Florida Keys RV parks are busy throughout the year, but they are especially hard to get in winter. Book early if you plan to visit from January through April.
The best bargains are state parks, where campground reservations are hard to get at any time of year, so it may be best to set your sights on private campgrounds. Be assured, you will pay top dollar.
There are dozens of private campgrounds throughout the Keys to dock your RV with full hookups, and there are even a few that accept tents. We also include a U.S. Navy campground for veterans.
Be sure to bring along our Florida Rambler’s Mile-Marker Guide to the Florida Keys
For information about tent camping in the Florida Keys, go to Best Tent Camping in the Florida Keys
UPPER KEYS and KEY LARGO — The snorkeling capitol
KINGS KAMP. (MM 103.4, Bayside) 60 RV and tent sites with water and electric, most seasonal. Motel rooms and cottaage. Boat ramp, dockage, jetty, small swimming beach. 103620 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo. For reservations, call (305) 451-0010. Web site: kingskamp.com
JOHN PENNEKAMP CORAL REEF STATE PARK (MM 102.5, Oceanside) 47 tent and RV campsites with water, sewer hookup, 30 amp, 50 amp, 110 volt electric, picnic table, grill. 3 ADA sites. Boat camping and primitive group camping. Dump station. Main restroom has toilets, hot showers. Beaches, hiking, snorkeling, diving, glass bottom boats, kayak-canoe launch, boat ramp. Pets OK. 102 Overseas Highway, Key Largo. 2022 RV/Tent Rates: $36 plus $7 per day for utilities and a one-time $6.70 reservation fee. Park office: (305) 451-1202. For reservations, call (800) 326-3521.
KEY LARGO KAMPGROUND AND MARINA (MM 101.5 ,Oceanside)– 171 RV sites with full hookups, 50-amp electric, some drive-through; 32 primitive tent sites, many in the shade. Waterfront sites with private dockage. Restrooms, showers, picnic tables and fire grills available. Water access to fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving, paddling, biking. Pets OK. 101551 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo. For reservations, call (305) 451-1431. Web site: keylargokampground.com
CALUSA CAMPGROUND RESORT AND MARINA, (MM 101.5, Bayside) Full hookups, 30-50 amp electric. Mostly seasonal and ownership. Park model rentals. Pool, dockage, boat ramp, trailer parking, playground, basketball and tennis courts. Pet fee. 325 Calusa St., Key Largo. For reservations, call (305) 451-0232. Web site: calusacampground.com
MIDDLE KEYS and MARATHON — The fishing capitol
FIESTA KEY RV RESORT (MM 70, Bayside/Gulf) 300 RV sites, 200 with full hookups, and 50 tent sites. Motel rooms, rental cabins available. Picnic tables, grills, restrooms, showers, propane, campground store, two laundry rooms. Playground, game room, heated pool, hot tubs, beach, marina, boat ramp, boat rentals, bike rentals. Boat ramp and dockage available. 70001 Overseas Highway, Long Key. For reservations, call (305) 664-4922. Web site: rvonthego.com/florida/fiesta-key-rv-resort
GRASSY KEY RV PARK AND RESORT (MM 58.7, Gulfside) 38 RV sites with full hookups, 30-50-amp electric. Pool, Dockage, WIFI, cable TV, Laundry, Clubhouse. Views of Gulf of Mexico throughout the resort. 58671 Overseas, Marathon. Pets must be registered. For reservations, call 305-289-1606 Web site: grassykeyrvpark.com
JOLLY ROGER TRAVEL PARK (MM 59, Gulfside) 160 RV sites with full hookups and cable. The waterfront sites, with full hookups, were quite nice. Lots of trees in the old section offer plenty of shade. Tent sites on bayfront tiki island. Picnic tables, restrooms, showers, horseshoes and laundry. Boat ramps and dockage. Pets OK. Bark Park. 59275 Overseas Highway, Marathon. For reservations, call 305-289-0404. Web site: jrtp.com
CURRY HAMMOCK STATE PARK. (MM 56, Oceanside) I’ve visited this park many times. Same price ($36) as Pennekamp, and most sites are spacious, on concrete pads with sand pads for tents. Excellent access to the ocean, although only a few sites are directly on the beach. The vegetation has grown fast between sites since it was renovated a few years ago, it’ll still be a few years before it’s dense and shady. 56200 Overseas Highway, Marathon. 2022 RV/Tent Rates: $36 (All year) plus $7 per day for utilities and a one-time $6.70 reservation fee. For reservations, call (800) 326-3521.
Florida Rambler article: Hidden Curry Hammock State Park has much to offer
LOWER KEYS and KEY WEST – Nature’s playground
SUNSHINE KEY RV RESORT AND MARINA (MM 38.8, Bayside). Sunshine Key is an island unto itself and one of the largest campgrounds in the Keys. The 75-acre island is surrounded by crystal-clear water, accessible to kayaks from your waterfront campsite or from the large marina. This is a small city with all the amenities, including a restaurant, laundry facilities, playgrounds and boat rentals on site. There are 409 campsites, including 54 beachfront sites, with full hookups and cable TV. Part of Encore/Thousand Trails Resorts. For reservations, call 800-852-0348. Web site: https://www.rvonthego.com/florida/sunshine-key-rv-resort-marina/
BAHIA HONDA STATE PARK (MM 36.8, Ocean and Bayside). This state park has it all: top-ranked beaches, snorkeling, scenic views, nature trails, boat launch, docks and kayak concession. Fishing is also a big draw. With the closure of the Sandspur Campground, there are only two camping areas left: the main campground for RV’s and a small camping area for tents and popups, accessible only by low-height vehicles. The park also features three duplex cabins overlooking the bay, and cabin rentals run $120 in summer and $160 in winter. 2022 RV/Tent Rates: $36 (All year) plus $7 per day for utilities and a one-time $6.70 reservation fee. . For reservations, call (800) 326-3521.
Florida Rambler article: Bahia Honda State Park: Nice beaches, but historic bridge is the star
BIG PINE FISHING LODGE and CAMPGROUND (MM 33, Oceanside). The beauty of this campground is access to nearby Looe Key Reef. Boat ramp and dockage available. There are 172 RV sites with water and 30-amp electric service and 75 “rustic” sites for tents and RVs with communal water spigots. (Generators are not allowed.) If snorkeling or fishing are your pleasures, and you have a boat, then this campground is for you. 33000 Overseas Hwy Big Pine Key, FL 33043. For reservations, calls (305) 872-2351 Web site: bpkfl.com
Related Florida Rambler article: No Name Pub on Big Pine Key
SUGARLOAF KEY/KEY WEST KOA (MM 20, Oceanside) Rebuilt after 2017’s Hurricane Irma. Dockage and a fully stocked marina store. Featuring pull-thru, back-in, tent and unique accommodations. For reservations, call 800-562-7731. Web site: koa.com/campgrounds/sugarloaf-key
LAZY LAKES RV RESORT (MM 20). Convenient access to Key West, including bus transportation. 99 RV camping sites with full hookups and 30/50-amp electric, some pull-through. Lakefront sites available on 7-acre saltwater lake. DirecTV, Wi-Fi, heated pool, laundry, restrooms, horsehoe pits, clubhouse with pool table, fishing dock. Seasonal rates; electric extra. For reservations, call (305) 745-1079. Web site: lazylakesrvresort.com
BLUEWATER KEY RV PARK (MM 14.5). Most of the sites in this upscale, scenic and well-landscaped park are privately owned, but sites are available for rentals by reservation when the owners aren’t there. Many are waterfront. Needless to say, with its proximity to Key West, the park stays full most of the winter. Still, it’s worth a call. For reservations, call 305-745-2494. Web site: bluewaterkey.com
GEIGER KEY MARINA RV PARK (MM 10.5, Oceanside). Going towards Key West, take a left at the Circle K on Boca Chica Road for 1.3 miles. This small RV park and marina are tucked away behind the mangroves, and boat slips are available to campers. There are only 37 sites at Geiger Key, all on a gravel base, with full hookups, laundry, rest rooms, a boat ramp and dockage. A great tiki bar is on site. For reservations, call 305-296-3559. Web site: geigerkeymarina.com
BOYD’S KEY WEST CAMPGROUND (MM 5, Oceanside). This is the closest campground to Key West, and it can be a tight fit for RVers. Tenters have their own area. Despite its urban location, the camground manages to convey a tropical feel with coconut palms, a swimming beach and waterfront vistas. There are 150 RV sites. For reservations, call (305) 294-1465. Web site: boydscampground.com
EL MAR RV RESORT (MM 5). 11 RV sites, 45’x85′ for rigs 26′ or larger, including 6 waterfront sites. Full hook-ups with 30/50 amp electric, cable TV and WiFi. 6700 Maloney Ave, Key West. For reservations, call 305.294.0857. Web site: elmarrvresort.com
LEO’s CAMPGROUND (MM 4.5) Leo’s is on Stock Island and is convenient to all that Key West has to offer, by bicycle, bus or even walking. Leo’s is now RV-only — no tents — and rates have increased. Back-in RV sites include a picnic table, water, sewer hook-up, cable and 30/50-amp electric. Be prepared to back your rig into the campground from a side street. Laundry facilities are available, the former bathhouse is gone. 5236 Suncrest Road, Key West. Book online or call (305) 296-5260. Web site: leoscampground.com
SIGSBEE RV PARK, Naval Air Station Key West (MM 2). 93 RV sites with hookups (water, sewer and 30/50 amp electric), 10 sites for tents, and 300 sites without hookups in the overflow area. Small beach with tiki huts, kayak rentals. Dockage and boat rentals, Wi-Fi. Pets OK (up to 2). Key West Naval Air Station, Key West. For campground reservations, call (305) 293-4432.Only active-duty can reserve sites. For retirees, it’s first-come, first-served. Web site: get.dodlodging.net/propertys/Key-West-Campground Sigsbee is Restricted to Active-Duty and Retired Military Only.
Things to know…
Book early, especially for the three remaining state park campgrounds, which tend to get booked as soon as they become available up to 11 months in advance.
Unless you plan to be there to hunt for lobster, avoid the madness of the Florida Spiny Lobster sport mini-season, July 27-28, 2022, and the start of the regular season, August 6. There will be plenty of lobster left after mid-August, and the season doesn’t end until March 31.
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Bob Rountree is a beach bum, angler and camper who has explored Florida for decades. No adventure is complete without a scenic paddle trail or unpaved road to nowhere. Bob co-founded FloridaRambler.com with fellow journalist Bonnie Gross 14 years ago.