Every year, thousands of guests load up their RVs and head south to escape the cold. Central Florida is one of the most popular destinations, and for good reason: mild winters, no snow shovel, and a lower cost of living than the coasts. Here is what you need to know before you book your winter stay.
When to Book Your Winter Stay
The season in Central Florida runs roughly from October through April. The most popular months are January through March, and the best parks fill up fast.
At Homebound RV Park in Bushnell, about 70% of our seasonal guests book their next winter before they even leave in the spring. If you want a specific site or you want to be near your group, book early. We recommend locking in your spot by June or July for the upcoming season.
Booking later than that? Do not write the season off. Cancellations happen every year, and park offices keep waiting lists. A phone call in September can still land you a site — it just may not be the exact spot you would have picked in May.
What to Look for in an RV Park
Not all RV parks are created equal, especially when you are staying for five months or more. Here is what matters:
Full hookups on every site. Partial hookups are fine for a weekend. For a five-month stay, you need 20/30/50 amp electric, water, and sewer on your site. No exceptions.
An active community. The difference between a good winter and a great winter is the people around you. Look for parks with an activities director, a clubhouse, and organized events. You want card games, potlucks, and neighbors who become friends.
Honest, clearly quoted rates. Ask exactly what the monthly rate covers and how electricity is billed. Many Florida parks — Homebound included — bill electric separately based on what you actually use, while others fold an estimate into a higher monthly rate. Neither approach is wrong, but you want to know before you compare. A park that answers this question plainly is telling you something about how it treats its guests.
Location near things to do. Central Florida offers world-class golf, shopping, dining, and natural attractions. Homebound Bushnell is about 40 minutes from The Villages, an hour from Tampa, and an hour from Orlando. History buffs are five minutes from Dade Battlefield Historic State Park, which hosts events all winter.
What a Homebound Winter Costs
Our winter special at Bushnell is $600 per month for a five-month stay (November through March), with electricity billed separately based on usage. Staying on a month-to-month basis instead runs $700 per month, and residents who fall in love with the place can move to an annual lease from $525 per month. Every rate includes the full-hookup site and access to every amenity in the park — the indoor heated pool included.
Veterans, Good Sam members, and Escapees/Harvest Hosts members receive 10% off daily and weekly rates. For current short-stay pricing and availability, see the Bushnell park page or call the office at 352-793-1333.
Compare that to winter-season parks closer to the coasts, where $1,000 to $1,500 per month is common, and the value is hard to argue with. A Snowbird's Park has the full winter rundown — season dates, what to expect, and answers to the questions we hear most.
What Makes Homebound Different
Homebound RV Park in Bushnell has been completely renovated under new ownership. New infrastructure, new management, and a new energy that keeps guests coming back. The park has 124 spacious sites under majestic oak trees, an indoor heated pool that is open year-round, a clubhouse full of games and socializing, and an activities director who keeps the calendar full.
Many of our snowbirds have been coming back for years. They save sites next to their friends, have standing card games, and look forward to their Homebound winter all year long. It is also one of the few parks in the area with no age restriction — grandkids are welcome to visit, and working-age full-timers fit right in alongside retirees. If you are weighing a longer stay, our long-term RV living page covers how monthly and annual stays work.
Prefer a Quieter Winter? Consider North Florida
Central Florida is not the only way to do a Florida winter. Our sister park, Homebound McAlpin, sits in rural Suwannee County — springs country. Winters there are a touch cooler but still mild, the crowds are thinner, and you are minutes from Ichetucknee Springs State Park and a half-dozen other springs that hold 72°F year-round. If your ideal season is quiet mornings on the Suwannee River rather than live music at a town square, McAlpin is worth a look.
Ready to Book Your Winter?
Do not wait until fall — the best sites fill up in the summer. Call us at 352-793-1333 or book your stay online.