St. Petersburg - Madeira Beach KOA Holiday

We are just under 39’ Motorcoach and we were able to maneuver to our pull thru by narrowly missing a couple huge trees. If you’re longer than 40’, just know going in, it’ll be tight. We always unhook, had we not, been stressful. Friendly checkin, pool was filled w kids so no way we were going in! It is a kid atmosphere so great for families so kids can meet friends. Caution if waterfront or using the lake, 2 year old was found in alligators mouth a few miles away at that lake! I wouldn’t recommend waterfront if you have pets you like to sit outside with, but then again, most campsites are so small, not nice big enough. It’s more for kids to mingle or as headquarters as you visit St Pete and Fort de Soto which were both great! The bike trail is what caught my eye but it’s a concrete trail through the city. Does help keep you off the roadways but if you want to get to the beach, you’ll need to venture off the trail.

Didn’t have the best first impression, as there is some construction in areas that detract, including black plastic on the waterfront site covering trenches. There are also a lot of more permanent trailers and park models than usual at a KOA. But had a nice week there. The location is close to beaches and great for kayaking. The sites were close, but not bad. There are several laundry facilities and a well stocked store. We did not use the pool or hot tub but they seemed nice and always had people in them. Overall, We thought it was expensive for the quality.

I stayed here last January and enjoyed it but walked away with mixed feelings. This time they really helped me decide to never come back. I was told two months ago they were doing construction and it'd be done long before I arrived. Well, 7:58am they startup the construction today and it's right outside my site. It's so loud I couldn't even talk to my neighbor at 8:10am. I would expect a significant decrease in price or at the very least a warning to let me know it was still ongoing. What I was told (hearsay I know) is that the owner started doing a lot of work without any permits and the state came in to shut it down. I guess they have the permits now and are going to town... I've been staying at KOA's across the country almost exclusively over the last 5 months and this has been my worst experience so far.

There was a pile of rocks filling the entire site beside me until they move it all yesterday morning. It is so loud I am about to call off work and leave now. It's a shame, this place could be the best KOA around considering the land it is on. The sites are all very unlevel (except for the ones being fixed now). Some have pot holes and all are difficult to load up a truck camper. For this price I expect much more, but they take advantage of being so close to the beach that nothing else matters.

New (DW) waterfront sites are very nice with a bit more space between sites yet no privacy. It’s nice that a person from the office guides you to your site and helps you park. Laundry facility is is adequate and obviously well used because the floor is very dirty. Showers are clean and have extra space with bench for changing. Internet is very slow.

We stayed here 2 weeks so we could explore St Pete’s area—which we love. This KOA is jam packed with sites right on top of each other. I think we got lucky ( and we paid more$) our site was one of the best toward the end of the park near the cabins which seemed more private and were much quieter. In addition to those end sites, the sites the back up to the water are decent even though your neighbors are very close by. The biggest benefit of this campground is the access to the bike path. If you ride bikes there is a paved greenway that goes all the way into St Pete’s if you make a left or to Dunedin IG you make a right out of the KOA. A big plus for us and we rode often while visiting.

Pros:
*Tons of staff working inside and on the grounds. Probably one of the most efficiently run campgrounds I’ve been to.
*Very clean and updated facilities
*Tons of amenities and things to do, for both kids and adults
*Nice water access and viewing areas. Great for birding and sunrises
*Great WiFi and cell service
Cons:
*VERY expensive. After taxes it cost us $72 for a tent site 😳.
*Not much privacy. RV, tent sites and cabins were packed together like sardines. However, there was quite a bit of shade, so that was nice
*Biting no-seeums. Unfortunately they are just a part of life in FL.

We stayed during the week and had a lovely experience. The staff was friendly and frequently patrol the grounds. Upon checking in, we were told to follow an employee who helped us park the trailer and answered any question we had. Concrete pad with picnic table and fire pit at every site. WiFi is slow. There is a small dock where you can launch your kayaks. There are cabins that are available to rent as well, if you wanted to invite friends who don’t have a rig. Lots of amenities but due to Covid, their facilities may not be running as usual. We saw a few people playing mini golf, so at least for now they are up and running. Definitely would stay here again!

This one is all about location. The spots are tiny here, it is very difficult to get into most of them with even a middle size RV. But the park is on a lagoon, and they rent kayaks — something I would highly recommend. The pool is heated and the hot tub is very large. It is also close to shopping, movies, and not a bad drive from beautiful downtown St Petersburg. It is also right on the Pinellas Trail, so you can ride bike or walk for a very long way. The staff is very friendly and there is onsite security that actually checks who is supposed to be there. There is a great sense of community among the regulars, and people are very friendly. Don’t be fooled by the approach through an industrial area, it is pretty and quiet once you get into the park.

If you want a well-run RV park in an urban setting, this is about as good as it gets.

If you are looking for rural camping away from it all, move along, this is something else.