Is it possible to rent an RV in the middle of a trip to Orlando?

Yes, and it's the most common format among our customers. These 3- to 5-day itineraries are designed to fit into a longer trip without cutting into your time at the parks.

What should I do with the rental car while I'm traveling in the RV?

In the "you drive" option, the most economical choice is to return the car before picking up the RV and rent another one on the way back. In the "delivered and set up" option, you keep the car—it's the one that takes the family to the campground.

Do I need to bring all my luggage to the motorhome?

No. The RV requires a four-day backpack. The large suitcase is usually left at the hotel, which in most cases stores guests' luggage between stays.

How many days before or after the flight should I take off?

Allow at least one full day between the end of your RV trip and your return flight. Returning the vehicle, traffic, and unexpected road delays take up more time than you might think.

Is it worth it for a trip to Florida lasting less than seven days?

Usually not. For stays of less than seven days total, the four days spent in the RV directly compete with the days spent at the park. For stays of ten days or more, the schedule works out well.

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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 a 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.

Why four days and not the entire trip?

No one has to trade Disney for a motorhome. The real benefit is something else: the family spends ten days in Florida, and four of those days are unlike anything they’ve ever experienced.

Four days can easily fit into any Orlando itinerary without skipping any parks, and they’re enough for a real destination—the Everglades, the Keys, the Gulf Coast, the springs, or even Disney’s own campground—with one day of driving at each end and two days spent at the destination itself.

Any less than that becomes a logistical challenge; any more than that starts to compete with the days at the park the family has already paid for.

When to fit it in: before, during, or after the parks

The middle part is the most common and works best with kids: the first few days at the amusement park, a break in nature at a leisurely pace, and then heading back toward the end of the trip, when outlet malls and shopping come into play.

At first, it works well for people arriving on a night flight who don't want to deal with lines on their first day. You can adjust to the time zone in a quiet place, and save the parks for when the family is well-rested.

Ultimately, this is the riskiest option: any delay in the itinerary puts pressure on the return flight date. If you choose this option, leave a full day between returning the RV and your departure.

What to do with the rental car and the suitcase

In the “you drive” model, the rental car is usually returned before picking up the RV and rented again on the way back—the two fewer days of car rental make up for the paperwork. If the rental company allows it, leaving the car parked in the hotel parking lot for the four days is also an option, but you’ll still be charged for each day.

With the "delivered and set up" model, the car stays with you the whole time: it takes the family to the campground, where the RV is already set up. It's the option with the fewest moving parts.

You don't need to bring a large suitcase onto the RV. The RV only requires a four-day backpack; the rest can be stored at the hotel (most hotels will store guests' luggage between stays) or in the trunk of your rental car.

How much driving time can you fit into a day?

A comfortable daily distance when traveling with a child is 250 to 350 km (150 to 220 miles), arriving at the campground before dark. Maneuvering and hooking up the vehicle in daylight is much easier.

Distances from Orlando: Crystal River and the Ocala Springs, about 130 to 160 km (80 to 100 miles), 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours. Cape Canaveral and the Space Coast, about 100 km (60 miles), just over 1 hour. Gulf Coast (Tampa, St. Pete, Fort De Soto), about 180 to 220 km (110 to 140 miles), 2 to 2.5 hours. The Everglades, about 400 to 450 km (250 to 280 miles), 4 to 5 hours. Key West, about 640 km (400 miles), 7 hours or more—only with an overnight stay along the way.

Rule of thumb: A destination within two hours’ travel time is good for a three-day itinerary; a destination four hours or more away requires five days.

With children

Leaving early and arriving before late afternoon is the best way to avoid trouble. That stretch of road is best traveled right after breakfast.

Alternating days work better than consecutive days: one day of travel, one day of rest. A campground with a pool keeps you busy all afternoon at no extra cost.

Child seats and booster seats must comply with the laws of the U.S. state where you are traveling, and the number of passengers is limited by the number of seat belts available in the vehicle.

What Almost No One Talks About

The first day always goes by faster than expected: picking up supplies, orientation, grocery shopping, and arriving at the campground take up the entire afternoon. Planning an outing for Day 1 is a surefire source of frustration.

Stopping at the supermarket before hitting the road is a half-hour that saves you a lot of money and prevents an unwanted stop along the way.

The power and water connections aren't always where you'd expect them to be—arriving during the day solves this problem without any drama.

Visiting during peak season without a reserved campsite is the most expensive mistake of all: in the Keys, at Fort De Soto, and at Fort Wilderness, spots sell out months in advance.

Itineraries that work well for four days

Fort Wilderness and the parks: It's located within the resort; it requires the least travel and is the easiest to fit in between days at the parks.

Ocala and Crystal River Springs: less than two hours from Orlando, with crystal-clear water at 22 °C (72 °F) year-round and the chance to see manatees in the winter.

Gulf Coast: white-sand beaches, calm waters, and sunsets over the ocean—the starkest contrast to the park routine.

Everglades: The most immersive of the four, it requires two nights at the destination and isn't ideal in the summer because of the mosquitoes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible to rent an RV in the middle of a trip to Orlando?: Yes, and it's the most common format among our customers. These 3- to 5-day itineraries are designed to fit into a longer trip without cutting into your time at the parks.
What should I do with the rental car while I'm traveling in the RV?: In the "you drive" option, the most economical choice is to return the car before picking up the RV and rent another one on the way back. In the "delivered and set up" option, you keep the car—it's the one that takes the family to the campground.
Do I need to bring all my luggage to the motorhome?: No. The RV requires a four-day backpack. The large suitcase is usually left at the hotel, which in most cases stores guests' luggage between stays.
How many days before or after the flight should I take off?: Allow at least one full day between the end of your RV trip and your return flight. Returning the vehicle, traffic, and unexpected road delays take up more time than you might think.
Is it worth it for a trip to Florida lasting less than seven days?: Usually not. For stays of less than seven days total, the four days spent in the RV directly compete with the days spent at the park. For stays of ten days or more, the schedule works out well.

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, board 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 a 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.
Renting an RV in Florida: How It Works for Brazilians — What Changes When Renting an RV (or Trailer) in Florida: Required Documents 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 far you drive each day, how much it costs, and the differences between driving the RV yourself and having it set up for you at the campground.