RVers like me love to spend winter in Orlando, Florida. Not only does this snowbird destination have great weather in the colder months, but many beautiful beaches are just a day trip away from popular RV parks.
If the idea of wintering in Florida sounds nice, my list of gorgeous, sandy beaches and nearby RV resorts will almost certainly convince you to give it a try.
Why We Love Winter RV Camping in Orlando, Florida: It’s the Beaches!
Imagine a winter where you can play all day on the beach, then retreat to a nearby RV resort. That’s what my family and I do while snowbirding in Orlando, Florida.
This central Florida city is a perfect base camp for winter. For the most part, we check into nearby RV parks there in order to use our Disney annual passes and hang out with friends who also tend to stay in the central Florida area. We adore the area, and our winter wouldn’t be complete without some beach days.
My family has some favorite beaches near Orlando to visit, and I’m happy to share these fabulous finds so you can enjoy them too.
Manatee Beach Park
This is a relatively quiet beach located very near the adorable town of Bradenton. And it’s on the west side of the state, in what many like to call “Old Florida.”
- Distance from Orlando: 2 hours
- Region: Gulf Coast
- Parking: A free lot is available
- Public restrooms: Open for visitors
Manatee Beach Park features the iconic white sand that we all love so much, and has a beachside restaurant that is absolutely fantastic. We love that the restaurant often has live music in the evenings, making it a great place to watch the sunset over the water.
Siesta Key Beach
Considered the best beach in the country by some, Sarasota’s Siesta Key Beach is absolutely beautiful.
- Distance from Orlando: 2 hours and 15 minutes
- Region: Gulf Coast
- Parking: A free lot is available
- Public restrooms: Open for visitors
Again we see that soft white sand, and the water here is crystal clear. Additionally, the waves at this beach were pretty calm (but still existent) when we visited, making it a great option for kids who are uncomfortable with big waves.
One extra special thing about Siesta Key Beach is the arts community that uses the beach as a hangout space. We’ve seen painters and dancers on the beach, and every Sunday there is a community drum circle that meets on the beach.
Coquina Beach
I’m hesitant to share Coquina Beach in this article because it was such a quiet little beach and felt so secret and secluded! But you promise to keep this one a secret, right?
- Distance from Orlando: 2 hours and 10 minutes
- Region: Gulf Coast
- Parking: A free lot is available
- Public restrooms: Open for visitors
We loved the lack of crowds at this beach and that we were able to spread out. The sand here was white, but not quite as soft as the sand at Siesta Key Beach. Still, my kids enjoyed digging in it, and even found some live clams as they dug.
The kids also loved the small playground near the parking lot and restrooms and spent quite a while playing there.
Cocoa Beach
This is a more popular Florida beach, meaning you will almost certainly deal with crowds when you visit. But it’s worth the trip. Here’s why:
- Distance from Orlando: 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Region: Atlantic Coast
- Parking: Fee-based lots
- Public restrooms: Available in some areas
That said, it is absolutely beautiful and offers a lot to see and do, so it’s easy to see why it’s so popular.
This is a great place to go if you want to surf, and kayaking the area at night during the summer to see the bioluminescent plankton is an unreal experience. We also like to visit Cocoa Beach to watch space shuttle launches. This is easily one of the best beaches near Orlando for active families.
Daytona Beach
The closest beach to Orlando, Daytona Beach is a great pick if you need to take a quick trip to the ocean.
- Distance from Orlando: 1 hour
- Region: Atlantic Coast
- Parking: Some free parking for visitors
- Public restrooms: Available in some areas
Daytona Beach is unique in that, for a fee, you can actually drive (and park) along the hard-packed sand in designated areas when the tide is right. It’s also very near the Daytona Speedway and a variety of other attractions.
Sand Key Park Beach
Located very near Clearwater Beach in the city of Clearwater, Sand Key Park Beach is slightly less busy than Clearwater Beach, meaning there’s a little more room to make camp.
- Distance from Orlando: 2 hours
- Region: Gulf Coast
- Parking: Fee-based
- Public restrooms: Open for visitors
We liked that the water at Sand Key Park Beach is crystal clear and incredibly calm. In fact, there were no waves whatsoever, making this a great beach for young kids. The playground equipment is also a great addition for the littlest beach-goers.
Toronita Avenue Beach Park
Toronita Avenue Beach Park is easily my favorite beach and might just be the best family beach near Orlando.
- Distance from Orlando: 1 hour
- Region: Atlantic Coast
- Parking: Free spots are available.
- Public restrooms: Open for visitors.
This is a super low-key beach and we’ve never seen a crowd here. (Shh! Help us keep it a secret!) The sand is nice, the tropical palms are lovely, and the waves are just perfect.
We love that there is free parking at Toronita Avenue Beach Park. Plus, parking is right across the street from the beach, so there isn’t a lot of walking involved. The clean public restrooms in
Best Places for Winter RV Camping in Orlando, Florida
With so many fun things to do with kids, like visiting Seaworld, Universal Studios, and Legoland Florida, Central Florida is always ready to host all RVers year-round. Many terrific resorts just a short drive away from all of these beautiful beaches and popular snowbird destinations.
Most RV destinations have plenty of amenities like full hookups, wi-fi, laundry facilities, dog parks, and large, big rig friendly, pull-through RV sites. Some of the best destinations we recommend include:
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
The granddaddy of all RV parks, the Walt Disney World resort Fort Wilderness Campground is the place to go for campers with kids who want to camp in the lap of luxury. This theme park destination has character dining opportunities, incredible pools, a water slide, hot tubs, recreation like horseback riding, archery experiences, multiple bathhouses, trails for an easy bike ride or two, and much more!
Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake
Want something a bit lower key (and with lower rent, too)? Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake is our favorite discount option in the area. This tidy, pet-friendly city park is in an excellent location and is 5-star rated on RV LIFE Campground Reviews. It offers both 30 amp full hookup and partial hookup campsites with picnic tables as well as tent sites, picnic pavilions, sand volleyball, a heated pool, showers, and a laundry room for guests’ convenience. The best part? The prices here really can’t be beat!
Thousand Trails Orlando RV Resort
Another great option is Thousand Trails Orlando RV Resort. This is the RV campground where we spend the majority of our time in the Orlando area. It is a part of the Thousand Trails camping membership meaning we stay there free with our membership. This place is totally worth paying for. It features full hookup sites, a swimming pool and spa, playground for kids, and a recreation center with tons of planned activities (especially in winter).
Orlando Kissimmee KOA
Finally, we must mention the most well-known Kissimmee RV park, the Orlando / Kissimmee KOA Holiday. This is one of the best places to camp near Disneyworld and it gets rave reviews from guests. You’ll find every amenity for some of the best RV camping in Orlando, including big rig campsites, a fitness center, dog park, and there’s even RV rentals for your friends who haven’t discovered this amazing lifestyle just yet.
As you can see, it’s not a bad idea to try RV camping in Orlando, Florida at all times of year, but it’s especially nice in the coldest time of year. This is one of the best states for warm weather getaways in winter. You might never go anywhere else once you experience Florida RV resorts and all there is to do in the Sunshine State!
