Orlando Campervan & Motorhome Hire

Day 1: Collect your RV in Kissimmee, where departures are usually between 1pm and 4pm, and stock up at a supermarket before you leave. Drive about 53 miles (85 km), just over an hour, east to Titusville on the Space Coast, by toll road or a toll-free route. Book two nights at an RV park or campground near the Indian River.

Day 2: Spend the day at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, about 14 miles (23 km) away, where you can walk beneath Space Shuttle Atlantis and take the bus tour to the Apollo/Saturn V Center. RVs use a separate paid parking area. Check the launch schedule too, as the Titusville riverfront is a popular spot to watch a rocket launch.

Day 3: Drive the Black Point Wildlife Drive in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge early, when wading birds and alligators are most active, or visit Playalinda Beach in Canaveral National Seashore, US$25 per vehicle. Then head about 100 miles (160 km) north, roughly two hours, to St Augustine and set up for two nights at Anastasia State Park.

Day 4: Explore St Augustine, founded by the Spanish in 1565. Tour Castillo de San Marcos, US$15 per adult by card only, then walk St George Street and climb the St Augustine Lighthouse for views over the inlet. Leave the RV at camp and use a trolley tour, bike or rideshare, as the historic streets are narrow and parking is tight.

Day 5: Head south on I-95 with a stop at Daytona Beach, then continue to Sebastian Inlet State Park, about 160 miles (260 km) and 3.5 hours in all. Book your campsite well ahead, as Florida State Parks open bookings to non-residents up to 10 months before arrival. Watch the surfers at the inlet and the anglers on the jetties at sunset.

Day 6: Drive about 80 miles (130 km) south to Jonathan Dickinson State Park near Jupiter and camp the night. Climb the Hobe Mountain observation tower for views to the Atlantic, then paddle or take a boat tour on the Loxahatchee River, watching for alligators along the banks. Fill the fresh water tank before tomorrow's run to the Keys.

Day 7: Allow about three hours for the 150 miles (245 km) to Key Largo, skirting Miami on Florida's Turnpike, a toll road. Stock up in Florida City or Homestead, the last big towns before the Keys, then join the Overseas Highway and check in for two nights at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park or an RV resort nearby.

Day 8: Spend the day on the water at John Pennekamp, which protects part of the only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States. Take a snorkel trip or a glass-bottom boat tour out to the reef, or hire a kayak to paddle the mangrove trails. In the evening, head to Islamorada for fresh fish and a Keys sunset.

Day 9: Follow the Overseas Highway about 67 miles (107 km) south, stopping at the Turtle Hospital in Marathon, which cares for injured sea turtles. Cross the Seven Mile Bridge to Bahia Honda State Park, known for some of the Keys' best beaches, and stay two nights there or at an RV park in the Lower Keys, booked well ahead.

Day 10: Spend the day in Key West, about 36 miles (58 km) on, visiting Mallory Square, the Hemingway Home and the Southernmost Point buoy. Old Town has little room for big vehicles, and the city bans sleeping in vehicles on public property, so plan your parking before you go or join a tour from your campground. Stay for sunset at Mallory Square.

Day 11: Drive about 100 miles (160 km) back up the Keys to Homestead and into Everglades National Park, where a private vehicle costs US$35 and non-US residents aged 16 and over also pay US$100 each. Walk the Anhinga Trail to see alligators, turtles and wading birds, then continue 38 miles (61 km) to Flamingo for the night.

Day 12: Take a boat tour from the Flamingo marina into Florida Bay or the mangrove backcountry, and look out for American crocodiles and manatees around the marina. Flamingo campground has RV sites with electricity but opens mainly in the cooler months, so check recreation.gov before you go. Pack insect repellent for dawn and dusk.

Day 13: Head back through Homestead and west along the Tamiami Trail to Shark Valley, about 87 miles (140 km), where a 15 mile (24 km) loop runs through the sawgrass by tram, bike or on foot. Parking fills quickly, so arrive early. Continue through Big Cypress National Preserve to Everglades City for the night.

Day 14: Take a boat or airboat tour from Everglades City into the Ten Thousand Islands in the morning, then drive about 36 miles (59 km) to Naples. Walk the Naples Pier and the white-sand beach, browse Fifth Avenue South, and stay at an RV resort near Naples or Fort Myers.

Day 15: Cross the toll causeway to Sanibel Island, about 44 miles (71 km) from Naples, and comb its beaches for seashells. Drive or cycle the Wildlife Drive at J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge for wading birds, checking its opening days first. Stay at an RV park in the Fort Myers area for the night.

Day 16: Visit the Edison and Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers, the winter homes of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, with a historic laboratory and botanical gardens. In the afternoon, drive about 82 miles (131 km) north to Sarasota, under two hours, and settle in for two nights at an RV park or Myakka River State Park.

Day 17: Spend the morning at The Ringling in Sarasota, the circus owner's art museum, mansion and gardens on Sarasota Bay, then cool off on the fine white sand of Siesta Key. Or head inland to Myakka River State Park, where alligators line the river and a canopy walkway climbs into the treetops.

Day 18: Cross the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, a toll bridge with big views over Tampa Bay, to Fort De Soto Park, about 39 miles (63 km) away, for its beaches and historic fort. Visit The Dalí Museum in St Petersburg, then camp at Fort De Soto's county campground or an RV park nearby, booked ahead.

Day 19: Drive about 83 miles (133 km) north to Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, famous for its live mermaid shows in an underwater theatre. Paddle the clear spring run in the afternoon, then continue 27 miles (44 km) to Crystal River and book an RV park for the night.

Day 20: Join a guided manatee tour on Kings Bay, best from mid-November to March, or see manatees year-round from the underwater observatory at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. In the afternoon, drive about 68 miles (110 km) towards Clermont and stay at an RV park near Orlando for an easy return.

Day 21: Drive about 34 miles (56 km) to the Kissimmee depot and return the RV between 9am and 11am, the normal return window, with the holding tanks emptied. The centre is closed on Sundays and holidays, so plan your return day. Allow time for the check-in before heading to MCO, about 25 minutes away.

Day 1: Pick up your RV in Kissimmee in the afternoon, normally between 1pm and 4pm, and get to know its water, power and generator during the orientation. Drive about 53 miles (85 km) east to Titusville, around an hour, and set up for three nights at an RV park near the Indian River, close to the Space Coast sights.

Day 2: Spend a full day at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, with Space Shuttle Atlantis, the Rocket Garden and a bus tour to the Apollo/Saturn V Center. Buy tickets online before busy periods and use the separate paid RV parking. If a launch is scheduled during your stay, watch it from the Titusville riverfront.

Day 3: Drive the Black Point Wildlife Drive in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge early for wading birds and alligators, then head to Playalinda Beach in Canaveral National Seashore, US$25 per vehicle, for a long stretch of undeveloped sand. Return to Titusville for a final night on the Space Coast.

Day 4: Drive about 48 miles (77 km) north to Daytona Beach and walk the boardwalk and pier, but keep the RV off the sand, as driving on unpaved surfaces can void Cruise America's damage cover. Continue about 54 miles (87 km) to St Augustine and check in for three nights at Anastasia State Park.

Day 5: Explore St Augustine, founded by the Spanish in 1565. Tour Castillo de San Marcos, US$15 per adult by card only, walk St George Street and see the grand Flagler-era buildings around the plaza. Leave the RV at camp and use a trolley tour or rideshare, as the old town streets are narrow and parking is tight.

Day 6: Climb the St Augustine Lighthouse for views over the inlet and Anastasia Island, then spend the afternoon on the beach near your campsite. In the evening, try the local seafood and Minorcan clam chowder in town, and stock up on supplies before you head inland tomorrow.

Day 7: Head inland about 66 miles (105 km) to Silver Glen Springs in Ocala National Forest, where the clear spring water stays cool all year. Continue about 33 miles (53 km) to Silver Springs State Park, ride a glass-bottom boat over the springs, and camp in the park for the night.

Day 8: Drive about 29 miles (46 km) to Rainbow Springs State Park near Dunnellon to swim in the headspring or tube the clear Rainbow River in the warmer months. Continue about 23 miles (37 km) to Crystal River and book two nights at an RV park. The springs stay cool all year, so winter swims are brisk.

Day 9: Join a guided manatee tour on Kings Bay, where manatees shelter in the warm springs from mid-November to March, or see them year-round from the underwater observatory at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. Follow your guide's rules and keep your distance, as manatees are protected.

Day 10: Drive about 27 miles (43 km) south to Weeki Wachee Springs State Park for its live mermaid show, then continue about 69 miles (111 km), around 1.5 hours, to St Petersburg. Visit The Dalí Museum on the waterfront and stay two nights at Fort De Soto Park's campground or an RV park nearby, booked ahead.

Day 11: Spend the day at Fort De Soto Park, with Gulf beaches, a dog beach, fishing piers and a historic coastal fort. Hire a kayak or bike for the park's paths, or head up to St Pete Beach for the afternoon. Plan beach time for the morning to dodge summer afternoon storms, and stay for sunset over the Gulf.

Day 12: Cross the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, a toll bridge, to Sarasota, about 39 miles (63 km) from Fort De Soto. Visit The Ringling's art museum, mansion and gardens, then spend the afternoon on Siesta Key's white sand. Stay at Myakka River State Park, about 24 miles (39 km) inland, or an RV park near Sarasota.

Day 13: Look for alligators along the Myakka River from the canopy walkway or a boat tour, then drive about 97 miles (157 km) east, a little over two hours, to Lake Wales. Visit Bok Tower Gardens and its hilltop carillon tower, then stay at an RV park near Lake Wales or Kissimmee for an easy return.

Day 14: Drive about 43 miles (70 km), just over an hour, back to the Kissimmee depot and return the RV between 9am and 11am with the holding tanks emptied, or pay a dump charge of up to US$100. Remember the centre is closed on Sundays and holidays. MCO is about 25 minutes away by taxi or rideshare.

Day 1: Collect your RV in Kissimmee, usually between 1pm and 4pm, and drive about 13 miles (21 km), around 25 minutes, to Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. Book a full hook-up site for three nights well ahead, and ask for a pet-friendly loop if your dog is coming. Unwind at the pool or around the evening campfire.

Day 2: Take the boat from the Fort Wilderness marina to Magic Kingdom, when the weather allows, or Disney's buses to the other parks, so the RV stays parked at camp. Plan your day in the My Disney Experience app and buy park tickets before you arrive. Back at camp, the walking trails make for a quiet evening.

Day 3: Spend a day at Universal Orlando Resort, about 13 miles (21 km) away, where RVs use the oversized-vehicle lot by day but cannot stay overnight. Choose between Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe, or stay with Disney for EPCOT or Hollywood Studios, then return to Fort Wilderness.

Day 4: Pack up and drive about 62 miles (99 km), around 1.5 hours, east to the Space Coast, using the toll Beachline Expressway or a toll-free route. Book two nights in Titusville or Cocoa Beach, then spend the afternoon at Cocoa Beach Pier and the beach, and get an early night.

Day 5: Spend the day at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, where RVs use a separate paid parking area. Walk beneath Space Shuttle Atlantis, then ride the bus to the Apollo/Saturn V Center to see a Saturn V moon rocket. Check the launch schedule, as the Titusville riverfront is a popular place to watch a launch.

Day 6: Drive about 58 miles (94 km) north-west to Blue Spring State Park, where West Indian manatees shelter in winter and the spring closes to swimmers from about mid-November to March. In summer, swim or tube the spring run instead. Then continue 28 miles (45 km) to Wekiwa Springs State Park for the night.

Day 7: Start with an early swim in Wekiwa Springs' clear, cool water or a short paddle on the Wekiva River. Then drive about 34 miles (55 km), under an hour, to the Kissimmee depot to return the RV between 9am and 11am, with the holding tanks emptied. Allow for I-4 traffic, and note the centre is closed on Sundays and holidays.