A docking system for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) includes a docking housing that defines a docking compartment, and a docking assembly coupled to the docking housing and configured to suspend the UAV within the docking compartment. The docking assembly may include a guiding feature configured to receive a docking feature of the UAV and direct the UAV toward a first captured position. The docking assembly may further include an advancement assembly operatively coupled with the guiding feature and configured to move the UAV from the first captured position to a second docked position.