Camp Margaritaville RV Resort REVIEW

If you’ve seen Camp Margaritaville on Instagram and were curious about the kitsch and colourful resort, you have come to the right place. We recently stayed for a long weekend in Auburndale and this is a full review of Camp Margaritaville RV Resort, Florida.

On a family holiday to Florida, a lot of families set their sights on Orlando with its theme parks and never-ending list of things to do. We were the same, but between the thrill rides and sugar highs, I really wanted somewhere to relax and unwind and spend some wholesome family time with my children and Camp Margaritaville was the ideal place to do just that.

What is Camp Margaritaville?

Camp Margaritaville RV Resort is a laid-back, luxury campsite in Auburndale, Florida. The site has room for huge rigs (some of these are amazing!), smaller campervans and car tent plots. But you don’t have to have an RV or be camping to stay here, Camp Margaritaville also has self-contained cabins, which sleep up to six people. It was in one of these cute cabins that we booked to stay, and we felt right at home.

Before being taken over by the Margaritaville brand, this camp was a luxury RV site, set over a large plot in Florida. If you are not familiar with the style of accommodation, many Brits will be amazed by the standard, quality and cleanliness of the facilities. This site in particular is vast. There are multiple restaurants, bars and food joints on-site, two large pools (one with a slide!) and a splash pad for kids. There is crazy golf, basketball courts, little playgrounds, Tiki bars and spaces for recreational activities such as group activities and events.

After the pandemic, Margaritaville Resorts took over the private RV site and rebranded it with their familiar serve of cheerful, tropical chill. The common areas were renamed with cheeky slogans such as ‘bark-aritaville’ for the dog park and buildings were given a colourful makeover. Throw in some Tiki bars and extra palm trees and you have yourself a laid-back, no-fly, tropical paradise. The result is inspirational.

The vibe here is very chilled out. The ideal place to escape the excess of Orlando for an old-school, wholesome break. Whilst the main Tiki bar does make a magnificent margarita, don’t let the ‘party til dawn’ name fool you. Camp Margaritaville’s take on the ‘5 o clock somewhere’ mantra is less tequila shots all-round and more family-friendly s’mores over the camp fire. There’s a party atmosphere, but it’s a low-key bop you can do in flip flops from your deckchair.

Nothing like the Margaritaville At Sea Cruise I did last summer. That’s an entirely different appeal and audience completely!

Where is Camp Margaritaville?

For Brits flying in from the UK, Camp Margaritaville is in a ideal location in Central Florida, almost exactly between Orlando International Airport and Tampa International. In fact, we flew in to MCO (Orlando) and out of Tampa, booking directly with Virgin Atlantic. It is also an easy drive from Melbourne Airport, for those flying with TUI, so Brits looking for accommodation with a side of Americana are sorted.

Camp Margaritaville is an easy 45-minute drive from Orlando. In fact, it’s almost one straight road! For those who do have a large RV rig, it’s the ideal place to park up at commute to the magic of Walt Disney World and Universal Studios, knowing you’ve secured a tropical spot for your down days in the comfort of your own rolling home. Sounds ideal doesn’t it?

Cabins at Camp Margaritaville RV resort

It was the cute cabins here that really caught my eye. We opted for a Cabana Bunk Cabin, which sleeps up to six, at prices from $175 per cabin, per night. There are also upgraded options such as cabins with a lake view, or with their own BBQ and Tiki Bar attached. If you do have your own campervan or RV, plots start from $70 per night including hook up, a grill and a picnic table.

We were instantly charmed by the look of the cabanas which all had adorable front porches, flower beds and rainbow-painted doors. Inside was even more impressive, these cabins are more like tiny homes, with full-sized kitchens, bathrooms, an open-plan living room and a king-sized bedroom.

The kids were thrilled with their bunk beds and I was equally chuffed at the huge bed in the main bedroom. If you have extra guests, the sofa converts into a bed as well, sleeping two. The bathroom was also much bigger than I was expecting, even hiding a double shower! Our cabin didn’t have a bath for the kids, but I’m not sure if other cabins have that option.

There is a big TV in the living space and a second monitor in the bedroom. Standard channels are offered but the internet wifi across the whole resort is very strong, so you can connect the TV to Netflix or Disney+ etc.

It was so quiet. I did wonder if the larger RV sites with their own Tiki bars would get spirited after-dark, but everyone was very respectable and it was entirely peaceful. In the morning, it was just the sound of the birdsong. Early-starters wandered past, usually walking their dogs, giving me a wave as I sat on the porch with my morning coffee before the kids woke up.

Cabana Cabins start from £137 ($179) per night margaritavilleresorts.com

What else is at the Margaritaville Campsite?

The main attraction, for us anyway, was the large swimming pool, complete with its own slide. I loved the design of the pool area, which reminded me of the iconic mid-century motel aesthetic. There was plenty of places to sit, with shaded and non-shaded options. The shallow entry is perfect for families, especially those with younger children. There is a tree fountain in the middle, providing splashes to keep them entertained.

Older kids will gravitate to the slide, which was more than a decent size for a hotel pool. This kept mine occupied for a good proportion the morning. I even got a bit of sunbathing time! There is no lifeguard, so families need to be alert for the kids. Alongside the pool, there is a takeout window called the Feeding Frenzy, which does the usual pool bar essentials like burgers, toasties and tacos. I highly recommend the spicy chicken sandwich ($15), which was surprisingly excellent.

There is also a calmer, more relaxing pool called the ‘Licence to Chill’ pool This one is more lagoon-style and overlooks Lake Myrtle. There is bar at this pool and it’s a perfect spot to stay late as the sun sets as the view across the lake is stunning.

In the evening, there are various live music stages across the resort. We spent most of our time at Tiki Bar area, which had a live singer, fire pits, a busy bar area and a choice of places to eat (including the Feeding Frenzy and a pizza restaurant). There were activities and games on for the kids and it was a really relaxed, happy vibe for everyone. We loved it.

Camp Margaritaville Golf Buggy Rental

The resort is large. There are 325 RV plots and 75 cabins (more are currently being added). It is easily walkable, but there is the option to rent a Margaritaville Golf Buggy for your stay. We did this and it was easily the kids favourite thing to do! They just loved driving around the resort waving at people – they even made me chauffer them around in the rain! It definitely made going back and forth to the various venues and the camp shop a lot easier. Plus travelling back after dark felt safer than walking on my own with two young children. Rental is from $75 per day.

Is Camp Margaritaville safe?

As a female, travelling alone with two young children, I found Camp Margaritaville very safe and welcoming. The site is gated, with a security guard at the entrance checking people and cars in and out. The cabin felt very secure and there was safe for valuables.

What is there to do close to Camp Margaritaville in Orlando and elsewhere?

I actually really love the Auburndale location, as not only is it easy to get to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and other attractions in the Kissimmee and Orlando areas, you are also just 25-minutes from Legoland Florida and Peppa Pig World. Nearby Lakeland and Winter Haven are also great towns to explore, with a chain of lakes perfect for boating or kayaking and some excellent restaurants. visitcentralflorida.org has everything you need to know about the area.

To explore, you will need to rent a car. I always use this UK-based company when booking from the UK. Read my guide to driving and rental car insurance in the USA.

Our main priority was relaxation and chilling out at the resort, but we couldn’t resist a few local attractions, which turned out to be a huge hit for both myself and the kids:

Safari Wilderness

This 260-acre animal safari park was quite the surprise, tucked away in a fragrant Florida suburb. On this working ranch, you will spot anything from leopards, to zebra, over-familiar ostrich and camels just chilling out.

Guests can take on a drive-thru tour in your own vehicle ($125) or join a guided tour at scheduled times ($119), which includes the option to feed the animals. There are also add-on extras, such Lemur feeding and camel rides. safariwilderness.com

Frank Lloyd Wright at Florida Southern College

As a big fan of mid-century architecture, I had to pay a visit to Florida Southern College and take a look at the world’s largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture. Considered a pioneer of mid-century design, Wright’s work in Florida spanned 20-years and the result is impressive. The campus offers indoor tours to private areas within the university ($35 for 90mins) but you can wander the grounds for free and take in the sleek design. flsouthern.edu/frank-lloyd-wright

Legoland Florida

A 30-min drive will get you to Legoland Florida, a fun theme park for all ages with brick-inspired attractions and rollercoasters, a splash park and beautiful grounds, on what was the original site of the stunning Cyprus Gardens. For younger kids, Pepper Pig Theme Park next door has super cute rides that even babies and toddlers will enjoy. You can buy a joint ticket for the two parks here.

Winter Haven

This picturesque town wouldn’t look out of place in a Hallmark movie. Winter Haven has a chain of lakes, so the best activities are out on the water. Take a guided tour with The Living Water Boat Tours which will give you a history of the area and fascinating nature facts. Or, rent kayaks and explore the beautiful waterways.

Lakeland Florida

Lakeland is the largest city in Central Florida and a good spot to stock up on shopping or groceries and grab breakfast or lunch. There is a Farmer’s Market on the first Friday of every month. For some extra Americana, see a movie at the Silver Moon Drive-In.

Bok Tower Gardens

Bok Tower Gardens is a historic landscaped garden found between Tampa and Orlando, around 20-minutes from Camp Margaritaville. A designated site on the Great Florida Birding Trail, its most famous plot is the unique 205-foot tall ‘Singing Tower’ carillon. This architectural centrepiece plays the music of the carillon bells during daily concerts at 1 & 3 p.m daily. There is also lots of outdoor space for kids and a large play area and café

Of course, you are also close to Tampa, Orlando, Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort. I have a range of Florida guides of my site, so head to my Ultimate Guide to Orlando to get started with all your holiday plans!

We stayed at Camp Margaritaville on a PR/Hosted stay with Visit Central Florida. All opinions are unbiased, as always.

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