Winter Haven, Florida's RV parks provide easy access to the area's many lakes and natural attractions. Located in central Florida at about 170 feet above sea level, the region experiences a humid subtropical climate with warm winters and hot, rainy summers. Many campgrounds in the Winter Haven area offer paved or gravel sites that remain accessible year-round, even during Florida's frequent summer thunderstorms.
What to do
Explore the wildlife areas: Sun Outdoors Orlando ChampionsGate serves as a convenient base for exploring nearby natural areas. "If you actually care to grab a slice of nature while you are here at Sun Outdoors Orlando, then go for a day trip to Lake Tohopekaliga, which has some pretty amazing bass fishing as well as a few choice places to drop your boat into, like Twin Oaks or Cherokee Point Conservation Areas," suggests a visitor.
Enjoy the nearby attractions: Encore Sherwood Forest puts you within minutes of major theme parks. "You can practically ride your bike to Disney or Sea World properties," notes one camper. "Uber, you can get anything you need without moving your vehicle. Walk to groceries, restaurants, Old Town is 1.5 miles from the traffic light."
Visit LEGOLAND: Cypress Campground & RV Park offers a perfect location for LEGOLAND adventures. "We recently stayed here to go to LEGOLAND Brick-or treat and we had a great experience," shares a guest. "The campground was very clean, with tons of amenities (mini golf and pool)."
What campers like
Spacious sites: Camp Margaritaville RV Resort in Auburndale stands out for its generous camping spots. "Huge lots with tons of stuff to do," comments one visitor. Another adds, "The sites are awesome and very clean. They each come with a turf pad which the pup loved."
Entertainment options: Winter Haven rv parks feature abundant recreational amenities. "Newer campground, more of a resort type than 'natural' camping. What it lacks in shade it makes up for with 2 nice pools, one geared toward kids with a fountain and very fun twisty slide, music, TV's etc," notes a Camp Margaritaville guest.
Pool amenities: Swimming facilities rank high among camper favorites in rv parks near Winter Haven, Florida. "The pool was nice and it is a walkable distance from grocery stores. The showers and bathrooms were very clean and nice," mentions a Sun Outdoors Orlando ChampionsGate camper.
What you should know
Varying site conditions: Some campgrounds have uneven terrain or maintenance issues. "Really unlevel, lots of full timers and some of their units have become run down. Good amenities but bad sites. I could not get my unit close to level," reports a Central Park RV Resort guest.
Weather impacts: Florida's rainy season can affect camping experiences. "While you can't blame the park for the weather, recently there's been a lot of rain and rigs of all sizes are up to their rims in muck. Seems to be a draining problem as the water stands for several days," shares a visitor to Encore Sherwood Forest.
Construction activity: Some rv parks in the Winter Haven area undergo renovations. "When we visited, there was a solid amount of road construction going on right in front of Sun Outdoors Orlando, so unless that has changed, then I would highly suggest booking a spot furthest away the front of the campground," advises a camper.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Thousand Trails Orlando offers numerous options for children. "The resort is impeccable with newly updated bath houses, laundry facilities, 2 pools, playground, camp store, mail room, pickle ball and tennis courts, new basketball court and dock to launch kayaks, boats or fish from," notes a visitor.
Consider less crowded seasons: Peak periods can affect facility availability. "Very crowded. The only negative was that the pool area seemed a little small for the number of people there," shares a Camp Margaritaville visitor about their spring break experience.
Look for wildlife viewing opportunities: Nature encounters enrich family camping trips. "If you rent a golf cart and exploring the wilderness," suggests a Sanlan RV & Golf Resort camper. "This place is lovely. We have stayed here many times. The staff is wonderful."
Tips from RVers
Check laundry facilities: On-site laundry varies between parks. "The laundry areas are a joke they raised the price despite many machines not operating correctly including frying your clothes, not rinsing soap, no cold water only hot water," notes one longtime visitor to Cypress Campground & RV Park.
Consider site placement carefully: Location within rv parks can significantly impact your stay. "We were in 392, which is right behind the dog run and the amenities area. We don't own a dog and we were awakened by a few dog barks and a lot of owners playing with their dogs," shares a Camp Margaritaville camper.
Look for concrete pads: For stable parking in Winter Haven rv parks, concrete sites provide advantages. "I would come back here again but only to a spot with a concrete pad," advises an Encore Sherwood Forest guest after experiencing muddy conditions at grass sites.