The only municipal park that allows RV camping in Key Largo is John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. The park, managed by the Florida State Parks Department, offers campers many amenities, including water and electricity as well as a dump station. This park allows pets, has public showers and restrooms, and afford a bit of privacy (courtesy of a thin wall of brush) between camp sites.
Although these campsites do not front the water, this park fills up quickly and does take reservations in advance.
Key Largo, like many other cities in Florida, suffered a bit in the 2008-2009 housing boom and bust and several long-term campgrounds changed hands or closed. Nonetheless, Key Largo still has several established private campgrounds. Many of these campgrounds have web sites, however, several do not. The level of services and accommodations may vary greatly, so a phone call to compare and confirm will make trip planning more effective.
While Florida municipal parks often limit the length of stay to a few weeks, private campgrounds attract longer-term campers. Because of this, these campgrounds often have a different look than public RV campgrounds.
In Key Largo, campers may stay at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park (and any other state park) for up to 14 days. Private campgrounds will place their own time limits, if any, on how long RV campers may stay.
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park allows pets in the camping areas but not in restrooms, showers, cabins, on the beaches, or in restaurants or shops. Most private campgrounds in Key Largo allow pets; however, each campground will have its own rules on presenting proof of vaccination as well as breed restrictions. Florida has no state laws regarding breed restrictions as of 2010; these restrictions are at the discretion of the campground operator.
Most Key Largo RV campgrounds will boast "waterfront." Generally a campground will specify gulf or oceanside; oceanside means the Atlantic Ocean on the east side of the key and gulfside indicates the Gulf of Mexico on Key Largo's west side. While either side offers spectacular vistas for campers, remember that the sun rises in the east and that can mean earlier wake-up times if the RV windows allow for east exposure.
Waterfront in Key Largo and most of the Florida Keys does not mean beachfront. Key Largo has few sandy beaches and many of the few that do exist are small and man-made. Most RV campgrounds will have a boat ramp and some will have a small beach, but RV campers seeking sandy beaches must understand that while Key Largo offers some of the clearest, warmest tropical water and reefs in the country, it will not offer sandy beaches. However, the limestone rocks that create seawalls at most RV campgrounds in Key Largo usually wall off shallow water that boasts many reef species and brightly colored fish. The waters surrounding the boat ramps generally boast parrotfish, snapper, crabs, starfish, and a bevy of other magnificent tropical creatures.
Key Largo has grocery stores, dry goods stores and gas stations. RV campers will have no problem buying gas, propane, or other supplies for their RV. When leaving the mainland, resist the temptation to stock up, as the shops in the keys generally sell the same merchandise at comparable--if not lower--prices. Key Largo caters to RV campers who will find they can replenish their stocks easily.
