RV Rental for Mount Dora Antique Boat Festival in Tavares, FL

Every March I start getting the same call from people who waited too long: “We just found out about the Antique Boat Festival — is there anything left near Mount Dora?” The honest answer is that lodging within a reasonable drive of the Lake Dora waterfront fills fast, and by the time most people think to book, the nearby hotels along US-441 are long gone. That’s why more and more people planning for this event are calling us first for an RV rental for the Mount Dora Antique Boat Festival — and having us deliver a rig to a campground that puts them right in the middle of Lake County for the weekend.

I’m your local Fireside RV Rental operator here in Tavares, FL — which puts me literally a few minutes from the Mount Dora waterfront. I deliver and set up rigs around this part of Central Florida every week. If you want to know which campgrounds actually work for this event, how the March weather plays out on Lake Dora, and what size rig makes sense for the sites around here, keep reading. Then browse our fleet or call me directly at 407-394-2658.

Why an RV Makes Sense for This Particular Event

The Antique Boat Festival is not a stadium event with a massive parking footprint. It’s a waterfront gathering right along Lake Dora — beautiful, walkable, and genuinely charming — but the town of Mount Dora is small. The historic downtown sits on bluffs overlooking the lake, the streets are narrow, and when thousands of people converge on that waterfront on a March weekend, parking becomes a real project. I’ve dropped off rigs for guests who tried to drive in each day from Kissimmee or Sanford and told me they spent more time in traffic on SR-46 than they did looking at boats.

Staying in an RV at a campground in Lake County means you’re already here. You wake up, make coffee, and drive five or ten minutes into town instead of fighting the weekend surge on US-441. For a two- or three-day festival like this, that difference in your day matters a lot.

Where I Send People Camping for the Antique Boat Festival

This is the question I get most often from first-timers, and it’s the most useful thing I can tell you. Here are the campgrounds I actually deliver to and recommend for this event:

• Lake Griffin State Park (Fruitland Park) — This is my first recommendation for the Antique Boat Festival. It sits right on the Harris Chain of Lakes, which connects directly to Lake Dora. The sites here can run on the shorter side in some loops, so I pay close attention to rig length when I’m matching a unit to this park. Book early — state park sites in Lake County in March go fast, and this one in particular fills weeks out.
• Trimble Park (Orange County / Mount Dora area) — A genuinely underrated spot that a lot of out-of-towners don’t know about. It’s quiet, it’s close, and it puts you right on the water. Access road requires some attention on the approach, and I always give guests a heads-up about that when I deliver here.
• Wekiwa Springs State Park (Apopka) — A bit further south on SR-436, but a beautiful park and a solid fallback if Lake Griffin is full. Figure about 30–35 minutes to the Mount Dora waterfront from there on a non-event morning, longer on festival days.
• Lake Louisa State Park (Clermont) — Another good option if you’re flying into MCO or Orlando International and meeting the rig there. It’s further from the festival but well-run, and the drive up US-27 to Mount Dora in March is genuinely pleasant.
• Clermont KOA Holiday — If you want full hookups and a more amenity-forward setup, this is the one I point people to. Good for families or anyone who wants a predictable, comfortable base camp for the weekend.

Want more detail on campgrounds in and around Lake County? I put together a fuller breakdown on our delivery and campground guide that covers the parks I serve regularly.

What March Weather Actually Looks Like on Lake Dora

March in Lake County is genuinely one of the nicest months to be outdoors here. Daytime temperatures are typically in the low-to-mid 70s, nights drop into the mid-50s — cool enough to sleep comfortably in the rig without running AC all night, warm enough to sit outside in the evening. What catches some people off guard is the afternoon wind off the lake. If you’re planning to watch the boats from the waterfront, that breeze can be refreshing or it can be chilly depending on the day, so pack a light layer for the afternoon.

March is also the tail end of Florida’s dry season. Rain is unlikely but not impossible — I’ve seen a late-season front roll through. Either way, the campgrounds around the Harris Chain of Lakes area are well-draining and the sites I deliver to handle a little weather without turning into a muddy mess.

How RV Delivery Works for the Antique Boat Festival

Because I’m based right here in Tavares, delivery to the Lake County campgrounds I listed above is straightforward — no long haul, no complicated logistics. Here’s how I typically handle it for festival weekends:

• I deliver and set up before you arrive. You fly into SFB (Sanford) or MCO, get your rental car or rideshare, and the rig is already leveled and connected at your site when you pull in. No towing, no hookup learning curve on arrival day.
• I match the rig to the site. I know which parks have tight site lengths and which loops have low tree canopy. When you tell me where you’re staying, I tell you honestly which rig from our fleet actually fits — and I’d rather have that conversation before delivery than discover a problem at the park entrance.
• I pick up when you’re done. End of the festival weekend, I come retrieve the unit. You don’t need to worry about towing anything or breaking down camp under pressure.
• Questions during your stay? I’m local. If something comes up, I’m not a 1-800 number routing to a call center — I’m a few miles away.

See full delivery area details and how our delivery process works at our delivery page.

What Rig to Choose for a March Festival Weekend

For a two- to four-person group coming to the Antique Boat Festival, a well-sized travel trailer is usually the right call — comfortable, easy to set up, and appropriate for the site lengths at the Lake County parks I deliver to most often. Couples or solo travelers sometimes prefer a smaller camper van-style unit for the flexibility. For larger groups or families, I can talk through what makes sense based on your headcount and which campground you’ve reserved.

Contact us and we’ll talk through the options — inclusions, configuration, and availability vary by unit, so I’d rather have a real conversation than have you guess from a static list. Browse our current fleet here to get a sense of what we have, then reach out.

When to Book — and Why It Matters More Than You’d Think

The Antique Boat Festival falls in March, which is one of the busiest months for Central Florida campground reservations. Lake Griffin State Park in particular — the closest quality option to the festival waterfront — books up well in advance through the Florida state parks reservation system. I’ve had people call me in mid-February thinking they have plenty of time, only to find out the sites they wanted have been taken since January.

My honest advice: lock in your campsite first, then call me to confirm rig availability. If you call me without a site, I can sometimes help you think through alternatives, but I can’t conjure a campsite that’s already reserved. The earlier you have both pieces confirmed, the better your festival weekend is going to be.

While You’re Here: More to Do Around Lake County in March

One of the things I genuinely like about this part of Central Florida is that there’s no shortage of things to do around a festival weekend. If you’re staying a few extra days — and with an RV already set up, a lot of people do — here’s what I’d point you toward:

• Seaplane Adventures in Tavares — You’re right here. If you’ve never taken a seaplane off Lake Dora, this is the weekend to do it. The view of the Harris Chain from the air in March is something else.
• Mount Dora Historic Downtown — The antique shops, restaurants, and galleries are worth a full afternoon. March is peak season for the town, so it’s lively and the weather is cooperating.
• Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive — A short drive south. Early morning in March you’ll see wading birds, alligators, and migratory species. Worth the 6 a.m. start if you’re the outdoors type.
• Ocala National Forest — About 45 minutes north on SR-19. Alexander Springs and Salt Springs are legitimately beautiful in March — cool, clear springs water and minimal crowds on a weekday.

Frequently Asked Questions — RV Rental for the Mount Dora Antique Boat Festival

Is there RV camping directly at the Lake Dora waterfront festival venue?

No — the festival grounds along the Lake Dora waterfront in Mount Dora are a day-use event space, not a campground. You’ll need to reserve a site at one of the nearby parks and campgrounds I listed above. That’s exactly why having a delivered rig at a close campground matters — you’re set up nearby and drive in for the event each day.

Do you deliver to campgrounds outside of Tavares and Lake County?

Yes. I deliver throughout the Central Florida region, including campgrounds in Orange County, Sumter County, Marion County, and surrounding areas. If you’re staying somewhere like Wekiwa Springs State Park in Apopka or a park closer to Ocala, reach out and we’ll talk through delivery logistics and distance.

What airports are closest if I’m flying in for the festival?

Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) is the closest and most convenient — it’s a straightforward drive west on SR-46 toward Mount Dora from there, and the smaller airport makes the arrival experience much less stressful than MCO. Orlando International (MCO) is further south but well-served if that’s where your flights land. Leesburg International (LEE) is right in Lake County if you’re on a charter or private flight.

How far in advance should I book for the Antique Boat Festival?

As early as you can. I start seeing serious inquiry volume for March festival weekends in January, and by mid-February the best campsite options are largely spoken for. If you’re planning to come, call me now even if the festival is months out — confirming your rig and knowing your campsite options early is always the right move.

What’s included with the RV rental?

Inclusions vary by unit and location, so please contact me directly to go through what each rig comes with. I’d rather give you accurate information for the specific unit you’re renting than a generic list that doesn’t match what shows up in your driveway.

Ready to Lock In Your RV for the Mount Dora Antique Boat Festival?

I’m right here in Tavares — your neighbor, not a national booking platform. If you’re planning to be on the Lake Dora waterfront in March for the Antique Boat Festival and you want a comfortable, stress-free place to stay close to the action, let’s talk through your options. Browse our fleet, then reach out:

📞 407-394-2658
📧 [email protected]

Book early — March in Lake County moves fast.

Own an RV yourself? If your rig spends most of the year parked between trips, it doesn’t have to sit idle — a RV rental management service can rent it out and handle the bookings, cleaning, and logistics so you earn from it without the hassle.