Traveling to Key West by RV with a 5 year old
December 27, 2014 11:32 AM   Subscribe

My adventurous wife and I are considering channeling our inner Jimmy Buffet taking our 5 year old son on a 4-5 day RV trip from Fort Lauderdale to Key West and back. Any recommendations for campsites, beaches, kid friendly sites, RV rentals, etc?

We would be flying into the FLL airport. I've never done an RV trip before, and I've never traveled the Keys either. We would probably want to take a night or two making the journey to key west, stay there for a night, or two then head back. Can anyone recommend sights/camping spots? Any RV suggestions? How about beaches and kid friendly locations? Activities?
posted by ZackTM to Travel & Transportation (10 answers total) 4 users marked this as a favorite
 
Response by poster: Traveling around January/February to escape the cold by the way
posted by ZackTM at 11:33 AM on December 27, 2014


Does your child like animals?
I found the Key deer on Little Pine Key amazing. They are so tiny and so beautiful, and they are only found in a very limited range these days.

Here's the website for the refuge. IIRC, when I was there we just went to Little Pine Key and looked around, and there they were.
posted by zorseshoes at 11:46 AM on December 27, 2014 [1 favorite]


It's only a 5 hour trip from Ft. Lauderdale to the Key West. (Without traffic.)

You take the turnpike through Homestead and the Overseas Highway from there.

Here's a list of RV parks.

I'm wondering why RV. In all probability it won't be cheaper than renting a car and staying in motels. Also, driving a beast like that on the Overseas Highway sounds like a nightmare. Have you driven one before? Do you know how to hook the up? If not, you may want to rethink, this.

The Keys are a very specific kind of place. They're great if you're into boating, diving and lounging on the beach. Since these aren't really my kinds of activities, I've never loved the times I've been down there.

In Key West I can recommend Hemingway's house and poly-dactyl cats. I enjoyed that a lot.

You really have to search to be amused in the Keys. There are some touristy things to do, the Conch train, the Treasure thingy, Southernmost Point. Meh. The beaches are all very calm, and most folks spend time eating, drinking and lolling around.

Now, I can recommend a lot more fund stuff from Miami, if that's what you'd like, great hotel, with full kitchen, fun stuff to do, places to hang out. But I've been to Largo, Key West and Islamorada and I can tell you, seen one Key, seen 'em all.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 11:47 AM on December 27, 2014 [1 favorite]


I've been to the Keys many times and really can't imagine doing it in an RV. Narrow roads/bridges, not a ton of parking, pricy gas. I'd rent a car, bring a good tent and split it between camping and cheap motels/airbnbs.

Stop at Robbie's Marina in Islamorada to feed the tarpon. Visit Bahia Honda beach. Rent fishing gear (or bring it) and fish under one of the many bridges. You'll definitely catch something.
posted by paulcole at 11:51 AM on December 27, 2014 [4 favorites]


Oh, also tiny owls on Key Colony Beach. Way more impressive than the Key Deer which are just slightly smaller than normal deer.

http://www.keysproperties.com/blog/burrowing-owls-key-colony-beach
posted by paulcole at 11:52 AM on December 27, 2014


Response by poster: Ah glad I asked! Sounds like a rental car, and a tent are a better choice than an RV.
posted by ZackTM at 11:54 AM on December 27, 2014


The Keys are LOADED with no-see-ums and mosquitoes. Do you enjoy camping? If so, get lots of bug repellant and mosquito netting.

Here's a list of campgrounds.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 12:09 PM on December 27, 2014


I lived in Key West for several years. Being stuck behind RVs on our tiny streets and bridges is a freaking nightmare. Please get a hotel and a rental car. :)
posted by heathrowga at 1:12 PM on December 27, 2014 [1 favorite]


I've done the Keys with kids a few times, most recently with my then-8 month old niece. You guys will have fun!

Definitely think about Bahia Honda State Park, as recommended above. Great beach & swimming (way better than any beach you will find in Key West), fun walks, close to where you can see Key Deer. I think they do camping there seasonally as well. It's closer to Key West than Key Largo but would still be a good "halfway" stop.

Eating in the Keys with kids: we've done both Mrs. Mac's in Key Largo and Hogfish Bar & Grill on Stock Island, right near Key West. Both were loud, lots to do/look at. Hogfish has a picture of Vanilla Ice on their website, so take that as you will, but I still recommend it! Eating by the docks is the best - my niece liked watching the huge fish in the water.

In Key West proper, the aquarium down near Mallory Square is kind of underwhelming overall but has a touch pool and some cool up-close shark and ray activities on a schedule that I think a 5 year old would be into.

Also in Key West, walking the docks on the bight could be fun - cool boats, lots of fish and sea life that you can watch in the water. I remember walking here with my dad when the fishing trips would come back, and you could see everyone bringing out their hauls from the day.
posted by marmago at 2:07 PM on December 27, 2014 [1 favorite]


pennekamp park has a great aquarium, and the bird sanctuary is lovely - I am down in the keys about once a year, and I go every time.
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 4:06 AM on December 28, 2014


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