Great value rentals from the United States’ most trusted RV hire providers
If you are looking for a budget-friendly RV rental in Tampa, VroomVroomVroom can help you with that. We compare vehicles from top motorhome rental companies across Florida. Just filter the list by price to find the cheapest RV. The city is a great starting point to your RV adventure and there are many convenient camping sites in the Tampa Bay Area to make sure your journey goes smoothly.
Tampa is full of recreational activities to keep visitors busy year-round. For a memorable adventure in the warm, Florida sunshine, head to Tampa and cruise along the Bayshore Boulevard. Cool down at the water park or beach, and stop by the CineBistro for an evening of luxury. There is so much to see with an RV rental in Tampa, so don't miss out on this exciting hub of sports, art, and entertainment.
Some of our favorite things to do year-round in Tampa are:
Summer (June, July, August): Adventure Island is a great place to bring your kids in summer because of the thrilling water rides. If you’re not in the mood to get wet, you can enjoy the rides including Florida’s tallest launch coaster at Busch Gardens. Of course, a trip to Tampa isn’t complete without hitting the Ben T. Davis Beach, which stretches along the Courtney Campbell Causeway.
Fall (September, October, November): Take advantage of the cooler temperatures and drive to the Hillsborough River State Park and enjoy the outdoor activities here such as kayaking, canoeing and hiking. In celebration of Halloween, a trip to the Murder House in Ybor City or Scream-A-Geddon in Dade City is a must.
Winter (December, January, February): The perfect place to visit this season is the Winter Village at Curtis Hixon Park. This winter wonderland lets you enjoy ice skating, shopping and riding the express train. Another magical place you shouldn’t miss is The Wonderland of Lights & Santa’s Village at the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds.
Spring (March, April, May): See flowers in full bloom at the University of South Florida Botanical Gardens. Explore collections of begonias, orchids, fruit trees, fringe flowers, Christmas rose and more. Just over 1-hour drive from Tampa is Bok Tower Gardens. Join their Spring Bloom at Pinewood Estate event which includes walking tours, yoga, concerts and brunches.
Year-Round: Tampa is a fun place to visit any time of the year because of its world-class attractions including the Museum of Science and Industry, Tampa Zoo at Lowry Park, Florida Aquarium and Glazer Children’s Museum. To learn more about the city, check out the Tampa Bay History Center, Henry B. Plant Museum, and Ybor City.
Bay Bayou RV Resort, located at 12622 Memorial Highway, is a popular campground for sports enthusiasts and ocean recreationists. It is just a 30-minute drive from Tampa. An amazing 274 spaces for RV rentals are on-site with full hookups, side-by-side hookups, back-ins, 100 extended stay sites, and lush grass on all site areas. Patios, slide-outs, cable, laundry, showers, dump stations, and RV supplies all are available at this resort.
Tampa RV Park, formerly Camp Nebraska, is located at 10314 N Nebraska Avenue and just around 15 minutes away from Tampa. The RV park provides year-round guest stays and a wide range of amenities including 86 hookups and 40 pull-throughs as well as laundry and picnic tables. Seasonal and summer rates are available. Monthly or extended stay electric use is fee-based.
Lazydays RV Resort, located at 6210 County Road 579 in Seffner, welcomes motorhome rentals to a sunny Florida paradise. Relax in your campervan and stay at one of the 300 RV sites with 50-amp power hookups. Laze in comfort at the screened and heated pool. Enjoy the luxury of doing as little as imaginable. Badminton, horseshoes, ladder ball, pickleball, tennis, volleyball, and the beanbag toss feature the wonderful diversions of satisfaction to share and more at this RV resort.
Adventure Island, located at 10001 N McKinley Drive, allows visitors to enjoy the refreshing spray of water slides and H20 fun that cruises guests across 30 acres of theme park rides. Explore the grounds and have any pick of swimming, sliding, and diving. There is also a wide variety of dining options at the water park that is sure to satisfy your cravings while enjoying the Key West atmosphere.
Lettuce Lake Park, located at 6920 E Fletcher Avenue, welcomes travelers and locals to enjoy plentiful, health-conscious park activities in a natural haven. A fitness course and a 1.25-mile jogging and bicycling trail stretch along the grounds. Walk a 3,500-foot boardwalk to an observation tower to see wildlife within the gloriously scenic 240-acre setting. Take a water excursion with unplanned canoeing or jump right in and try your hand at kayaking. Wooded areas for picnics, a playground, and an "interpretive center" for natural exhibits are available.
Serengeti Safari at Busch Gardens, located at 10165 N McKinley Drive, recreates the absurd but true world of natural life in a luxurious, unearthly journey. Interact with giraffes and watch creatures in habitats only heard about. You can also join other exciting animal tours that will let you get up close with the fierce tigers or adorable penguins. Find your connection with wildlife and enjoy the thrills at this spectacular attraction.
On hiring an RV in Tampa
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 in Tampa 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 in Tampa 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 in Tampa 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 Tampa and its immediate surrounds, then you could probably get away with a standard RV. That said, if you’re planning to drive from Tampa to Denver — or Los Angeles — 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 Tampa, 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.
Have a question we haven’t answered?
