The Sunshine State is well known for its tourist attractions, from theme parks with wild rides to serene beaches and everything in between. The most famous landmark in Florida is Walt Disney World, but what other landmarks across the state should be put on your not-to-be-missed list?
Here is a list of the best Florida landmarks. Choose from this list and you can’t go wrong!
Top Landmarks in Florida
Florida Landmarks
Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World might not be the first Disney theme park in America, but it’s by far the largest—and it’s certainly earned its reputation as a vacation destination par excellence.
Actually a complex of four theme parks and two water parks, it would be easy to spend a whole week at Disney World and not have seen or experienced it all, and many of the attractions, like Magic Kingdom’s Splash Mountain or Epcot’s Spaceship Earth, are nothing short of iconic.
Attractions and Camping Nearby
In addition to the theme parks, Disney World also boasts two waterparks, dozens of restaurants, and tons of shops to peruse, and that’s all before you even step foot into the wider world of greater Orlando.
RV camping is plentiful all throughout the state of Florida. Obviously, Disney’s on-property campground Fort Wilderness is the top choice when visiting the parks in an RV.
That said, there are plenty of other options nearby. These include:
The Southernmost Point
Far down at the tip of Key West, visitors will find themselves standing next to a larger-than-life buoy, a simple monument to an incredible fact: This is the southernmost point in the continental United States of America, with only 90 miles of water separating those who stand here from the island of Cuba.
Established back in 1983 as a tourist attraction, this concrete buoy has withstood the tests of several hurricanes, and before it was erected, a sign marked the spot for its southernmost superlative.
Attractions and Camping Nearby
Looking for other things to see and do in the Keys? We really like the Hemingway Home and Museum as well as John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.
There are a number of excellent RV campgrounds in the Keys. In Key West, we recommend the following options:
Coral Castle
Originally conceived back in the 1920s by a man by the name of Edward Leedskalnin, Coral Castle is a uniquely Florida attraction located in the outskirts of the city of Homestead.
Ed, convinced he understood the secrets of the Pyramids, single-handedly carved out over 1,100 tons of coral rock to construct the castle you can visit today, assembling it under the cover of night over the course of more than a decade. He began offering tours for a 10-cent admission fee in the 1940s, and the castle has been legendary ever since.
Today admission prices are a bit higher, though still reasonable, and the one-of-a-kind experience of this landmark is well worth it.
Attractions and Camping Nearby
The Coral Castle is located between Florida City and Leisure City just outside of Miami. Things to do in Miami include Vizcaya Museum and Gardens as well as Perez Art Museum Miami.
Some of our favorite RV campgrounds near Coral Castle include:
Everglades National Park
The largest wilderness of any sort east of the Mississippi River, Everglades National Park is truly is a sight to behold: an otherworldly swamp where ancient reptiles and insects dwell and the sun drifts down in warm beams over the mangroves.
Along with giving visitors the opportunity to ride an airboat or hike along the coastal prairie, Everglades National Park is also known for its immaculately dark skies, making it one of the best places in the entire state of Florida for stargazing.
Attractions and Camping Nearby
There are plenty of things to see and do in the park itself. Make sure you take a ranger guided hike (we love the nighttime one) and take a Shark Valley tram tour.
You could absolutely park your RV at either of the campgrounds listed for Coral Castle. That said, we think it’s even better to camp in the national park itself.
To do this, book one of the campgrounds listed below:
Kennedy Space Center
You may have seen live footage of a rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, but there’s no imitation for visiting the site yourself.
The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex offers guests the opportunity to learn more about the human history of space exploration and adventure, featuring exhibits as well as an astronaut training circuit that will help you understand first-hand just how difficult these scientists’ jobs are.
Camps and educational programs are also available for those looking to deepen their space knowledge even further.
Attractions and Camping Nearby
The Wizard of Museum and Van Gogh, Jetty Park Beach and Campground, and Canaveral National Seashore are all worth checking out while in the area.
Need a place to sleep near the space center? Here are our favorite nearby campgrounds:
Tampa Zoo
Florida has many zoos, but few share the reputation of ZooTampa at Lowry Park. Home to more than 1,300 animals on over 60 acres, this zoo has been named one of the top 25 in America per TripAdvisor, and has an AZA membership.
Along with giving guests the opportunity to visit with the animals, this zoo is also dedicated to conservation and education efforts, offering special programs, camps, and sleepovers to help get kids more thoroughly involved.
Attractions and Camping Nearby
Other awesome things to do in Tampa include Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and the Florida Aquarium.
There are only a couple of camping options in Tampa itself. That said, driving outside of the city is easy enough and you’ll find plenty of RV camping there.
We recommend:
The Dalí
Although artist Salvador Dalí himself was from Spain, and that country holds many of his works, the largest single collection of his paintings and sculptures can be found at The Dalí in none other than St. Petersburg, Florida. Along with its breathtaking collection, the building itself is a sight to behold, and the museum also offers a variety of community programs including yoga, lectures, live music, and more.
Attractions and Camping Nearby
Looking for more to do and see in St. Petersburg? Consider Sunken Gardens and Museum of Fine Arts.
There is no RV camping in St. Petersburg itself. However, there is plenty of camping just outside of the city. The following options are great picks:
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
St. Augustine, Florida was originally laid out back in 1565, the year it was founded—and yes, that makes it the oldest continually-run European settlement in the nation, older even than Plymouth or Jamestown!
Although there are many worthy attractions to stop and see in St. Augustine, if you only have the chance to visit one, make it the Castillo de San Marcos. This national monument is an ancient defensive fort and a truly significant U.S. historical landmark, and part of the reason it’s survived so long is because it’s literally made of seashells (among other things).
Attractions and Camping Nearby
Hoping to spend more time in St. Augustine? Make sure to see St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum as well as St. Augustine Pirate and Treasure Museum.
When visiting Castillo de San Marcos in an RV, we recommend the following campgrounds:
Kingsley Plantation
Named for an early owner (whose first name, Zephaniah, was certainly a mouthful), the Kingsley Plantation is an important historical site and landmark, offering a glimpse into the way life used to be in this area—not just for the white slave-owners, but for the Black slaves themselves.
Tucked into the larger Timucuan Ecological & Historical Preserve, this plantation allows visitors to take self-guided tours using the ample interpretive signage and an audio guide, and many events and reenactments are also scheduled.
Attractions and Camping Nearby
This landmark is located in the Jacksonville area, meaning you can take advantage of everything the city has to offer including Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens and Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens.
There are no NPS campgrounds located in the national preserve. That said, there are a couple of onsite camping options that are run by other organizations:
Pensacola Lighthouse and Maritime Museum
The Florida panhandle is home to both some of the coolest cities in the state as well as some of the most stunning beaches, and the Pensacola Lighthouse and Maritime Museum offers you the opportunity to experience both at once.
A historic lighthouse whose origins date back to the 1850s, today this attraction offers visitors insight into what life was like for both sailors and lighthouse keepers back in the day, all in the context of the greater Pensacola community.
Attractions and Camping Nearby
There are several great things to see and do in Pensacola. We love the National Naval Aviation Museum as well as Historic Pensacola Village.
As far as RV camping near the lighthouse goes, we recommend one of the following options:
Planning an RV Trip to Florida
Clearly, there are plenty of amazing landmarks in Florida that you are going to want to check out. Need to know what else to add to your Florida RV travel itinerary? Be sure to check out the best state parks in Florida as well as the many attractions in the state’s large cities. No matter what you do, you’re sure to have an amazing time in the Sunshine State!
