September 21, 2026 · Road Runner Travel Resort
A Garden Morning in Fort Pierce
Some vacation days are better with a little room to wander. Heathcote Botanical Gardens offers a different way to spend time outdoors in Fort Pierce: looking closely at bonsai, exploring garden rooms, and discovering plants you might otherwise walk past. For guests at Road Runner Travel Resort, it makes a pleasant focus for a day that still leaves time to enjoy the resort.
This guide is for a regular daytime visit. Build your plans around the gardens' current opening schedule, then keep the rest of the day flexible. You don't need to fill every hour to come home with something worth remembering.
What to See at Heathcote Botanical Gardens
Heathcote's garden rooms include the James J. Smith Bonsai Gallery, a Butterfly Garden, a Japanese Garden, and a Palm and Cycad Walk. The bonsai collection grew from Smith's donation of 100 trees in 2009. Rather than rushing past the display, pick a few trees and look at their trunks, branching patterns, and proportions. You don't have to know the techniques to appreciate the individual shapes.
In the Butterfly Garden, look for both butterflies and caterpillars; sightings will depend on the day. Then change your perspective along the Palm and Cycad Walk by comparing the different leaf shapes. With children, turn that into a simple observation game: find three plants that look nothing alike, then choose a favorite.
Heathcote also describes its collections as a mixture of Florida natives and plants from elsewhere, with labels to help visitors identify them. Its garden overview is a useful introduction before you arrive. Take a picture of a label beside a plant you like so you can look it up later without trying to remember the name.
Hours, Admission, and How Long to Allow
The gardens are at 210 Savannah Road, Fort Pierce. As checked in September 2026, regular hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with Mondays closed. Sunday opening is seasonal; check the exact date before planning a weekend visit.
Listed daytime admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors 65 and older, and $5 for ages 6–17; children under six enter free. Special-event pricing can differ. Heathcote suggests allowing one to two hours. Confirm hours, admission, and weather closures on its official visitor page or call (772) 464-4672.
Plan the Trip from Your RV Site
If you have a separate car or tow vehicle, consider using it for this outing while your RV stays settled at your campsite. We haven't confirmed oversized-vehicle parking at Heathcote. Call ahead with your vehicle's dimensions if you plan to take a motorhome or trailer, and ask about arrival and turning space as well as parking.
For a relaxed visit, aim for opening time and leave lunch open-ended. Pack water, sun protection, and comfortable shoes. Most of the experience is outdoors, so keep our rainy-day Fort Pierce guide handy if the forecast changes. If step-free access or a particular walking surface matters to your group, ask the garden about the route you want to take before you travel.
Bringing Your Dog or Camera?
Heathcote permits well-behaved, controlled, leashed pets during regular visits, with a listed $1 pet admission. Retractable leashes must be locked at four feet. Pets are not permitted at Garden of Lights. Review the full pet and photography policies; styled photo sessions require a reservation, even for nonprofessionals.
Choose a visit length your dog will enjoy, bring cleanup supplies, and take breaks. For planning the rest of your stay, our guide to RV camping with your dog covers the resort side of the trip.
Leave Time to Enjoy Road Runner
A garden outing pairs nicely with an unhurried afternoon back at your site. Road Runner's amenities include a heated swimming pool and roads for walking and cycling. Keep the outdoor theme going with a stroll, or simply put your feet up and go through the pictures you took.
When you'd rather let someone else handle the cooking, Charlene's Coyote Grille is right at the resort; check current service hours before making meal plans. Planning your Fort Pierce stay? Explore our RV accommodations and check availability. A comfortable home base makes it easier to give each local outing the time it deserves.
Visitor information checked September 21, 2026. Confirm current details with Heathcote before traveling; hours, admission, and event policies can change.
