Peace River RV Campground - Thousand Trails

I spent a week here while my wife flew back to Alaska for business. It worked out pretty well for me. It was hot and humid so AC was necessary and it was nice having hook ups. There's a small town just up the highway within biking distance.

The park allowed me to drive my ATV around like a golf cart which was great for going fishing and doing laundry. The highlight was getting a kayak drop off up River and paddling back to the campground. There were several alligator encounters on the river so be careful.

The park was pretty crowded so I got a sight right next to the highway with road noise. This ended up bring a good place to spend a week.

Watch some videos to see more of this campground.
Arriving: https://youtu.be/SAsahc7Bc0s
Fishing: https://youtu.be/HWBdc45ZkmA
Kayaking: https://youtu.be/sGu2MxD-7I0

We arrived mid week and check in was a breeze. It was very busy but they were well staffed and gave a very thorough introduction since this was our first stay. We stayed in an elec/water only site but they do have a lottery process every afternoon so you can move to a full hookup site. We didn't bother because we have a composting toilet. We didn't bring a car but they are close to town so we rode our bikes anywhere we wanted to go. There are a few restaurants, stores, a county park and the post office just south on a main road with sidewalks. Lots of amenities inside the park too. There is a trail along the river and on the north side of the park for hiking and biking, the office has shovels and sifters if you would like to dig for fossils/sharks teeth in the Peace River and there are lots of weekly activities scheduled. The restrooms and showers were clean. Lots of friendly folks at this park! We did pay to have internet at our site (3 days for $10) but it was spotty. We were hoping to go kayaking while we were there but the outfitter was out of business when we called. We really enjoyed our stay.

We arrived during busy season and half of the park is closed off due to repairs/flood damage. Because of this, it took over an hour to locate a spot and park. I am writing this review to let you know to allow enough time for the craziness. You will NOT get a sewer hookup when you first arrive. You must go to the section that has no sewer hookups which is fine. It is a little bizarre how they work it. People in the no sewer hookup area move around 1:00 pm to get a new location that has a sewer hookup. New arrivals checkin around 12:00 noon and are circling the small overcrowded no sewer hookup area until the 1:00 pm people leave to their new location. Most recommend avoiding the area close to the road as it is very noisy. Sites are also a little haphazard with picnic tables and fire rings in odd locations. And some sites have trees in the middle of the site. There is also a Mexican night club 0.3 miles away and you will hear music into the night if you are in the non-sewer area. Bring ear plugs. The river and wooded area is very nice. Could stream 1080 HD nicely.

As others have mentioned, this park has a complex check-in process. They have some electric+water sites and some FHU. Typically you start off in E+W and then a lottery moves you to FHU if there are spots available. This happens at 1:00 PM each day. We were not aware of this and even when a called a few days before they mentioned something about a lottery but had told me "you will start off in E+W" so I was in no hurry. We showed up at 12:15 and it was raining. She told me the lottery was at 1:00 and there were 30+ FHU sites and only 10 people on lottery so we just needed to go park and wait. Everything worked out, but it was just complicated.

In a way, if you just get there after 1:30 or so, it may be a more straightforward process, but if you dont mind waiting, getting there earlier could get you a higher spot on the lottery. If you want the best thing, show up at 12:30 PM and if the lottery has a spot for you, less time to wait. You will have enough time to get site numbers, walk around and rate your choices and get back by 1:00 PM.

Also, because of the hurricane, most of the E+W sites were closed when we were there, so a lot of the park was empty. That was okay with us, just a bit dark at night.

There were some activities and an activity director who was doing her best to have multiple activities per day, group campfire on weekends, etc. Though some things at the park were a bit worn and the playground was small, it was nice enough and we enjoyed it.

Our site ended up being grass and it was FHU. We did not have tree coverage and that is how we wanted it. Some sites are different shapes than others, but selections seemed okay, even for big rigs.

Oh, if you do come from the north, if you are looking for things to do outside the park, make sure to go south also because the cities south of the park seem to have some things going on.

We would stay here again for sure!

AT&T hotspot coverage is very good. This is a Thousand Trails park. You can also rent per night without a membership. There is a pay WiFi available, reported to be OK but we did not use it.

The pool area was pretty nice, some of the various sport courts were also. Trashy youth rec area, shameful.

We were not aware of the lottery check in process and happened across it by accident. That was stressful, I was very confused when she was telling me to drive around, find a spot, park down by the river where you are not allowed to park, walk back, wait until 1pm, pray you get a spot. We did and we loved C11 as a spot. Otherwise, this park is a worth using your membership to get your "free" nights on it. Many of the spots are in open sun, some are in shade.

Peace River is one of our favorite Thousand Trails Parks on the East Coast. There are always plenty of activities, the staff is excellent, the sites are decent and there is a lot to do inside of the park. Outside of the park, that's a different story. You've got a few wineries and Solomon's castle within a 30 minute drive but that's about it. There is plenty to do in the park if you are active and love nature. Hiking, biking and kayaking opportunities on the Peace River are endless. You can walk right up to the Peace River and sift for Shark Teeth! We found hundreds of them in just a few hours.

The Verizon and AT&T are great.
Verizon 30 down, 25 up
AT&T 6 down & 24 up
Sprint has a signal, but don't count on it if you're working from home
The park does have paid wifi, but we did not use it.

The park has a lottery system for sewer sites and right now more than 1/2 of the non-sewer sites are closed from recent flooding. If you come in before 3pm you'll have to take a non-sewer site and get in on the lottery the next day to get a sewer site. If you come in after 3pm, you're free to choose whichever sewer sites are available. We scored a great site back on F23. It's far enough from the road to not be bothered by the noise and we have nice shade trees. We don't use satellite TV so we are unconcerned with trees blocking access.

Was making my way north after spending a few weeks in south Florida. Nice location off the beaten path of the interstates. Truly in the central part of Florida - Cracker country. Walmart not too far. Wauchula is a small town in FL but has most of anything you could need.
A new cell tower went active in late 2017 so cell service is rocking here now where it used to be poor.
One section is still closed due to damage from the hurricane last year (2017). My stay in late April was nice as all the snowbirds have gone north. There was some noise from the highway but nothing too bad. The river is a nice attraction. I rode my bike every day to unwind in the quiet back there. Did not see much in the way of wildlife and was hoping for more. Sites were grass and not too many had concrete pads. Roads are mostly crushed limestone I believe. This creates a lot of dust.

Recreation Coordinators keep this park fun and entertaining. Bonfires are awesome. Pickleball players and courts top notch.

This is one of the three regular Thousand Trails (TT) campgrounds in Florida. It is a campground and not a resort (free for full TT members). Okay pool area. Has only two bathhouses (each with two showers, and one is in the pool area only). The lower area has been swamped literally with over flowing river and muddy spots. The only way the lower area can be used is if it was completely paved, as any RV will sink into any spot (but its not paved). This is claimed as the new campground area and is not available, but do think it was planned; so reservations are limited now.

You will be parked in the J area when you arrive, and then draw from a lottery for regular flat Full service spots (prime time winter florida!!). Free honey wagon is available if you stay two weeks in J area.

The community is very rural and limited, though a nice state park is nearby (encourage a yearly park pass to come and go there). The local library will give you a membership card, and you can borrow two DVD per day. The big town (Sebring) is about 45 minutes away east with all the shopping and movie theaters. (not a bad drive).

The camp spots next to the main road are highway noisy, so be prepared for that. Suggest taking the J area, and picking a better spot later.

We had a free Thousand Trails membership and booked 3 nights here. Season had just ended so the lottery system was not in play. You pull to the stop sign and check in. You are then free to drive around and choose the site you want from those available. Some sites are reserved and some are annual, all others are first come, first serve. The sites on the lake are gorgeous! Peaceful, roomy and quiet. Most sites have a fire ring and all have a picnic table. Sites by the river do not have sewage, but all sites have 30/50amp and water. The sewer sites are closer to the highway, and some are pretty sunny. Towards the back of the sewer sites there are beautiful shade trees and it’s a bit quieter, but those sites fill quickly. There is s lot to do on site. Pool, hot tub, mini golf, pool tables, bocce ball, horseshoes, pickle ball, clubhouse. Beautiful porches with swings. There is a laundry room, and two bath houses that are great! Each shower has its own “room” with a door that locks. We will go back, but try to get in towards the back of the roads and away from the highway.