Camping Reservations

[pete42]

We are booked at fort desoto for a few nights, looked like a good place

I'll be in little manatee close to the sunshine bridge which you will be able to see from your spot in Fort Desoto.
you'll see the bridge not little manatee.

I'll be in highland hamocks, little manatee and anastasia in st augustine. as well as st petersburg, umitila, and leesburg with friends.

my uncle lived in Paisley florida near Ocala national forest where he like to hunt shot his last turkey at the age of 92.

I liked Paisley other than the black bears and scorpions that were in his back yard the bears loved his trash cans I saw one
near my trailer that was parked in his backyard at first I thought it was a big dog.

pete

[mary and bob]

We will be at Anastasia only 2 nights, Jan 28 & 29, when are you there Pete? That looks like the only park we have in common.

[Verna]

So, I guess that mean that if I want to go to Florida in late February, I better be looking for some reservations???? I was just hoping to go from campground to campgournd, as I have in the Midwest

[mary and bob]

Verna: Start looking at Florida campgrounds, the state parks are on Reserve America, see what's available. Some are full already! We know that some places we will want to stay longer, some not so long, but we're afraid not to have reservations. This will be our first camping trip into Florida, so we have booked at several places to see what we like, then maybe next year if we go again we'll know what we like best and stay there longer. This will be our first year as "Yankee Snowbirds"! Awaiting responses with yankee jokes!

[CAJUN LADY]

We are booked at fort desoto for a few nights, looked like a good place

That's the one!

[mary and bob]

Thinking of bringing our kayaks for use in the Keys and Rainbow Springs and maybe Fort DeSoto and also the two months we are at Jekyll Island before we get into Florida. Do the gators think they are like a hard shell nut with a soft goody inside?

[CAJUN LADY]

Thinking of bringing our kayaks for use in the Keys and Rainbow Springs and maybe Fort DeSoto and also the two months we are at Jekyll Island before we get into Florida. Do the gators think they are like a hard shell nut with a soft goody inside?

Rainbow Springs is great for kayaking - no gators! We go on a float trip there once a year every summer. The campground is not so rocking hot though. There are lots of power boats around Ft. DeSoto so kayaking can be a little rough.

[jlreyburn]

We've camped at St Joseph state park in Port St Joe, fl and Grason state park near Destin I believe. Grayson was ok, but enjoyed St Joseph!

[pete42]

Fort Desoto is a county park not a Florida state park and the sites are very close to the water.
I have never stayed there because my friend lives in St Petersburg and I stay at their home, but I have checked out
Fort Desoto and liked it very much.

Anastasia has canoe rentals and it offers kayaking as well.

Either Lake manatee or Manatee river state park has several kayak or canoe trails I would think it is manatee river but I'm old and forget which one
I have stayed at both and both are nice parks.

I'll tell you the park I have tried to get into for years without success it is Oscar Scherer just don't tell anyone.

I'll be in Anastasia in late feb early march. If this is your first trip don't forget you can drive on the beach not at the park but just south in St Augustine Beach.
a nice restaurant I liked was Cowboy's also in St Augustine Beach right on a river only open for dinner not breakfast or lunch.

don't for get we will all meet at Cajun Lady's house for a cookout.........................well maybe not

so back to the OP's question you do have to make them early if you want to go to a special spot.

[CAJUN LADY]

Fort Desoto is a county park not a Florida state park and the sites are very close to the water.
I have never stayed there because my friend lives in St Petersburg and I stay at their home, but I have checked out
Fort Desoto and liked it very much.

Anastasia has canoe rentals and it offers kayaking as well.

Either Lake manatee or Manatee river state park has several kayak or canoe trails I would think it is manatee river but I'm old and forget which one
I have stayed at both and both are nice parks.

I'll tell you the park I have tried to get into for years without success it is Oscar Scherer just don't tell anyone.

I'll be in Anastasia in late feb early march. If this is your first trip don't forget you can drive on the beach not at the park but just south in St Augustine Beach.
a nice restaurant I liked was Cowboy's also in St Augustine Beach right on a river only open for dinner not breakfast or lunch.

don't for get we will all meet at Cajun Lady's house for a cookout.........................well maybe not

so back to the OP's question you do have to make them early if you want to go to a special spot.

Come on over - I'll cook for ya! I'm gonna be at Anastasia at the end of October for a Halloween gathering - will be my first time at Anastasia. I've camped at Ft. Clinch which is close by there and loved it. Everyone I've spoken to really likes Anastasia. I'll also be at Manatee Springs which is in Chiefland, FL, at the beginning of October. I like that campground - it's close to Cedar Key, FL and a day-trip is always on the schedule. Happy camping Pete!~

[pete42]

right......come on over where ever "over" is............

This is where I will be
HIGHLANDS HAMMOCK Sp
Site: 046
Mon Feb 11 2013 - Mon Feb 18 2013 (7 nights)

LITTLE MANATEE RIVER SP
Site: 024
Mon Feb 18 2013 - Mon Feb 25 2013 (7 nights)

ANASTASIA SP
Site: 047
Mon Feb 25 2013 - Sat Mar 02 2013 (5 nights)

I will stop in Perry Ga at my 90 year old aunts on the way down and on the way back
and in umitilla before heading down to highlands hammock

since I will be by myself it's not as much fun but still good to get away.
if anyone thinks we will be close at those times PM me and I'll sent you my cell number.
pete

[kespada51]

becca, how are top sail, henderson and st. george campgrounds. , we have booked at long key on the keys, everyhthing else was long ago booked, got in long key becuase you couldnt book untill july 18 and in a matter of 10 min it was all booked, we got the one of the last two sites, and we were on at 8:00 when it started, never been there so we'll see what its like.

Top Sail is kinda pricey but beautiful, they offer transportation down to the beach. Henderson is right on the beach and a great campground. St George is great in July during Scallop season. All three of these campgrounds are top notch! You will not be disapointed. I live in the area and never have a problem getting reservations. If they are full, I just show up befor 8:00 AM and wait for them to show up. They reserve some campgrounds for walk-ins..... Good luck and let me know when your in the area, I know some great seafood restaurants and markets.

Kelvin

[mary and bob]

We are starting in northeast Florida January 27, staying at these campgrounds, Fort Clinch, Anastasia, Gamble Rogers, Sebastian, Jonathan Dickinson, Long Key, Collier Seminole, Fort Desoto, Rainbow Springs, Ochlockonee River, St George, Topsail, Henderson, leaving Florida for Hunting Island SC on Feb. 24. This is a recon mission through Florida to see what we like best. I know there are other campgrounds that are good, some were full, others we just didn't have time for, maybe next winter. We tried to set it up so we didn't have to travel long distances between campgrounds each time we moved.

[Jim.M]

This is sort of a lame question, but we're newbies. It's fun to just pack up and leave on impulse, but we don't want to end up without a campsite. Some of the places we've checked in Ca. and up the West Coast require months ahead reservations, and sometimes we can't plan that far ahead. I'm interested in what you experienced campers recommend re planning a trip, Have any of you had good luck stopping at a campgd and being able to snag a spot without a reservation, due to cancellations? Obviously, holidays and summer when kids are out of school would make reservations more important. Also, any must-visit places you recommend? We are sitting on the couch with maps, day dreaming where to go next...

I visit recreation.gov and see what's available. I've been able to reserve two consecutive nights in Yosemite in June... made the reservation 4 days before arriving.

A lot of people will cancel at the last minute, so if you have the time to hit "refresh" when looking at a specific day range for a campground, sometimes sites open up!

Also, you can reserve cabins (e.g. hunting cabins) in some of the western states (Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, maybe others?) if you want to bunk down in more spacious accommodations. Not as cheap as free camping on BLM or Forest Service land, though.

[pete42]

We are starting in northeast Florida January 27, staying at these campgrounds, Fort Clinch, Anastasia, Gamble Rogers, Sebastian, Jonathan Dickinson, Long Key, Collier Seminole, Fort Desoto, Rainbow Springs, Ochlockonee River, St George, Topsail, Henderson, leaving Florida for Hunting Island SC on Feb. 24. This is a recon mission through Florida to see what we like best. I know there are other campgrounds that are good, some were full, others we just didn't have time for, maybe next winter. We tried to set it up so we didn't have to travel long distances between campgrounds each time we moved.

wow now I have camping envy....

anastasia, gamble rogers are two I like
we have spent Christmas in Gamble Rogers several times in the past.
before huricane andrew piled tons and tons of sand onto Gamble Rodgers the sites were open to the ocean and the beautiful sunrises,
now the sites are surrounded by sand dunes still great place to stay not to large but peaceful
when you finish your quest please post what you find you like and dislike about each
maybe start a blog like shadow catcher did on their trip out west from Ohio.
we would be able to follow along on your trip and share your adventure.

pete