Florida Van Life & Unexpected Adventures
75 Days, Zero Expectations, and a Lot of Surprises
Oh Florida.
How I expected to hate thee.
With your sun-drenched, skin-wrinkled snowbirds that look like a cow-hide tanning factory gone awry. Your signs proudly boasting “Elevation: 4 feet.” Your constant leaning into culture wars with theme parks.
I never expected to spend 75 days inside your borders — and enjoy it.
Yet… here we are.
Florida ended up being one of the places where I learned the most about van life — largely because I arrived here early in my journey, before this blog really existed, and stayed long enough to figure things out the hard way. Instead of forcing one giant retrospective article, this page pulls together the highlights, lessons, and places I’d still recommend today — with links to the content I did create along the way.
Quick Stats:
Time in State: 75 days
MTB destinations visited: 2 trail systems
Favorite camping spot: Bahia Honda State Park
Favorite Highlight:| Ringling Museum
🚐📓 Why This Florida Page Is a Little Different
My Florida experience actually came in two very different trips:
- Trip One: Fresh van. Zero systems dialed in. Still Googling things like “Where do you empty a cassette toilet without people staring?” I focused on learning — not documenting
- Trip Two: A return visit after a mountain biking crash left me with a broken finger, forcing me to slow down. (Spoiler: I still found mountain biking.)
Add to that Florida’s unmatched density of Thousand Trails parks, and you get a state that quietly became a training ground for my entire RV lifestyle.
If you’re new to Thousand Trails, I break down exactly how I use it to save thousands per year — and how referrals can unlock discounts — in my guide here:
If you’re new to Thousand Trails, I break down exactly how I use it to save thousands per year — and how referrals can unlock discounts — in my guide here:🎥📝 My Florida Content
Because Florida was such a disjointed trip for me, I only did two blog posts (one on mountain biking and one on Daytona Beach). I also did 4 videos that I will showcase here. The rest of this page is dedicated to all the fun things I did in Florida. And the truth is – I just scratched the surface of amazing things you can do in Florida!
Florida Mountain Biking… WAIT…. WHAT?!?!?!
I used to laugh at the idea of “Florida Mountain Biking.” Coming from Colorado, I thought it was a joke. I was wrong. From the wooden vortex of Santos to the gator-lined ridges of Alafia, here is my apology letter to the Sunshine State’s surprisingly gnarly trail systems.
Daytona: Young, Wild, and… Surprisingly Chill?
Think Daytona Beach is just for spring breakers and NASCAR fans? Think again. Ty spent two weeks RVing in Daytona, uncovering hidden gems, facing his fear of heights at a lighthouse, and discovering that driving your car on the beach is the ultimate act of laziness. Here is his honest take on the “World’s Most Famous Beach.”
🎥 My Florida Videos!
Thousand Trails Orlando Review
My Daytona Adventure!
Florida Mountain Biking Guide.
Encore Sunshine Holiday Daytona Review
Encore Ramblers Rest Review
My Florida Trail Finder!
Trail Finder
Yes, Florida has mountain biking. I laughed too. Then I ate crow. Here's every system worth knowing about — including the ones I actually rode.
No trails match that search. Maybe the gators got them.
Florida Highlights (The Good Stuff)
Below are the places that stood out most — with direct links to campground reviews, walkthrough videos, and related posts wherever I have them.
🌴 Florida Keys
Stay:
Why It’s Special:
- Snorkeling & diving in clear water
- One of the most scenic state parks in Florida
- Easy day trip to Key West
Things I Did:
- Drove to Key West
- Conch Tour Train
- Hemingway House
- Ate way too much Royal Red Shrimp (off menu you have to ask) at Conch Republic Seafood Co.
- Confirmed that yes, Key Lime Pie really is better there
- Got a parking ticket for LEGALLY parking my van. Appealed it and won!
🐊 Everglades National Park
Stay:
- Inside the park via Flamingo Adventures – the only approved Campground
Unforgettable Experiences:
- Slogging with an authorized guide (yes — walking through water). This was one of the most unique national park experiences I’ve had — and nothing like I expected. I was literally 3 feet in the water from live alligators.
- Being very close to alligators in their natural habitat
- Boat tour through the Everglades ecosystem
🏖 Sarasota (One of My Favorites)
Stay Options:
- Rambler’s Rest (Trails Collection) – see full campground review & walkthrough
- Oscar Scherer State Park (great non-TT option)
Sarasota completely surprised me — to the point that it’s now one of my favorite places in Florida.
Highlights:
- Siesta Key Beach
- The sand stays cool even in peak heat
- Easily my favorite beach in the continental U.S.
- The Ringling Museum
- Sounds cheesy. It isn’t.
- A massive estate, serious art museum, and genuinely fascinating look at the circus’s role in American culture.
- Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium
- Research + education + fun
- Right next to a free public park on the bay
- Perfect for an easy afternoon
👉 Watch & Read:
- 🎥 Rambler’s Rest Campground Review
🏁 Daytona Beach
Where I Stayed:
- Encore Sunshine Holiday Daytona (Trails Collection)
Daytona is… polarizing. Thousand Trails members have three Trails Collection options in the area, and opinions vary wildly. I documented my experience honestly — good, bad, and weird.
Deep Dive:
Daytona campground review
🏁 Full Daytona Adventure Post!
🎢 Orlando (More Than Theme Parks)
Stay Options:
- Thousand Trails Orlando
- Multiple nearby Trails Collection parks
Yes — Disney and Universal are here. But Orlando is also:
- A strong Thousand Trails base
- Surprisingly close to legit mountain biking
- A solid long-stay hub if you plan it right
👉 Check These Out:
- 🎥 Thousand Trails Orlando review
- 📖 Florida mountain biking guide
- 🎥 MTB video (yes, Florida has trails)
🏰 St. Augustine (History, Walkability, and a Great State Park Stay
St. Augustine was one of those Florida stops that surprised me — not because it’s flashy, but because it’s walkable, historic, and genuinely interesting without needing a theme park ticket.
Stay:
- Anastasia State Park. One of the better-located state parks I’ve stayed at in Florida. Close enough to town to explore easily, but far enough away to feel relaxed and outdoorsy.
Highlights and Things I did:
- Castillo de San Marcos. The star of the show. Standing inside a 17th-century stone fort on U.S. soil never really gets old — and it’s surprisingly engaging even if you “aren’t a history person.”
- Historic Old Town. Extremely walkable, lively without being overwhelming, and packed with shops, cafés, and centuries of history. This is one of the few Florida towns where wandering aimlessly is actually the point.
- Bridge of Lions. Possibly my favorite bridge in Florida. Walkable, photogenic, and especially nice at sunset.
- Lightner Museum. This was a total wildcard highlight. The museum is housed inside a former luxury hotel, and even if you only half-care about the exhibits, the building itself is worth the visit.
- St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum. Climb it. The views are great, and it’s one of those places that makes you appreciate just how flat Florida really is.
Why St. Augustine Works for Van Life
- Strong state park option close to town
- Walkable historic core (rare in Florida)
- Easy to pair with nearby beach days or coastal driving
- A nice break from resort-style Florida destinations
🚐 Quick Stop Worth Calling Out
Harvest Hosts: Tallahassee Automobile & Collectibles Museum
I expected cheesy. I was very wrong.
Why It’s Awesome:
- Legitimate car collection (not replicas)
- Original Batmobiles (yes, plural)
- Walk across the street to excellent dining
One of the best Harvest Hosts stops I’ve done.
Other Florida Experiences Worth Doing
Even if I didn’t fully document them, these stood out:
- Swimming with the Manatees
- Sunset kayaking in the Everglades
- Biking the Shark Valley Tram Road
Final Thoughts on Florida Van Life
Florida isn’t subtle.
It’s hot. It’s crowded. It’s buggy. It’s political.
And yet — if you slow down and plan smart — it can be an excellent van life state, especially for:
- Winter stays
- Thousand Trails members
- Long, low-stress basecamping
This page will evolve as I revisit Florida in the future. For now, it’s an honest snapshot of what surprised me, what worked, and what I’d actually recommend.
Videos
Be sure to check out my YouTube Channel Shifting Gear s with Ty for Campground Reviews, VanLife/RVLife guides, mountain biking reviews and so much more!
🖼️ Favorite Photos:
A Little Bit About Me.
I started writing this blog as a way to capture the adventurous and free lifestyle I’m privileged to live. I’ve traveled to over 28 countries and 35 U.S States. I’ve lived aboard in multiple countries and averaged over 100 days a year of travel for work. I’ve skied and hiked all over the world – and my new obsession is mountain biking.
What I bring to you isn’t AI generated. It’s based on my feet on the ground – or sometimes conversations with locals. Click here to read more about me!