W.P. Franklin N

Franklin WP North ACE Campground in : Alva,FL - We stayed at Ortona and drove here to check this campground out while returning from Fort Meyers. It looks like it would be difficult to be disappointed with a stay here. (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good

(70 yr olds in 17’ trailer. Our rating of a campground is influenced by the following: The general ambiance- sort of wilderness feel the campground gives us. A selection of campsites which offer some visual privacy and/or view. Cleanliness of whatever type of the campsite and whatever facilities are offered is important and usually noted in my review.

Overall Rating: 4 as almost all sites on the water Price 2023: $ 15 w interagency pass Usage during visit: Full Site Privacy: None Site Spacing: Close Site surface: Concrete Reservations: Yes Campground Noise: Quiet Road Noise: Not near enough to major road Through Traffic in campground: None Electric Hookup: Yes Sewer Hookup. No Dump Station:
Potable Water Available: At site Bathroom: Clean and flush toilets.
Showers: Double curtain- nicer than Ortona .
Pull Throughs: Yes Cell Service (AT&T): 3 bars Setting: Both sides are on water. Weather: 72 and sunny Bugs: None during the day Host: On site Rig size: Large rigs Sites: Best sites are 8 and 10 , 26, The only sites not on the water are: 19,20, 21

Clean, well-maintained campground consisting of 30 spots spread out along the edges of a boomerang-shaped island. All except for 3 sites are waterfront. Sites 22-30 and 8 boat slips are on the South end with a large parking area, boat launch, picnic area, and bath house. On the North end there is a larger bath house and picnic area along with sites 1-21. There are a few drive thru sites (11 & 19-22) and the rest are nicely angled. The concrete parking pads are level and the pea gravel is well tended. All sites have 30/50 amp electric, water, covered picnic table, and fire pit. No sewer at the sites. Dump station near the exit. There isn't much shade due to immature trees and palms. Nice fishing pier and a lending library near the middle. For kayakers the launch ramp is good and some sites on the inland side have good slope and shallow water to launch from directly. Sites facing the river are in the restricted waterway area near the locks so no boats are allowed. This is a nice quiet place to decompress.

WP Franklin Campground, Alva, Florida. Army Corp of Engineers Lock

WP Franklin Campground is located fairly close to Fort Myers, FL (west on Rt.80) so you are within 45 minutes to the Gulf Coast beaches (during off-season) and much, much longer during winter months. However, if you enjoy paddling or boating…you are there! Short distance hiking is closeby, as well as MTB trails.

I will begin with the positives…

•Wonderfully nice hosts

•Impeccably clean grounds, sites, docks, restrooms

•Manicured grassy areas

•On its own boomerang-shaped river island

•Boater's/Fisherman's paradise

•Charcoal grill ridiculously spotless…along with the fire pit…spaciously situated on clean, raked pea gravel

•Covered picnic table

•Long, level concrete parking pad, angled for back-in

•Water hookups/Electric at every site

•7/8 of all sites are on the river

•Mature, quiet crowd

•Several boat camper docks with electric/water

•Relatively close to Gulf Coast beaches, shopping and nightlife

•Regional park nearby offers trails (but was affected by hurricane Irma)

•Regional mountain bike trails nearby

•Water is ten feet from your site…slide your paddle craft in and go…or back your power craft down a ramp in the center of the campground

•Multiple docks, shoreline and locks to fish from

The not so positives for tent campers…

•Absolutely no privacy…at all. Palm trees are lovely but offer no barrier between neighbors

•Small campground…no trails…just surrounding water

•Literally on top of your neighbor

•No need for a nightlight. All night Streetlights penetrate tent walls/fly

•Noisy! Air traffic from RSW is nonstop, road traffic from Rt 78 and/or Rt 80 seemed nonstop (and technically it's not season yet), yappy lap dogs

•Expensive for no amenities at $30 a night

•Tent is 4ft. from campground roadway…sounds/feels like vehicles are in the tent with you as they pass

•Staying at site 27, overflow parking is ten feet away…more noise

•Prepare for mosquitos and chiggers (not bad, but just bring your repellent)

I continue to try local Campgrounds in SW Florida…so this is an attempt to see what my state has to offer. I ordinarily seek out the solitude of faraway mountain states and more rustic/primitive/backcountry camping options. This was akin to sleeping in my backyard…correction…my yard is far quieter and less busy…offering more privacy

For the RV/Camper set…this must be popular and enjoyable, even though I wasn't contented. If you are an RV/Camper…and bring your toys…using this as a base camp to launch activities…there are plenty of areas nearby to explore and enjoy the wild…on land and water!

This is purely personal, based on what I like and dislike when I desire to visit campgrounds. I will not return, but only because I am not an RV/Camper type of person.. Plenty of reviewers give this Campground five stars, so take my comments for what they're worth. Regardless, bring your earplugs, noise cancelling headphones or heavily insulated RV/camper…or revel in the noise.

Tomorrow is another day and another Campground!