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!
Other famous landmarks in Florida include:
1. Walt Disney World
2. The Southernmost Point
3. Coral Castle
4. Everglades National Park
5. Kennedy Space Center
6. Tampa Zoo
7. The Dalí
8. Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
9. Kingsley Plantation
10. Pensacola Lighthouse and Maritime Museum
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.
There are also literally hundreds of restaurants and eateries to try, as well as shops to peruse… and that’s all before you even step foot into the wider world of greater Orlando.
RVing to Walt Disney World
Florida as a whole is a very RV-friendly destination, and Walt Disney World is no exception. You’ll find the roads are easy enough to navigate in an RV (if a bit overcrowded), and the theme parks even offer RV parking for a fee.
Camping Near Walt Disney World
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.
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That said, there are plenty of other options nearby. These include:
Rent an RV near Walt Disney World!
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.
RVing to the Southernmost Point
Despite the fact that there is only a single highway running the length of the Florida Keys, these islands are very welcoming to RVers. Like in central Florida, you should expect to deal with some traffic, but the roads are plenty wide enough, there are places for RVs to get gas, and there are plenty of RV campgrounds available.
Keep in mind that gas and groceries are more expensive in the Keys than on the mainland, so buying before you head down is a good idea.
Camping Near the Southernmost Point
As mentioned above, there are a number of excellent RV campgrounds in the Keys. In Key West, we recommend the following options:
Rent an RV near the Southernmost Point!
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.
RVing to the Coral Castle
The Coral Castle is located between Florida City and Leisure City just outside of Miami. While we don’t necessarily recommend driving an RV through downtown Miami or through any of the historic downtown areas, this area is otherwise pretty easy to tackle in a big rig. Unfortunately though, Coral Castle does not offer RV parking.
Camping Near the Coral Castle
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.
RVing to Everglades National Park
The Everglades are an ideal RV destination. The roads are wide open and as flat as they come, meaning they are incredibly easy to drive. There are stretches with very few places to pull over on the way to the Everglades, but once you arrive in the national park, you should be able to find parking at the visitor centers.
Camping Near Everglades National Park
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:
Rent an RV near Everglades National Park!
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.
RVing to Kennedy Space Center
The roads near the Kennedy Space Center do see a decent amount of traffic, but are otherwise easy to drive with a motorhome or trailer. Additionally, there is RV parking available at Kennedy Space Center for a fee.
Camping Near Kennedy Space Center
Need a place to sleep near the space center? Here are our favorite nearby campgrounds:
Rent an RV near Kennedy Space Center!
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.
RVing to the Tampa Zoo
Driving through Tampa with an RV is totally doable, and getting to the zoo with your rig shouldn’t be a problem. Depending on how busy the zoo is, you may also be able to park your RV in the free zoo parking lot, but you’ll want to have a backup plan in case of a full lot.
Camping Near the Tampa Zoo
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:
Rent an RV near the Tampa Zoo!
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.
RVing to The Dalí
Like most of Florida, St. Petersburg is easy enough for an RV to drive through. Once you arrive at The Dalí, you’ll find two oversized vehicle parking spots. Generally, RVs can use these on a first-come-first-served basis, but should ask permission of the museum staff first.
Camping Near The Dalí
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
As you travel north up the Atlantic Coast, you’ll eventually find yourself in a city that looks surprisingly different from many of the other seaside towns that mark the way. That’s because 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).
RVing to the Castillo de San Marcos
Due to crowds and narrow roads, you will probably not want to drive through the historic parts of St. Augustine with an RV. Additionally, it would be very difficult to park an RV right outside of the Castillo de San Marcos. That said, it is totally possible to drive an RV in the newer parts of town, and plenty of RV camping is available there.
Camping Near the Castillo de San Marcos
When visiting Castillo de San Marcos in an RV, we recommend the following campgrounds:
Rent an RV near Castillo de San Marcos!
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.
RVing to the Kingsley Plantation
Driving an RV to and through the Timucuan National Preserve is very doable and there are definitely places to park an RV within the preserve. That said, it may not be possible to park a big rig at the Kingsley Plantation, so it is best to drive a smaller vehicle if at all possible.
Camping Near the Kingsley Plantation
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:
Rent an RV near Kingsley Plantation!
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.
RVing to the Pensacola Lighthouse and Maritime Museum
The museum does have bus parking available, which might be an option for those traveling via RV. That said, you would need to ask a staff member for permission before parking. Other than that, driving an RV to the lighthouse should not be a problem.
Camping Near the Pensacola Lighthouse Maritime Museum
As far as RV camping near the lighthouse goes, we recommend one of the following options:
Rent an RV near Pensacola Lighthouse Museum!
Continue Exploring 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 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!
