Encore Sunshine Key

We were so excited to visit this highly rated Thousand Trails Sunshine Key!  The pictures online are not exactly accurate.  The RV sites are barren with little shade - feels like a parking lot.  There are a LOT of full-timers here and they have the best sites, close to the marina and pool.  The resort has a fun/upbeat vibe with lots going on - happy hour with music, crafts and farmers market.  Our site 57 was more isolated and the park was only 2/3 full, even though the Thousand Trails website says it is full!

There is a small beach area with lounge chairs and a Tiki hut.  Our dogs ran off leash and swam in the ocean as there was no one around.  They also have a marina and dock with beautiful sunset views.  The other guests were very friendly and we wish the weather was better to hang out and meet more people.  We had one day, out of 14 with clear, sunny skies.  The other days were raining a tropical storm and the winds were insane.  This was unusual however for December.

Everyday the staff sends texts to remind you of activities - happy hour, live music, bingo, farmers market and crafts.  Friendly and welcoming and would recommend again.  I don't however, think it lives up to the hype of one of the very best Thousand Trails/Encore in the Keys.

Marathon is a laid back, Keys island with eclectic dining, shops and activities.  We had dinner one night at Isla Bella - very upscale, but expensive.  The Sombrero Beach is beautiful and dog friendly if on a leash.

Campground is big and surrounded by water. All gravel sites, very few trees. We were in the infield sites. Lots of RVs there for a long term stay, but people seem to go home during the week. Lots of fishermen. Seems too expensive to me. Laundry facility worked well, but way over at the marina.

Great location in the lower keys. Our spot #400 on the beach was truly great. Lots of long term folks . Bathhouses are new but cleaning could be better. Sites are pea gravel pretty level. At these prices pretty amazing they want you to pay extra for Wi-Fi

Stayed here for two weeks in site 401 . its a big campground with plenty of things going on , the views are great and the price is $$$$. only complaint I had was road noise but that's not their fault .

many premium spots .

We stayed 5 nights in spot #423 a waterfront site. Sunsets were amazing and so is the night sky. Near our site the marina has a area looks like a giant aquarium with Tarpon, Nurse sharks, tropical fish, Big Grouper/Jew Fish, and Manatees. Along with lots of iguanas. There are 2 fish cleaning stations, a pool, game room, small store, gas station, and 2 swim areas. One is on a sandy beach with lounge chairs and a large Tiki. The other is off the dock near site # 425. People fish off the dock too. The current can be strong. Nice place to watch the sunset. There are some good places to eat on Marathon along with shopping and grocery stores. Love Pokeys good food and you can find anything on the menu its got everything. Big Pine Key has the No Name Pub love their Pizza, Triano’s Taco truck excellent tacos. Taco truck is open Mon-Thurs till 5. He can run out of the good stuff earlier. Key Wes is about 45 minutes from here. Warning do not speed in the keys they will get you. Pay attention to the speed limit.

Whatever you do, make sure you make it out here at least once. Great people, staff and more. There's a private beach, marina, fishing dock general store I mean, why leave? Only thing we are going to do different next time is to book during the cooler months. It's hot!

Paid extra for an elite waterfront spot and ended up in a spot right in front of trees with no view of the ocean at all. How can you consider that an elite water front without a view of the water? They have one phone number, which is a corporate number, and they're no help so they'll have someone from Sunshine Key Rv "call you back." But you don't ever get a call back lol. They save the spots with a view for their tiny homes and long term renters over by the marina. People let their dogs walk through your site and don't pick up their poop, there was trash throughout the park, and the employees just ride around on their golf carts not actually doing anything about any of it. Spend your money somewhere else.

Overall this is a great park to camp. RV spots are quite long and have decent amount of space on the side. Perfect for those huge toy haulers with pop out patios. Full hookups with 50/30/15 amp availability at all sites. Gravel spots to park your RV in and most sites are pull through. They have several activities going on throughout the week for both children and adults. Have a pool but no hot tub. Make sure you get to the pool early though as it closes at sunset. They do have a beach and place to dock your boat. No general store on site but there is a gas station that is about 50 feet from the main entrance. They have all the RV essentials that one would need.

Overall a beautiful resort. Centrally located to Key Largo, Marathon and Key West. Has it's own beach, marina and fishing pier. Local fishing charters, parasailing and snorkeling. Love this place will def be back!

There's only good to say about Sunshine Key RV resort. It's absolute paradise in the keys. Somewhat secluded and surrounded by nature and the ocean. The water isn't too deep surrounding the key which means beautiful blue warm water year round. The sunsets and sunrises are perfect. Road noise is minimal. Comcast service available at every site for remote workers such as myself. Friendly staff and neighbors. I will definitely book Sunshine Key for 3 months next winter.

We stayed here for a night after we didn't fit at another campground. Great location and the park was super clean. We had an amazing sunset and would stay here again in a heartbeat. It is a little on the expensive side and could use some shade but did not have any issues.

I felt cheated on my booking online process. When I booked, the sites available were the premium ones. As so, I book my stay, but I specified that I didn't want to stay if it would be on the sites across the street, only on the oceanfront. So, I number the sites that were OCEANFRONT. I understand when we say that we are oceanfront, we mean you are in front of the ocean, and you can surely see the ocean. Instead, they gave me a spot OceanFront that was OCEAN HIDDEN(433) as in between the site and the ocean, there is huge vegetation that covers any possibility to know that you are oceanfront and besides there is a water treatment building (anything of this is on the campground local map).  When we complained, the attendant said that is my fault as I didn't choose an OceanView spot. Seriously? How dumb you think we are? Why is this not clear on the website and booking process that oceanfront is different than oceanview?. This was ridiculous. All our kid and family dreams sank with this tricky oceanfront and ocean view wording. I am really disappointed as the staff said that there was not another spot oceanview available even if I paid the difference. The fact is that a few spots after mine, there was a space empty the full week, and they didn't do anything to accommodate us. We spent a week, and only one day before we completed our week, they came with a possibility to switch to another spot that was oceanfront but also oceanview. Are you kidding me? I felt insulted and hope I can be compensated somehow in this deceiving stay. Because of this a rate 1 star. Other than this, it is a nice place to stay

We really enjoyed this park. VERY friendly staff. Very clean and well-maintained. Roomy sites. Even if you don’t get a water site, everything is in close proximity to the water. Adorable tiny houses...see pic.

We loved our stay here! We had a spot on the water and enjoyed a beautiful view of the water! The staff were friendly, professional, and helpful. The campground is very well kept. It is located in a great area of the keys, so it is a nice drive to Key West, or you can visit several trails close by. Big Pine Key and Bahia Honda State Park are very close and offer excellent scenery!

OMG!  This resort is definitely one of our faves!  Torquoise water, leaning palm trees, white sand beach!  We fell in love not only with the resort, but the proximity to Bahia Honda and Key West.  Sites are decent, showers were recently remodeled and laundry room was very large.  Many activities going on at the club house.  Great playground for the kids.  AND, you have to check out the marina.  Water's so clear you can see all kinds of fish, sharks, jelly fish and manatees.  Love, love, love this RV resort!  Check out our youtube video on the park!  https://youtu.be/R8LMrxOXhUo

It is a great location with tons of amenities!

Best for RV camping but I have also tent camped here many times

This is a great spot to escape the cold. It is a fair distance from Key West, about a half hour drive. This location does have all the amenities you wake me though.

Spent a week here in my 5th wheel, slots were easy to access and utilities were well maintained.

I spent a month there in my fifth wheel with my mother and my kids. There was something for everyone. Good fishing on the old bridge, nice little marina and pool. The manatee like to hang out in the marina. Large spaces. Electric golf carts only if you have one. Bring the bicycles.