RV campgrounds in St. James City, Florida offer waterfront access with proximity to Pine Island, Fort Myers Beach, and Sanibel Island. Most campgrounds in this region sit at near sea level elevation with subtropical climate conditions. Winter brings mild temperatures averaging 75°F while summer months typically exceed 90°F with high humidity.
What to do
Fishing access: Encore Fort Myers Beach is located 4 miles from the beach and provides convenient access to popular fishing spots. "Super close to the beach and so much to do! Lots of attractions, shops, and restaurants!" notes a camper about the nearby activities.
Beach exploration: Beaches near Encore Gulf View offer swimming and shelling opportunities. The campground provides a base for coastal adventures despite ongoing hurricane recovery. "We are staying here for 2 weeks. This is our first visit. To be fair, they are still recovering from hurricane Ian," reports a recent visitor.
Local attractions: RV campers can use the public transit system near some St. James City area campgrounds. "Trolly next door to take you to beach. Very convenient to everything," explains a visitor to Gulf Waters RV Resort.
What campers like
Pool facilities: Several RV campgrounds near St. James City feature swimming pools that serve as social gathering spots. "The pool was really big and beautiful, the hot tub nice, and the showers very clean," notes a camper at Encore Harbor Lakes.
Community atmosphere: Seasonal travelers appreciate the social aspects of these parks. "This is a park with permanent sites, transient and seasonal people, with the locals prominently making the social life active and fun," describes a winter visitor to Encore Pioneer Village.
Fruit trees: Some campgrounds offer unique natural features. "The best thing was mango trees providing all the mangoes one could carry," mentions one camper about the seasonal fruit available at certain properties.
What you should know
Site spacing: Many St. James City area RV parks have tight spacing between sites. "We couldn't even put our awning all the way out for fear it would hit the next trailer," explains a camper about the limited space at some properties.
Mixed-use communities: Several campgrounds combine vacation sites with permanent residents. "The resort was mixed in with full timers and mobile homes. The RVs were shoved in between these homes and permanent spots," notes a visitor to Encore Harbor Lakes.
Hurricane recovery: The area continues to rebuild from hurricane damage. "I'm in town doing hurricane rebuild, pioneer village is accommodating, a lot of long-term residents, nice pool nice staff nice residence but not five star resort," explains a visitor helping with reconstruction efforts.
Drainage concerns: Some low-lying campgrounds experience water issues during heavy rains. "It rained and I woke up to find my camper surrounded by 4" of water," reports one camper about drainage problems.
Tips for camping with families
Pool activities: Children enjoy the swimming pools available at most St. James City RV parks. "Pool was great, neighbors were friendly and very helpful. Park was clean and orderly," notes a family staying at Encore Harbor Lakes.
Wildlife viewing: Kids can spot local wildlife around many campgrounds. "Lots of wildlife: birds, alligators, and rabbits," mentions a camper about the natural attractions at some properties.
Beach proximity: Families appreciate campgrounds with convenient beach access. "Love that it's close to the beach, just needs Moore trees," notes a visitor to Encore Gulf Air regarding the 3-mile distance to shoreline.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Request a spot away from permanent residences if possible. "There are lots of older permanent campers setup among the campsites," notes an RVer about the mix of vacation and long-term sites.
Laundry planning: Some parks use card systems for laundry facilities. "They use the card system so you have to pay $5 just to get the card and then the minimum you can purchase is $10," explains a camper about planning ahead for laundry needs.
Reservation timing: Winter months see significant increases in occupancy with snowbird residents. "I have met families, retirees, and some are in RVs, some bought a place. It's declared full, yet lots of spaces have yet to be filled, so it is nice to be some of the first ones here for the season," advises a winter visitor about timing your arrival.
