Where to stay in High Springs area

[floridakid]

Is there anywhere in the High Springs area that I could sleep in my truck without getting arrested?

[gschaut]

Free? no idea. Ask the local dive shops about crashing in their parking lots overnite? There are several campgrounds in the area, including Ginnie Springs.

[jlillest]

Rennaker has allowed us to camp in his backyard before, I believe he only asked $5 a night for the both of us. We were trying to go it on the cheap and all the cave country dive shops had sold out their lodging options.

Kathy also has an inexpensive bunk house for divers.

Don't know about free spots to sleep in a truck, maybe a local National Forest? They usually allow free camping anywhere ~500 feet from a road.

-Jon

[RN]

There's a rest area at exit 413 off I-75, about 10 miles from High Springs. High Springs exit is 414. All Florida rest areas are patrolled by armed security. Mat Bull has slept at many rest areas in his car.

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Yeah, just about all FL rest areas have 24 hour security.


I've also crashed at the boatlaunch on the blue bridge on the Suwannee, by Peacock and all that stuff, without getting raped. Cops even checked on us out there in the middle of the night.

http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/data/2582/medium/Home914.jpg

[RN]

I've also crashed at the boatlaunch on the blue bridge on the Suwannee, by Peacock and all that stuff, without getting raped.

All you had to do was make the face in your avatar and that would scare anyone off! ;)

[stairman]

I think he meant High Springs? It depends on weather you look like your there or not in many cases. The rest area sounds like a good idea. Having cave gear with you would help if the cops did harass you though, as long as you have your cert card . Im thinking maybe WinnDixie parking lot? Have a bad luck story ready like you had a flat and the rest of your buddies are at Ginnie but last check in was at 9pm. Donuts might help too.

[Jim Wyatt]

Is there anywhere in the High Springs area that I could sleep in my truck without getting arrested?

You can stay in my yard - just outside High Springs on the Santa Fe river.

[OFG-1]

You can stay in my yard - just outside High Springs on the Santa Fe river.

Don't fall for this, I have seen too many episodes of Criminal Minds that begin this way. He just opened a dive shop so you know he is not right!

[Slüdge]

There's a rest area at exit 413 off I-75, about 10 miles from High Springs.

So would you guess this rest area would be safe for a motor home?

[billyf]

O'Leno State Park, its not free but it is a nice place to camp.
I have stayed there several times, sites have electricity and water and the showers are decent.

http://floridastateparks.org/oleno/default.cfm

[floridakid]

Thanks for all the help, I actually found an old friend from high school to stay with

[RN]

So would you guess this rest area would be safe for a motor home?

I would think so, but I haven't personally stayed at that one.

[Slüdge]

To update this thread, Lynn and I got a motor home in October and took it to Florida for the social, then left it in stairman's yard while we went on a cruise, then took it to the panhandle. We stopped in two rest areas on the interstates - both advertised armed nighttime security (and we saw the security guards at both places) and had plenty of parking spaces big enough for 18-wheelers. The one we really liked was just east of Marianna - it had a half-mile drive off the highway such that we couldn't even hear traffic. And a motorcyclist had set up a tent in the grass.

These places were pretty much "campgrounds without hookups." I look forward to staying at them many, many times in the future.

(BTW, Wal-Mart's official policy is that RVs can stay in their parking lots overnight for free with a few exceptions, such as Bike Week in Daytona and such.)

[JamesK]

I have slept at many Florida rest areas in my travels. I have never had a problem or issue of any kind.