Calendar of RV Shows in Florida

RV Shows in Florida are a great opportunity to view the various classes and models of recreational vehicles offered by multiple dealers in a single location.

We do our best to pinpoint exact dates for RV shows in Florida, but they are not always available far in advance, so we give you our best projections and update this calendar when dates do become available.

Our calendar of RV shows in Florida is updated frequently.

If you know about an RV Show that we don’t know about, please E-mail to floridarambler@gmail.com with the subject “RV Show” (Dealers welcome to list their shows)

Calendar of RV Shows in Florida

January

January 17-21, 2024 (5 days) — Florida RV Supershow, Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 U.S. 301 North, Tampa FL, 33610. 9 am-5 pm. 2-day Admission: $10 . Parking $8 for cars; $14 for RVs. Onsite camping. More nearby camping: Best camping near Tampa Bay

2024 TBA (January 26-29, 2023) (4 days) — Fort Myers RV Show, Lee County Civic Center, 11831 Bayshore Road, Ft. Myers, Florida, 33917. Multiple dealers, seminars, vendors. 10 am 5 pm. Admission $8. 

2024 TBA (Late January) — The Tampa Great American Tiny House Show, Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 U.S. 301 North, Tampa FL, 33610. 9 am- 6 pm. Admission $15. Parking $10 for cars, $16 for RVs. Onsite camping.

Related story: Best camping near Tampa Bay

February

2024 TBA (February 9-12, 2023) (4 days) — Greater Jacksonville RV Mega Show Jacksonville Equestrian Center, 13611 Normandy Boulevard, Jacksonville, Florida 32221. Multiple RV dealers, vendors.

2024 TBA (February 16-20, 2023) (5 days) — West Palm Beach RV Show, South Florida Fairgrounds, 9067 Southern Boulevard, West Palm Beach, FL 33411. Multiple dealers, vendor booths. Indoor RV Show. Admission free. Parking free. Email: info@frvta.org

March

2024 TBA (March 2-5, 2023) (4 days) — Ocala RV Show. Florida Horse Park, 11008 County Road 475, Ocala, Florida 34480. Multiple dealers. 4 days (Th-Su) 9 a.m.-5 pm. Admission $5. Parking free.

April

2024 TBA (Late March, Mid-April) (3 days) — SuperSaver RV Show,  Century Link–Lee Sports Complex, 14400 Ben Pratt Six Mile Cypress Parkway, Ft. Myers, Florida 33912. Friday & Saturday, 10am to 5 pm; Sunday, 10am to 4 pm. Admission free. Parking free.

2024 TBA (Late April) (3 days) — Florida Outdoor Expo, South Florida Fairgrounds, 9067 Southern Boulevard, West Palm Beach, FL 33411. Exhibitors displays for Archery, Backyard Living, Biking, Boating, Camping, Fishing, Motorsports, Watersports. $12 admission. Friday, 12p-6p; Saturday: 10a-6p; Sunday, 10a-5p.

May

2024 TBA (May 11-14, 2023) (4 days) — West Palm Beach Spring RV Show, South Florida Fairgrounds, 9067 Southern Boulevard, West Palm Beach, FL 33411. 10 am-5 pm. Admission $10. Parking is free. 

June

June 8-11, 2023 (4 days) — Tampa Bay Summer RV Show. Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 U.S. 301 North, Tampa FL, 33610. Multiple dealers. 4 days (Th-Su) 9 am-5 pm. Admission $5. Parking is $10 for cars, $16 for RVs. Onsite camping. Nearby camping: Best camping near Tampa Bay

June 17-18, 2023 (2 days) — The Great American Tiny House Show, Prime F Osborne III Convention Center, 1000 Water Street, Jacksonville, FL 32204. Saturday, 9 am-6 pm; Sunday, 10 am-5 pm

August

August 12, 2023 — North Central Florida Outdoor Expo in Ocala, World Equestrian Center, 1750 NW 80th Ave, Ocala, FL 34482. Event featured more than 140 vendors. 9 am-5 pm. Parking is free. Admission $5.

September

Date TBA — Orlando’s Largest RV Show. Orange County Convention Center, 9800 International Drive, Orlando, Florida 32819.

Dates Unknown — The Big Weekend RV Show, University Town Center, 140 University Town Center Drive, Sarasota, Florida 34243. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. The former sponsor, RVOne, has been acquired by Blue Compass RV. No show dates have been scheduled for 2023.

October

Late October — Panhandle RV Show. Destin/Fort Walton Beach Emerald Coast Convention Center, 1250 Miracle Strip Parkway Southeast, Fort Walton Beach, Florida 32548. Multiple dealers. 10 am-5 pm. Admission $5. Parking is free.

2023 Dates Unknown. Jacksonville Fall RV Show. In the past, this show was held at the Morocco Shriners Center, which has been demolished to make way for a commercial development. We will post new information on this show when it becomes available.

November

November — Tampa Bay Fall RV Show. Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 U.S. 301 North, Tampa FL, 33610. Multiple local dealers. Onsite camping.

More nearby camping: Best camping near Tampa Bay: 9 choice campgrounds

FAQ: Your questions answered about RV Shows in Florida

What is an RV show?

Multiple local dealers gather on common ground, often at fairgrounds, convention centers or large parking lots at shopping malls. The purpose is to gain exposure to more people than might ordinarily visit their sales lots, from beginners and the curious to veterans and full-timers. The larger shows include vendors selling RV accessories and supplies.

Who goes to RV shows?

RV shows are not just for beginners. Experienced RVers are always looking to upgrade or upsize. As a result, you’ll see a broad mix of attendees. Newbies should keep in mind it’s possible, even likely, they’ll be back in a few years to upgrade, and dealers know it.

What different types of recreation vehicle at RV shows?

There are seven classes of recreation vehicles that you’ll find on display at most RV shows:

Pop-up Tent Camper — A step up from tent camping while still appealing to ‘purists’, the tent camper has collapsable sides that fold into a trailer box. The are lightweight with a low profile and can be towed behind almost any vehicle, including compact cars equipped with a Class I or II trailer hitch. Although minimal amenities, some tent campers are equipped with a mini-kitchen with refrigerator, limited storage and a few even have toilets, but don’t expect much more. Popular with beginners.

Travel Trailer — A tiny house on wheels, the Travel Trailer is the most common recreational vehicle. They come in many sizes (15-35 feet in length) and require a Class III or IV hitch on your vehicle. It’s critical that you match the gross vehicle of your trailer to the tow capacity of your tow vehicle. Smaller trailers (14-20 feet) are single axle, while trailers more than 20 feet in length are usually dual axle, the advantage being stability and road safety. The advantage of a travel trailer is the ability to set it up once and leave it at your campsite while you wander off in your tow vehicle. Travel Trailers come in many configurations: bunk beds, full baths, rear or front living areas with muliple convertible beds, some even have slide-out kitchens with an island!

Fifth Wheel — A Fifth Wheel is an oversized travel trailer with a “fifth wheel” coupling that mounts on your tow vehicle above the rear axle. In most cases, the tow vehicle is a heavy-duty pickup truck. Typically, Fifth Wheels have all the amenities of home, including a large master bedroom with an en suite bath, fully equipped kitchen, slideouts, living room and dining area.

Toy Hauler — A large travel trailer or Fifth Wheel with a garage in the rear for carrying motorcycles, golf carts, bicycles and other toys. Most will have a queen-size bed that can be lowered from the ceiling to create a bedroom once the garage is emptied, and the garage door converts to an outdoor deck. The compromise you make is that living area is reduced considerably, eliminating a dining area, for example.

Class A Mobile Home — Literally a decked-out bus with all the comforts of home. They are very popular with entertainers on tours, full-timers and seasonal travelers who migrate with the weather, often towing a small car for convenience when they reach their destination. Motor homes are at the luxury end of the recreational vehicle market and often cost in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Class B Van — Compact and versatile, the Class B is your classic van with a raised roofline to provide headroom. Very compact but convenient for short weekend hops or long-distance touring. Some are luxurious and expensive ($100,000 and up), but simpler van conversions can be found in the $40,000 to $100,00 range.

Class C Cab-over — Typically built on pickup truck chassis with bunk over the driver’s cab, the Class C is a popular, self-contained option for frequent travelers. In addition to the bunk above the cab, the Class C universally has a dining pod that converts into a full-size bed, sometimes on a slide-out. Surprisingly spacious, enhanced by the open cab with high-end swivel drivers and passenger seats. The downside is having to disconnect and reconnect your hookups every time you want to leave your campsite, and the storage tanks for black water, gray water and fresh water are small.

Can I get a good deal at an RV show?

The short answer is YES. Dealer markups are high, and dealers have to haul their rigs to the event grounds. They don’t want to haul them back unsold. If you’re ready to buy, make your best deal and compare offers. Don’t be too eager, but it does pay to show interest and let the sales associates know that you are in the market.

Before you go to an RV Show

This is a big purchase, likely to be $20,000, $30,000 or more, so it’s a good idea have financing lined up in advance. Dealers offer financing at competitive rates, sometimes bargain rates, but you should be ready with your own for comparison.

Make a list of what you need in your recreational vehicle and set priorities. Everything is a compromise. You won’t always get what you want, but you can come close.

You should also have a storage plan before you buy. Know your zoning laws, and check prices of storage lots if you can’t park your new RV at home. Storage can be a major expense and may actually cost more than your monthly RV loan payments.

Talk to your insurance agent in advance. Insurance can add significant unplanned costs, especially in a hurricane zone.

RVspeak: Jargon you should know

Awning: A powered rollout awning on most new recreational vehicles to provide shade and protection from rain.

Blackwater: Wastewater from the RV toilet.

Blackwater tank: The tank that stores the blackwater, which is usually separate from the greywater tank, which stores shower, sink and dishwater. On small RVs, they may be combined into one tank.

Brake controller: A device used to control the electric brakes on the trailer from your tow vehicle.

City water hookup: A fitting on the outside of the RV for connecting a hose for fresh water from an external, pressurized, supply. 

Diesel pusher: A motorcoach with its engine in the rear, instead of the front.

Dry docking (aka boondocking): Camping in an any area without water, electricity and sewer hookups.

Dry weight: The weight of your RV from the factory plus dealer options. Usually includes appliances, but not always.

Dump station: A place where waste-water tanks can be emptied. Most campgrounds (not all) have at least one.

Electric trailer brakes: On travel trailers and fifth-wheel trailers, usually over a certain weight, a supplemental system of stopping the rig is needed. 

Freshwater tank: Storage tank for fresh water when “dry camping” or on the road.

Full hookup: A campsite featuring water, electric, and sewer connections. At many private campgrounds, a cable TV connection will also be available.

Full-timer: A person who lives 100% of the time in the RV. 

Garage: Storage area built into the recreation vehicle for toys, hoses, tools, chairs, portable grills, etc.

Graywater: Waste water from the sinks and showers.

Gross vehicle weight: The weight of the trailer plus its load capacity (your stuff). Also known as wet weight.

Landing gear: These are powered jacks on fifth wheels that lift the trailer off the coupler from the pickup truck bed. During travel, they retract into the trailer.

Levelling jacks: Common on motorhomes, these are powered jacks that help level the recreational vehicle, not to be confused with Stabilizer Jacks that keep trailers from rocking.

Newbie: A first-time buyer. We were all newbies once.

Rig: Jargon for recreational vehicle.

RV mattress: Often a “Short Queen” on small- to medium-sized rigs. An “RV Short Queen is 60 x 74, compared to a 60×80 standard queen. Similarly, an “RV Short King” is 70-72 x 74; an “RV King” is 70-72 x 80. The “shorts” feel even shorter when the headboard is curved at the front of the trailer. I’m 6’1″, and my feet hang over the foot of our short queen.

Sewer hose: An expandable hose that connects the RV’s blackwater/greywater outlet to a sewer hookup at the campsite or dump station, often stored in the rear bumper while traveling or when hookups are not available.

Shore power: Electrical hookups in campgrounds. Most are 30 amps (common power supply for trailers and Class C’s) and 50 amps (common for motor homes). Almost all also have a secondary 15-amp (normal household current for pop-up trailers).

Slide-out: A powered unit that slides out when the recreational vehicle is stationary to create more interior space, usually a dinette but sometimes a living area, kitchen or bedroom.

Toad: A vehicle towed by a self-contained motor home.

Tongue jack: The tongue jack raises and lowers the trailer when you hitch up, and it’s the primary support for your trailer at your campsite or in storage. It also adjusts your trailer’s pitch for leveling. Most trailers have electric jacks these days, but many still have hand cranks. My first trailer had a hand crank, but I soon replaced it with electric.

Tongue weight: The downward force exerted on the hitch at the trailer tongue, so know the tongue capacity of your tow vehicle, and compare it to the trailer’s tongue weight, before you buy.

Umbilical cord: The electrical cord that connects the RV trailer to the towing vehicle (car, van, SUV, or truck).

Wallydocking: Drydocking in a Walmart parking lot. Not all Walmart parking lots are open to overnight RV stays, but many 24-hour stores do. If you see a cluster of RVs in one corner of the parking lot, it’s probably OK. If in doubt, check with the store manager.

Weight distribution hitch: A special hitch on travel trailers that evenly distributes the gross vehicle weight on the wheels of both the tow vehicle and the trailer. Often misstated as a stabilizer or sway bar, although it does help control trailer sway and stabilize.

Wet bath: A bathroom where the sink and toilet are inside the shower stall. The smaller the trailer, the more likely you’ll have one.

Wet weight: Salesmen use this term loosely, but it means the same as gross vehicle weight.

Winterize: The maintenance of an RV’s water system to protect it from damage during cold winter storage. 

For more terms, visit Wikipedia > Recreational Vehicle Terms

Things to consider when buying an RV

Storage Tanks — Most RVs have a fresh water tank, a gray water tank (for showers, sinks and dishwater) and a black water tank (for you know what). Smaller rigs may combine gray and black water in a single tank. Many RVers just use rest rooms at campgrounds, reducing the need for large tanks, but your indoor lavatory is extremely convenient and could get a lot of use. Gray water tanks fill up fastest, so you want a larger tank, if possible. Pay attention to the specs on the rig you plan to buy and match it to your needs.

I’m looking at travel trailers. How much can I tow?

Your tow vehicle is critical, and you won’t always get a straight answer from salespeople. I found that out when I bought my first travel trailer.

There are two critical factors: Gross vehicle weight and tongue weight, and your tow vehicle must match or exceed the trailer’s. Both specifications will be printed on a label on the outside of the recreational vehicle.

There are two weights listed for your trailer: The dry weight as it left the factory and the gross vehicle weight, which includes everything you carry — clothing, TVs, bicycles, pots and pans, plates and utensils, food, bottled water, coffee makers and appliances not factory installed.

Roughly figure 500 pounds per person in additional weight. (Yes! 500 pounds!)

The tongue weight is the maximum weight the hitch on your tow vehicle can support, and it varies from vehicle to vehicle. Some salesmen will point out “a cushion” built into a vehicle’s towing capacity. This might be true, but don’t buy it.

My personal recommendation is to leave a 1,000-pound cushion between the gross vehicle weight of the trailer and the towing capacity of your vehicle for extra pulling power needed for steep mountain grades.

Have you ever seen the movie “The Long, Long Trailer” staring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz? The movie was made in 1953, but it still has legs.

What else will I want to buy?

Once you buy your recreational vehicle, you’ll discover hundreds of accessories you’ll want to make life easier, and there will likely be dozens of vendors at RV shows ready to take your money — including the dealer who is selling you the RV.

One of the most common accessories from the dealer will be a weight distribution hitch for travel trailers, which distributes weight evenly between all the wheels on your tow vehicle and travel trailer. If it’s recommended by the dealer, you should probably buy it.

A portable waste-water tank to empty your gray-water tank without having to disconnect and move your RV every time you need to go to the dump station. Blackwater tanks will usually last 5-7 days, but gray-water tanks fill up in 2-3 days if you’re not careful.

A pop-up canopy is a great accessory, especially if you have kids and need more cover for the tribe than your awning will provide.

Collapsible chairs fold up and can slide into narrow spaces, such as your RV’s storage garage. You will be spending most of your time outside.

A folding table is a must-have. Most campsites have picnic tables, but you’ll also want a folding table that fits under your awning (and stores easily). Not all picnic tables are in good shape, and they are extremely heavy to move under your awning in bad weather.

Do you have more suggestions? Tell everyone about your experiences in the Comments section below.

Resources: Florida RV Trade Association, RVShare.com, rvlifestyle.com