Florida is one of America’s most popular vacation spots, but checking in to one of its luxurious resorts can be expensive. So, why not slash your travel bills and pack up your RV for a road trip instead? Make sure you visit these RV-friendly cities while you’re visiting the Sunshine State.
Sarasota: Chic Coastal RV Spot
Sarasota doesn’t just have RV parks; it has RV resorts. Establishments like Royal Coachman RV Resort and Sun-N-Fun RV Resort separate themselves from the average RV park with special features like hot tubs, water slides, and craft workshops. As a coastal city, many of Sarasota’s RV resorts are on the beach or just a short walk from the water’s edge.
If your RV has a mechanical issue, don’t worry. Sarasota’s also home to Campbell RV, which sells, rents, services, and repairs RVs. If you’d prefer to DIY, hit up RV Parts Mall on South Commerce Boulevard.
Florida Keys: Scuba Diver’s Paradise
Scuba divers come from around the world to admire the marine life in the Florida Keys. It boasts the continental U.S.’s only living coral barrier reef and the third largest on the planet. The coral and fish are amazing enough, but add in some of the most spectacular shipwrecks in the country and you’ve got any diver’s paradise.
Florida Keys’ many RV resorts offer motorists a little bit extra. Parks like Bluewater Key RV Resort and Grassy Key RV Park and Resort feature high-end amenities like private docks, lounging beaches, and Wi-Fi Internet access.
Marianna: Hit the Trails
Florida isn’t just about beaches and blue oceans. Marianna, home of the Florida Caverns State Park, showcases a different side of the Sunshine State. It’s home to the Florida Cavern, a dazzling series of caves featuring long stalagmites, stalagtites, and delicate-looking draperies. If you’re not sure what those things are, don’t worry. Florida Cavern’s State Park is Florida’s only state park offering public tours. Keen anglers love fishing and boating on the Chipola River and Blue Hole spring. A nine-hole golf course in the parklands provides a unique playing experience.
You don’t need to just enjoy the Florida Caverns State Park on a day trip though. The park has several RV sites for motorists who don’t want to leave.
Chiefland: Unexpected Gem
Chiefland rarely makes lists of the best travel spots, but there’s a real charm to this North Florida town. Events like June’s Watermelon Festival and the festive Christmas Festival bring its community together. You’ll also be hard-pressed to find a more picturesque spot than Manatee Springs State Park, named after the West Indian manatees that swim to the springs’ relatively warm waters every winter. Scuba dive or snorkel to admire them up close, or enjoy a different kind of watery fun canoeing down the Suwannee River.
The park has RV sites available, but if you’d prefer to be closer to inner-city conveniences, simply park at the local Walmart. Management is happy to let truckers and tourists in RVs make use of their car park each night.
Enjoy the sun, surfing, and special memories in these RV-friendly cities, the perfect destinations for your road trip through Florida.
