What's the difference between renting a motorhome and renting a trailer?

A motorhome is self-propelled and driven like a single vehicle. A trailer is towed and requires a car with a tow hitch and some experience maneuvering—which is why it’s usually not a viable option for people arriving from Brazil without their own vehicle.

Is it possible to drive a motorhome from Miami to Key West?

It is. The drive along the Overseas Highway is short in terms of distance, but slow because of traffic and the bridges. The main challenge is finding a spot: there are few campgrounds in the Keys, and they fill up months in advance during peak season.

Do you need specific RV insurance in Florida?

Yes, coverage for a motorhome is purchased separately and is not the same as coverage for a passenger car. In the MyBearGo packages, what is covered is described on the itinerary page before booking.

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Renting an RV in Florida: How It Works for Brazilians

What Changes When Renting an RV (or Trailer) in Florida: Documents Required for Brazilian Citizens, the Difference Between an RV and a Trailer, Where to Camp Between Miami, Orlando, and the Keys, the Best Time to Visit, and What’s Usually Not Included in the Advertised Price.

Why Florida is the most common starting point

Florida offers direct flights from Brazil, a wide selection of rental cars, and short distances between major destinations: Miami, the Everglades, the Keys, the Gulf Coast, and Orlando are all just a few hours apart.

This allows for seven- to ten-day itineraries without long drives—the opposite of the American West, where the distances between parks are much greater.

Motorhome, RV, or trailer: What's the difference?

A motorhome (or motorized RV) is a unique vehicle with an integrated cab and living area: you drive your home. It’s the ideal option for visitors who don’t have a car at their destination.

A travel trailer is a type of trailer that requires a vehicle with a hitch and the ability to maneuver in reverse. It makes sense for those who already have a suitable car in the United States, which is rarely the case for Brazilian travelers.

In practice, for sightseeing trips departing from Brazil, a motorhome is the best option—and that’s what’s used on the MyBearGo itineraries.

Documents and Requirements

A valid Brazilian driver's license, an International Driving Permit (IDP), a passport, and an international credit card in the driver's name. Car rental companies usually require the driver to be of a certain minimum age and will place a hold on the credit card.

It's worth checking the additional driver policy: in many cases, each driver must be registered individually before pickup.

With MyBearGo packages, this verification is done in advance, along with the sending of the vouchers, so that nothing is discovered at the pickup counter.

Where to Camp in Florida

Florida State Parks have well-maintained and popular campgrounds, which require advance reservations and have a maximum stay limit. They offer the best value for money in the state when it comes to enjoying nature.

In the Keys, availability is limited and seasonal: the beachfront campgrounds between Key Largo and Key West fill up months in advance during the winter season.

In the Orlando area, there is Walt Disney World's official campground, Fort Wilderness, which accommodates RVs with full hookups and provides access to Disney's internal transportation.

In the Everglades, there are campgrounds within the national park that offer basic facilities and little or no electrical hookups at some of the sites—which means you’ll need to plan for self-sufficiency in terms of water and power.

Best Time to Visit and What to Avoid

December through April is the dry season: less rain, fewer mosquitoes, and mild temperatures. It’s peak season, with campgrounds full and higher prices.

Hurricane season runs from June through November, with high temperatures and humidity and almost daily rain in the late afternoon. Traveling during this period is usually less expensive, but it requires some flexibility in your itinerary and keeping an eye on the forecast.

Costs that are often not included in the advertised price

Campground fees, fuel, vehicle preparation fee, kitchen kit and bedding, mileage charges for mileage exceeding the contracted package, generators, and tank disposal. Each of these items may be charged separately by a rental company.

For a packaged tour, what is included is clearly listed on the itinerary page, in USD, before booking—and so is what is not included.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Brazilians rent an RV in Florida?: Yes, you can. You must have a valid Brazilian driver's license, an International Driving Permit (IDP), a passport, and an international credit card in the driver's name, and you must meet the minimum age requirement set by the rental company.
What's the difference between renting a motorhome and renting a trailer?: A motorhome is self-propelled and driven like a single vehicle. A trailer is towed and requires a car with a tow hitch and some experience maneuvering—which is why it’s usually not a viable option for people arriving from Brazil without their own vehicle.
Is it possible to drive a motorhome from Miami to Key West?: It is. The drive along the Overseas Highway is short in terms of distance, but slow because of traffic and the bridges. The main challenge is finding a spot: there are few campgrounds in the Keys, and they fill up months in advance during peak season.
Do you need specific RV insurance in Florida?: Yes, coverage for a motorhome is purchased separately and is not the same as coverage for a passenger car. In the MyBearGo packages, what is covered is described on the itinerary page before booking.

Guides

Camping at Disney in an RV: Fort Wilderness Explained for Families — You wake up in a pine forest, surrounded by the scent of the woods and the sound of birdsong. You walk to the pier, hop on a boat, and disembark right in front of Magic Kingdom. It’s the same park day everyone else experiences—only it starts in a way no one will ever forget.
How to Fit a 4-Day RV Trip Into a Trip to Orlando — The trip to Orlando is already booked: flight, hotel, tickets, outlet mall. This guide covers the logistics of fitting in four days in an RV in the middle of all that—when to leave, what to do with the rental car, what to do with your luggage, and how many days before or after visiting the parks.
Swimming with Manatees in Crystal River: How It Works, When to Go, and What's True — The water is crystal clear and stays around 22 °C (72 °F) all year round. You wade in slowly, without splashing your legs, and wait. A half-metric-ton creature appears from the depths, swims by a meter away, and continues on its way as if you weren’t even there. It’s two hours from Orlando, and almost no Brazilians know it exists.
Florida's Springs by RV: 22-degree water just an hour from Orlando — Crystal-clear water flowing from the ground, a constant temperature of around 22 °C (72 °F) year-round, a forest all around, and almost no Brazilian tourists. Silver Springs has offered glass-bottom boat tours since the 19th century, and monkeys come down to the water’s edge. It’s just over an hour from the parks.
The Everglades by RV: Sleeping at the End of the Continent, Among Alligators and Stars — Flamingo is located 61 km past the park entrance, at the southernmost point of the American continent. At night, there is no town, no cell phone signal, and no artificial light anywhere. A child raised in a big city often sees the entire sky there for the first time.
Key West by RV: The Overseas Highway, Campgrounds, and What Nobody Tells You Ahead of Time — There are 42 bridges over turquoise water. In some spots, you can’t see land on either side—just the road and the sea—and it feels like you’ve taken a wrong turn and driven right into the ocean. Spending the night in Bahia Honda, with your RV just a few meters from the water, is the kind of night the family will talk about for years to come.
Renting an RV in Florida: How It Works for Brazilians — What Changes When Renting an RV (or Trailer) in Florida: Documents Required for Brazilian Citizens, the Difference Between an RV and a Trailer, Where to Camp Between Miami, Orlando, and the Keys, the Best Time to Visit, and What’s Usually Not Included in the Advertised Price.
RV Trip in the U.S.: The Complete Guide for Brazilians — How a motorhome (RV) trip through the United States works: driver’s license requirements for Brazilians, types of vehicles, where to stay, how many miles you drive per day, how much it costs, and the differences between driving yourself and having the RV set up for you at the campground.