Sarasota, Florida is a popular tourist spot year round. For those driving an RV and looking to camp, it can be helpful to know a few safe and legal places to stop along the way. These Sarasota RV parking locations should make a good starting point in your search.
Ringling Shopping Center
170 Shopping Ave Sarasota, FL 34237
This shopping center is unoccupied except for one large Ace Hardware store. It almost always has plenty of free parking in a wide open lot where you can safely tuck away your RV for a few hours or even overnight. There is even a park not more than a block away where you can walk, stretch your legs, enjoy the fresh air, and grab a bite to eat at the Cafe in the Park.
Kmart
501 N Beneva Rd Sarasota, FL 34232
Kmart is one of a few chain department stores that offers space in its large lots to RV parking. Parking here for a few hours allows you to do any needed shopping. If you want to park overnight, it is best to call ahead and speak to a manager to see if it’s allowed and safe. You can also park your RV at other chain stores like Walmart and Costco. However, overnight parking at Walmart Supercenters in Sarasota is banned by local ordinance.
Days Inn Sarasota
5000 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL, US, 34234
This Days Inn hotel and the one in Siesta Key (5774 Clark Rd, Exit 205 Clark Rd I 75) welcomes RVs and large trucks to park in their parking lot. It would be wise to call ahead and make sure there is space available before stopping here. The hotel gives priority to hotel guests who need to park. Otherwise parking is free for as long as you need it.
Sarasota Village Plaza
3756 Bee Ridge Rd Sarasota, FL 34233
There should be some RV parking available at the Sarasota Village Plaza in the Bee Ridge neighborhood of Sarasota. This is a great spot to stop for a meal with a Denny’s and a KFC nearby. Buy any other necessities at Walmart or Publix Supermarket. Like with other shopping centers, parking here is free and unlimited but you want to get permission from a storeowner first.
City Parking
There are various parking lots and garages throughout the city of Sarasota. Larger lots where you won’t have to worry about overhead clearance include the Sarasota City Hall parking lot (after 5 p.m.) and Sarasota County Building visitor parking. Generally, parking in these areas is free for two to three hours Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Outside of those hours, free parking is unrestricted. For more information, visit the Sarasota Parking Operations Division website.
Remember, parking is never guaranteed, especially for a titanic RV. Always call ahead to make sure parking is available, especially when parking overnight. Sarasota gets crowded, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend money on a campsite if you find a convenient free parking place.
