Florida’s deep-rooted history, spanning Spanish colonial forts to presidential retreats, continues to draw visitors statewide—and campgrounds and RV parks are tapping into this demand by positioning themselves near the Sunshine State’s most notable historical sites.
“No matter where you travel in Florida, you’re not far away from historical attractions of some kind, whether it’s Seminole Indian history, Spanish colonial history or U.S. history, from the Civil War to the present,” said Bobby Cornwell, president and CEO of the Florida RV Park and Campground Association, which operates CampFlorida.com.
According to a press release, Cornwell noted that many campgrounds, RV parks and resorts across Florida now offer diverse accommodations, from air-conditioned glamping tents to fully furnished cabins and cottages, giving guests a convenient base to explore historic destinations.
In St. Augustine, established by Spanish explorers in 1565, travelers can tour the Castillo de San Marcos, the oldest masonry fortress in North America, which hosts weapons demonstrations and costumed interpreters.
Additional sites include Fort Matanzas National Monument and the Lightner Museum, which preserves artifacts from America’s Gilded Age.
To serve this influx of history-minded travelers, local campgrounds include Bryn Mawr Ocean Resort, North Beach Camp Resort, Ocean Grove RV Resort, Pepper Tree RV Resort, Smiling Gator RV Park, St. Augustine Beach KOA Holiday, Stagecoach RV Park, and Sun Outdoors St. Augustine.
Northwest Florida also offers insights into the country’s military past, with the Pensacola and Destin areas hosting landmarks like the Air Force Armament Museum at Eglin Air Force Base, Fort Pickens at Gulf Islands National Seashore, and the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola.
Nearby campgrounds capitalize on this draw by providing convenient stays for tourists. Options include Pensacola Beach RV Resort, Pensacola North RV Resort, Perdido Key RV Resort, Camping on the Gulf in Miramar Beach, Destin RV Beach Resort, Destin West RV Resort in Fort Walton Beach, and Geronimo RV Park in Miramar Beach.
For those interested in Florida’s indigenous history, the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum near Lake Okeechobee showcases over 200,000 works that explore Seminole Indian culture and heritage. The museum is located on the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation in Clewiston, and the nearby Big Cypress RV Resort and Campground provides easy access for visitors.
Key West remains one of Florida’s most iconic historical stops, attracting tourists with the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum and the Harry S. Truman Little White House. Truman spent 175 days of his presidency here, managing post-war recovery and early Cold War policy decisions.
Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park in Key West adds to the destination’s Civil War appeal, offering the nation’s largest collection of Civil War-era armaments alongside a popular beach. Campgrounds in the Key West area include Boyd’s Key West Campground and the Sugarloaf Key/Key West KOA Holiday in Sugarloaf Key.
Featured image by Jeff Crider