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Where to stay in Orlando

The best areas to stay in Orlando

Hotels near Universal, Disney World, SeaWorld, Kennedy Space Center and LEGOLAND: here is where to stay for each park, with honest advice on getting to the parks, the room price and what costs extra.

By the Things to Do in Orlando editorial team Hotels checked 25 October 2026

Compare the 6 areas
A glass-roofed hotel atrium near Orlando with palm trees and a garden pond, ringed by floors of room balconies
Short answer

Where to stay in Orlando depends on your parks: International Drive for SeaWorld and the bus and trolley, near Universal for Universal’s parks, in Lake Buena Vista for Walt Disney World, and in Cocoa Beach for Kennedy Space Center.

Pick your parks first, then your base. Room prices change every day, so we show none here. For prices by hotel class, see Orlando on a budget.

Orlando areas for visitors

AreaBest forNearest sightsGetting around
International Drive SeaWorld, ICON Park and a trip without a car SeaWorld, ICON Park, SEA LIFE Orlando I-RIDE Trolley and LYNX buses along the road
Universal Orlando area Universal’s parks and Epic Universe Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, Epic Universe Universal hotel shuttles; LYNX 311 stops at Epic Universe
Lake Buena Vista / Disney Springs Walt Disney World and Disney Springs Disney Springs, the four Disney parks LYNX 311 ends at Disney Springs; Mears Connect from the airport
Kissimmee Families who want more room near Disney Walt Disney World, Lake Toho Best with a car
Cocoa Beach (Space Coast) Kennedy Space Center and the beach Kennedy Space Center, Cocoa Beach Pier Car only: no public transport to Kennedy Space Center
Winter Haven (LEGOLAND Florida) LEGOLAND Florida LEGOLAND Florida Car; LEGOLAND’s shuttle from Orlando runs on select dates

Area 1 of 6

International Drive: near SeaWorld and ICON Park

International Drive is the easiest base without a car. The I-RIDE Trolley runs the length of the road to SeaWorld, and its own site says the Red Line comes about every 20 minutes. LYNX bus 42 runs from the airport to the Premium Outlets on I-Drive in about 52 minutes.

SEA LIFE Orlando sits at ICON Park, and parking in the ICON Park garage is free. Of our picks, the Rosen Inn has a free shuttle to Universal and to SeaWorld, about 3 km away.

Keep in mind
The trolley needs exact change, and passes are not sold on board.

Nearby guides: Getting around Orlando

The arched roofs of the Orange County Convention Center with hotel towers behind

Our picks in International Drive

More hotels in International Drive on Booking.com →

Booking.com's International Drive district page in Orlando.

Area 2 of 6

Universal Orlando area: hotels close to Volcano Bay and Epic Universe

Stay here if Universal is the main reason for your trip. Universal’s blog says its hotels run free shuttles to the parks for hotel guests. It also says you can walk to Epic Universe from the Helios Grand and Stella Nova, two of our picks.

Volcano Bay is closed from 26 October 2026 until spring 2027, so a hotel near it helps only after it reopens. Free Universal Express Unlimited comes with three other Universal hotels: Loews Portofino Bay, Hard Rock Hotel and Loews Royal Pacific. It works at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure only.

Keep in mind
Volcano Bay is closed from 26 October 2026 until spring 2027.

Nearby guides: Universal Orlando tickets

A winding pool and lazy river with palm trees and sun loungers in Florida

Our picks in Universal Orlando area

More hotels in Universal Orlando area on Booking.com →

Booking.com's Universal Studios Orlando Area district page.

Area 3 of 6

Lake Buena Vista and Disney Springs: for Walt Disney World

Lake Buena Vista is the area around Disney Springs, right next to Walt Disney World. The Four Seasons and the Swan Reserve on our list are inside Walt Disney World. The Drury Plaza is next to Disney Springs.

Parking at Disney Springs is free. From the airport, the Mears Connect shuttle to Disney hotels costs $16 per adult each way, plus a fuel surcharge. LYNX bus 311 also ends at Disney Springs, about 75 minutes from the airport.

Keep in mind
Disney’s buses from Disney Springs are for Disney hotel guests or diners only.
Pastel resort buildings on a lawn by the water near Disney Springs, with a small ferry boat passing

Our picks in Lake Buena Vista / Disney Springs

More hotels in Lake Buena Vista / Disney Springs on Booking.com →

Booking.com's Lake Buena Vista district page (the area around Disney Springs).

Area 4 of 6

Kissimmee: villas and resorts south of Disney

Kissimmee lies south of Walt Disney World. Our picks here include villas and large resorts. Spectrum Resort Villas has its own water park. The Omni at ChampionsGate has a lazy river and a wave pool.

Our picks are a short drive from Disney. The Palazzo Lakeside is about 7 minutes by car from Walt Disney World, and the Vietta Hotel has free parking. Plan on a car for the parks.

Keep in mind
Plan on a car: our picks here give drive times, not bus routes.
Sunrise over Lake Toho in Kissimmee, with palms and a small lighthouse on the shore

Our picks in Kissimmee

More hotels in Kissimmee on Booking.com →

Booking.com's Kissimmee city page.

Area 5 of 6

Cocoa Beach: for Kennedy Space Center and the beach

Cocoa Beach puts you on the Atlantic beach and near Kennedy Space Center. Our picks here are 18 to 30 km from the Visitor Complex. No public transport goes to Kennedy Space Center, so you need a car or a tour.

Space Coast’s tourism office puts Cocoa Beach about 45 minutes east of Orlando on SR 528. Parking at Kennedy Space Center costs $15 per car.

Keep in mind
SR 528, the road from Orlando, is a toll road.

Nearby guides: Day trips from Orlando

Palm trees and blue beach umbrellas on a Florida Atlantic beach, seen from above

Our picks in Cocoa Beach (Space Coast)

More hotels in Cocoa Beach (Space Coast) on Booking.com →

Booking.com's Cocoa Beach city page (the nearest beach town to Kennedy Space Center).

Area 6 of 6

Winter Haven: hotels near LEGOLAND Florida

Winter Haven is the town where LEGOLAND Florida is. LEGOLAND says it is about 45 minutes from the Orlando theme parks. Stay here if LEGOLAND is the main park of your trip.

The Home2 Suites is about 700 metres from the park, and the Courtyard is about 1 km away. LEGOLAND also runs an $8 shuttle from ICON Park in Orlando on select dates.

Keep in mind
LEGOLAND’s $8 shuttle from ICON Park runs on select dates only.
Sunset over a calm Florida lake with trees on the far shore

Our picks in Winter Haven (LEGOLAND Florida)

More hotels in Winter Haven (LEGOLAND Florida) on Booking.com →

Booking.com's Winter Haven city page (the town where LEGOLAND Florida is).

What costs extra: parking at the parks

Your hotel choice decides how much you drive, and parking adds up. Kennedy Space Center charges $15 per car. A Universal ticket listing on GetYourGuide gives $30 for regular parking. SeaWorld charges for parking separately. Parking at Disney Springs and in the ICON Park garage is free.

If you stay on International Drive or at a Universal hotel, the trolley or the hotel shuttle can save you the parking fee.

Next: your park tickets

Once your base is set, the parks are the next step. Compare Orlando theme park tickets deals for Disney, Universal, SeaWorld and LEGOLAND before you book your rooms.

Where to stay in Orlando: questions and answers

Where is the best area to stay in Orlando?
For most first trips, International Drive. It is close to SeaWorld and ICON Park, and the I-RIDE Trolley and LYNX bus run along it. Stay near Universal or in Lake Buena Vista if one resort is the main reason for your trip.

Where should I stay in Orlando for Disney World?
Stay in Lake Buena Vista, around Disney Springs. Two of our picks are inside Walt Disney World. Kissimmee, just south, has bigger villas and resorts, but you will want a car.

Where should I stay for Universal Orlando?
Stay in the Universal Orlando area. Universal’s blog says its hotels run free shuttles to the parks for hotel guests. Three Universal hotels add free Express Unlimited at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.

Where should I stay when visiting Kennedy Space Center?
Stay in Cocoa Beach, on the coast near the Visitor Complex. Our picks there are 18 to 30 km from the Visitor Complex. You need a car or a tour, because no public transport goes there.

Hotels checked on Booking.com on 25 October 2026: each link opened in the browser and showed the hotel, rated 8.0 or higher there that day. We show no prices or scores here because they change daily; Booking.com shows the live ones.

Sources (19), facts checked on 25 October 2026

Written by the Things to Do in Orlando editorial team.