Renting an RV in Florida
A very unique blend of pure wilderness and sprawling modern metropolitan areas, Florida is an excellent choice for your RV vacation. The Sunshine State boasts nearly eight and a half thousand miles of shoreline, thousands of lakes, and thirty-five state forests covering more than a million acres. In the wintertime, Florida is America’s go-to choice to escape the chilly temps and snow.
There aren’t many places where you can go on a forest hike, lie on the beach, and have a top-notch dinner all on the same day. Consider renting an RV in Florida to get you everywhere you want to go in comfort and style.
Along with natural, tropical beauty, Florida also has some of the country’s oldest history. There are so many incredible destinations to visit while you’re in Florida that we’ve assembled a ‘can’t-miss’ list to make planning your trip easier. Here are ten of the top attractions in Florida that any RVer would be sorry to miss.
The most well-known park in Florida, Everglades National Park is simply massive. More than 1.5 million acres of wetlands are home to an astonishing variety of species including birds, turtles, snakes, dolphins, manatees, and of course, alligators. Boating, fishing, hiking, and geocaching are some of the favorite activities at Everglades. For the more adventurous, also consider a 99-mile canoe trip along the Wilderness Waterway for an unmatched opportunity to view the abundant wildlife.
RV camping is available onsite at Everglades. Both the Long Pine and Flamingo Campgrounds offer RV campsites, but Flamingo has more available and offers electric hookups. No water hookups are available; however, you can access water fill stations near the dump station.
Learn more about Castillo de San Marcos.
Part of the Ocala forest and situated along Florida State Road 40, the Juniper Springs National Recreation Area was created by the efforts of the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression in the 1930s. Beautiful natural springs abound in this forested oasis and travelers can find plenty of swimming, hiking, bicycling, boating, and off-road vehicle activities.
RV camping is allowed within Juniper Springs at four different campgrounds within its borders. Not all sites offer full hookups so double-check availability, depending on your needs. Learn more about Juniper Springs National Recreation Area.
Enjoy the rolling, sandy dunes and their unique ecosystem during your stay at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. Located on the gulf coast, the preserve features striking white quartz dunes that hold small freshwater lakes. Adventurers will have the opportunity to see a rare combination of over a dozen endangered plants and animals. Bring your binoculars as well because the birdwatching here is excellent.
RV camping is welcome at Topsail and its Gregory E. Moore RV Resort is one of the top-ranked RV resorts in the nation. You can find 140 available sites with full hookups that can accommodate rigs up to 45 feet in length.
Learn more about Anastasia State Park.
Up in the Gulf Islands in Florida’s panhandle, you will find Fort Pickens situated in Pensacola Bay. Built in the early 1800s, Fort Pickens was an important defense post for the shipping industry as America expanded. In addition to fascinating historical tours offered by park staff, there are many watersport activities available, including swimming, snorkeling, fishing, waterfowl hunting, and boating. If you’re lucky, you may even be able to observe the elite naval flight demonstration squad, the Blue Angels, as they practice above their base in nearby Pensacola.
The Fort Pickens RV Campground is very reasonably priced and offers 137 sites with electric and water hookups. Community amenities also include a showering facility and flush toilets. Learn more about Fort Pickens.
Learn more about Dry Tortugas National Park.
Although welcome in the wintertime, Florida can get very hot and humid. Travelers with heat-sensitive conditions should consult their physician regarding travel during particularly hot summer months.
Florida is also home to an incredible variety of wildlife. Some of this wildlife, however, can be dangerous. If you are anywhere near a fresh body of water, which is in Florida, you need to be on the lookout for alligators and pythons. These large reptiles are notorious for making themselves welcome in unwelcome places, so exercise caution during your outdoor activities. See our list of Good Sam campgrounds in the area to check out while you're there.
If you are looking to get away from it all, dry camping, or boondocking is your best RV option to isolate yourself. Boondocking means that there are no hookups available (e.g. sewer, electrical, water), and your RV unit is operating independently.
A great place to do this is on public land identified by the Bureau of Land Management. Unfortunately, Florida does not have any of this type of land available for RV camping. Not to worry, though, many campgrounds (of which there are plenty throughout the state) will let you dry camp if all of their hookup spots are taken and they have additional space.
Additionally, many businesses in the state will allow you to boondock in their parking lots overnight. You will have to obtain permission from the business in most cases, there are also rest stops where you can camp overnight. These options give you plenty of places to stay in your RV.