RV Rental for Outback Bowl in Riverview, FL

Every New Year’s, while everybody else is watching the parade, I’m checking the lot at Raymond James Stadium and timing my delivery runs up the Selmon Expressway before kickoff. An RV rental for the Outback Bowl is one of my favorite jobs of the year, because a camper in the Ray Jay parking lots beats fighting Dale Mabry traffic and overpriced January hotel rates every single time. I’m the local Fireside RV Rental owner here in Riverview, about 20 minutes south of the stadium off I-75, and I set these rigs up myself.

The Outback Bowl lands on or around January 1 at Raymond James Stadium, and the crowd is split — half the fans flew into Tampa International for a Big Ten vs. SEC matchup, half drove down I-75 to escape the cold. Either way, a delivered camper turns the day into a real tailgate instead of a parking-lot scramble. Here’s how I make it work.

Camper Rental Near Raymond James Stadium for the Outback Bowl

The thing most out-of-towners don’t realize: tailgating in an RV at Ray Jay isn’t automatic. The stadium’s RV and oversized-vehicle parking is limited and runs through the official lots, so the spaces go fast for a bowl game and you generally pay a premium pass for the footprint. The first question I ask anyone who calls is whether they’ve actually locked down a parking spot or pass big enough for a trailer — because the RV is the easy part, the spot is the bottleneck.

If you’ve got a confirmed RV parking spot at the stadium, I’ll deliver and set the rig up for you the morning of (or the day before) and come back to haul it out after the game — you never have to tow or drive anything. If you couldn’t get a stadium spot, that’s fine too. Plenty of my Outback Bowl renters stay at a campground nearby and Uber or drive in to the game. More on that below.

How RV Delivery Works for the Outback Bowl

Here’s my honest take after doing Tampa event deliveries for years: in early January the weather is the best part. Game-day highs are usually in the 60s or low 70s, cool enough that you actually want the awning out and the grill going, and rarely the buggy, humid mess you’d get in July. It’s prime tailgate weather, which is exactly why January Tampa events fill up.

• You tell me your spot. Stadium RV lot, a tailgate lot, or a campground — I need the location and your dates.
• I deliver and set it level. I bring the unit, level it, and get it ready before you arrive so it’s a turnkey basecamp, not a project.
• You enjoy the game. Bathroom, AC or heat, kitchen, somewhere to nap at halftime — without a hotel a half-hour away.
• I handle removal. After the Outback Bowl wraps, I come back and take it away. No dump station, no return drive on your end.

Inclusions vary by unit and location, so call me and I’ll walk you through exactly what your rig comes with and what add-ons make sense for a one-day or weekend tailgate. Browse the current fleet on our main Riverview page.

Where to Stay if You’re Not Parking at the Stadium

If you’d rather make a weekend of it instead of a day trip, there’s good camping within striking distance of Raymond James Stadium. I deliver to all of these regularly:

• Bay Bayou RV Resort — full-hookup resort on the northwest side of Tampa, an easy hop to the stadium and one of the more comfortable options if you want resort amenities for the weekend.
• Lazydays RV Resort (Seffner) — right off I-4 east of Tampa, very straightforward access back to Ray Jay via the interstate.
• Hillsborough River State Park — up US-301 north of the city if you want shade and real Florida wilderness; it’s a longer drive into the stadium but a quieter stay.
• Alafia River and Riverview Springs Park — closer to my home base in the Riverview/Riverview area, off the beaten path for a calmer first-timer experience.

State park sites here book up fast around the holidays, so reserve those early. For a fuller rundown of options and what each spot is like, see my Tampa Bay campgrounds and RV parks guide. The drive from most of these back to the stadium runs 25–45 minutes depending on game-day traffic — leave early, because I-275 and the Selmon back up before kickoff.

Book Your Outback Bowl RV Early

New Year’s is a busy stretch for me — bowl game, holiday travelers, and snowbirds all hitting at once. If you want a camper for the Outback Bowl, the sooner you reach out the better your unit selection and the easier it is to lock in delivery windows around game day. Call or text me at 813-421-1293 or email [email protected] and I’ll get you set up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you deliver an RV right to Raymond James Stadium for the Outback Bowl?

Yes, as long as you’ve secured an RV or oversized-vehicle parking spot through the stadium. Those spots are limited for a bowl game, so confirm your parking first, then I’ll deliver, level, and set the rig up, and remove it after the game.

What if I couldn’t get a stadium RV spot?

No problem — I deliver to campgrounds and RV resorts across the Tampa Bay area like Bay Bayou and Lazydays, and you drive or rideshare into the game. Most spots are a 25–45 minute trip back to the stadium.

What’s the weather like for the Outback Bowl in January?

Tampa in early January is usually pleasant — daytime highs in the 60s to low 70s, cooler at night. It’s some of the best tailgating weather of the year, which is exactly why so many fans drive down for it.

How far in advance should I book?

As early as you can. The New Year’s window is busy with the bowl game plus holiday and snowbird traffic, so booking ahead gets you the best unit choice and delivery timing. Reach me at 813-421-1293 to check availability.