicle so you can get around the Keys. It’s about a two-hour drive from the top of the keys down to Key West. Most activities are scattered around the keys. Unless you plan to stay at the RV park for your entire visit, you won’t want to be driving your large rig around the narrow streets. Make sure to check out Dry Tortugas National Park or one of the fun festivals, if you can.
Pick the right season to visit
Take the weather into account when deciding what time of year to visit. If you go in the off-season, it won’t be as crowded. That makes getting that coveted ocean-front spot a little easier! There are cons to almost every season in the Florida Keys. Summer in the Florida Keys has scorching hot temperatures, the fall brings hurricanes, and the winter is super crowded. The best time to visit would be between March and May to get amazing weather without all the crowds. When we stayed, it was the first week of the year and it was cold and rainy. Unfortunately, you can’t predict the weather, especially when you book 11 months in advance.
One thing to keep in mind is that there aren’t really any beaches in the keys. Bahia Honda State Park’s award winning beach was closed when we stayed due to recovery from Hurricane Irma. So, make a mental note that you’ll be spending some money to participate in water activities, because most of the reefs are offshore and require a boat to access them.
Now that you’re ready to go RVing to the Florida Keys, find the perfect RV to rent today
