Dry camping in Key Largo

[ccbmster]

Headed down to Key Largo to do some diving and wondering if anyone knows of a place there, or near there, where I could dry camp a few nights??

Thanks

[TomC]

It is called Ocean Divers, 522 Caribbean Dr, 305-451-1113. Have a large parking lot that they allowed me to park my semi over the weekend while diving with them and there is a bar there too. Good Luck, TomC

[Astro]

We stayed at John Pennekamp State park in Key Largo twice a few weeks back in my travels to and from Key West. They always seem to have a few spots available for walk ups. Its not too bad pricing for the keys and close in.

[Zephod]

I loved my few days in Key West but don't think taking my bus down there would be practical, sadly.


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[TomC]

The highway down to Key West is good-I've driven my semi several times for delivery/pickups there. Driving around town can be challenging-there are a couple good RV parks there.

[sledhead]

we stayed in marathon at a private trailer park  camping in the coach about 5 of 6 years ago . other then the stop and go traffic  to get there the drive was good

dave

[ccbmster]

All of the campgrounds were completely out of their minds on nightly rates, other than Pennekamp State Park. 

Thought I got lucky with the state park but it wasnt to be.  I called and was told they had 2 first come first serve spots left, but both were gone by the time I got there about 30 minutes later.

So we got permission from the dive shop we were set up with to spend a couple nights in the overflow parking of the Marriot (Marriot owns one of the buildings they operate out of).  Just to be sure, we went into the Marriot and asked.  We were told the manager wasnt in but it should be fine....even told me where I should park.

After the first night the manager from the Holiday Inn next door came and talked to my wife when I wasnt there. She said he was really nice and when she told him we had permission he said ok, as long as we had  permission.

Then this morning, right after I finished my second day of diving, some rude SOB that works at a little stand there on the canal selling tickets for glass bottom boat rides or some such thing came and threw a fit and claimed we didnt have permission at all.  Since I was done diving and we were heading out today anyway I tried not to make a big deal out of it and diffuse the situation right up until he claimed that my wife wasnt told what she was told by the Holliday Inn guy....at that point I told him, again, that we were getting ready to leave anyway but he better be really careful about accusing my wife of lieing!  I think he got the message because he walked away, but he got on his phone and was ranting to someone right up until we pulled out.

Tonight we are less than an hours drive away and paid $32 for a full hook up spot for the night.  Pennekamp would have been about $42.  Everyone else down there was over a hundred bucks a night.  A flea market with a HUGE empty parking lot offered to let us stay there with no hook ups.....for $150 a night LOL.  Another place was 2/3's full and said that the whole place was being closed and torn up on May first to put in another hotel, but they still wanted $350 for two nights.

Frankly, the diving in Key Largo just isnt THAT good to pay those rates on top of the high dive rates.

Oh well, it worked out, and I just wont ever go back unless I book nights at Pennekamp State Park.

[sledhead]

when we stayed there we had to book 8 mths in advance even for the private park it was  $ 75 a night . we had tried to get into 1 of the state parks for years , but no luck . drove the car to key west to see the sights . the problem for me was the hole time we were there it smelled like septic every were we went ?

dave

[Zephod]

I liked key west but I would imagine there are cheaper places to stay. I rather think that the keys have become too touristy and are killing them selves.

I went, spent 3 days and left. It was overly expensive. I liked the scenery. It was way too crowded for me but peacefully crowded.

The ideal way to visit the keys is probably on a boat, imho.


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[ccbmster]

No doubt a boat would be the way to go, although renting a slip would probably be exorbitantly priced as well.  If you could find a place to moore off shore it might be just the ticket. 

[dtcerrato]

ccbmster we feel your pain, We migrated to FL from NJ back in the mid 60s. Did High school & college in South FL & spent a lot of time in the Keys. Certified diver, boat & all that salt life stuff. We still do it but now relocated to Central FL. The keys are an awesome place but unfortunately in FL's tourist season it becomes a rip off joint. On a more fortunate note FL's summertime (hot, humid, & buggy) affords many advantages to it full time residents as things simmer down including the higher rates when all the snow birds go home. I have nothing against northerners as I am what FL crackers refer to as a "Damned Yankee" - a yankee that came to FL & stayed... :-)
It's been quite awhile since I've been to the keys. Good luck on finding your longings in the keys - for it's about the last frontier for coral reef diving in temperate waters in the US, and hardly holds a candle to what it used to be back in the sixties. Sorry for the rant - you just woke up some memory cells! lol

[pabusnut]

I camped in Key West in November 2014 for 6 days, unfortunately it was during a cold snap in the US and the last 3 days didn't get above 65 degrees!  Unfortunately, I had to stay in Afghanistan for 6 months to qualify for the $18/day full hookups rate!

Steve Toomey (Major, USAF Retired)
PAbusnut

[B_K]

I camped in Key West in November 2014 for 6 days, unfortunately it was during a cold snap in the US and the last 3 days didn't get above 65 degrees!  Unfortunately, I had to stay in Afghanistan for 6 months to qualify for the $18/day full hookups rate!
Steve Toomey (Major, USAF Retired)
PAbusnut

But Steve a paid 6 month overseas vacation is such a small price to pay for the opportunity staying in paradise for $18 a night!
  BK