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Sanibel Island has a Camping & the best RV Park that is the only campground on the island, located at the Gulf of Mexico not far from Captiva Islands, and is also known as the Periwinkle Park & Campground, it’s a great location where one can stay.
This is an uncomplicated campground that can accommodate motorhomes and tents and has good amenities like a spacious laundry, an AC unit, a boat ramp, bathrooms, a picnic table, eating places, a swimming pool, LP Gas, ice, and a pine island sound amidst full hookups.
With the San Carlos Bay by the side of North Fort Myers which is just a short drive from the San Carlos RV resort. There are some nature trails just around the barrier island which also neighbours the Red Coconut RV park, being the only one with a grocery store and a dump station.
For the rainy season, there’s a paddle board available for water hookups, located at the best spots. Sanibel is one of Florida's few barrier islands with a freshwater river with an attractive park, which attracts more wildlife for a nice campground than the rest.
When you arrive on Sanibel Island, the Sanibel Lighthouse and Lighthouse Beach Park should be your first trip, serving as private campgrounds with a beachfront site. There’s also the Darling National Wildlife Refuge keeping the kayak launch just by the San Carlos blvd, also the Bonita Springs which is often visited during a special event at RV sites.
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Camping at Sanibel Island
This experience all happens at Periwinkle Park by the beautiful beaches which is a popular destination for visitors year after year. Having a cheerful, cosy ambience that is a great place suitable for people of all ages as the guests at the beautiful RV resort enjoy socializing and having a good time.
Everyone dresses up and goes wild, parading around the park, and exploring full hookup activities by the Indian creek.
The gathering concludes with a massive potluck feast in southwest Florida especially when they go tent camping. It has become such a fixture on the island that visitors from outside the park are no longer permitted to visit since the park just cannot accommodate them, unlike the only Fort Myers campground.
Every day after five o'clock in the evening, like-minded people congregate at the 49ers, a wooden gazebo where they have happy hour at the great campground after touring the beach sites. The term refers to the number of lots in Periwinkle Park's RV division just by the greater Fort Myers area.
On the island, campers have only one option, but it's an appealing park with a fantastic location, uncommon amenities, and a true Florida atmosphere with a waterfront RV park.
The campground has an aviary with boisterous migratory birds, colorful parrots and macaws, as well as ducks and wading birds that visit.
Loaded with amenities like a fitness center, a main campground, a ranger station, and laundry facilities coming at a premium price, making it a perfect place for that satisfying sanibel adventure.
During the season, a volunteer feeds and talks about the birds at a free "bird show" at 10 a.m, this is rumoured to bring good luck.
Tourist Attractions at Sanibel Campgrounds
Sanibel Island brings not just a camping experience but loaded memories as there are famous places to visit with lots of sunny relaxation, so whether you're camping at that one island campsite or visiting for the day and staying in the vicinity of Ft. Myers.
The east side of Estero Boulevard is just by the outstanding Lee County Park where there’s moderate surf, near-shore sandbars, and superb shelling over more than 15 miles of white-sand coastline at Sanibel & Captiva.
Most beach accesses charge $5 per hour for parking and are available 24 hours a day, however, no overnight parking is permitted. Day camping is fine, but parking fees can quickly pile up. The island has some tourist sites like:
1. Center for Sanibel-Captiva Conservation
The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Center (SCCF) is almost directly across the street from the Shell Museum. The SCCF maintains about 1,300 acres of land on the islands with the dedication to conserving the coastal and aquatic resources on the Sanibel & Captiva islands.
2. Park at Lighthouse Beach
When you arrive on Sanibel Island, the Sanibel Lighthouse and Lighthouse Beach Park should be your first trip.
The 98-foot lighthouse was built at the request of cattle barons who sought assistance with easy access to the treacherous waters off Point Ybel in August 1884 on the islands of Sanibel by the middle of the Caloosahatchee River just miles downriver.
3. Darling Wildlife Preserve J.N. "DING"
The J.N. "Ding" Darling Wildlife Preserve is Sanibel's crown jewel. Jay Norwood Darling, a Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist and pioneer environmentalist, inspired the creation of this 6,354-acre wildlife reserve, a quiet neighborhood with hot showers the entire time.
It is home to 220 exotic birds, more than 50 reptile species, and 32 distinct types of mammals.
During a scenic drive, the entire family gets to also see the Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve not far from the islands’ idyllic beaches with the Punta Gorda.
Just by the foot of the Matanza Pass Bridge sits the Koreshan state historic site that dates back to the wacky period of Florida history.
The interior sites of the Fort Myers Beach features are breathtaking as they seize the eyes and memories of the visitors in the winter season.
It's one of the most popular sites for nature enthusiasts to visit the historic heart of Fort Myers Beach, the Periwinkle Way while RV camping on Sanibel Island. Charging fees are influenced by the winter rates.
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4. Museum of Bailey-Matthews
Further down the main road, you'll come across the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum, the only museum in the United States dedicated completely to shells and molluscs.
The walk-in tent sites also come with outdoor cold showers in the primitive campground, giving fabulous access to the south side of the park. Here, campground reservations are made at the Koreshan State Park.
They provide a variety of educational programs for individuals of all ages, such as beach walks, trail walks, boat tours, wading trips, and kayak tours, all good locations as well as classroom-based activities providing a natural setting with friendly people.
Other Campgrounds Around Sanibel Island
Sanibel has only one campground, Periwinkle Park and Campground, limiting alternatives for camping on the island. But not to worry, several good RV parks around Sanibel offer fantastic amenities and easy access to the island.
These resorts range from simple to luxurious, with locations to suit every style and budget.
1. Red Coconut RV Park: Beachside Bliss
Located on Estero Boulevard near Fort Myers Beach, between Naples and Fort Myers, provides a unique seaside camping experience. The park, known for its direct beach access to the Gulf of Mexico, has a devoted following that frequently books the finest beachside spots.
Even the second and third rows are only a few steps away from the sandy beach.
Red Coconut offers unrivalled convenience with approximately 30 oceanfront spaces and extra full-hookup sites across the road. The park also assists guests with travel trailers by expertly situating them on the property, demonstrating their dedication to providing a hassle-free vacation.
2. Travel in Style: San Carlos RV Resort and Marina
San Carlos RV Resort and Marina, located on Sanibel Island, offers RVers an experience steeped in luxury and natural beauty. Campsites are located right on the water's edge, giving guests the unusual option to fish from their site, go bird watching, or observe lively dolphins and tranquil manatees.
Aside from the heated outdoor pool, spa, and fitness centre, boaters can use the marina, boat ramp, and floating docks. Rental kayaks, launch locations, shuffleboard, and a pool table round out the recreational possibilities.
3. Pine Island RV Resort: A Tropical Retreat
A 144-acre member-owned refuge on Pine Island, just a short distance from Sanibel Island. The park caters to RVers, campers, and even non-campers, with accommodations ranging from rudimentary sites to full 50 or 30 AMP hook-ups, with desirable lakeside positions available.
Camper cabins are also available for individuals who do not own RVs. The resort has an 8,000-foot lakefront with private docks and a boat launch.
A heated pool, hot tub, and shuffleboard courts are among the notable attractions. With its year-round availability, a blend of Cherokee history and Ozark beauty, top-tier amenities, and friendly personnel make it a must-see.
Why is it Called Sanibel?
The history of the Sanibel and Captiva Islands is filled with intrigue and adventure. Rising sea levels separated Sanibel and Captiva Islands from the mainland a few thousand years ago, forming the islands.
Dating back 2,500 years, the Calusa expertly exploited the island's waterways into an abundance of food and tools. Whelks, conchs, clams, oysters, and other seafood were consumed, and their shells were fashioned into tools.
Juan Ponce de Leon, a famous explorer, is thought to have discovered Sanibel Island, which he dubbed "Santa Isybella" after Queen Isabella, in 1513 while seeking his "Fountain of Youth."
For years, he and his Spanish seamen fought the hostile Calusas, and Ponce de Leon was eventually killed by an arrow strike in 1523 when he escaped to Cuba and perished.
The United States Government determined in 1870 that Sanibel Island would become a lighthouse reservation, and on August 20, 1884, the Sanibel Lighthouse was first lit, and it is still operational today.
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Activities at Sanibel Campgrounds
Sanibel Island is an outdoor enthusiast's dream, with a variety of activities to enjoy under the Florida sun. There sure is something for everyone camping at Sanibel Island, from swimming to kayaking and even more like:
1. Kayaking: Paddle Away
The Sanibel Island being surrounded by water, makes it a perfect destination for kayakers as visitors can explore the mangrove tunnels by renting kayaks from numerous rental businesses and spotting animals such as manatees, dolphins, and birds.
2. Cycling- Ride and Explore
The Island offers approximately 25 miles of bike routes, making it easy to explore the island on two wheels. Also, visitors can rent bikes from numerous rental businesses and enjoy a leisurely ride while taking in the gorgeous surroundings of the island.
With bike lanes carefully crafted out, it is an excellent method to get around the island, as many sites are within walking distance.
3. Swimming- Dive-In
Swimming in Sanibel Island is indeed blissful as it has some of Florida's most gorgeous beaches, with crystal blue waters and smooth white sand.
One can cool off in the Gulf of Mexico, which provides a welcome respite from the summer heat. The beaches are also excellent for shelling, with a wide variety of shells to collect and appreciate.
For the timing, it's best to book RV sites on Sanibel Island are January through April. About the same time of year when snowbirds fly south to escape the harsh winter weather up north.
Whether you're looking for luxury at Gulf Waters RV Resort or a rich history at Pine Island RV Resort, it’s all available during the peak seasons, from January to April, book early appointments, while the off-season offers peace and affordability.
Making plans to visit the Sanibel Campground? don't put it off any longer so you can accept the siren song of Sanibel's seas and wildlife as you book your RV haven and prepare for a memorable trip to this Floridian paradise.