Lake Okeechobee and Waterway National Forest - W.P. Franklin North Campground

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Lake Okeechobee and Waterway National Forest - W.P. Franklin North Campground (COE)

Campsite # 009

Sunday, May 18 – W.P. Franklin North Campground (COE) Alva, Florida near Ft Meyers – Lake Okeechobee and the Okeechobee Waterway – Site 9

We left Sanibel and Periwinkle Park around 11 this morning (with tears in our eyes) since we only had 35 miles to drive to get to our next campground. Of course we had to stop at the Nike Factory Store, get gas and do some food shopping. We arrived after 1 and our site the ranger said was the best in the park. The campground has two loops and we were situated right at the point with a beautiful tree right behind us. There is no bad site in this park except for the two in the middle but they are good for pull-throughs. All the other sites were on the water.

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W.P. Franklin North Campground (COE) Alva, Florida near Ft. Meyers (Part of the Lake Okeechobee and the Okeechobee Waterway – first western lock)

$12 with golden age pass

There are 30 sites with water and electricity and 8 boat in sites. This campground is about ten miles off I75 and located on the Caloosahatchee River. It has exotic vegetation and tropical atmosphere and every site but the two middle ones are on the water either the salt water side or the fresh water side. Nice breeze even though today was over 90. All sites have a cement slab with covered picnic table, water and electricity and fire pit. The lock is there but boats coming through the lock take place up river. There is a recreational section that is across the river but the drive around is about 8 miles but there is swimming at the recreational section. The campground has a dump station, hot showers, public phones, a fishing pier and picnic tables around the park for campers only off their sites. This is a very peaceful campground with very nice hosts. Our site was on the point between the split of the river – very nice. At night there was a full moon and with the lights from the lock and boat docks it was beautiful. It was so nice to sit outside late at night and just watch the moon’s reflection off the water.

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We walked around the campground and enjoyed the fishing pier and watching boats of all shapes and size go by. Some of the homes along this waterway are huge and beautiful. It was hot today over 90 but we had a real nice breeze. It is really peaceful here and there were only about 8 sites not taken at 1 in the afternoon. I expect that they will fill up and they say in the winter months the snowbirds fill this place up so you do need reservations. If you have the golden age pass it only cost $12 for a water site with electricity and water. George thinks now that the next time we head south to some of these campgrounds – he will bring a fishing pole because everyone fishes around here for their supper. He also thinks he definitely would have a boat if he lived in Florida – everyone has one of some shape and size. George thought this was the best campground that we have stayed at yet.