5-Day Gulf Coast RV Itinerary from Tampa

A 5-day Florida Gulf Coast RV itinerary from Tampa works best as four nights and three campgrounds: two nights at Fort De Soto Park, one night near Siesta Key, and one night at Myakka River State Park. You beach-hop by day from each base, with Anna Maria Island and the Pinellas beaches as stops along the way, and you finish back in Tampa Bay without ever driving more than a short leg.

This plan is written for a family or group picking up an RV near I-75 in Gibsonton and wanting white sand, a little history and one wild, inland day without a long haul. If you want broader route ideas, including longer runs south, our Tampa RV road trip planner covers those.

What does the 5-day route look like at a glance?

The route runs south in one direction, with no backtracking until the drive home.

Drive times change with traffic and season, so check FL511, Florida's official real-time traffic site, before each leg.

Day 1 and 2: Why start at Fort De Soto Park?

Fort De Soto has hookups at every site and gives you two full days of beach without moving the RV. Pinellas County says the park covers 1,136 acres across five interconnected islands, with almost three miles of white sand beach and a seven-mile paved trail linking North Beach, East Beach and the camping area.

All 236 sites have water and 30 to 50 amp electric. Sites 86 to 236 are the ones built for full-size camping units, while sites 1 to 85 suit units under 16 feet, so book in the higher range. Check-in is after 1 p.m., checkout is 11 a.m., and the county shuts the entrance overnight (9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m.), so get back from dinner early.

On Day 2, walk the fort's 12-inch mortar battery in the morning, then swim at North Beach. For the afternoon, the PSTA Suncoast Beach Trolley runs from 75th Ave and Gulf Blvd in St. Pete Beach north through Clearwater Beach, so you can see both beach towns without hunting for RV-sized parking. You will need a car or ride to reach the trolley, since it does not run into the park. Our Fort De Soto Park RV rental page has more on camping there.

Day 3: How do you get from St. Pete to Anna Maria Island and Siesta Key?

You head south across the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on I-275, toward Bradenton Beach and Anna Maria Island. Since April 12, 2026, the Skyway toll is cashless: transponders such as SunPass work, and vehicles without one are billed by plate, so set that up before you leave. The bridge can close to high-profile vehicles in strong wind, so check FL511 that morning.

Stop at Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach for a swim and lunch. Manatee County lists restrooms, showers, picnic areas, lifeguards and a trolley stop there, and notes that beach parking floods often in season, so park with care. The county's Anna Maria Island Trolley runs daily from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. See our Anna Maria Island RV page for more on the island.

Then continue south to Siesta Key and Turtle Beach Campground, a Sarasota County park on Midnight Pass Road with 39 RV and tent sites. Each site has full hookups: 20/30/50 amp electric, water, sewer and cable. It has a no-pet policy, and it has closed for storm repairs in the past, so confirm it is open when you book.

Day 4: What should you do on Siesta Key before heading inland?

Spend the morning at Siesta Beach, where Sarasota County describes the sand as nearly 100 percent quartz crystal that stays cool underfoot. The park has 950 free parking spaces, the most of any public beach in the county, and is open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. We could not confirm whether its lot accepts RVs, so the simplest plan is to leave the RV hooked up at camp and go to the beach in a car, or ask Sarasota County Parks before you drive a motorhome in.

If Turtle Beach is full or you are traveling with a dog, Oscar Scherer State Park in Osprey is the backup. It has water and electric sites, allows pets in the campground (not on the swimming beach or in Lake Osprey), and lists a maximum RV length of 36 feet. Our Sarasota RV rental page lists other parks in the area.

After lunch, drive east to Myakka River State Park at 13208 State Road 72. Arrive before sunset: the park is open 8 a.m. until sunset, and day entry is $6 per vehicle.

Day 5: Why end at Myakka River State Park?

Myakka gives you a completely different Florida after three beach days: more than 37,000 acres of river, prairie and hammock, with alligators and turtles sunning on the banks. The park has three campgrounds with 90 sites, each with water, electric, a fire ring and a picnic table. Palmetto Ridge also has sewer hookups, and a dump station sits near Old Prairie Campground, so this is a good last night to empty tanks before returning the RV.

Start Day 5 on the Canopy Walkway, which hangs 25 feet up and runs 100 feet through the treetops, next to a 74-foot tower. Then drive the seven miles of paved park road along Upper Myakka Lake or rent a kayak at the outpost. Finish with an early lunch at the Pink Gator Cafe and head back north on I-75 to Gibsonton. Heading farther south toward Fort Myers? Our sister company Punta Gorda RV Rentals covers that coast.

Which of our RVs fits a beach-hopping trip?

A motorhome is the easiest fit for this route because you change campgrounds three times. Our 2023 Coachmen Cross Trail Class C is 26 feet long and sleeps up to 6, which suits Fort De Soto's six-person limit per site and keeps you well under Oscar Scherer's 36-foot cap. Need beds for eight? Our Azure Horizon Coach, a 2023 Class A, shows $250 per night on the 2026 rates page; check its length with each campground first.

Travel trailers cost less per night and work well if you have a truck that can tow, but they are a weaker match for a moving itinerary than for a single base. For example, our Timberline Retreat (sleeps 6, 2024) is listed at $60 a night as of 2026. If you would rather not tow, we deliver to Fort De Soto Park and Sarasota, but a delivered trailer stays put, so ask us whether a move between campgrounds can be arranged. Keep group size in mind too: a larger trailer like the Gulf Coast Grand sleeps 12, but Fort De Soto allows only six people per site. What you finally pay shifts with your travel dates, how many nights you keep the rig, time of year, fees, miles driven, extras and any delivery, so compare the RV rental prices page and our Class C motorhome rentals.

Frequently asked questions

Can I see Clearwater Beach without driving the RV there?

Yes. The PSTA Suncoast Beach Trolley runs from 75th Ave and Gulf Blvd in St. Pete Beach north through Clearwater Beach, so you can leave the RV at Fort De Soto and ride. You still need a car or ride to reach the trolley from the park.

What time should I arrive at Myakka River State Park on Day 4?

Arrive well before sunset. The park is open from 8 a.m. until sunset every day, and day entry is $6 per vehicle, so leaving Siesta Key soon after lunch gives you time to set up in daylight.

Can I bring my dog on this itinerary?

Yes, with planning. At Fort De Soto, pets are allowed only in sites 86 to 164; Myakka allows up to four pets per site in its developed campgrounds; Oscar Scherer allows pets in the campground. Turtle Beach Campground on Siesta Key has a no-pet policy. Our RV pet policy is not published, so ask us before you book.

Can I bring my dog on the Myakka Canopy Walkway?

No. Only leashed service dogs are allowed on the Canopy Walkway. Pets on leashes up to 6 feet are welcome on trails and in Myakka's developed campgrounds, so plan for someone to stay with the dog during the walkway visit.

Does Myakka River State Park have full hookups for RVs?

Yes, at Palmetto Ridge Campground, which adds sewer to the water and electric found at all three campgrounds. Old Prairie and Big Flats have water and electric only, and a dump station is located near Old Prairie.

Is there an RV campground on Siesta Key?

Yes. Turtle Beach Campground, run by Sarasota County at 8862 Midnight Pass Road, has 39 RV and tent sites with full hookups. It has closed for storm repairs before, so confirm it is open when you book, and use Oscar Scherer State Park in Osprey as a backup.

Ready to plan your Gulf Coast RV week?

Tell us your dates, group size and which campgrounds you have booked, and we will help you match an RV to the route. Have a route in mind? Please contact our Manager and the Tampa RV Rentals Team for a quick fit check, or View available RVs to check open dates now.

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