Looking to go from Ma.to key west. Mrs.wants to rent a RV. Looking for some real first hand pro/cons.Looks like gas prices may be a real concern.Grab and go for breakfast and lunch restaurant for supper.

If you and the mrs. have not done RV before, it maybe a good idea to try it. Like you said, gas might be a bit pricey, (but not much). We have a 35 ft Class A gas RV. wWe did a 5K mile loop this summer. Average is about 8mpg (while towing a car). Rental RV may go about 11-12 mpg. Nit much different from your Chevy Suburban (we get 11 mpg on our 2005 Hummer H2). You just have to plan and make reservation for campgrounds. If driving your Suburban, you will have to make hotel reservation (which is more expensive the most campgrounds). Only thing with the RV, you will have to find a way to go around the area you want to visit (local bus, Uber).

Have fun with whatever route you decide on.

I've done road trips about that long a number of times.

Are you planning on doing it in one sitting or stopping for the night (and if so, how many days of driving are you planning)?

Doing a drive that long in one go is extremely unpleasant and not really safe.

If you're stopping for the night, are you planning on sleeping in the vehicle?

Sleeping in a Suburban is not great unless you aren't taking any luggage and fold down the second row seat and put an actual mattress back there.

How old is the Suburban?

Pre-2000 Suburbans have a stiff, bouncy ride and a lot of road noise and will be unpleasant for a drive that long. The 2000-2006 generation was better but still not great. The two generations since then are pretty comfortable for long road trips.

It's winter in Florida and the snowbirds, and the Canadians as well, are in Florida for the duration.

You may find that there are few to no empty RV spots as most are reserved and/booked up for the duration, probably until April.

It's just about near impossible to boondock in Florida so you'll need paid campgrounds. There are a few places to boondock, but not much.

If you intend to RV you'd better be calling and making reservations ASAP.

Have fun, no matter what, enjoy and be safe.
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Fly to Marathon. Rent an RV already set up at Sunshine Key RV Resort which is just south of Seven Mile Bridge.

I'd take the suburban. A mh will be a nightmare to drive around town. If you have another ride and can park in the campground that's a different story. Used to be able to overnight park at Searstown w/out being hassled. I went to Key West back in the 70s in a E150 van with a full size mattress. Stealth camped a couple nights then get a room. Not bad if you're just there to party.

When we did our 21 day road trip this past summer, there were nights where we spent the night at rest stops (many RVs do). Then we booked campgrounds where we want to stay for few days. If you decide on RV, start calling for reservations and ask for FULL HOOK UP (water, electric and sewer).

Renting an RV is the easy part. Finding a place to camp is the hard part, especially in Florida on winter. State campgrounds are booked six months to a year in advance. Private campgrounds are expensive.

You haven’t given enough information for anyone to give informed suggestions. You haven’t even asked a question.

We camped at at least two dozen campgrounds from the Panhandle to the Keys. Mostly state/county parks. We’ve camped at two state parks and two private campground in the Keys plus visited two other state parks in the Keys alone.

have you considered amtrak? I just went to Disney with my daughter and we took the train to orlando and back. It was quite nice.

I vote Suburban. Mine gets 18mph highway, which is more than double what you'd get in a motorhome. The Suburban will also be easier to drive, easier to park, and provide a lot more flexibility on your trip. You could probably stay in hotels for what you'd save in RV rental fees and fuel, and if you want to save even more money, take a tent.

My wife and I actually camped in the back of our Suburban for a week out west, and it worked out pretty good. A little hillbilly, and not exactly spacious, but we were backpacking and sleeping on the ground for part of the trip, and we slept great on the nights that we slept in the truck. It wasn't as spacious as our trailer, but for just the two of us it was totally worth it for the improved mileage and not having to deal with towing it halfway across the country.

If you hope to sleep in a passenger vehicle in Key West, here's a hint, find a used car lot and park in it after they close for the night. Set the alarm for before they open in the AM. The KW police do not like people sleeping in vehicles (or at least didn't when I was last there).

Finding a place to park an RV close to where you want to visit in Key West ain't gonna be easy.

I'd go with the Suburban.

I’d start with how familiar you are with the RVing life. A few negatives, fuel mileage is abysmal, maneuverability can be an issue, parking it overnight usually isn’t free. Yes, there are the Walmart lots & truck stops you may be good for a while.

A story from just 1-2 years ago, they retired & wanted to travel with a big trailer. It wasn’t long before they scraped a pump post at the gas station. While the trailer was being repaired, their truck was stolen & destroyed.

Some things work for some, but not the next. It may be for you, depending. I’ll usually opt for a car or truck, if solo, go with the cheap overnight.

I second the Suburban advice. We are full time RV’s in Florida, Georgia & South Carolina. If you find a state park campground in Florida in the winter buy a lottery ticket that day. Motels will be much easier to find. And a last word of advice, stay away from I4 through Orlando at all costs.

quote:

Originally posted by Apphunter:
have you considered amtrak? I just went to Disney with my daughter and we took the train to orlando and back. It was quite nice.

There hasn’t been rail service to the Keys since the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935.

Fly for the probably $100 ticket and 3 hour travel time or take the Suburban and waste four days of your vacation.

RVs are a giant pain in the ass and require a total commitment and lifestyle change from the operator.

We have a Class C. No, it's not a pain in the ass.

10 mpg. Down hill, with a tail wind.

Depending how much time you have, the RV might be fun. The Mrs. likes to drive ours so that puts more fun into it for me.

If time is an issue, take the Suburban.

I think it's an ambitious first experience with a motorhome. I have a small class A but we don't travel far. When I go to Florida it's by plane and then rent a car. Quicker and not much more expensive (although car rentals have shot up recently).

I recommend separating the trip from the exploration of RV ownership.

I did a rental class c from Richmond to Fort Myers. 2000 miles. Loved it. It takes a lot of planning and money.

Rental RV in Florida with a low cost flight would be a way to maximize your experience. Often an owner will drive their RV to the site.

Fort Myers is north of Key West by ferry. $150 round trip. Much less traffic and time than driving. Cheaper than Atlantic coast. Fly to RSW, rental car to RV park there. Overnight trip to Key West. Fun!