Key West has a two-sided reputation. On one hand, it’s known for the casual, laid-back tie-dyed lifestyle popular with more eclectic lifestyles. On the other hand, it’s an upscale vacation playground for wealthy travelers who don’t want to stray from U.S. borders. Somewhere in the middle, you’ll find the folks who stay at the remaining handful of campgrounds in and near Key West.
If you think camping is for you, here’s your guide to staying in the Southernmost City with your RV or tent.
LEO’S CAMPGROUND & RV PARK
Leo’s Campground is one of two campgrounds on Stock Island, which is as close as you’ll get to Key West staying in a tent or RV. Their tent spots are pleasant, situated around a lake and some have electricity for an extra charge. Showers are nearby tent spots. RVs get the full treatment, which includes sewer, water, cable TV, and much more. There’s a BBQ area for RVers and shower/laundry facilities as well.
GEIGER KEY MARINA
Tent, motorhome & trailer sites. Hot showers. On the water, Atlantic side. They have a restaurant that is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner: Geiger Key Smokehouse & Tiki Bar. The convenience items, there’s a Circle K right down the road, and the Geiger Key Marina sells fishing necessities including fishing licenses. They have waterfront sites with hookup, and they have boat slips. Pretty close to Key West, which is just six miles down the road. They can hook you up with charter fishing guides and they have live music on the weekends. Plus, special events like big BBQ nights and Steak Night. IT’s been here for more than fifty years, so it’s lush and beautiful. Like most accommodations in or near Key West, there’s an off-season discount, available Spring through Fall.
BOYD’S KEY WEST CAMPGROUND
On a budget? Boyd’s Key West Campground is just for you if you’re traveling to Key West. The location is great: just outside the island of Key West, around Mile Marker 5. If you didn’t know, the island of Key West is four miles long, which puts Boyd’s at just one mile from the island. It’s on what’s known as Stock Island. That means bring your bicycle or rent one because that’s the best way to get to Old Town and the beaches. There are wide sidewalks and everything is within a short distance from the campground. If bicycling isn’t your thing, Boyd’s is still great because there’s a city bus that runs from right outside the campground walls to the heart of Key West. Talk about convenience!
Boyd’s Key West Campground has a nickname for itself: the Southernmost Campground. They have the right to this name because there aren’t any campgrounds on the actual southernmost island of Key West. The southernmost campground has everything you’d need, too. They’ll take your camping group no matter what form you have: giant RV or small car with a tent. They can accommodate everyone. Other services include boat slips, trailer parking, electricity, TV, water, sewer, and more. You only pay for what you want, in an a la carte menu style of the pricing system. Terms are by the day, week, or by the month. The rates also change with the season, and whether or not you’re on a waterfront site. As you can imagine, the rate schedule is complex!
The campground is a small village unto itself. If you take a walk around, you’ll find a marina, ATM, gift store, dishwashing center, laundry center, convenience store, several bathhouses and a picnic pavilion. Look for modern conveniences like wireless internet, and a place to plug in your modem if you’re not wireless. Feel safe with a 24-hour roving security guard. Have fun at the beach or at the heated swimming pool complete with requisite Tiki Hut. Veg out in the rec room and watch the large screen TV. Buy your LP gas right on site. Heck, you might spend an entire day at the campground and not even make it into Key West for a while. It’s a great place to camp while on vacation in Key West.
BLUEWATER KEY RV RESORT
Large well-landscaped sites with full hookups including cable. No tent sites. Most sites have docks, Tiki huts, and concrete pads. Bluewater bills itself as a luxury RV resort, which means the sites are large, there are hotel-like amenities like wi-fi and lush landscaping. The sites are individually owned and rented out by the owners. They are well cared for and well managed. That seems to be the theme at Bluewater. Special luxuries include a swimming pool that’s heated in winter and cooled in summer. It’s also a freshwater pool. The clubhouse is country-club worthy, with showers, rental office, modem, rec room and more. It’s new-looking and beautiful from the outside. You can launch your boat, store our trailer, walk your dog, move right in. They definitely earn the name at Bluewater: RV Resort.
A FINAL WORD
If you’re a die-hard car camper and plan on staying in a tent while in Key West, know that even in January it can be hot. It’s not impossible to stay in a tent but there’s a reason most folks rug their RV to the island. It’s far more comfortable, especially considering the bugs. Just a thought.
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