Florida is one of the most coveted holiday destinations in the United States, with tourists flocking from across the world to experience the state’s pristine beaches, tropical temperatures, and a plethora of family-friendly excursions. Despite being an expensive location to plan a holiday, there are several cheap family vacation ideas you can try while staying in the Sunshine State.
Rent an RV
With almost endless sunshine, one of the best ways to save money is with a summer drive across Florida in an RV. Florida is perfect for road trips, with the east and west coasts featuring bustling cities full of excursions for all ages, as well as some of the best natural sights in the Southeast. RV rentals are usually cheaper than hotels and are great for family adventures, with major cities like Orlando offering rentals for as low as $70 a night. Overall, motorhome rentals are an excellent way of saving money while checking out some of the best places to visit in Florida in an RV during the summer.
Explore the Florida Panhandle
Florida RV summer vacations can be costly; however, you can save money by venturing to some of the more affordable cities lining the state’s panhandle. The likes of Pensacola and the state capitol, Tallahassee, tend to be quieter, and cheaper than other cities to the south. Despite being quiet, this region still offers some of the best things to see in Florida in an RV during the summer, with white sandy beaches and exciting attractions like the National Aviation Museum and the Museum of Florida History. These cheap vacation spots also contain some inexpensive seaside campgrounds, including the Gulf Shores/ Pensacola West KOA, which boasts full hookups sites for as low as $55 a night.
Free Attractions
Many of the best summer vacation spots in Florida also offer free attractions that won’t burn a hole in your pocket. Most of these activities are situated near the state’s big cities, such as Orlando and Jacksonville, so you won’t have to go out of your way to see the sights. Some of these excursions include the fascinating Marine Science Center in Daytona Beach, the BCC Planetarium and Observatory in Cocoa, and the Vintage Car Parade in Kissimmee. These smaller cities are some of the best free places to go in Florida in an RV during the summer, and even provide cheap accommodation in addition to gorgeous natural attractions.
Parks
RV travel in Florida during the summer wouldn’t be complete without visiting some of the state’s lush, sun-drenched parks. As well as being popular with locals, these parks make great cheap vacation ideas. There’s an excellent variety of Florida’s wilderness at these parks, including the world-famous Everglades National Park, which consists of over a million acres of wetlands, woodlands, prairies, and much more. Many visitors spend their whole trip uncovering the treasures hidden across Florida’s park system, with hundreds of miles of hiking trails to discover, an array of water sports to enjoy, and a wide variety of fauna and flora to admire.
Beaches
As mentioned, Florida is renowned for its pristine beaches, with some of the best in the country dotted along the state’s shoreline, including Siesta Key in Sarasota and South Beach in Miami. Many of these beaches are ideal for Florida RV summer vacations, with cheap nearby camp grounds and tons of opportunities to top up your tan or splash around in Florida’s crystal-clear waters.
Conclusion
The best way to save money when holidaying in Florida is by renting an RV and touring some of the Sunshine State’s lovely parks and immaculate beaches. These parks are free to explore and provide loads of activities, as well as some of the best natural sights in the country.
