Florida has one of the highest RV ownership rates in the nation, and Northeast Florida RV owners need a practical, affordable solution for storing their rigs at home. Coquina shell RV pads deliver a firm, well-drained surface that handles the weight of Class A, B, and C motorhomes and fifth-wheel trailers — at a fraction of the cost of concrete. At $145 per cubic yard with delivery throughout St. Johns, Flagler, and Volusia counties, it's the smart choice for Florida RV owners.
RV owners in Northeast Florida face a storage problem that RV owners in other states don't fully appreciate. Florida's high water table, sandy soils, and intense summer rainfall create conditions where storing an RV on bare lawn or dirt is disastrous — the weight of a 15,000–40,000 lb motorhome or trailer sinks into saturated Florida soil, creating ruts that become deeper and muddier with every rain event. After a summer storm season, the RV can literally be stuck in the yard.
Concrete is the obvious solution, but a concrete RV pad costs $5,000–$12,000 for a standard installation — and requires permitting, site preparation, a licensed contractor, and 2–4 weeks of construction time. For many Florida homeowners, that's neither practical nor affordable.
Coquina shell solves the RV storage problem at a fraction of the cost. When properly installed at 5–6 inches of compacted depth, coquina shell can support the weight of even the largest Class A diesel motorhome (up to 40,000+ lbs) without rutting or sinking. The key is proper installation depth and adequate compaction — both achievable with standard DIY tools and a single delivery of coquina shell from Tropical Yards.
The correct size for your coquina shell RV pad depends on the type and size of your rig. Here are standard dimensions for common RV types:
Class A motorhomes range from 26 to 45 feet in length. Standard Class A pads should be at least 14 feet wide (to accommodate slide-outs) and 5 feet longer than the vehicle on each end — so a 40-foot Class A needs a 14×50 ft pad. Many Class A owners prefer 16-foot width for comfortable side clearance. If you park a tow vehicle (toad) behind the motorhome, add another 20+ feet to the pad length or create a separate parking area adjacent to the RV pad. A 14×50 ft pad requires approximately 11–14 cubic yards of coquina at 5–6 inches depth.
Class B campervans (20–24 ft) and Class C motorhomes (20–33 ft) have smaller footprints than Class A rigs. A standard Class C pad of 12×36 ft accommodates most Class C vehicles with room for hookup connections and walking clearance. Class C pads need approximately 6–8 cubic yards of coquina shell at 5-inch depth.
Fifth-wheel trailers range from 22 to 43 feet in body length, but the truck that tows them adds 18–22 feet. A fifth-wheel pad must accommodate the full truck-plus-trailer combination during arrival and departure, even if the truck is ultimately disconnected. Plan for at least 60–65 feet of linear access. The pad itself can be just the trailer footprint (14×40 ft for a typical fifth-wheel), but the approach needs to be clear for the full rig. Fifth-wheel pads require 8–10 cubic yards of coquina at 5–6 inch depth.
Standard travel trailers (18–35 ft) and toy haulers have similar footprint requirements to fifth-wheels but somewhat lighter tongue weights. A 12×38 ft pad accommodates most travel trailers with room for the hitch and stabilizer jacks. At 5 inches depth, this requires 7–8 cubic yards of coquina shell.
Many Northeast Florida homes store boats on trailers alongside or instead of RVs. Coquina shell pads for boat trailers follow similar sizing principles: 10–14 feet wide and as long as the trailer plus tow vehicle. A 12×30 ft boat pad requires 4–5 cubic yards of coquina shell at 5-inch depth — $580–$725 in material.
Choose your pad location carefully — once coquina shell is spread, it's easy to adjust or extend, but getting the location right from the start saves work. Check that your RV can access the pad from the road without obstacles (overhead lines, trees, fence posts). Most NE Florida municipalities require a 5-foot setback from property lines for permanent structures — a coquina shell pad is generally not classified as a permanent structure, but verify with your local code enforcement office.
Remove all vegetation, sod, and organic material from the pad area to a depth of 5–6 inches below desired grade. This excavation is important — skipping it and spreading coquina over existing lawn or loose soil dramatically reduces the pad's load-bearing capacity. Florida's sandy topsoil often extends 4–6 inches before reaching firmer substrate, so excavation also removes the most compressible layer. Use a flat spade, sod cutter, or mini excavator for efficient clearing.
After excavation, use a plate compactor or hand tamper to compact the exposed sub-base. For very sandy, loose soils (common in Flagler and Volusia counties near the coast), a layer of compacted crushed rock or road base can improve the sub-base before adding coquina — particularly for very heavy Class A rigs. In most St. Johns County locations where the sub-base transitions to firmer substrate, direct coquina application works well.
For RV pads, geotextile fabric is strongly recommended. The fabric prevents the coquina shell from mixing into the sub-base soil over time (which reduces the effective pad depth and load capacity). Use commercial-grade woven geotextile fabric (not lightweight landscape fabric) — it needs to withstand the point-load pressure of jacks and stabilizers. Overlap seams by 12 inches and pin along the edges.
For RV pads requiring 5–6 inches of total depth, apply the coquina shell in two passes: first a 3-inch layer, wet and compact, then a second 2–3 inch layer, wet and compact again. This layered compaction method creates a much denser, more stable pad than spreading the full depth at once. Use a vibratory plate compactor (available at tool rental stores for $80–$120/day) and make 4–6 overlapping passes per layer. The finished surface should feel nearly as firm as packed gravel.
Concrete wheel stops (parking stops) placed at the front and rear of the pad define the exact parking position for your RV, prevent the vehicle from overrunning the pad edge, and protect any adjacent structures. For Class A motorhomes, 6-inch concrete wheel stops are standard — the height prevents the front tires from climbing over during final positioning. Perimeter landscape edging or timber borders prevent lateral shell migration and maintain the pad's clean edges over time.
| RV Type / Pad Size | Dimensions | Yards (5–6") | Material Cost | + Delivery (St. Aug.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travel Trailer (24 ft) | 12×30 ft | 5–6 yards | $725–$870 | $250 |
| Class C Motorhome (30 ft) | 12×36 ft | 6–7 yards | $870–$1,015 | $250 |
| Fifth-Wheel (38 ft) | 14×44 ft | 9–11 yards | $1,305–$1,595 | $250–$500 |
| Class A Motorhome (40 ft) | 14×46 ft | 10–12 yards | $1,450–$1,740 | $250–$500 |
| Class A Diesel Pusher (45 ft) | 16×52 ft | 13–16 yards | $1,885–$2,320 | $500–$750 |
Coverage at 5.5" depth: 1 cubic yard covers approximately 65–70 sq ft. Delivery: St. Augustine $250 | Ponte Vedra $275 | Palm Coast $300 | Flagler Beach $300 | Ormond Beach $350 | Daytona Beach $375 per load. Each load carries up to 5 yards.
Firm, well-drained storage for your rig — $145/yard + delivery. Free estimates.
This is the most common concern from Florida RV owners considering coquina shell pads. The answer is yes — with proper installation depth and compaction, coquina shell handles the weight of Class A motorhomes, including large diesel pushers that can exceed 40,000 lbs gross vehicle weight.
The key factors are depth and compaction. At 5–6 inches of properly compacted coquina shell over a firm sub-base, the effective load-bearing capacity is adequate for even the heaviest Class A rigs. The self-binding calcium carbonate in coquina actually improves the pad's load capacity over time as moisture cycles continue to compact and bind the shell fragments. RV parks throughout Florida have used coquina shell pads for decades — the material has a proven track record with heavy recreational vehicles.
For very heavy rigs (diesel pushers over 35,000 lbs) stored long-term, consider placing 12"×12" concrete stepping stones or hardwood boards under the stabilizer jack contact points. The jacks exert concentrated point loads that can sink into any aggregate surface under extended static load. The tire contact zones themselves are spread over a large area and generally don't cause sinking issues with properly installed coquina shell.
The comparison between coquina shell and concrete for Florida RV pads comes down to cost, practicality, and long-term performance:
Concrete: A 14×45 ft concrete RV pad costs $5,000–$12,000 installed in Northeast Florida. It requires permits (typically), a licensed contractor, 7–14 days curing time before use, and can crack from Florida's soil movement, tree roots, and the expansion/contraction cycles of our seasonal temperature range. Repairs are expensive ($300–$800 per cracked section). Algae growth on shaded concrete sections is a common maintenance issue.
Coquina Shell: The same 14×45 ft pad in coquina shell costs $1,885–$2,320 in material and delivery — approximately 80% less than concrete. Installation takes one day and the pad can be used within 48 hours of installation as the shell begins to compact. Repairs are simple: add more coquina shell where needed. Maintenance is minimal — periodic raking and annual or biannual top-dressing at $145/yard. No permits required in most NE Florida jurisdictions for non-structural aggregate pads.
Drainage is a critical consideration for RV pads in Northeast Florida. A RV stored on a poorly drained pad in Florida's rainy season is exposed to chronic moisture, which accelerates rust on chassis components, underbelly damage, and mold growth in the RV's lower storage compartments. Coquina shell's permeability makes it inherently superior to concrete for drainage — rain passes through immediately rather than sheeting off and pooling around the RV.
When planning your RV pad layout, note the natural drainage direction of your yard. Position the pad so that the slight grade moves water away from the RV's underbelly toward an open area, swale, or drainage bed. If your yard has existing standing water issues near the proposed pad location, address the underlying drainage problem with a French drain or infiltration bed before installing the RV pad — coquina shell can be used for both the drainage solution and the pad itself.
Northeast Florida has a wide range of HOA and municipal regulations regarding residential RV storage. Some considerations:
HOA communities: Many St. Johns County communities (Nocatee, World Golf Village, Ponte Vedra Beach) prohibit visible RV storage or require it to be enclosed or screened. Check your HOA covenants before investing in an RV pad. Some communities allow RV storage in side or rear yards with screening. Coquina shell's natural appearance is generally more acceptable to HOA architectural review than concrete.
Municipal regulations: St. Augustine, Palm Coast, and Daytona Beach each have local ordinances on RV storage. Most allow home RV storage provided the vehicle is registered, operable, and positioned so it doesn't block sidewalks or traffic sight lines. Setback requirements from property lines (typically 5–10 feet) apply to the stored vehicle, not the pad itself in most cases.
Drainage and impervious surface rules: Because coquina shell is a permeable surface, it is generally not counted against impervious surface coverage limits that apply in many Florida watershed protection ordinances. This is another advantage over concrete for properties approaching their impervious coverage limits.
Tropical Yards delivers bulk coquina shell for RV pads throughout Northeast Florida via 14ft dump trailer. We serve all of St. Johns County (St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra, Nocatee, Fruit Cove), all of Flagler County (Palm Coast, Flagler Beach, Bunnell), and all of Volusia County (Ormond Beach, Daytona Beach, Port Orange, New Smyrna Beach). For large RV pads requiring multiple loads, we can schedule same-day sequential deliveries. Call 772-267-1611 or request a quote online. Also see our parking areas page for additional parking applications and our driveway installation guide for related projects.
For a standard Class C motorhome or travel trailer pad (12×36 ft) at 5 inches depth, plan on 6–7 cubic yards of coquina shell — $870–$1,015 in material. For a large Class A pad (14×46 ft) at 6 inches, budget 10–12 cubic yards ($1,450–$1,740). Add delivery of $250–$375 depending on your NE Florida location.
Yes — when installed at 5–6 inches of properly compacted depth over a firm sub-base, coquina shell handles even the heaviest Class A diesel pushers. The self-binding calcium carbonate composition creates a stable surface that improves under traffic and moisture cycling. Place boards or stepping stones under stabilizer jack contact points for long-term static storage to prevent point-load sinking.
For RV pads, a minimum of 5 inches of compacted coquina shell is recommended for Class B and small Class C motorhomes and travel trailers. For Class A motorhomes, fifth-wheels, and heavy diesel pushers, use 6 inches. Install in two layers (3 inches + 2–3 inches) with compaction between layers for best results. Always excavate the full depth before spreading coquina — do not spread over existing lawn.
In most NE Florida jurisdictions, a non-structural aggregate RV pad does not require a building permit. However, HOA rules and municipal parking ordinances about where RVs can be stored on residential properties do apply. Check your HOA covenants and local code enforcement ordinances before installing. Coquina shell's permeable nature is generally viewed favorably under stormwater management regulations.
Coquina shell costs approximately 80% less than concrete for an equivalent RV pad (typically $1,500–$2,500 vs. $6,000–$12,000). Coquina drains better than concrete (no pooling under the RV), can be installed without permits or contractors, and is repaired by simply adding more material. The only disadvantage vs. concrete is that coquina requires occasional top-dressing ($145/yard every 2–3 years) and may shift in high-traffic turning areas.
Yes — Tropical Yards delivers bulk coquina shell throughout Flagler County including Palm Coast and Flagler Beach at $300 per load. We also serve St. Augustine ($250), Ponte Vedra ($275), Ormond Beach ($350), and Daytona Beach ($375). For large RV pads requiring 10+ yards (multiple loads), call 772-267-1611 to coordinate same-day multi-load delivery.