Campervan Rental St. Petersburg, Florida — Gulf Beaches, Fort De Soto, Tarpon Springs, Sarasota and Tips for 2027

St. Petersburg lies at the tip of the Pinellas peninsula, between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, and is known as the Sunshine City. It is a relaxed base for a campervan trip along Florida's Gulf Coast: white-sand beaches and Fort De Soto are on its doorstep, the Greek sponge docks of Tarpon Springs and the manatee springs lie to the north, and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge leads south to Anna Maria Island and Sarasota. This guide explains where to go, where you may stay overnight, what to know about driving and when it is best to travel.

St. Petersburg itself

The downtown waterfront is easy to explore on foot or by bike: the St. Pete Pier, the Dalí Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, the murals of the Central Arts District and, on Saturdays in the cooler months, a large market. The Pinellas Trail, a paved cycle path of around 75 km, runs from St. Petersburg north to Tarpon Springs. Many downtown car parks have height limits of around 2.1 m, so with a taller campervan use surface lots.

The Gulf beaches

• Pass-a-Grille and St. Pete Beach: a historic beach village at the southern tip of the barrier islands, famous for its sunsets.
• Treasure Island and Madeira Beach: wide beaches and the John's Pass boardwalk with fishing boats and seafood restaurants.
• Fort De Soto Park: five islands, a historic fort, calm beaches, kayak trails and one of the most popular campgrounds in the area. From here a ferry runs to Egmont Key, an island with a lighthouse and wildlife refuge.
• Clearwater Beach (about 40 km north): a busy, broad white-sand beach; quieter alternatives nearby are Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island, which you can reach only by ferry or by boat.

North: Tarpon Springs and the springs

Tarpon Springs (about 50 km) has been a centre of Greek sponge diving for more than a century; the sponge docks along the river are full of bakeries and tavernas. Further north lie Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, known for its mermaid show and crystal-clear river for kayaking (about 90 km), and Crystal River and Homosassa (about 130 km), where manatees gather in the warm springs in winter.

South over the Sunshine Skyway

The Sunshine Skyway Bridge across the mouth of Tampa Bay leads to Anna Maria Island and Bradenton, then on to Sarasota with the fine quartz sand of Siesta Key. Inland, Myakka River State Park has campgrounds, a canopy walkway and plenty of alligators. Further south, Venice is known for fossil shark teeth on its beaches.

For more of Florida, read our guides to campervan rental in Tampa, Orlando and Miami, as well as our guide to campervan rental in the USA for European travellers.

Where to stay

• Fort De Soto Park: a county campground with sites by the water; it is very popular in winter, so book as early as possible.
• State parks: Myakka River, Oscar Scherer, Little Manatee River and Hillsborough River have campgrounds. Florida state parks can be booked up to 11 months in advance.
• Private RV parks: there are many around Pinellas County and Sarasota, often with long-stay guests in winter.
• Overnight parking: sleeping in a vehicle on streets, in beach car parks or in parks is generally not allowed. Some shops allow overnight parking, but local rules vary, so always ask first.

Driving tips

• Tolls. The Sunshine Skyway and several expressways use cashless tolls; check with your rental company how they are charged.
• Wind. The Skyway can close to high-sided vehicles, and sometimes to all traffic, in strong winds.
• Storms. In summer, heavy afternoon thunderstorms can flood low-lying streets for a short time; wait for them to pass.
• Hurricanes. From June to November, keep an eye on the forecast and always follow evacuation orders.
• Traffic. The I-275 and the bridges over Tampa Bay are busy at rush hour; plan longer drives for the morning or the middle of the day.

When to go

• November to April: dry, sunny and mild, the best time for a campervan trip, but also high season. In March and April, spring break makes the beaches busier.
• May to October: hot (often above 32 °C) and humid, with almost daily afternoon thunderstorms; the sea is very warm.
• Hurricane season runs from June to November, peaking from August to October. In 2024, Hurricanes Helene and Milton hit the Gulf beaches hard, so check the current status of campgrounds and beach access before you travel.
• Red tide: algal blooms occasionally affect the beaches; check the local reports.

A campervan in St. Petersburg with Crystalium Booker

We are still building up our campervan offer in St. Petersburg. Send us your dates and number of travellers through the contact page and we will look for a vehicle for you, and keep an eye on the campervans in St. Petersburg page for new listings. Do you rent out a campervan in or around St. Petersburg? List it with us.