Having fun with the Florida Keys could be a expensive endeavor since tourism is the principle earnings supply for companies positioned within the Keys. There are nonetheless methods nevertheless to take pleasure in the fantastic thing about the islands with out the massive price ticket. Though it’s extensively revealed that stealth tenting is just not allowed within the Florida Keys, we realized that there are nonetheless many choices at no cost in a single day parking. See the distinction in wording: Stealth tenting versus in a single day parking? The trick is making your self invisible when sleeping inside your parked car.
As a substitute of staying at a pleasant resort in Kew West
For this journey, we made a easy building of a mattress platform with beneath storage, black window covers for the within and a black curtain behind the driving force and passenger seats, so nobody might see contained in the car at night time, even when utilizing a flash-light. We put a bike-rack on the hitch-receiver and off we went in our little adventure-mobil.
The temperatures had been between the low 70’s throughout nights and excessive 80’s in the course of the days, excellent climate for outside dwelling. Since being invisible in your automotive implies that home windows can’t keep open apart from a small hole which isn’t fairly enough for good airflow, we determined to deliver a small rechargeable USB-fan that made it extra comfy to sleep contained in the truck. This and some different gadgets we introduced made it a profitable journey regardless of the minimal house that we had out there. We introduced our full-sized mattress which fitted completely in on the platform and it was tremendous cozy. The place did we bathe you could ask? We used solely free outside showers that we discovered at numerous seashores and parks. And on a pair days we simply freshened up at a relaxation cease. Loos are simple to search out throughout, after which there’s at all times the “peeing right into a bottle choice” for pressing issues.
Right here’s our gear listing, ideas and methods and locations we visited and parked at in a single day:
Really useful Truck Camping Gear:
- Suaoki Transportable Photo voltaic Energy Generator (it’s a conveyable energy battery chargeable through photo voltaic panels, 9V or 12V outlet and a vital merchandise for a digital nomad. We deliver our Suaoki even to cafes and so on that don’t have any retailers so we are able to work on our laptops and cost up).
- Fan USB Rechargeable (to maintain air circulating whereas sleeping).
- Blackout curtains and window covers made with black thick cloth
- First Support Journey Equipment
- Camping range
- Field with a pan and pot, stainless-steel plates, or enamel dishware, metal bowls, cups, bamboo utensils, cookware, spices, olive oil and so on.
- Shee Wee and an previous detergent bottle for urine assortment throughout determined instances
- Dude Wipes (biodegradeable, eco-friendly hygiene towletts)
- Water bladder and day pack
- Bicycle and bike rack
- Hammock
- Luci Lights
- Biodegradeable conditioning shampoo
- Biodegradeable cleaning soap (for palms, physique and washing dishes)
- Small biodegradeable trash luggage
- Towels, Swim Fits, clothes, solar safety, coral-safe sunscreen, toiletries and so on
- Insect Repellent (a will need to have for the Keys, this one is eco-friendly and efficient)
- Eco-friendly hand sanitizer
- Meals, snacks
- Inflatable Kayak and Paddles
Our Journey Route and Really useful Locations:
Day 1: Ocala – Dunedin
We began our journey in Ocala, FL the place we left our journey trailer and from there had 7 days to journey to Key West and again. We made our technique to downtown Dunedin the place we discovered loads of free parking, and after a stroll by way of city loved a pair pizza slices at Tony’s Pizza. We discovered a quiet car parking zone for our free in a single day keep: See GPS coordinates right here..
Dunedin is a cute city with many eating choices. Since we eat principally vegetarian and vegan, it may be difficult in some places to search out good choices. Relying in your finances, we suggest the next eating places in Dunedin for some yummy vegetarian and vegan meals:
Candy Peas Cafe
Ohana Cafe
The Residing Room
Casa Tina Mexican and Vegetarian Delicacies
Day 2: Dunedin – Clearwater – Sunshine Skyway Bridge Manatee County Relaxation Space
We obtained up early and after a refueling breakfast at Serendipity Cafe then parked on the downtown car parking zone, grabbed our bikes and loved an awesome day bicycling the attractive Fred Marquis Pinellas Path. The 49.eight mile lengthy city multi-use path reaches from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs and is constructed on former railroad tracks.
We had been tremendous excited to have come throughout this superior path and actually loved our trip. In some unspecified time in the future nevertheless I obtained a flat tire and Damian’s gears broke just about on the identical time. It was the weirdest factor. A number of pleasant bikers stopped and had been so form to assist with the tire-repair. I used to be in awe in regards to the kindness of these strangers that simply stopped on their manner and helped out!!
The joined effort made my tire work not less than for a couple of miles and we rode again into city, excited to search out an awesome bike store known as Kafe Racer and the employees had been in a position to repair our bikes inside solely 30 min!
Fortunately we made our manner alongside the Pinellas Path once more after which headed over the bridge to Honeymoon Seashore at Honeymoon Island State Park for an awesome swim on the lovely seashore. After biking again to the downtown space the place we left the truck, we determined to drive to Clearwater the place we knew to search out free outside showers and restrooms on the seashore with parking out there solely a pair blocks from the seashore. After a stroll and a easy vegan falafel dinner at King’s Pizza and Grill we introduced our hammock to the white sandy seashore the place tall palm timber invited us to hold our hammock for a couple of hours of romantic leisure. We had been unable to search out in a single day parking in Clearwater (apart from a pair overpriced parking garages that we didn’t wish to keep at). So we made our manner late at night time to essentially the most lovely relaxation cease I’ve ever seen: The Manatee County Relaxation Space positioned on the The Sunshine Skyway Bridge on the Tampa Bay with added options of armed safety, clear restrooms and picnic pavilions. We parked, obtained an excellent night time sleep and woke as much as a stunning view onto the water.
Whereas there, we realized that one other in a single day parking choice subsequent to this relaxation cease could be the attractive Sunshine Skyway Fishing Pier which is a Florida State Park that’s open 24h. It’s a fishing pier, however one may simply park and benefit from the lookout. We noticed a couple of vans that stayed there in a single day. Word: Leisure automobiles, giant vehicles and trailers usually are not allowed on the fishing piers.
Day 3: Sunshine Skyway Bridge Manatee County Relaxation Space – Clearwater – Huge Cypress Nationwide Protect
After cooking a hearty breakfast on the picnic pavilion on the relaxation cease, we packed up and drove into Clearwater to go to the nice Dali Museum. From there we made our manner South, stopped close to Sarasota the place we discovered Tandoor High-quality Indian Delicacies, an awesome Indian restaurant with many scrumptious vegetarian and vegan dishes. After persevering with on our route for one more few hours we parked for the night time within the Huge Cypress Nationwide Protect at Collier County Relaxation Space. It was fairly quiet at night time and we had an excellent night time sleep.
Day 4: Huge Cypress Nationwide Protect – Islamorada – Tavernier Key
After cooking a filling breakfast on the picnic desk on the relaxation cease, we continued our journey in direction of the South-East and grabbed a couple of contemporary gadgets at a grocery store and loved our lunch of their car parking zone. Since we wanted to meet up with some work, we drove to Florida Metropolis which is the gateway to the Florida Keys, discovered a Starbucks with loads of open seating and quick wifi and bunkered down for a couple of hours of labor on our laptops.
Lastly it was time for some island enjoyable and we made our technique to Islamorada the place we discovered a beautiful small seashore at Founders Park. There’s a $eight entry payment for the park with seashore entry, chilly showers, loos, picnic tables, a playground, and for a further payment one can use the pool as properly. We went for a swim on the seashore and had an extended awaited refreshing bathe, then cooked a yummy dinner at one of many picnic tables and loved the attractive sundown earlier than the park closed and we needed to transfer on.
We determined to work for one more few hours and located free wifi at McDonalds on Tavernier Key. Winn Dixie was positioned simply throughout the plaza and we requested the supervisor if we’d have the ability to keep of their car parking zone in a single day and he immediately mentioned “positive, no drawback, what does your car appear to be?”. Wow, that was simple! We used their restrooms and acquired a late night time snack and off we went to our sleeping quarters aka our Chevy Tahoe. One other quiet night time dozing and all at no cost!
Day 5: Tavernier Key – Marathon Key – Key West
We made our manner South by way of the Keys and loved the attractive view of the turquoise water. Sadly, there was nonetheless fairly a bit devastation from the massive hurricane Irma that hit final 12 months. Particularly round Marathon Key the cleanup and build-up was nonetheless in course of. For us, it was time for some extra laptop work and we discovered free wifi at McDonalds on Marathon Key.
In the afternoon it was time for ocean swimming and we discovered a gem of a seashore on Marathon Key known as Sombrero Seashore. Free entry, free parking, bogs, picnic pavilion, playground. Beautiful Ocean water and palm timber to hold a hammock! Good!
We spent our afternoon swimming and stress-free on the seashore after which lastly made our technique to Key West! After driving into city, we discovered plenty of empty parking house (it was a weekday) with loads of house out there at no cost avenue parking alongside Flagler Avenue, Casa Marina Ct and aspect streets like Grinnell St, Walton St and so on. We determined to park on Reynolds Road, only a few ft from Higgs Seashore, positioned subsequent to the car parking zone of the Casa Maria Waldorf Astoria Resort. We parked our truck there for two days with out being bothered by anybody. It was tremendous quiet at night time and only some steps to the seashore!
Higgs seashore has restrooms (closed throughout night time time), free chilly outside showers, a historic fort and many leisure house and there’s a restaurant subsequent to the seashore as properly. What else might you want for! We arrived simply in time for sundown and loved the attractive night sky at Higgs seashore. Then after a refreshing bathe on the seashore we went for a stroll by way of city and had a unbelievable vegan dinner at The Cafe. After one other stroll by way of city and a go to to zero mile level we headed again to Higgs seashore and listened to the waves earlier than going to sleep in our truck.
Different nice vegetarian/vegan pleasant eating places we present in Key West, Marathon Key:
Date and Thyme Natural Cafe and Market
Meals For Thought
Sugar Apple Cafe
For many who do choose to remain at a resort room in Key West, we are able to suggest the next resorts:
Resort Ocean Key Resort & Spa, Florida Keys – FL
Resort Key Lime Inn, Florida Keys – FL
Resort Doubletree Grand Key Resort , Florida Keys – FL
Day 6: Key West – Marathon Key
We obtained up early to observe the dawn at Higgs seashore, then took our bikes and rode round city, and went for breakfast on the beautiful Key Espresso Co. After we stuffed our tummies we biked to Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park and spent a couple of hours within the clear water at the attractive seashore. Tip: deliver water-shoes because the rocky pebbles on the seashore are hurting your ft for positive. After one other refreshing bathe we went again into city and had lunch once more at Le Cafe (sure, it was simply that scrumptious), biked again to our truck and off we drove again to Sombrero seashore on Marathon Key the place we cooked dinner on the picnic desk and relaxed in a hammock on the lonely seashore after sundown. We didn’t wish to spend a lot cash, so again to McDonald’s it was for a cup of espresso and free wifi. We checked-in with the supervisor at Publix throughout the mall-parking lot and obtained his approval for in a single day parking within the Publix car parking zone. The night time was fairly quiet and we slept till the morning hours with out interruption.
Day 7: Marathon Key – Key Largo – Silver Springs
After an excellent early rise to observe the dawn at Sombrero Seashore (tip: deliver bug spray and be careful for tremendous aggressive Mosquitos throughout nightfall and daybreak) we had a fast breakfast on the car parking zone and made our technique to Key Largo the place we discovered a small park with public boat launch at Sundown Level Park. It was the proper place to launch our kayak and we had an awesome couple of hours on the attractive clear water alongside Key Largo.
Throughout our paddle we found a small empty hidden seashore solely a brief stroll from Sundown Level Park and after we completed our kayak journey we walked over and loved a pleasant dip within the shallow refreshing water on the seashore. After the obligatory Key Lime Pie on Tavernier Key it was sadly time to say goodbye to the Florida Keys.
We headed up north again to Ocala and are wanting ahead to return some day for extra nice adventures for positive.
Different free in a single day parking choices that we discovered alongside the way in which:
Lengthy Key parking for Florida Keys Abroad Heritage Path
Marathon Key parking round boat ramp
Crawl Key throughout Banana Blvd
Duck Key parking for Florida Keys Abroad Heritage Path and right here
Conch Key North finish parking
There are a large number of choices all through the keys and alongside Abroad Freeway, simply search for public house that doesn’t have an indication for “no tenting” or “no in a single day parking”.
Tips about stealth Camping within the Keys:
The Blue Paper article
Not a Guidebook article
Different Nice Data:
Free seashores within the Florida Keys
Boat Ramp Finder by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee
Florida Keys Abroad Heritage Path
Mountaineering Trails within the Florida Keys
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