What shelter you use to camp in is just a matter of taste. It may also be a matter of health, as some people just cannot sleep on the ground, for example. While some tent campers may think of people in campers and RVs as "wannabe" campers or not campers at all, all types of shelter do get you into the outdoors.

On that note, many tent campers may want to stay away from campgrounds made for RVs or campgrounds that get heavy RV use. This isn't a matter of looking down on RVers, but tent campers may want an area to themselves. There's something to be said for those who head to the wilderness for the sounds of nature, and instead get the hum of generators and the sound of the football game on the satellite TV. (One time while enjoying a campfire breakfast next to our tent, our RV neighbor spent about 5 minutes vacuuming the turf carpeting outside his door.) Many campgrounds are set up to put tent campers away from the others for this purpose.

Tents are the least expensive shelter, of course. They can store in your closet, along with sleeping bags. If you want to hike 6 miles to a primitive campsite, you can do so with your tent. A variety of tents on the market may make purchasing one a tough choice. The one factor we suggest on a tent is having screen windows on more than one side, to allow breezes to blow through. This helps air out the tent, and in Florida, you'll likely want that breeze on most days. If not, you can always zip the flaps over the screens. Other features -- how tall it is, how easy it is to put up and take down, how much it weighs, how many people it sleeps -- are just a matter of your taste and budget. The downside of tent camping is that you may be tempted to also bring along an air mattress, folding chairs and various other accessories that clutter your car and make packing more difficult!

Campers seem to be the middle ground for many people. Like RVs, they provide more solid shelter than tents and provide many of the comforts of home. But unlike RVs, you can't drive them, so they have to be towed. Campers are also more compact than RVs, which may be a plus to many people. New campers can be almost luxurious, but if price is a consideration, you may find a slightly used one for sale that will be just the thing for you.

RVs are the only way to go for many people. Fuel up, and there's nowhere you can't travel to. It's like an apartment on wheels. Depending on your budget, your RV can be elite or just nicely basic. An RV can be quite an expense, so do plenty of research and talk to several dealers before buying one. You may consider buying a used RV as an alternative. Or if an occasional trip is all you're interested in, consider renting one from RV America. Many out-of-state RV owners come to Florida in the winter months. Some travel around the South, but others stay put at campgrounds that allow long stays. If this interests you, make sure you ask your campground about the maximum allowable stay. When camping, you'll typically pay more than tent campers to park your RV at campgrounds, but you may get a discount if you pay a month or so in advance.

Back to the Florida camping guide