RV Rental Near Hillsborough River State Park in Riverview, FL

Most folks who call me about a Hillsborough River State Park RV rental have already tried to book one of the campground sites online and watched them vanish — especially the shaded loops near the river. That park sits up US-301 north of Tampa, about a 35–40 minute drive from where I’m based in Riverview, and it’s one of the few places in the Tampa Bay area with real Florida hammock canopy, a suspension bridge over the rapids, and live oaks dripping with Spanish moss. The catch is towing a rig in there yourself. That’s where we come in: I deliver the RV straight to your reserved site, level it, hook it up, and walk you through it, so all you do is show up and start your trip.

Yes, you can camp right at Hillsborough River State Park

This is a real overnight campground — not a day-use-only park — so the deliver-to-your-site setup works perfectly here. The sites run through wooded loops, and a good number have water and electric. What it doesn’t have on most sites is sewer, so plan on the dump station near the camp host or book a longer stretch and conserve. I always tell first-timers: reserve your specific site through Florida State Parks first (they book up to 11 months out and weekends fill fast), then send me the site number. Once I know which loop you’re in, I know exactly how the rig will fit and what I’m dealing with on delivery day.

What I’ve learned delivering into those loops

The thing about Hillsborough River that no booking page will warn you about is the trees. Those beautiful old oaks make for the best shade in the county, but they also mean low limbs and tight back-in angles on certain sites. After hauling rigs in there over the years, I’ve gotten picky about matching the trailer to the spot. If you tell me you booked one of the shorter, tree-hugged sites, I’ll steer you toward a smaller travel trailer instead of a big bunkhouse — it’ll back in clean and you won’t be staring at branches over your roof all weekend. On the more open sites I can put you in something roomier. That’s the whole advantage of having a local set this up instead of guessing from a website.

What there is to do once you’re set up

Hillsborough River State Park is one of the rare Tampa-area parks where you actually feel like you’ve left the city. Here’s what people come for:

  • The Class II rapids and the wooden suspension bridge over the river — genuinely a surprise this exists 20 minutes north of Tampa.
  • Miles of shaded hiking trails through hardwood hammock and along the river — bring bug spray, the river bottom holds mosquitoes, especially after summer rains.
  • Canoe and kayak rentals on the river and a swimming pool that’s a lifesaver in July and August.
  • Fort Foster, the reconstructed 1830s fort, with ranger-led tours on weekends.
  • Easy day trips back toward the city: Busch Gardens, ZooTampa, the Florida Aquarium, and Ybor City are all an easy drive down US-301 and I-75.

When to book — and what the weather’s actually like

The sweet spot here is October through April. That’s when the humidity backs off, the bugs ease up, and you can sit by the river at night without sweating through your shirt. Those months are also exactly when the park books solid, so the calls I get in September for a Thanksgiving or spring-break site are usually already too late on the campground side — reserve early. Summer (June through September) is the trade-off season: it’s hot, it’s humid, and you’ll get a hard afternoon thunderstorm most days that rolls through fast and clears out. The upside is you can often grab a site on shorter notice, and the AC in the rig plus that swimming pool make it work. Whatever month you pick, get your park reservation locked first, then call me to line up the delivery.

How delivery and setup works

It’s simple on your end. You book your site at Hillsborough River State Park, then call me at 813-421-1293 or email [email protected] with your dates and site number. I bring the RV up to the park, back it into your spot, level it, connect the water and electric, and walk you through everything before I leave. When your trip’s over, I come get it — no dump station, no tow vehicle, no backing a trailer into a tree. This is ideal if you’re flying into Tampa International (TPA) for a Florida trip, or if you just want to try RV camping without owning the rig. Exact inclusions vary, so ask me what comes with the unit you’re looking at and I’ll tell you straight.

If Hillsborough River is fully booked, I deliver all over the region too — Alafia River and Little Manatee River State Parks, Lithia Springs, E.G. Simmons, and the bigger RV resorts like Lazydays and Bay Bayou. Take a look at the campgrounds and RV parks guide for the full rundown of where I run, and browse the fleet to see what I can set up for you anywhere in the Tampa Bay area. Send me your site number and I’ll match the right rig to the right loop.

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