Emerald Coast Florida, campground advice

[Texas_Roadrunn1]

We have had a change of plans and are looking for a campground on the Emerald Coast of the Florida Panhandle, on or near the beach. Our 13 year old grandson will be traveling with us. Destin would be nice, but really anywhere there’s a good beach is fine. Our preference would be for FHU, but could make do with water and electric. We have a 36’ fifth wheel. triple axle , so need good maneuverability. I know state parks are booked so private parks are fine. As always, thank you for your help.

[twichers]

Texas Roadrunner wrote:
Thank you all for the suggestions. While it wasn’t our first choice we secured a site at Navarre Beach RV resort, and felt lucky to do so, given that summer is such a popular travel time. Thanks again for your help.

Literally just west of our house on US98. Enjoy your stay!

[edatlanta]

SpeakEasy wrote:
I can second Topsail. Excellent resort, even though it is actually a state park. As far as reservations go, just monitor reserveamerica daily and look for cancellations. They happen all the time. We've been camping in FL state parks for a couple of years now just using cancellations. It's a lot easier than the 11-month in advance system that they have in place. Not easy to get long stays through cancellations, but you can generally get lucky enough to get a stay for less than a week, if you are persistent and patient.

-Speak

I was told over this past weekend that Florida State Parks are leaving reserveamerica as of May 1, 2021. This info came from a state park manager.

[wowens79]

Texas Roadrunner wrote:
Thank you all for the suggestions. While it wasn’t our first choice we secured a site at Navarre Beach RV resort, and felt lucky to do so, given that summer is such a popular travel time. Thanks again for your help.

We stayed there last May, and the folks that ran it were super nice. It was clean, and nothing fancy, our site was a little tight. We hung out of the pier in the park a good bit. It is a short drive over to the beach, and you can use the public beach right over the bridge, or drive down to the National Seashore.

[Retired_JSO]

Top Sail, Grayton Beach, and St Andrews are state parks with beach access. All are popular and require advanced reservations.

[Texas_Roadrunn1]

Thank you all for the suggestions. While it wasn’t our first choice we secured a site at Navarre Beach RV resort, and felt lucky to do so, given that summer is such a popular travel time. Thanks again for your help.

[lewisr]

2012Coleman wrote:

SpeakEasy wrote:

2012Coleman wrote:

mleekamp wrote:
We love Topsail, but you need reservations 11 months in advance it seems. Recently, we booked Emerald Coast RV Park in Panama City FL. Yes, 50 miles east of Destin but still sort of on the panhandle. Looks like its very popular and well received. FHU all day long. Your 36 foot 5vr should fit fine.

Looks like a nice place - however, on their website it states: "guests arriving with travel trailers or 5th wheelers cannot be accommodated and will be turned away."

True?

Can't imagine what it is that you are looking at. Unless it's something new related to COVID. We camped at Topsail in 2019 in a 23-foot travel trailer and there were many travel trailers and fifth wheels throughout the campground.

Or were you referring to the Emerald Coast RV Park??


-Speak

I was referring to Emerald Coast RV Park


Click For Full-Size Image.

That's for lake front pull-thrus.

[Martyn]

2012Coleman wrote:
Looks like a nice place - however, on their website it states: "guests arriving with travel trailers or 5th wheelers cannot be accommodated and will be turned away."

True?

That actually is not true - I just took something to my 5er in storage and drove through Emerald Coast RV Beach resort, to check it out, and it 75% 5ers and TTs. Obviously if you book with them it would be best to double check, but from what I saw you would be fine. It is well laid out and all concrete pads. Very nice, but about a mile from the beach

We think Pine Glen here in Panama City Beach is one of the nicest here, although it is about 3/4 of a mile from the beach and has gravel lots.

Closer to the beach is Raccoon River. More downscale but not too bad, nonetheless.

Panama City Beach RV Resort is not too far from St Andrews State Park (which also has a campground) and is a short walk to the beach.

Topsail is always booked about a year in advance. We drove around there for a look once - very nice, but a year ahead is too long for us!

As to the poster who said we are 'sort of on the Panhandle' - sheesh! We are central Panhandle and proud of it, especially after we rebuilt after Hurricane Michael!

[dodge_guy]

I’ll 2nd Santa Rosa RV Resort in Navarre. Very nice place. Lots of big rigs in there too.

[2012Coleman]

SpeakEasy wrote:

2012Coleman wrote:

mleekamp wrote:
We love Topsail, but you need reservations 11 months in advance it seems. Recently, we booked Emerald Coast RV Park in Panama City FL. Yes, 50 miles east of Destin but still sort of on the panhandle. Looks like its very popular and well received. FHU all day long. Your 36 foot 5vr should fit fine.

Looks like a nice place - however, on their website it states: "guests arriving with travel trailers or 5th wheelers cannot be accommodated and will be turned away."

True?

Can't imagine what it is that you are looking at. Unless it's something new related to COVID. We camped at Topsail in 2019 in a 23-foot travel trailer and there were many travel trailers and fifth wheels throughout the campground.

Or were you referring to the Emerald Coast RV Park??


-Speak

I was referring to Emerald Coast RV Park


Click For Full-Size Image.

[twichers]

3 private RV parks on the sound in Navarre.

Emerald Beach RV Park
Navarre Beach Camping resort
Santa Rosa RV Resort

[SpeakEasy]

2012Coleman wrote:

mleekamp wrote:
We love Topsail, but you need reservations 11 months in advance it seems. Recently, we booked Emerald Coast RV Park in Panama City FL. Yes, 50 miles east of Destin but still sort of on the panhandle. Looks like its very popular and well received. FHU all day long. Your 36 foot 5vr should fit fine.

Looks like a nice place - however, on their website it states: "guests arriving with travel trailers or 5th wheelers cannot be accommodated and will be turned away."

True?

Can't imagine what it is that you are looking at. Unless it's something new related to COVID. We camped at Topsail in 2019 in a 23-foot travel trailer and there were many travel trailers and fifth wheels throughout the campground.

Or were you referring to the Emerald Coast RV Park??


-Speak

[2012Coleman]

mleekamp wrote:
We love Topsail, but you need reservations 11 months in advance it seems. Recently, we booked Emerald Coast RV Park in Panama City FL. Yes, 50 miles east of Destin but still sort of on the panhandle. Looks like its very popular and well received. FHU all day long. Your 36 foot 5vr should fit fine.

Looks like a nice place - however, on their website it states: "guests arriving with travel trailers or 5th wheelers cannot be accommodated and will be turned away."

True?

[Texas_Roadrunn1]

Thank you both for your recommendations, thanks too for the advice on Reserve America.

[SpeakEasy]

I can second Topsail. Excellent resort, even though it is actually a state park. As far as reservations go, just monitor reserveamerica daily and look for cancellations. They happen all the time. We've been camping in FL state parks for a couple of years now just using cancellations. It's a lot easier than the 11-month in advance system that they have in place. Not easy to get long stays through cancellations, but you can generally get lucky enough to get a stay for less than a week, if you are persistent and patient.

-Speak