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!