Staying on Key West – Sigsbee Campground

Key West is a destination for many travelers, especially in the RV community. It’s popular year round, but gets pretty busy in winter, when much of the RV community heads south, choosing either Florida or Arizona to hide from the cold.

We have stayed at a couple of campgrounds, as well as hotels when visiting over the years. There are many places to find throughout the islands to stay, but if you are active or prior military, Sigsbee Campground on Naval Air Station Key West may be an option. Access is decided by the base commander, just like other installations, so be sure to check well in advance for that, and for reservations, which can all be made by phone through their MWR, and they will go over access and the check in process, including where that is, since it is NOT at the same place as the campground.

Staying at Sigsbee has options for both dry camping and with hookups, although dry camping can be a much easier option. The campground is right on the water, so whether you are a sunrise or sunset person, or both, you will have spectacular views. We are a 39 foot 5th wheel and had no issues getting to the campground, or getting parked. There is a restaurant a short walk or ride at the end of the island that has live music, food and drinks, if you opt to dine out away from the downtown area. This is also right near the sports fields and, across those, you’ll find the BX and Commissary for shopping.

If exploring Key West is on your wish list, it’s only about 3 miles from the campground. We chose to go by bicycles. There are sidewalks the entire way, and it makes navigating and parking on the island a lot easier. We found easy parking for bicycles everywhere we went and lots of other riders. On previous visits to the island, we actually hauled the bikes down on the truck and just parked in a garage near the marina and rode around town. Be aware, there are parking fees just about everywhere, and some of the spots can be challenging to fit a larger vehicle into.

We have a few favorite places we love to visit when we are on the island. For coffee and breakfast, we love to visit the Cuban Coffee Queen down at the historic seaport. Ernest Hemingway’s House is fun to see the preserved house and all the “Garfield cats” our son loves. Mallory Square is a great spot for performers, sunsets, and people watching, especially when the cruise ships come in. And a photo stop at the Mile Marker 0 buoy is a must–have you even been to Key West if you don’t?

If you have kids, don’t worry, there are plenty of family friendly areas to visit, especially during the day. Duval Street after sunset is where the party is, so be aware, if you visit later in the day!

Fort Zachary Taylor State Park is a fun place to explore and burn off the kids energy, and it is accessible by car, as well as a walker/bicycle gate (which is also less expensive to visit).

Harry Truman’s “Little White House” can be a great place to get a bit more history about the island, and is indoors, so nice to cool off or dodge rain storm.

With every visit, we find more places to explore and reasons to return, so even if you have already been, still add it to your list!

Even if getting to Key West isn’t in your interest or time schedule, any of the islands can be enjoyable, and there are several state parks along US1 to stop in and visit. Each park, and each island, has its own vibe and draw, so if you can choose a favorite, let us know, we can’t seem to decide!

Be sure to check out the Travel Map on our home page for other campground and attraction reviews! You can also find FREE resources on the Printables page, or order your copy of Our Travel Planner to have all the resources conveniently at your fingertips!