Florida State Fairgrounds

We stayed on grounds during the Tampa RV Show. The fairgrounds permits RV overnighting when they are hosting an event (which seems to be almost 'always'). The ability to pay to a space with any kind of hook-ups is dependent on what event is happening - and your roll in that event.

For the Tampa RV Show, vendors and the 'RV elite squad' (i.e. YouTubers, Bloggers, etc) are granted (reserved) spots in the hook-up area of the fairgrounds. The general public is permitted to park their RVs in the general public parking area of the fairgrounds - first come, first served, no hook-ups available. It costs $10 to enter the fairgrounds, and then $20/night after that. With your $20/night pass, you are welcome to come-and-go in your towed vehicle without paying the $10 parking fee again.

Generators are permitted, although typical 'generator hours' (no overnight generating) are posted. Road noise is dependent on how close to the highway you park. At night, the fairgrounds was quiet except for road noise.

The parking lot is a mix of asphalt and grass parking areas - mostly grass though. As an RV, you enter the fairgrounds at a secondary entrance - NOT the entrance with the arch over it - unless you arrive after show hours, in which case, you probably have to enter there. Depending on when you arrive during the show, you will be corralled in a 'holding' area until the parking lot clears out of cars for the day. Then you are welcomed to head into the large parking area and stake out a spot to overnight in your rig. There were over 200 rigs per night when we were here, and there was still plenty of space for probably 200+ more if they showed up.

During the day, parking attendants direct cars to parking spaces - and your rig will simply be treated as a parked car. You may be surrounded by cars during the day if you have any room around your rig - so just realize that.

Security checks overnight parking passes at night.

Verizon was wicked fast (40 down/ 50 up) and even during the day when the show was going on we didn't suffer too much network congestion.

We loved our stay in the public area during the Tampa RV Show. Great access to the show, and the ability to come home for a nap and snack and head back in if we desired. We stayed from Wednesday afternoon (first public day of the show - we arrived around 3pm) until Monday around noon (the show ended on Sunday). You can stay one night - or every night of the event - choose your fantasy!

We had signed up for the Tampa RV Super Show as part of the VanLeigh (VL) group. Super Show groups had special times to line up on the Tuesday before the show started. We arrived at the fairgrounds at the entrance on Orient Street about noon and were guided to the staging area. We were directed to start the line up for our group in a specified row where we were then checked in by the parking crews. When you enter the fairgrounds, go immediately to the left into the big field area and DO NOT go through the formal gate. We did that and had to turn around and head back out. At our designated time our group of 5th wheels were escorted and parked. We ended up being row 9 site 01, which was on grass where you are packed in, with RVs being staggered in rows. The site was grass with rollout power lines with junction boxes that feed sites by generator powered 30 AMP, which was okay. There was no water or dump station available. But there were a few porta potties on the fairground perimeter, and you could set out your trash in front of your rig for pick up. Due to our lithium set up we were able to use one aircon or heat pump but were careful using the big pull appliances like the electric fireplace and microwave. We received 4 bars on Verizons and plenty OTA channels. The Super Show package that averaged $50 per day, gave us 5 nights camping, parking, evening entertainment, morning donuts/coffee, and entry into the show. That Tuesday evening other Super Show groups came in and boondocked before being escorted into their specific site areas the next morning. After that, people could boondock for $20 per night plus a one time $16 parking fee. After the show started, there was still plenty of grass area for people to come in and boondock. We had plenty of space to walk our dogs and you could take them into the RV show. Due to the huge crowds, especially in the afternoons, we decided not to take our pups with us. However, since we were near several gates into the show, we had no problem going back to our RV to let them out and take a break. If you wanted to come in for the Super Show almost every RV manufacturer and travel club had groups with pre-reservations beginning around October the year prior. As a future suggestion, you could join Lippert Scouts as they had a group this year as well. We only stayed 3 of the 5 nights so if you want to leave the show early, ask to be parked appropriately before you group is escorted to the RV sites

Home of the Strawberry Festival -- one of Florida’s largest food festivals – an 11-day event that has a typical state fair atmosphere with its carnival rides, livestock shows, arts and crafts, and strawberry shortcake. But this festival really shines when it comes to musical performances! Their headliners are top notch year after year, with the likes of Martina McBride, The Oak Ridge Boys, ALABAMA, and Kool and the Gang all performing last year. Now you can see why this festival boasts 500,000 visitors each year!