Home to world-famous theme parks including Disney World, Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios, Orlando has an abundance of people visiting year-round. For those wanting to explore “The City Beautiful” and the rest of Florida, renting an RV from Orlando International Airport seems like a great idea. VroomVroomVroom can help you find the perfect RV rental for your next adventure as we compare the best deals from major providers.
Orlando International Airport, or commonly referred to as MCO, is situated southeast of the Orlando business district and is the busiest airport in Florida, second only to Miami International Airport. Located at 1 Jeff Fuqua Boulevard, the airport is only a 19-minute drive from Downtown Orlando following FL-436 and FL-408 W.
The airport consists of a main terminal building and four airside concourses which is accessible via elevated people movers. Open 24 hours, the main terminal consists of terminals A and B. Orlando Airport offers Cell Phone Lots (North and South) Parking, Economy Parking, Garage Parking, Top Parking, Hoel Guest Parking, Disabled Parking, and Valet Parking.
There are several RVs and motorhomes available for you to rent from Orlando Airport. These can be picked up from locations near MCO by shuttle transportation to the depot or you can choose to take a taxi. One of the nearest providers is Mighty Campers which is located in W Colonial Drive and just 25 minutes away from the airport.
Three Flags RV Campground on East State Road is less than an hour from Walt Disney World and Universal Studios. It features a swimming pool, mini-golf, and hiking trails that are surrounded by soothing woodsy scenery. Bike or hike along one of a "Thousand Trails," a signature favorite of campers at Three Flags.
Southern Palms RV Resort is located at 1 Avocado Lane and around 55 minutes drive from Orlando Airport and an easy drive from Universal Studios. This RV Resort offers swimming, bocce ball, and dancing at pristine site spaces. A clubhouse, a fitness center, and Wi-Fi are standard and pet stays are available for an extra fee.
Lake Breeze RV Park, which sits on Lake Fairview right beside a park with a boat ramp, is only a 30-minute drive from Orlando Airport via L-436. Consisting of 68 RV sites, the park’s top amenities include 30/50 amp, back-in/pull-through sites, restrooms, cable TV and laundry facilities.
Cape Canaveral is located just off State Route 405 and home of the Kennedy Space Center. Around 45 minutes east of Orlando International Airport, relive the first human spaceflight and the first satellite launched into orbit by America by visiting the Air Force Space & Missile Museum. You can also see the Rocket Garden and capsules including the Apollo/Saturn V Center up close.
Lake Nona Medical City is a 650-acre health and life sciences park and only a 10-minute drive from Orlando International Airport. With 44 miles of planned trails and many parks to explore, the center serves as a premier location for medical care, research, and education. The medical city is home to the University of Central Florida’s Health Sciences Campus and also includes the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute.
Florida Mall is the largest shopping center in Central Florida and only a 12-minute drive via W Sand Lake Road from Orlando Airport. The mall has 250 stores and restaurants including the Dining Pavilion, M&M’s WORLD, Crayola Experience, and The Disney Store.
On hiring an RV at Orlando Airport
Unlike when hiring a rental car, people tend to book an RV a bit further in advance, and there are a few reasons for this.
When you’re hiring an RV, you’re not simply hiring something with four wheels to buzz around a city for a few days, instead you’re hiring a vehicle that you could well be living in for days, weeks, or even months. As such, people tend to have far more specific needs — some may require a certain number of berths, perhaps an onboard kitchen, or more comfortable living space. All this means that doing your research to find the right RV for you can pay off handsomely — but it also means that supply is more limited. When supply is limited, it is a good idea to book as far in advance as possible so that you know that the RV you need will be waiting for you when you arrive.
With this in mind, while it isn’t unusual for people to book a hire car the day before they need it, with RVs, people often book their vehicle months in advance. So our advice to you is if you’re planning to rent an RV, start researching today, and when you find the right RV for you, book it!
One more point, another way RV rentals differ from regular cars, is that bookings are not instant. Once you make an RV booking it will need to be approved by the provider. Yet another reason not to leave your RV rental until you’re sitting in the airport boarding lounge.
If you’re new to RVs and not sure where to start, please give our RV rental information page a read as it explains many of the basics you’ll need to know to make an informed decision.
We could start off by telling you that a typical customer hiring an RV at Orlando Airport tends to look at RVs with two or four berths (including a toilet and shower). This isn’t really all that helpful though, as they type of RV you should hire at Orlando Airport depends very much on the type of RV you — rather than a typical customer — needs. Consider the following questions:
How big is your travel group? What is your budget? What facilities do you need — or not need? Where are you planning to go? How long for? Knowing the answers to these questions — and plenty more — is the best way to make sure the RV you hire at Orlando Airport is the right one for you.
Solo travellers or couples might find a compact RV to be more than enough, while families — especially those with young kids — or larger groups might prefer a more spacious motorhome with multiple sleeping areas.
Next, consider the facilities you need and the facilities you want. These might sound the same, but they are very different! Basic RVs often include a bed and simple cooking gear, while more luxurious options feature kitchens, bathrooms, and comfortable bedding. For example, if you’re planning on camping, perhaps paying the extra for comfortable beds isn’t really necessary, but if you’re not even packing a tent, then the extra expense required to get more comfortable beds might be a smart choice.
Where you’re going also matters. If you’re planning to just potter around Orlando Airport and its immediate surrounds, then you could probably get away with a standard RV. That said, if you’re planning to drive from Orlando Airport to New Orleans — or Denver — something more spacious would be a sound investment.
Think about your budget, as RVs vary in cost depending on size, amenities, and rental duration, and while shortening the length of your trip might bring different options within your budget, spending more to get a bigger van may mean you’ll spend even less on hotels. Either way, do the math!
In conclusion, when you’re booking an RV for pickup from Orlando Airport, it pays to be honest when considering what you need versus what you want, along with what fits with your budget and overall travel plans. It’s the best way to maximise your chance of getting the perfect RV for you.
For most rental RV providers, the minimum age to rent an RV is the same as for car rentals — 21 years of age. Depending on the RV rental supplier, those under 21 may only be able to rent certain vehicles. Double check with the RV rental provider to see what their specific requirements are.
In most cases, you won’t need to present a special type of licence to rent an RV — you’ll only be asked to present your standard and valid full driving licence. Keep in mind that a probationary, learner permit, or provisional licence are not accepted for RV hire. If your licence is in a language other than English, you’ll need to provide an International Driving Permit in conjunction with your valid licence. If you’re unsure as to whether your licence will be accepted, you should contact your prospective RV provider prior to booking.
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