Free Camping on the Water in Florida | Special Onsite Report

I actually stayed there a couple of times during the 17/18 winter, it was posted then but not strictly enforced unless they felt cause, such as excessive amounts of trash and such. But if you're actually behaving yourself, they'll let it slide, stop and chat a bit if they see you out by your rig. The north end is more of a beach type setting, you can bounce back and fourth between the 2, as long as they see you moving they're pretty relaxed with you about staying. Both piers, once you pay to get on it's good for 24 hours, so after you leave for the night, you can go back earlier than the time you paid the day before and get on for free and then stay as late as you want. But as far as camping, the north end of the sky way is a much better spot, more shade if you have a small rig. It just sees a lot more activity due to beach access and on the other side of I-275 used to be a place that rented guided horse rides out the edge of the bay under the bridge and over along the beach.

I'm a local also and have an rv. You can't overnight there anymore. Years ago you could get away with it sometimes but people have really trashed it up and like so many other places, ruined it for others. You can stay during daylight hrs.

If people would pack it in, pack it out, there probably wouldn't be an issue with camping

Thanks for the update, like the Keys people will take it to the limit. Then get mad when the police tell them to move. Roy from Florida.

Yes we live near by, there is no overnight parking. However we do go to ft Desoto with our class A and spend the day sometimes, ( impossible to get reservations at the ft desoto campground, ( same with every other campground in the region btw, ( all booked solid, a year in advance)). Kinda sucks.

"Right of Way" widths vary from state to state. In Ohio, I believe it's 15' from edge of shoulder. We saw lots of campers last January in the same place.

Thanks for sharing

Hi. I've been in this area all my life. We have fished and swam all night but never knew of camping. Thank you sir

Thank you

Thanks we are camping in Florida too love your videos

Excellent video. I've always wondered about this area myself. I find the West Coast of Florida to not be so RV Friendly when it comes to the design of the roads and exits. Thanks for sharing this spot with us. Have a great day!

I think the critical issue is trash that would end up in the ocean. As a tampa bay resident my heart aches when people abuse our beautiful shores and beaches. Please be responsible while enjoying the outdoors and keep our land and ocean clean.

Im a local and camped there briefly in 2021 - right as they started sweeping it and making people leave. I spent 2 seperate nights there, it was nice. shame that no one was able to park and sleep there. its a nice stop point. we met a man who spent 4 months there and he was likely cause for the need to stop letting petting people crash a night or 2 on occasion. those who take advantage ruin it for all

I also saw a video saying this was a free camping area. Thank you for clarifying this. And yes people leaving trash and a mess is not only disgusting it also makes things harder on the ones that enjoy and respect nature. Stay happy and safe travels.

Very informative. Thank you.

I'm a viewer of your channel also from WV who now lives in Rotonda, FL and love seeing you guys find affordable camping. We look to do the same for about 6 months out of the year. We're heading out west in May or June. Hope to meet you on the road someday. Safe travels!

If campers came to clean up and make a positive difference, it would be quite another story and they would be more than welcome. However it has been our experience That people are so nasty. My son traveled out west with me a couple of years. We Boondocked all the way up from Southern California to southern Oregon. We had to go in and clean out every campsite where we were. We left it much cleaner than we found it. In fact we left it spotless

it can be hit or miss if you'll be run out of this spot or not. The trash is a huge problem there and that's why it's monitored more often than not. Before the pandemic it was a cool spot to hangout for an afternoon or even at night. Alot has changed in Tampa Bay over the last few years.

Great video. I just crossed over the skyway a few weeks back and noticed this “camping spot” and wondered if it was a campground.

When I stayed there, I noticed it wasn't the overnighters that le😢ft the trash everywhere