RVing in Perry, FL: Campgrounds, Parks & the Forest Festival

Why RVers Choose Perry, FL

Perry was incorporated in 1903 and has been the Taylor County seat ever since. The settlement started as Rosehead, was renamed Perrytown in 1875 after Madison Starke Perry, Florida's fourth governor, and later shortened to Perry. Timber built this place, and the town's identity still runs on it. No ocean views here. No tourist gloss. Just pine woods, a slow pace, and a town that knows what it is.

For an RV traveler, that's the appeal. Perry sits inland, off the beaten path, and offers a base for exploring the wider region without the crowds. Park, breathe, and see how a forest town actually lives.

Best RV Parks & Campgrounds in Perry

Perry has a solid range of campgrounds, from the well-known to the quieter spots. Here's how they stack up:

The Perry KOA Holiday is the largest and most reviewed option, sitting right on US-19. The Oaks RV Park and Old Highway 19 RV Park both sit along the same highway corridor, offering straightforward access. Kamp Keaton and FloridaBlueSky Campground are smaller, with perfect ratings from fewer reviews—often a quieter, more personal stay. All are within reach of the town's services and the festival grounds.

Parks & Outdoor Spots in Perry, FL

When you're ready to stretch your legs, Perry has more than enough open space. Forest Capital Museum State Park is the standout—a 13-acre park one mile south of Perry on US 19/US 98. It holds displays on the history of the forest industry and the wildlife of the forest. Beside the museum stands a reconstructed Cracker homestead—house, barn, well, arbor, and garden—showing how a Florida homestead family lived. Worth the stop.

For sports and family time, Taylor County Sports Complex and Perry City Park offer room to move, and Veteran's Memorial Park on N Jefferson Street is a quiet spot for reflection. The Perry Recreation Department on S Jefferson Street coordinates much of the town's programming. Traveling with a dog? Angel's Dog Park on S Center Street gives them room to run. There's also a Perry splash pad and playground off US-221 for kids, and Southside Park on Plantation Road for a simple afternoon.

Two unexpected entries on the park list: Keen's Buildings and Tractor Supply Co. Not parks in the traditional sense. But they're part of the practical fabric of a working town—places where locals gather and supplies get bought. Honestly, a stop at Studstill's Do It Best on W Green Street might save a trip when you need a part or a fix.

Florida Forest Festival: Perry's Signature Event

The Florida Forest Festival began in 1956 as the Pine Tree Festival, created to teach forestry heritage and fire safety at a time when forest fires were crippling Taylor County's timber industry. It's been running ever since, and it's Perry's defining weekend. The Saturday centrepiece is the King Tree Parade down Jefferson Street, followed by the World's Largest Free Fish Fry at Forest Capital Park from noon. There are chainsaw and cross-cut competitions, the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show, and the Great Race 5K.

For an RVer, timing a visit around the festival means seeing Perry at its most alive. The town turns out. The timber heritage is on full display. You'll understand why Perry holds the title of Tree Capital of the South.

Day Trips and Nearby Festivals

Perry works well as a base for exploring the region. Steinhatchee is 32 miles away and hosts the Fiddler Crab Festival. Cedar Key, 76 miles out, has the Cedar Key Seafood Festival. St. George Island is 96 miles and holds the St. George Island Chili Cook-Off. Apalachicola, 101 miles, runs the Florida Seafood Festival. Port St. Joe, 121 miles, hosts the Florida Scallop, Music & Arts Festival. And Dade City, 154 miles south, has the Kumquat Festival.

Park the rig in Perry, take day trips to the coast when you want it, then come back to the quiet of the forest at night.

What It's Like to Live Here: Numbers Behind the Town

Perry's population sits at 6,965 people, with a median age of 34.8 years. The median household income is $44,815, and the median home value is $122,900. Median gross rent runs $949. About 18.6 percent of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the unemployment rate is 6.6 percent.

The telling number: of 2,968 total housing units, zero are held for seasonal or recreational use. There are 552 vacant units, but none of them are vacation homes. This is not a resort town. People live here, work here, and stay here. That's the character of Perry, and it's exactly what makes it worth the stop.