Florida is a beautiful place. Warm sandy beaches are plentiful here, and Florida amusement parks are absolutely incredible. In fact, the theme parks are the number one reason many people flock to this tourist destination.
If you’re headed to Florida soon, you may be wondering about the various amusement parks in Florida. You might feel overwhelmed by the number of options out there, or you might be wondering where to stay while visiting the park of your choice. We’re here to help!
Florida Amusement Parks
From Disney and LEGO to incredible water parks, there really is a park for everyone in the Sunshine State. Below is a list of our absolute favorite Florida theme parks. Choose from this list and you really can’t go wrong:
- Disney World Parks
- LEGOLAND Florida Parks
- Universal Orlando Parks
- Busch Gardens and Adventure Island
- SeaWorld and Aquatica
- Discovery Cove
- Buccaneer Bay at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
- Island H20 Live
- Splash Harbor Water Park
- Rapids Waterpark
Disney World Parks
Let’s begin with the most obvious addition to our Florida theme park list: Walt Disney World parks. Right now, Disney World is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and it truly is a magical celebration to attend. In fact, so many people are wanting to attend that the resort anticipates over 58 million visitors this year!
In all, Disney World Resort is home to four theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom, and each one is well worth visiting. Additionally, the resort boasts two awesome water parks: Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach.
RV Camping Near Disney World Parks
Planning on taking your RV to Disney World? In our opinion, this is the very best way to do Disney. After all, there’s nothing like returning to your very own space after exhausting yourself in the parks. Fortunately, Disney World has an onsite campground!
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground — Often touted as one of the top RV parks in the country, Disney’s Fort Wilderness is located right on Disney property (just outside of Magic Kingdom, in fact). It offers transportation to all of the parks and has plenty of awesome activities for guests to enjoy. Although it is a pricey place to park your rig, we think it’s worth the extra cost to stay in the magic.
Planning Your Trip to Disney World Parks
Planning a trip to Walt Disney World Resort is no easy feat. First, you will need to buy tickets and make park reservations. We highly recommend looking into the Genie Plus service and Lightning Lane add-on in order to save time in line. You might also want to consider a photo package.
The most important thing? Look at the various parks and what they have to offer, and decide where you want to go and what you want to do there ahead of time. Tickets to Disney World start at $109 for a single day, so you want to use your time wisely.
Universal Orlando Parks
Universal Orlando is one of the most popular theme park resorts in the country. Like Disney, it attracts millions of visitors each year, and while it isn’t as old as Disney World (it opened in 1990), it is equally as fun for many.
This theme park complex is home to two large theme parks: Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure. We love both and recommend planning to spend multiple days seeing them both. If you visit when the weather is warm, you will also want to make time to see Universal’s Volcano Bay, an awesome theme park that is fun for all ages.
RV Camping Near Universal Orlando Parks
Since you’re bound to be tired at the end of each Universal day, we highly recommend traveling with your RV, so you have your own comfy space to return to each night. While Universal Orlando doesn’t have its own onsite campground, there are camping options nearby.
Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake — Our favorite place to stay when visiting Universal Orlando is the campground at Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake. This campground is oddly peaceful considering its location in the middle of the city. It’s also very affordable and offers both full-hookup and water-and-electric sites.
Rent an RV near Universal Orlando!
Planning Your Trip to Universal Orlando Parks
It’s always a good idea to check out maps of the parks before you go so that you have some idea of which attractions are most important to you, and plan around showtimes. (Make sure to see some shows!)
Plan to spend around $109 for a one-day ticket. You’ll also want to consider whether you want to buy the Universal Express Pass in order to skip lines, and definitely be sure to budget for parking.
Busch Gardens and Adventure Island
Most of Florida’s theme parks are located in the Orlando area. That said, Tampa does have a few excellent options as well. One of these is the incredible Busch Gardens, which opened way back in 1959 and sees around 4.1 million guests each year.
This awesome park is basically an amazing zoo and excellent amusement park combined. You’ll see all sorts of super fun animals, ride enormous roller coasters, take a safari, see animal shows, and have a ton of fun during your visit.
Want to make your visit to Busch Gardens even better? Consider adding a trip to Adventure Island for some water park fun.
RV Camping Near Busch Gardens and Adventure Island
The best way to visit Busch Gardens? Take your RV and travel in complete comfort. Of course, you will need to park that RV somewhere. That’s where the many Tampa-area RV parks come into play.
Bay Bayou RV Resort — One of our favorite Tampa RV parks is Bay Bayou RV Resort. This place is located just minutes from the gates of Busch Gardens. It offers all of the amenities you’ll need to be comfortable during your stay, including full hookups, Wi-Fi, recreation opportunities, and more.
Rent an RV near Busch Gardens!
Planning Your Trip to Busch Gardens and Adventure Island
When planning your trip to Busch Gardens, be sure to look for special deals before buying your tickets. There are often “buy a day, play all year” deals going on, or you can invest in the Tampa Bay CityPASS to save some money. Without one of these discounts, you’ll be looking at spending $90 for a single-day ticket.
You will also want to budget for parking of course, and you will likely want to rent a locker in order to store loose articles when you hop on the coasters.
SeaWorld and Aquatica
Owned by the same folks who run Busch Gardens, SeaWorld is another park that is worth seeing. This one is located in the Orlando area (not far from Universal Orlando), has been around since 1973, and hosts about 1.6 million guests every year.
The park is home to some amazing roller coasters, a super fun Sesame Street land, and of course, lots of sea life. While the coasters are a must-do for thrill seekers, we do highly recommend making time for some of the animal shows, which are entertaining, educational, and fun for the whole family.
Those who plan to visit SeaWorld during the heat of the summer will almost certainly need a way to cool off. For this, we recommend visiting Aquatica, SeaWorld’s water park.
RV Camping Near SeaWorld and Aquatica
Taking an RV with you to SeaWorld? Lucky for you, there are tons of camping options in Orlando. You could opt to stay at the aforementioned Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake. That said, the park below is also a good choice.
Orlando/Kissimmee KOA Holiday — As is the case for any KOA Holiday RV park, the Orlando/Kissimmee location is a great place to stay. This is particularly true if you’re traveling with kids, as the park caters to families and offers activities that are perfect for families looking to have a good time together. Be sure to enjoy the mini golf course, playground, and pool!
Planning Your Trip to SeaWorld and Aquatica
Like Busch Gardens, SeaWorld does not allow loose articles on coasters. Therefore, renting a locker is a must. You will also want to budget for parking. As far as tickets go, the base price is $90 for one day. However, be sure to look for special deals and offers before you buy. If you plan to see both Busch Gardens and SeaWorld, you might find a combo ticket that saves you big bucks.
Discovery Cove
Owned and operated by SeaWorld, Discovery Cove is a different kind of amusement park. This park first opened in 2000. Only about 1,300 guests are allowed to visit each day, making it a very peaceful place to visit, especially when compared to other Orlando parks.
All that said, it’s important to note that you won’t find any rides here. What you will find is delicious food, lots of relaxation, and tons of amazing ocean animals. Guests are invited to swim with dolphins, pet rays, and more as they admire and connect with sea life like they never have before.
RV Camping Near Discovery Cove
Seeing as RV travel is the best kind of travel, it only makes sense to take your RV with you when visiting Discovery Cove. Looking for a place to park the rig? Try the option below.
Tropical Palms RV Resort — Located on US-192—very near all of the awesome attractions Orlando has to offer—Tropical Palms RV Resort is a great place to stay. Here you’ll find full hookups as well as a number of lovely extra amenities that really help you feel at home. Kids especially love the pool and playground!
Rent an RV near Discovery Cove!
Planning Your Trip to Discovery Cove
Because you have to schedule your visit in advance, Discovery Cove does require you to do some planning. You will want to pick and choose which activities suit you best. That said, the website does a good job of walking you through the process. Expect to pay at least $324 per person for your visit to this park. In addition to booking in advance, you’ll also need to make sure you pack all of your swimming things in order to enjoy the day.
LEGOLAND Florida Parks
Have a LEGO fanatic on your hands? LEGOLAND Florida might need to go onto your family’s bucket list. This park first opened in 2011 and hosts 3.1 million guests each year.
An incredible attraction, the park is chock-full of awesome LEGO-themed things to do, and kids love it.
Some of the attractions you can expect to find in LEGOLAND Florida include the Coastersaurus dino-themed roller coaster, the Lost Kingdom Adventure dark ride, and giant LEGO vehicles that kids can drive on their own. You’ll also find an onsite water park that is a splashing good time (especially for the under-10 set) along with a brand new Peppa Pig-themed park.
RV Camping Near LEGOLAND Florida Parks
While LEGOLAND does have onsite hotel rooms, there is no camping on LEGOLAND property. Nevertheless, we think taking an RV is the way to go, and you’ll find that there is plenty of RV camping near LEGOLAND. Our favorite option is listed below.
Cypress Campground and RV Park — Just two miles from LEGOLAND, Cypress Campground and RV Park is the place to stay for fun in the theme park. The staff here is friendly and accommodating, and the sites are concrete with full hookups. A pool, playground, and sports courts all ensure you’re never bored, and a Walmart within walking distance makes shopping easy.
Planning Your Trip to LEGOLAND Florida Parks
One of the benefits of choosing LEGOLAND over other parks in the area is the fact that you don’t have to do a ton of planning. That said, it is good to go in knowing that tickets will cost you about $100 at the gate but can be found for less if purchased as part of a package or simply bought online. Parking also costs money, and extras (such as Fastrack for skipping lines) and Water Park Cabanas are available.
Buccaneer Bay at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
One of the oldest and most fun attractions in the state of Florida, Weeki Wachee Springs State Park definitely deserves a place on your Florida to-do list. This park first opened in 1943, offering mermaid shows to the public. Today, it continues to present amazing “live mermaid” performances, but also offers a boat ride, animal educational programming, and Buccaneer Bay, a super fun water park that opened in 1982.
Buccaneer Bay features four fantastic water slides, three of which actually drop you off into the spring. A natural river serves as a place to float in an inner tube, and the children’s play area is perfect for little visitors. Swimming and snorkeling are also popular activities at Buccaneer Bay, and relaxing on the sandy beach is a fantastic way to spend an afternoon.
RV Camping Near Buccaneer Bay at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
Want to do some RV camping while visiting Weeki Wachee Springs? Unfortunately, there is no camping at the state park itself. However, there are campgrounds in the area. Why not try the one listed below?
Cody’s Catfish Pond and RV Park — Cody’s Catfish Pond and RV Park is located just seven minutes away from Weeki Wachee Springs State Park. The staff here are always happy to offer a warm welcome, and the park itself is lovely, with plenty of trees and walking paths. Additionally, there are sculptures scattered throughout the park, adding a unique sort of charm.
Rent an RV near Weeki Wachee Springs State Park!
Planning Your Trip to Buccaneer Bay at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
If you’re looking to visit a water park on a budget, Weeki Wachee Springs State Park is the place for you. Tickets to the park cost only $13 per person and include access to the water park as well as the boat ride, ranger talks, playground, and mermaid shows. There is no charge for parking, and you are welcome to carry a picnic into the park (something we recommend doing).
Island H2O Live
Island H2O Live is a totally unique water park attraction that we just had to include on our list. This park is located in the Sunset Walk shopping district in Kissimmee and opened relatively recently. Nevertheless, the park anticipates seeing as many as a million visitors this year.
What’s so different about this water park? Well, it’s totally interactive. You use an app and a smart band to share your water park fun with others, track the experiences you have in the park, and earn points toward in-park purchases. Water parks don’t get much more technologically advanced than that!
RV Camping Near Island H2O Live
Camping during your time at Island H2O Live is totally an option. There are lots of RV parks in the area, meaning finding a place to park your motorhome or trailer should be a cinch. Not sure where to go? The aforementioned Tropical Palms RV Resort would work well, but the park below is also a nice pick.
Lake Magic RV Resort — Like Tropical Palms RV Resort, Lake Magic RV Resort is located on US-192, right in the middle of all the fun. This park features level concrete pads, full hookups, a lovely pool, and clean, updated bathhouses. We love that the park is within walking distance of groceries and only a quick drive to anything else you might want.
Rent an RV near Island H2O Live!
Planning Your Trip to Island H2O Live
Before you visit Island H2O Live you will want to download the H2O Water Park app. This will make it easy to link up to your assigned smart band at the park. You’ll also want to purchase a ticket online in order to save some money and avoid waiting in line. Plan on visiting more than once? It’s worth buying the season pass for just $15–$20 more.
Splash Harbour Water Park
If you find yourself on Florida’s west coast, a visit to Splash Harbour Water Park might just be in order. This new water park is located in Indian Rocks Beach, just south of Clearwater and north of St. Petersburg.
Splash Harbour might not be as enormous as some of the other parks on this list, but it is jam-packed with family fun. The park features large water slides, a lazy river, a zero-entry pool, a huge sun deck, and more. It’s the perfect place to soak up the Florida sun while enjoying the water and reconnecting as a family.
RV Camping Near Splash Harbour Water Park
Seeing as Splash Harbour is located in a hotel, many people might choose to stay in the hotel during their time at the park. While we do understand this logic, we still think staying in an RV is a much more comfortable way to go. Here’s our pick when it comes to places to camp in the area:
St. Petersburg/Madeira Beach KOA Holiday — We appreciate KOA RV parks, as they consistently offer wonderful accommodations no matter where we happen to be. The St. Petersburg Madeira Beach KOA Holiday is no exception. Here you can expect to find full hookups, level sites, and plenty of amenities to keep you happy throughout your stay.
Rent an RV near Splash Harbour Water Park!
Planning Your Trip to Splash Harbour Water Park
The cost of admission at Splash Harbour is dependent on your age, height, and when you visit. The cheapest admission to the park is $13.95, but adults visiting on a weekend before 3pm can expect to pay $29.95. You’ll also want to budget for lockers, a cabana, and add-ons such as mini golf, gem mining, and game room tokens.
Rapids Waterpark
Last on our list is Rapids Waterpark, located in West Palm Beach. This park opened back in 1979 and has been going strong ever since. It is south Florida’s largest water park and plays host to around 400,000 guests every year.
Wondering what you might find at Rapids Waterpark? Well, the place is home to 42 slides and attractions. These include funnel slides, vertical plunge slides, the FlowRider, racing slides, laid-back kid-friendly slides, multi-person family rides, and kiddie play areas. You’ll also find a wave pool, lazy river, and plenty of places to sit in the sun.
RV Camping Near Rapids Waterpark
You will need a place to put your RV while you enjoy all the water fun this park has to offer. Lucky for you, you have options. Why not try our favorite RV park in the area?
Easterlin Park Campground — You will have to drive 45 minutes to get to Rapids Waterpark from Easterlin Park Campground. That said, we think the beauty found in the campground makes it worth the drive. Full hookups, plenty of shade, and even some wildlife make this a peaceful place to stay.
Rent an RV Near Rapids Waterpark!
Planning Your Trip to Rapids Waterpark
Rapids Waterpark sells single-day admission tickets for $59.99 each. Those who plan to visit a number of times might want to consider the season pass though, and those visiting with a group of 20 or more will definitely want to look into group tickets. Rental cabanas are also available, and parking will cost an additional $14 or so.
Clearly, you won’t have any trouble at all finding theme park fun in Florida. Looking for even more amusement parks in Florida? Try searching “amusement parks near me” when you arrive at your destination, or check out one of the parks listed below:
- Sun Splash Family Waterpark
- Shipwreck Island Waterpark
- Sailfish Splash Waterpark
Alternatively, you could try some of these other awesome things to do in Florida:
