Camping near Alva, Florida caters primarily to long-term winter residents from November through April when the subtropical climate remains warm and dry. Most campgrounds in this area sit on flat terrain with sandy soil approximately 10-15 feet above sea level, requiring proper drainage consideration during the occasional summer downpours. Proximity to both freshwater (Caloosahatchee River) and saltwater (Gulf of Mexico) provides diverse fishing opportunities.
What to do
Water activities on Pine Island Sound: Fort Myers / Pine Island KOA Holiday provides convenient access to fishing spots and boat rentals. "This is more of a trailer park than a campground. There are lots of older permanent campers setup among the 'campsites'. The people working are nice but the sites are VERY tight," notes Joel Q.
Antiquing in Arcadia: Encore Toby's is located near the historic town of Arcadia with numerous antique shops. "Best part about it, close to Arcadia where one can easily spend the day between the murals on many buildings to downtown where there are a ton of collectable and antique shops, including the 'haunted' Opera house as seen on ghost hunters," shares Robert M.
Fruit tree shopping: NOFO GROVES Getaway offers camping on an active nursery. "I stayed with Mrs Melinda and family from March to October 2023, my first time ever camping out…the most amazing, and very nice family and property…Could not leave without getting a couple of fruit trees," writes Dana H.
What campers like
Affordable long-term stays: Encore Pioneer Village attracts seasonal visitors with modest rates. "This is a park with permanent sites, transient and seasonal people, with the locals prominently making the social life active and fun. I have met families, retirees, and some are in RVs, some bought a place," explains Tim G.
Social opportunities: Many rv sites near Alva, Florida foster community engagement. "A big contingent from Canada also has a section they call their slice of Quebec. The RV section is mingled around some non mobiles, and the clubhouse and pool areas are nice and friendly," adds another Pioneer Village visitor.
Proximity to shopping: Encore Gulf View offers convenient access to necessities. According to Garry S. at Toby's RV, "Walmart, restaurants and other necessary items are a short drive or you could take your golf cart."
What you should know
Hurricane recovery ongoing: Some campgrounds continue rebuilding from hurricane damage. "We are staying here for 2 weeks. This is our first visit. To be fair, they are still recovering from hurricane Ian. Some of the sites are very nice and well kept and others look like they have very long term residents who don't clean up after themselves very well," reports Nan L. from Gulf View.
Advance reservations crucial: RV sites near Alva fill quickly during winter months. Cypress Woods RV Resort operates on an owner-rental system. "All the spots are privately owned but the resort gives you a list of spots that are available and the owners contact information," explains Harry B.
Site conditions vary significantly: Encore Fort Myers Beach features inconsistent maintenance. "There are permanent trailers mixed with regular campers that face each other. So when you come out the door of the camper you are essentially on their doorstep. Really weird and zero privacy," warns Corrie.
Tips for camping with families
Pool-focused activities: Cypress Woods RV Resort offers outstanding water amenities. "Amazing amenities well kept landscaping. 2 clubhouses with 2 pools, very large park," notes Harry B.
Recreation options: Some facilities include scheduled activities. "Very clean, friendly campground. A bit of road noise, mostly during the day. At times low flying plane from a near by small airport... There is laundry, hot tub and a heated salt water pool as well as a small pond with a gazebo to utilize on the campgrounds," shares Robert M. from Toby's.
Stay length consideration: Short stays may feel less welcoming at some locations. "Don't get me wrong there are some nice areas in the campground, but just not where I was put. What they didn't tell me when I came in was the one and only restrooms for the men's is under construction and can only use porta-potties," warns Eric R.
Tips from RVers
Avoid rainy seasons: Standing water challenges occur at some campgrounds. "It rained and I woke up to find my camper surrounded by 4" of water," reports Charles K. about Fort Myers Beach RV Resort.
Space constraints: NOFO GROVES Getaway offers only two sites but with adequate spacing. At other locations, "We couldn't even put our awning all the way out for fear it would hit the next trailer," notes Corrie about Fort Myers Beach RV Resort.
Site selection matters: Look for sites away from highways. "It's near a major highway but we didn't hear anything, the place is well kept up, roads are narrow but it is manageable," shares Garry S. about site location at Toby's RV.
