There’s no doubt about it, Miami is a fantastic place to live. That said, there are times when every Miami resident just wants to escape the city and see some new sights. Fortunately weekend RV trips near Miami are plentiful, and finding things to do around Miami is no problem at all.
Not sure where to begin looking for things to do outside Miami? In this article, we will discuss our favorite weekend RV trips near Miami, as well as some great Miami day trip options. Pick and choose from this list and you’re sure to have an amazing time.
Fort Myers, FL
Distance from Miami: 2.5 hours
First on our list is Fort Myers. If you’re looking to escape one city and explore another, this is a fantastic option. You’ll find gulf coast beaches and plenty of attractions, eateries, and shopping opportunities to fill your time.
The number one thing we recommend doing? Stopping in at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates. These gorgeous homes were where Thomas Edison and Henry Ford would escape for the winter, and touring the houses is a great way to learn about these amazing men (as well as a bit of history).
Besides the winter estates, we also highly recommend visiting the IMAG History and Science Center—as well as the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium—for some educational fun. A hike through the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve is also a fantastic way to spend some of your time, and a visit to the beach is a must.
Where to Stay
RV resorts are not hard to come by in the Fort Myers area. Our favorite spot is Blueway RV Village. This park features full hookups, as well as entertainment options such as a pool and hot tub, mini golf, a gym, and more. It’s close to groceries and restaurants, and not far from all of the fun the city has to offer.
St. Augustine, FL
Distance from Miami: 4.5 hours
If you’ve never been to St. Augustine, you really should add it to your bucket list. This is an absolutely gorgeous historic city that is sure to steal your heart. Whether you’re a history buff looking to dive deep into the history of Florida, a family with kids looking for a good time, or pretty much any other kind of traveler, there is something for you in St. Augustine.
A must-see in St. Augustine is the Castillo de San Marcos. This amazing historic fort was built over 450 years ago and is filled to the brim with history. The site is now run by the NPS, meaning there are plenty of rangers onsite to answer questions, and there are even interpreters around, helping immerse you in the history of the place.
In addition to the Castillo de San Marcos, we also highly recommend visiting the Colonial Quarter living history museum, as well as the amazing Pirate and Treasure Museum run by the same people. Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth is always a good stop, and the trolley tours of the town will help you get a better understanding of the amazing history of the place.
Where to Stay
Anastasia State Park is the place to go when visiting St. Augustine in an RV. This park is located just outside of the city and is home to some seriously beautiful beaches. RVs up to 38 feet in length can fit into the sites, and every RV will have access to electricity and water. A dump station and restrooms are also available for your convenience.
Sarasota, FL
Distance from Miami: 3.5 hours
Another must-see Florida city, Sarasota is a charming beachside town with plenty to see and do. Here you’ll find family-friendly fun, some of the best beaches in the world, and lots of great food and shopping.
Our absolute favorite thing to do in Sarasota is visit the Ringling. This is an enormous campus, and wandering the various buildings as well as the beautiful grounds could likely fill an entire weekend. Here, you will find circus exhibits, a lovely art museum, one of the coolest playgrounds around, gorgeous gardens, and the mansion that John and Mable Ringling once called home.
Want even more fun options to fill your weekend in Sarasota? The Mote Aquarium is pretty fantastic, as is the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. Payne Park plays host to an awesome circus-themed playground for kids, and Siesta Key Beach is nearby and well worth a visit.
Where to Stay
Not sure where to park the RV while exploring Sarasota? We recommend staying at Myakka River State Park. This lovely park has not one, but three campgrounds! There are a total of 90 sites in the park and every single one has water and electricity. Some sites even have sewer hookups, but if yours doesn’t, you can always use the commonality dump station.
The Florida Keys
Distance from Miami: 2–3.5 hours
The Florida Keys area is one of the most beautiful places in the entire country. The islands are surrounded by beautiful blue waters, and the state parks on these islands offer some of the best hiking, diving, kayaking, and exploring in the state of Florida. Yes, everyone should see the Florida Keys at least once, and when you live in Miami, you are close enough to make this a weekend trip.
There are several things we recommend doing and seeing while in the Keys. As mentioned above, the state parks down there are all top-notch. We especially love Bahia Honda State Park, Fort Zachary Taylor State Park, and John Pennekamp State Park, but you’re sure to have fun at any and all of them.
We also really enjoy the History of Diving Museum, swimming and dining at Sunset Grille, sand play at Sombrero Beach, the Hemingway Home, and the Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square in Key West.
Where to Stay
Because the Keys are a popular vacation destination, there are several great RV parks in the area. One of our top picks is Sunshine Key RV Resort. This resort has its own sandy beach and you can easily kayak from this beach out to a little island. The pool is lovely, there are several planned activities available throughout the week, and the bathrooms are clean and well-kept.
Orlando, FL
Distance from Miami: 3.75 hours
It might be a bit obvious, but we feel like this list just wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Orlando as an option for weekend RV trips near Miami. This bustling city might not be the ideal place for a nature escape, but it is a great place to go for some of the best entertainment in the world. If you’re looking for excitement, this is your place!
Clearly, the top thing to do in the Orlando area is visit Walt Disney World Resort. This amazing place is home to four incredible theme parks, two top-notch waterparks, a shopping district, mini golf, tons of dining options, and more. The theme parks here are the main draw, and they are absolutely magical.
Disney World is amazing, but it is far from the only thing to do in the Orlando area. Other options include the Universal Orlando parks, the SeaWorld Orlando parks, LEGOLAND Florida, and a whole host of other exciting tourist attractions.
Where to Stay
When visiting Orlando, we like to stay in Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake. There are two reasons for this: First, the campground is set far back in the park, allowing you to feel as though you’ve driven miles outside of the city and giving you the peace we all want when we go camping. Second, the park is incredibly affordable as far as Orlando lodging options go.
Power and water are available at every site and some sites have sewer. There is also a bathhouse, a dump station, and even a laundry room.
Tampa, FL
Distance from Miami: 4.25 hours
Tampa is another fantastic city to escape to for the weekend (or longer if you can). Like Orlando, Tampa is chock-full of amazing things to see and do, and it would be pretty difficult to get bored during your time in this bustling city.
Some of the best things to do in Tampa include Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, the Florida Aquarium, ZooTampa at Lowry Park, and Adventure Island water park. All of these would be fun things to do with the kids, as a couple, or with friends. If you’re looking for something for the younger set, try Glazer Children’s Museum. Other (not so kid-friendly) options include the Tampa Bay History Center and the Henry B. Plant Museum.
If all of those things aren’t enough and you’re looking for even more fun, you might consider daytripping to Clearwater Beach for a day in the sun and sand. A trip up to Weeki Wachee Springs State Park to see the mermaids could be fun as well!
Where to Stay
Need a place to stay while in Tampa? E.G. Simmons Regional Park Campground is a good pick. This first-come, first-served campground is incredibly inexpensive, making it an ideal choice for budget getaways. The sites include water and electric hookups, and restrooms with showers are available. A dump station is also available for guest use.
Everglades National Park
Distance from Miami: 1.25 hours
Feel like you really need to escape the city and immerse yourself in nature? If so, Everglades National Park is the place to go. This is an absolutely gorgeous part of the state. It is 100% natural and is home to tons of local wildlife, meaning you can really connect with Mother Nature during your visit.
The Anhinga Trail is our favorite trail in Everglades National Park. This pathway sends you through the wetlands and past a huge number of amazing birds. There are often alligators found along this trail, and if you take the nighttime ranger-led tour, you might even get to see the nocturnal gators in action!
Of course, you will also want to visit the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center in order to learn more about the park. We also recommend taking an airboat tour and riding the Shark Valley Road Tram to see even more of this incredible place.
Where to Stay
Staying in the national park itself is always recommended when possible. There are two drive-in campgrounds in Everglades National Park, and either one would be a good choice for weekend RV trips near Miami. You won’t find any hookups in these parks, but you will find potable water and a dump station in each campground. You will also love the locations of these campgrounds, as they make it easy to access all the park has to offer.
Cocoa Beach
Distance from Miami: 3 hours
Finally, we must mention Cocoa Beach. Yes this is another beach, and yes Miami does have beaches of their own, but there’s something about Cocoa Beach that makes it extra special and one of the best weekend RV trips near Miami.
The best thing to do in Cocoa Beach is definitely surfing. The waves here are just perfect for surfers, and if this is your thing, you’re going to be in heaven. That’s not all these waters have to offer though. During the summer months, the waters of Cocoa Beach fill with bioluminescent plankton and jellies which light up when touched. Paddling this area at night when the bioluminescent critters are out is magical to say the least.
Another great thing to do in Cocoa Beach is visit the Florida Key Lime Pie Company for some of the best key lime pie you’ve ever tried. We also recommend making the drive up to Kennedy Space Center and exploring the wonderful exhibits there for a day.
Where to Stay
The best place to park an RV while visiting Cocoa Beach? Jetty Park Campground is our favorite. Located right on the water, this park is the perfect place for watching cruise boats come and go. If you’re lucky, you might also see a rocket launch from the park. There are partial-hookup and full-hookup sites available, but be sure to book early, as they do fill up.
More Things to Do Outside Miami
The options listed above are our favorite weekend RV trips near Miami, but they are not the only things to do around Miami. In fact, there are so many amazing things to do outside Miami that you could explore for a very long time without doing the same thing twice.
Once you make it through the list above, try branching out to see what other gems you can find. Florida’s state parks are always wonderful places to visit, and weekend getaways or Miami days trips to Fort Lauderdale or West Palm Beach could be fun as well.
Of course, you will need an RV in order to enjoy these places in comfort. That’s where our Miami RV rentals come into play. We have everything from small vans to huge fifth wheels available, meaning finding something to suit your needs shouldn’t be a problem at all!
