Miami Campervan & Motorhome Hire

Day 1: Collect your van in the afternoon, as Cruise America usually hands over vans between 1 and 4pm, and stock up at a big supermarket. Drive to Larry & Penny Thompson Park, a Miami-Dade County campground next to Zoo Miami with full hookups, about 4 miles (7 km) from the Miami South depot or 28 miles (45 km) from Miami North, and book two nights.

Day 2: Leave the van at camp, as Miami traffic and parking are hard work in a motorhome, and take a rideshare into the city. Walk the pastel Art Deco Historic District on South Beach, see the murals at Wynwood Walls, then finish on Calle Ocho in Little Havana with a Cuban coffee and a look at the games in Domino Park.

Day 3: Drive about 40 miles (65 km) south to Key Largo, where US 1 becomes the Overseas Highway, and check in at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, which has RV sites with hookups. Take a glass-bottom boat or snorkelling trip out to the coral reef, the first underwater park in the USA, and watch the sunset over Florida Bay.

Day 4: Head about 20 miles (33 km) to Islamorada, the sport-fishing capital of the Keys, and hand-feed the giant tarpon at Robbie's marina or visit the History of Diving Museum. Continue about 27 miles (43 km) to Curry Hammock State Park in Marathon and book two nights at its beachside campground, which has powered sites.

Day 5: Book a guided tour of the Turtle Hospital in Marathon, which rescues and releases injured sea turtles, as tours often sell out. In the afternoon, walk or cycle the 2.2-mile (3.5 km) Old Seven Mile Bridge, a 1912 railway span that reopened to walkers and cyclists in 2022 and leads to tiny Pigeon Key.

Day 6: Cross the modern Seven Mile Bridge and drive about 20 miles (33 km) to Bahia Honda State Park for white sand and clear water. Its Sandspur loop takes rigs only up to 23 ft, so book a Buttonwood site for a Standard or Large motorhome. Look for tiny Key deer on nearby Big Pine Key, and drive slowly through the refuge.

Day 7: Drive about 33 miles (53 km) to a campground on Stock Island, such as Boyd's, and book two nights. Key West bans RVs and campers from its city car parks, so ride a bike, bus or taxi into Old Town. See the Southernmost Point marker and Hemingway's house, then join the sunset crowds, buskers and food stalls at Mallory Square.

Day 8: Take a day trip to Dry Tortugas National Park on the Yankee Freedom ferry, which leaves Key West at about 8am and returns at about 5pm, to snorkel around Fort Jefferson. Book well ahead, as day trips sell out. Or spend the day cycling Key West's quiet backstreets and eating key lime pie.

Day 9: Today is a long drive of about 135 miles (220 km), around four hours, back up the Keys to Everglades National Park. Pay the US$35 vehicle fee plus US$100 for each non-US resident aged 16 and over, then walk the Anhinga Trail to see alligators and wading birds. Camp at Long Pine Key, open from November to April.

Day 10: Drive about 35 miles (56 km) to Flamingo at the end of the main park road, stopping at the Pa-hay-okee Overlook for views over the river of grass. Look for crocodiles and manatees around the marina, hire a kayak or take a boat tour, and stay at Flamingo Campground, which has pull-through RV sites and some with power.

Day 11: Drive about 85 miles (140 km) north to Shark Valley on the Tamiami Trail and arrive early, as its car park fills by mid-morning in winter. Take the two-hour tram tour along the 15-mile (24 km) loop to the observation tower, then drive about 17 miles (27 km) west to Midway Campground in Big Cypress National Preserve, which has powered RV sites.

Day 12: Stop at the Big Cypress boardwalks to spot alligators in the cypress swamp, then drive about 33 miles (53 km) to Everglades City. Take a boat tour through the mangroves of the Ten Thousand Islands, looking for dolphins and ospreys, and continue about 36 miles (59 km) to a campground near Naples.

Day 13: Spend the morning on Naples' beaches and Fifth Avenue South, as the city pier is being rebuilt. Drive about 46 miles (74 km) to Sanibel Island and follow the Wildlife Drive through the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, which costs US$10 per vehicle and is closed on Fridays. Comb the beaches for shells, then camp near Fort Myers.

Day 14: Visit the Edison and Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers, the riverside winter homes of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, with their gardens and laboratory. Then drive about 75 miles (120 km) north to Myakka River State Park near Sarasota and book two nights at one of its campgrounds.

Day 15: Climb the Myakka canopy walkway, suspended 25 ft (8 m) above the forest floor beside a 74 ft (23 m) tower, and look for alligators along the Myakka River and Upper Myakka Lake. In the afternoon, drive into Sarasota for the Ringling museum and gardens or a swim at Siesta Key's fine white sand.

Day 16: Drive about 60 miles (96 km) north over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, which charges a toll, to Fort De Soto Park, a county park with a big campground and quiet beaches. Its RV sites book up to six months ahead for visitors. Spend the afternoon at the Dalí Museum in St Petersburg, about 17 miles (27 km) away.

Day 17: Drive about 105 miles (170 km) north to Crystal River, where hundreds of manatees shelter in warm springs from 15 November to 31 March. Walk the Three Sisters Springs boardwalk, which needs a ticket, or join a guided manatee swim tour in Kings Bay, then stay at a campground in town.

Day 18: Drive about 95 miles (155 km) east to Orlando and check in at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, which takes RVs, or a campground in Kissimmee. Spend the afternoon at a theme park. Disney and Universal have RV parking for day visits, but not overnight.

Day 19: Drive about 55 miles (90 km) east to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, which charges US$20 to park a motorhome, and check the launch schedule before you go. Then head about 57 miles (92 km) south to Sebastian Inlet State Park and camp between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River Lagoon.

Day 20: Follow the coast about 80 miles (130 km) south to Jonathan Dickinson State Park near Jupiter, stopping to climb the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse. Paddle the Loxahatchee River or walk the park's trails, then spend your last night in its campground, ready for an early start.

Day 21: Empty the tanks and leave by 7am to drive about 85 miles (135 km) to Miami North, or about 115 miles (190 km) to Miami South, as returns are usually between 9 and 11am and Interstate 95 traffic can be heavy. From Miami North it is about 15 minutes by taxi or rideshare to MIA.

Day 1: Collect your van in the afternoon and drive south to Key Largo, about 35 miles (55 km) from Miami South or 65 miles (105 km) from Miami North. Book a night at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and, if you arrive in time, take a sunset paddle through its mangrove trails.

Day 2: Snorkel the reef or ride Pennekamp's glass-bottom boat in the morning, then drive about 47 miles (76 km) through Islamorada, stopping to feed the tarpon at Robbie's, to Curry Hammock State Park in Marathon. Its campground sits behind a sandy Atlantic beach.

Day 3: Visit the Turtle Hospital in Marathon on a booked tour, then cross the Seven Mile Bridge to Bahia Honda State Park, about 20 miles (33 km) away. Book a Buttonwood campsite, as the Sandspur loop takes rigs only up to 23 ft, and swim off one of the best beaches in the Keys.

Day 4: Drive about 33 miles (53 km) to a campground on Stock Island and take a bus, bike or taxi into Key West, as RVs can't park in the city's car parks. Wander Duval Street and the Old Town, queue for a photo at the Southernmost Point, and finish with the sunset celebration at Mallory Square.

Day 5: Drive about 130 miles (210 km) back up the Overseas Highway, around 3.5 hours, to the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center. Non-US residents aged 16 and over pay US$100 each on top of the US$35 vehicle fee. Walk the Anhinga Trail at Royal Palm and camp at Long Pine Key from November to April.

Day 6: Drive about 35 miles (56 km) to Flamingo on Florida Bay, with short walks along the way through pinelands, sawgrass prairie and mangroves. Spot crocodiles near the marina, take a boat tour into the backcountry and stay at Flamingo Campground.

Day 7: Leave Flamingo early and drive about 85 miles (140 km) to Shark Valley on the Tamiami Trail for the two-hour tram tour to the observation tower. Continue west into Big Cypress National Preserve and camp at Midway Campground, which has powered RV sites bookable on recreation.gov.

Day 8: Drive about 33 miles (53 km) to Everglades City for a boat tour of the Ten Thousand Islands, then continue about 36 miles (59 km) to Naples. Spend the afternoon on its wide beaches and in the shops and cafés of Fifth Avenue South, and stay at a campground nearby.

Day 9: Drive about 46 miles (74 km) to Sanibel Island and follow the Wildlife Drive through the "Ding" Darling refuge, which costs US$10 per vehicle and is closed on Fridays. Look for roseate spoonbills, collect shells on the beaches, then camp near Fort Myers.

Day 10: Drive about 75 miles (120 km) north to Myakka River State Park, one of Florida's oldest and largest state parks. Walk the canopy walkway through the treetops, look for alligators along the river and lake, and camp at one of the park's two campgrounds.

Day 11: Visit the Ringling museum and gardens in Sarasota, then drive over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, which charges a toll, to Fort De Soto Park, about 60 miles (96 km) from Myakka in all. Its campground books up to six months ahead for visitors. Spend the evening on the beach or at St Petersburg's Dalí Museum.

Day 12: Drive about 105 miles (170 km) north to Crystal River. From 15 November to 31 March, hundreds of manatees gather in its warm springs, so walk the Three Sisters Springs boardwalk with a ticket or join a guided swim tour in Kings Bay, then camp in town.

Day 13: Drive about 95 miles (155 km) to Orlando and stay at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground or a campground in Kissimmee, close to tomorrow's return. Spend the afternoon at a theme park, using the RV car parks for day visits only.

Day 14: Empty the tanks and return the van to Cruise America's Orlando centre on North Orange Blossom Trail in Kissimmee, usually between 9 and 11am. Orlando International Airport (MCO) is about 14 miles (22 km) away by taxi or rideshare, or stay on for more theme parks.

Day 1: Collect your van in the afternoon and drive south to Key Largo, about 35 miles (55 km) from Miami South or 65 miles (105 km) from Miami North. US 1 through the Keys has no tolls. Camp at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, which has RV sites with hookups.

Day 2: Snorkel or take a glass-bottom boat over the reef in the morning, then drive through Islamorada, where you can feed the giant tarpon at Robbie's. Continue to Curry Hammock State Park in Marathon, about 47 miles (76 km) from Key Largo, and camp near its beach.

Day 3: Take a booked tour of the Turtle Hospital, then walk part of the Old Seven Mile Bridge before driving about 20 miles (33 km) over the new bridge to Bahia Honda State Park. Book a Buttonwood campsite, as the Sandspur loop only takes rigs up to 23 ft.

Day 4: Watch for Key deer on Big Pine Key, then drive about 33 miles (53 km) to a campground on Stock Island and book two nights. RVs can't park in Key West's city car parks, so take a bus, bike or taxi into Old Town and catch the sunset at Mallory Square.

Day 5: Spend a full day in Key West, visiting Hemingway's house and its six-toed cats and the Southernmost Point. Or take the Yankee Freedom ferry, booked well ahead, to Dry Tortugas National Park for a day of snorkelling around 19th-century Fort Jefferson.

Day 6: Drive about 130 miles (210 km), around 3.5 hours, back up the Keys to Everglades National Park, where non-US residents aged 16 and over pay a US$100 fee each plus US$35 per vehicle. Walk the Anhinga Trail to see alligators up close, then camp at Long Pine Key, open November to April.

Day 7: Empty the tanks at the campground dump station and drive about 25 miles (40 km) to Miami South or 55 miles (90 km) to Miami North, aiming to arrive between 9 and 11am for the return. If you fly out the same day, allow time for the return check and a taxi to MIA.