JudyJB
Senior Member
I was originally planning on spending most of the next two years on the western part of the country, but generally I have been alternating the west with Florida because I like the birds and some of the out-of-the-way places in Florida. I also have been frustrated with how cold it has been the last couple of years in the west.
Anyway, I nearly always stay in state and COE campgrounds in Florida, but I know the recent change allowing Florida residents to make reservations a month earlier than the rest of us is going to cause problems for us.
So, a couple of nights ago, I decided to try to see how difficult it would be to get state park reservations in October, November, and December. Actually, I was pleasantly surprised. For all their complaining about not being able to get reservations, the residents have really not filled everything up yet. January and February might be harder, but at least for now, I have filled up October and a couple of days in late September and early November with not too much difficulty. It did require some flexibility and slightly shorter stays than I usually make, but I got 6 days at the beachside campground at Fort Clinch, 10 days at TH Stone at St. Andrews, 6 days at Topsail, and 14 days in the newer area at Grayton Beach.
Why these months? Well, last year, I got to Florida earlier than usual, by mid-October and I found it very pleasant. Easier to get good reservations, less traffic, fewer crowds, etc. Temps were also good, and my reservations for fall 2025 were in the Panhandle, so it should be reasonably cool.
I'll keep making reservations until it becomes too hard--weekends especially, but I can always spend January and maybe February at COE places. I don't think you can wait until the last minute, but you've never been able to do that in Florida anyway!
Thought some of you might want to know.
Anyway, I nearly always stay in state and COE campgrounds in Florida, but I know the recent change allowing Florida residents to make reservations a month earlier than the rest of us is going to cause problems for us.
So, a couple of nights ago, I decided to try to see how difficult it would be to get state park reservations in October, November, and December. Actually, I was pleasantly surprised. For all their complaining about not being able to get reservations, the residents have really not filled everything up yet. January and February might be harder, but at least for now, I have filled up October and a couple of days in late September and early November with not too much difficulty. It did require some flexibility and slightly shorter stays than I usually make, but I got 6 days at the beachside campground at Fort Clinch, 10 days at TH Stone at St. Andrews, 6 days at Topsail, and 14 days in the newer area at Grayton Beach.
Why these months? Well, last year, I got to Florida earlier than usual, by mid-October and I found it very pleasant. Easier to get good reservations, less traffic, fewer crowds, etc. Temps were also good, and my reservations for fall 2025 were in the Panhandle, so it should be reasonably cool.
I'll keep making reservations until it becomes too hard--weekends especially, but I can always spend January and maybe February at COE places. I don't think you can wait until the last minute, but you've never been able to do that in Florida anyway!
Thought some of you might want to know.
