Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Daytona Beach, FL

If you were any closer to Daytona Speedway, you’d be feeling the constant swoosh! of cars racing by non-stop. This RV pitstop conveniently located just off Florida’s main interstate highway I-95 and just due north of its second most well-driven highway 4 (the gateway to Orlando), you’ll discover Daytona RV Speedway, which is just a few hundred yards walk to the reason likely you’ve come here in the first place – the Daytona 500 (or any of the other spectacles that call this car track home). And if you are just passing by, then Daytona RV Speedway offers a quick and convenient place for you to drop anchor for the night. 

Apart from its easy access and proximity to the Daytona Speedway, you’ll enjoy the flat, well-laid out pet-friendly RV park here along with all of its amenities: the typical RV hook-ups (30 / 50 amp electric, water and sewage), 80’ (max) pull-through sites, on-site mini-mart / store, WiFi& Cable, restroom & bathhouse facilities (from the 80’s but clean nonetheless), firewood and propane (for purchase), coin-operated laundry as well as scattered picnic tables and BBQ grills. As for the campus itself, the RV slots have pretty decent space between them with just OK shade (with an odd tree here and there). 

Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) If you find yourself lucky enough to be here on the weekend, you’ll want to check out Daytona Flea & Farmers Market conveniently located right across the street from Daytona RV Speedway; (2) While you couldn’t find a place more heavily trafficked in the entire state of Florida, in just a short 20 minute drive further west, you can discover Tiger Bay State Forest, which has an amazing hiking trail called Buncombe Hill Trailhead that’s a nice distraction from this otherwise concrete jungle; (3) As you’re a stone’s throw away from Daytona Beach, arguably, one of the best beaches in the state, if not the country, you’ll want to hit one of these ‘drive-on’ white sand beach destinations – but get there early!; and (4) While you are surrounded by a ton of franchise restaurant chain eateries like Cracker Barrel, BJ’s, Tijuana Flats and Waffle House, I highly recommend Double Barrel Grill, which functions as one part whiskey distillery and also operates a shooting range – who says you can’t shoot and eat your meal too?! 

Happy Camping!

If you’re enroute to one of the most iconic beach destinations in all of Florida and are hauling your mobile living room behind you, then South Daytona RV Park & Tropical Gardens might be a good option for you to check it. This lush spot is flat, completely shaped like a football field (and about the size of one too) with a simple loop going around the circumference of the field with RV slots both inward and outward facing. Surrounding the RV Park is a decent smattering of Florida wild forest (although I don’t know that I would go as far as to say these are ‘Tropical Gardens’). If you’re looking for a whole lot of simplicity and not much on the amenity front, then you’re in luck, because this is about as simple as it gets. 

As for the amenities, this pet-friendly place offers decent size sites (30’ x 70’), on-site laundr-O-mat, complimentary WiFi for all your social media and web-based browsing pleasure, small pond in front and a nice access point to another lake in the back of the campground, basic hook-ups are here (electric, sewage and water), decent restrooms and shower facilities as well as a few vending machines and a small community room. Again, this place is a bit ‘intimate’ with only about 10-12 acres or with a little over 100 slots to choose from. My personal recommendation would be to book those sites (14– 25) that are furthest away from the main road to not only reduce roadside noise, but to be closer to the lake access point that’s in the back. 

Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) As you’re a stone’s throw away (just a 10 minute drive) from Daytona Beach, arguably, one of the best beaches in the state, if not the country, you’ll want to hit one of these ‘drive-on’ white sand beach destinations – but get there early!; (2) If you find yourself getting tired of franks & beans on the grill and want someone else to do the cooking for you, check out Giuseppe’s Steel City Pizza, family-owned since 1982 and located just down the road from Endless Summer; and (3) If you come bringing a kayak or canoe, head on over to the causeway and cross A1A where you can drop your watercraft just about anywhere to explore Halifax River or Wilbur Bay (which has some amazing local wildlife, so bring a camera!). 

Happy Camping!

As I rock up to this roadside campground destination, I’ve got Don Henley’s ‘Boys of Summer’ playing on the old Spotify, which is just the perfect soundtrack to this multi-faceted campground refuge. Here in (slightly) northern Florida, where the beaches never stop luring locals and tourists alike to its white-capped shores and summer really does seem like it never ends, you’ll discover Daytona’s Endless Summer Campground. From the very moment you drive onto this property, you’ll feel somehow transported to something between Margaritaville and Yogi Bear’s Yellowstone Camping Outpost (in the make believe illustrated world). 

While there’s no cartoon characters per se, you will immediately be greeted by a large oversized log cabin structure that is the main office. Here, you’ll come into contact with some of the nicest and most accommodating staff I have ever met operating a campground (and I’ve met a few). Just to the side of this campground HQ lies the community pool, which faces towards the main road that you would have taken to arrive here. Kind of an odd place to put a pool if you ask me, but hey, it works. Surrounding this splash pool are no shortage of lawn games (think: horse shoes, planko, life-size jenga, etc.), fire pits and children’s playground. And while they showcase a number of tents erected on the place (there is in fact, a small area for tent campers), this is basically a campground for the RVing crowd. But don’t worry, if you don’t have a tent or camper, Endless Summer has you covered, as they rent a dozen or so log cabins. 

As for the amenities, this pet-friendly place packs a lot in, from its recreational room(just behind the main office entrance) where there are DVD’s, books, board games and a full-service kitchen, mail room along with a fairly decent meeting space chalk full of fold-up tables and chairs (think VFW hall). Up at the front office, there’s also a mini-mart / store that has just about everything you could imagine (and likely have forgotten) – I love that they have S’mores kits, BTW! But don’t worry, if you’re not in any immediate rush, there’s a Publix and Walgreen’s just down the street. All of the basic hook-ups are here (electric, water and sewage), as well as scattered BBQ grills, picnic tables, fire pits, soda machines, plenty of community patio chairs and tables, coin-operated Laundr-O-Mat, a fairly excellent bathhouse and restroom facilities. 

Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) As you’re a stone’s throw away (just a 10 minute drive) from Daytona Beach, arguably, one of the best beaches in the state, if not the country, you’ll want to hit one of these ‘drive-on’ white sand beach destinations – but get there early!; (2) If you find yourself getting tired of franks & beans on the grill and want someone else to do the cooking for you, check out Giuseppe’s Steel City Pizza, family-owned since 1982 and located just down the road from Endless Summer; and (3) If you come bringing a kayak or canoe, head on over to the causeway and cross A1A where you can drop your watercraft just about anywhere to explore Halifax River or Wilbur Bay (which has some amazing local wildlife, so bring a camera!). 

Happy Camping!

Located in the heart of Daytona and just a stone’s throw to, ahem, Rose Bay, this RV outpost is a curious bird to say the least. First, it’s location plants you directly smack dab in the middle of a completely residential community and there’s not much in the way of shrubbery or forests to give that feeling of being out in the midst of nature. Nope, it’s just an RV park that is thrown right in the middle of a suburbia. While there are a number of open spots, which may be good for an overnighting RV camper or trailer, this place is more for the folks that haven’t quite fully committed to the semi-permanent living lifestyle. It’s not one of those places that masquerades as an RV park, but it’s definitely chock full of folks who don’t seem to be leaving anytime soon and haven’t chosen the RV life out of affinity with nature, that’s for sure. 

From an amenities standpoint, water and electric (30 and 50 amp) hook-ups are available and restroom/ showers (not terribly clean BTW), but not much else. Picnic tables? Only a few scattered are available. Grills, nowhere to be found. Clubhouse? Sure, in the main office, but it’s more of just an open living room with not much. Basically, you need to bring whatever you want / need. I will say that there is a pretty decent pool – that was the major highlight of our stay – in fact, we did nothing else, but make Mai Tais and hang out in our inflatables poolside! Apart from the pool, this place should most certainly NOT be called a resort.

Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) As you’re a stone’s throw away from Daytona Beach, arguably, one of the best beaches in the state, if not the country, you’ll want to hit one of these ‘drive-on’ white sand beach destinations – but get there early as spots fill up fast;(2) If you get tired of living off what’s in your cooler or cooking over an open fire and just want to venture out to try something local, I highly recommend Hidden Treasures Restaurant, just a 7 minute drive from Rose Bay, where I would suggest the Seafood Boil – simply amazing; (3) There’s pretty amazing go-karting and miniature golf right next to Rose Bay Resort; and (4) Learn how to make a wicked Mai Tai, find some inflatables and hang out at the pool to otherwise numb the reality of where you are at. 

Happy Camping!

Located within a stone’s throw (or two) of I95 – Florida’s major highway artery running due north and south – you’ll come across Sunshine Holiday Daytona just due west of the main exit to Daytona Beach and the Daytona Speedway. Here you will discover a massive RV depot that has 2 distinct campuses to choose from with altogether 602 individual RV, tent camping, cottage and cabin spots to choose from. If you think this sounds like an overcrowded, RV parking lot too close to a major highway interstate with all of the fast food restaurants you can throw a rock at all within walking distance (and a Harley Davidson dealer to boot) then you would be correct! 

About Sunshine Holiday Daytona specifically, you’ll find that this RV campground is basically two very large concentric circles separated by a canal, with Circle A, the first encircled campground space that you will come to upon entry, where the main lodge, shower / restrooms, laundr-O-mat, market and swimming pool is located in the center, is organized by sites #1– 100, and on the outer periphery, you’ll find a dozen and a half or so sites designated for tent campers, but as a fellow tent-pitcher, I wouldn’t recommend this. For those that don’t have an RV or a tent, no problem, as there’s also a handful of scattered cottages and cabins that you can rent for the night. 

The second concentric circle, located just due west of the first large circle, which you’ll come to after first crossing a small canal, is organized in the same fashion as the first circle with a basic hub-like structure in the center with restrooms / showers (but no market or swimming pool here). Both circles have 4 - 5 expanding rings all with intersecting lanes that surround the center, so obviously, the outer rings provide the most amount of shelter and privacy, although you should note that the southernmost part of each external ring is closest to the 4-lane US1 highway from whence you came, so if possible, for Circle A, you’ll want to be on the northern or eastern side and for Circle B, you’ll want to be on the northern or western side. 

Amenities: Clubhouse / lounge, swimming pool, near Daytona’s beaches (biggest upside), pet-friendly, horseshoe pits, bocce ball, WiFi, dog park, playground, restroom / shower facilities, market / store, RV and boat storage, mini golf, badminton, shuffle board, tennis, basketball, bingo / card playing, activities center, volleyball, laundr-O-mat, designated dump station, propane refueling station, as well as full hook-ups for RV (30/ 50 electric amp, sewage, water). 

Insider’s tips? Here’s a few:(1) If you love watching canines battle it out for who’s the fastest, then head on over to Daytona Beach Kennel Club for a good half day at the races along with some hefty pints of Guinness being poured; (2) If fast food isn’t your thing (and you’re not alone here), then check out Colt’s Pig Stand for some pretty great (not excellent) BBQ or if in need of a decent and quick no frills breakfast, then check out Honey Bee Café – both are located just down the street on US1 towards I95; (3) While en route to your destination and find yourself hauling some ATVs or 4X4’s, then you may have hit the jackpot as just down the road from Sunshine Holiday Daytona, you’ll come across Florida Cracker Ranch (and you just have to love that name, right?!), where for some small change, you too can get your off-roading muddin’ driving pleasures realized and if that’s not really your thing, they also have hiking, biking, horseback riding, skeet shooting and many other activities that will keep you out enjoying nature for as long as possible; and (4) When looking for some great trails to hike or ravines to navigate, head on over to Bulow Creek State Park, where you’ll have no shortage of Ancient Oak trees and submerged lands to navigate, complete with a pretty amazing primitive running trail and isolated campground. Further afield, you’ll discover Tomoka SP, which is one of my favorite little hidden gems in all of Florida, so be sure to give them both a look. 

Happy Camping!

Driving north or southbound on I95 with your 5th wheel or a proper RV and looking to join a massive community of like-minded outdoor enthusiasts, then look no further than Holiday Travel Park, conveniently tucked away due west behind the tall pines off Exit 278. If you’re driving the speed limit on I95 and don’t look close enough, trust me, you won’t find this hidden behemoth RV community. While billed as the#1 RV and Camping Spot in the Daytona Beach area (debatable, at best), this INCREDIBLY HUGE RV destination has tons of space and an incredible list of attractions that borders on being obscene. 

From an amenities standpoint, Holiday Travel Park offers up: Free WiFi, pull-thru and back-in shaded RV Sites, sparkling clean bathrooms, tennis courts, scattered hot showers, coin-operated laundry room, heated swimming pool, firewood for sale, duck pond, recreational areas, full hook-ups (water, 30 / 50 electric and sewage), dump station, fishing lake as well as RV & boat storage area. At the office, where you’ll check-in and get your security pass and slot#, there’s also a decent sized community room complete with DVD’s and a lending library. 

Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) While this place did not impress me as a destination per se, if you are looking for a convenient roadside exit incredibly close to I95 to layover for the night, this place is solid and their rates are very affordable; (2) Looking for nearby attractions or something to do? I would recommend heading east and crossing I95 to Bulow Creek State Park where you’ll find no shortage of amazing hiking pathways, excellent bird-watching as well as kayak entry points and fishing holes to cast a line in; and (3) As you are next to I95, you’ll have no shortage of fast food restaurants, but if you want to grab something more substantial, you’ll be left with just a few nearby options: Mezzaluna Pizzeria, Breakfast Station or Thai Elephant, which has some fairly amazing pad thai. 

Happy Camping!

From the initial encounter with the ranger at the entrance to the staff running the camp store everyone was super-chill. Campground was well maintained and our neighbors were all well behaved. Next to Blue Spring State Park in Orange City Fl. this park had the best separation between sites of any Florida State Park we’ve experienced. I would say that there is more available for the smaller rigs and possibly no room for monster 5th wheels. I would think really big rigs would also have trouble maneuvering the tight roads here. The park has a boat ramp that allows access to the Intracoastal Waterway and the relatively short Tomoka River and Tomoka Bay. The camp store is right next to the boat ramp and is where you can rent kayaks, buy frozen bait, and some fishing tackle. Best of all they have a couple of local craft beers on tap and some outdoor seating where you can sip your beer and watch people launch their boats. There are hiking trails and you’re in close proximity to Ormond and Daytona beaches. If you’re taking a motorboat out from there and aren’t blessed with local knowledge of the waters do yourself a favor and ask the staff at the store they have maps and were very helpful with tips on navigating the waterway.