NEED ADVISE PLANNING TRIP

Hey guys!

so we are planning an overland/camping trip the last week of March for spring break and we are looking for a cool spot to go and explore.

2019 dbl cab short bed. Me, wife, 7 year old son and the dog.

we live in northeast Ohio and have 8 days so looking for something that’s within 1,000 miles of us.

been researching and found cape lookout national seashore or maybe badlands national park but it may be too cold end of March.

Anyone know some good spots?

 

bump

 

Cape Lookout is very cool, take the ferry over etc, and I love Carolina Beaches, but I'm not sure I'd drive from Ohio to sit on the beach in March. Especially out there, there is no where to go to get away from the wind that will def be present that time of year.

 

Ya it will still be chilly that time of year unless we go down to florida which is a possiblilty. I'm looking to find some good spots in florida you can camp on the beach but its not like North Carolina

 

Well if you do come this way, break up the trip with a night or two at Old 105 near Morganton. This was my campsite yesterday morning!

 

Wow what a great spot! I have never winter camped but I'm definatly eager to try it!

 

We were not really planning to “winter camp” either. Just woke up to snow!

 

We love camping on Portsmouth Island (Cape Lookout NS) but late March is not the best time - very likely to be cold (low forties at night and low sixties during the day) and windy (15-40 sustained). Isolation is great if the weather is decent but sitting in your truck with a cold wind whipping ain't much fun.

I'd suggest Ocala National Forest https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/ocala/recreation/camping-cabins We've camped at Juniper Springs Recreation Area a couple of times and would certainly go back. There's also dispersed camping available if you want to go that route. Its a couple of hours to St Augustine which should be on your list if you've never visited there - the old fort is amazing. Kennedy Space Center is also a worthwhile stop - I think there may be a few rocket launches scheduled for March. The Yearling was filmed in Ocala NF and a hiking trail leads to family home https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/ocala/recarea/?recid=40186

Al

 

Thank you for the great info!

 

Be sure to post back with a trip report and photos from wherever you end up. Put Cape Lookout NS on your bucket list for warmer times and PM me if you have questions. Watching a sunrise over the Atlantic from your sleeping bag is not to be missed.

Al