Updated November 4, 2026
Overnight parking is local
There is no single statewide answer to where you may park an RV overnight outside a campground. Rules about overnight parking, boondocking and living in a vehicle are set by cities, counties and property owners, and they differ from one place to the next. Before you stop anywhere that is not a campground, read posted signs, check the local government's website, and ask the property owner. When in doubt, use a campground; this directory lists parks and resorts that publish their own rules.
We do not give legal advice. For anything beyond what a park page states, contact the city or county directly.
Pets
Florida State Parks campgrounds in our listings allow pets with limits. The official pages for Myakka River, Oscar Scherer, Lake Manatee, Hillsborough River and Wekiwa Springs describe a hand-held leash of 6 feet or less. Common details from those pages:
- Pets must not be left unattended (Oscar Scherer and Lake Manatee state this).
- Pets are not allowed in swimming areas (Lake Manatee, Wekiwa Springs, Rainbow Springs).
- At Fort De Soto, pets are permitted only in Area 2, sites 86-164.
- Sun Outdoors resorts allow a maximum of two pets per reservation and require leashes; vacation rentals carry a $50 non-refundable pet fee.
Fires and burn bans
Drought brings burn bans. As of early November 2026, the park pages say Oscar Scherer State Park has banned open flames since October 13, 2025; Lake Manatee noted a countywide ban from June 24, 2026; and Hillsborough River noted a Hillsborough County ban effective January 16, 2026. In these cases, grills or propane stoves may be allowed only when attended. Sun Outdoors resorts post county burn bans at the welcome center and allow fires only from 8 a.m. to midnight. At Saddle Creek in Polk County, no fires are permitted.
Generators, quiet hours and stay limits
Resort rules vary. Several Sun Outdoors pages list quiet hours from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m. and say generators require management approval. Polk County campgrounds list quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. and a check-out time of noon.
- Polk County: 14 consecutive days, then 28 days away from that campground, with a 100-day yearly cap across all Polk campgrounds.
- Fort De Soto: a maximum of 14 nights in any 30-day period.
- Minimum nights: Encore resorts such as Silver Dollar and Forest Lake Village list two-night weekend minimums and three-night holiday minimums.
Registration and rig rules
Polk County requires that RVs be registered with the state and display a current, visible sticker. Sun Outdoors resorts accept certified RV types (motorhomes, fifth wheels and travel trailers) and note that units ten or more years old need a manager inspection at Southern Charm. Rig length limits are firm: published maximums in our listings range from 27 feet on some Arbor Terrace sites to 103 feet at Rainbow Springs State Park. Measure your rig, including bumpers, hitches and slide-outs, and compare it to the specific site type, not just the park.
Some resorts are age-restricted: Southern Charm, Majestic Oaks, Waters Edge, Sweetwater, Horseshoe Cove and Pleasant Lake describe themselves as 55+ communities, while Sun Outdoors Sarasota, Arbor Terrace and Crystal River say they are all-ages. Check each page.
Practical reminders
Rules are published park by park, so the best habit is to read the page for the exact place you are staying. Three quick checks catch most surprises:
- Check the status banner. Park pages list burn bans, closures and construction, such as the campground renovations at Highlands Hammock and Lake Kissimmee.
- Check the arrival details. Rainbow Springs keeps its campground gate closed and gives the gate code on arrival day; office hours there are 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Polk County asks that after-hours entry be scheduled with the resident caretaker.
- Check the age and guest rules. Resorts list a minimum check-in age of 18, and some charge per-visitor fees.
Each listing in this directory links to the source page we used, so you can read the full policy before you book.
Where to confirm rules
For state parks, start with the Florida State Parks Stay the Night page and each park's own page. For Pinellas County, see the county camping page. For Polk County, see the county campgrounds page. For private resorts, use the resort's own site. If a rule affects safety or legality, such as burn bans, call the park or the local fire department rather than relying on a directory.