The Best Places to Stay in Cape Canaveral, Florida

A five-minute drive from Cape Canaveral, and catering to those who want to really immerse themselves in water activities on offer in Cape Canaveral, Cape Crossing is right on the water so you can rent out kayaks, paddle boards, CraigCat or pontoons to explore the wonderful environment – rivers, vegetation and wildlife – right on your doorstep. You can also book catamaran sailing boat trips and explore the Space Coast, spotting dolphins and oohing over gorgeous sunsets. Accommodations comprise fully-equipped pastel-colored townhouses, the interiors decorated with nautical scenes, ideal for self-catering families or groups.

The 284 rooms at this Radisson Resort are defined by their dark-wood furnishings and cheery lemon-yellow walls, while outdoor perks include a tennis court, several swimming pools, hot tub, fishponds and mini waterfalls. Flamingo’s Restaurant offers classic American dishes, so choose from burgers and grilled fish wraps to barbecue ribs. Nearby, Flamingo’s Lounge Bar serves classic cocktails to the tune of live jazz and salsa. The Tiki bar is right next to the pool, ideal for drinks in the sun. Manatee Sanctuary Park is a five-minute stroll from the hotel – a boon for wildlife-loving families.

If you can’t make it right to the launchpad, you can view a Space Shuttle launch from your bedroom here – this Hyatt Place is only 7mi (11km) – and an easy 10-minute drive – from the Kennedy Space Centre. If that’s not a unique drawing point, we don’t know what is! Well, that and the fact that the 110 rooms here are seriously luxurious, decked out in classic grays and creams, with dividing screens separating the generous lounge areas from the bedrooms. There is no on-site restaurant here but there is a bar and a market for quick bites, plus there’s a locally popular seafood place – New York New York – a five-minute drive away, overlooking the Indian River.

These fully-equipped villas at this central Cape Canaveral location burst forth with tropical color, from sea-blue or crimson walls to sea-foam teal, coupled with eye-catching chequered tilework – the latter villa comes with bunkbeds for kids. Perch on a deckchair on the shaded veranda out back, take a four-block stroll to the popular JC beach, or hop in the car to attend a rocket launch (a 15-minute drive), spot gators and waterfowl from the boardwalks of the Ulumay Wildlife Sanctuary (a 20-minute drive), or just dine out at Ellie Mae’s Tiki Bar, two blocks away.

This is an all-suite hotel with stylish, spacious rooms, with subtly lit desks separating the bedroom from the lounge, and plush beds with high thread-count linens. The Splashdown Pool Bar & Lounge offers a variety of beers and classic cocktails, so that you can lounge by the pool, drink in hand. While complimentary buffet breakfast is included, there is no on-site restaurant, but you’re just a few minutes’ walk from popular eateries, such as Thai Thai Restaurant and Zarella’s Italian, as well as the Manatee Sanctuary Park, in case you want to meet the loveable aquatic creatures face to face.

Spacious rooms with a cream-and-brown color scheme are on offer at this branch of the Hilton – perfect for those who are after a reliable, comfortable functionality while exploring the nearby area. The Nasa Center and the Kennedy Space Center are a 15-minute drive away, while the rocket launch pad is less than 10-minutes away. Some of the suites have fully equipped kitchens for longer stays; you can also fire up the barbecue by the pool, or trade adventure stories with fellow guests around the fire pit.

Handily located both for the rocket launch viewpoint and the Manatee Sanctuary Park, and a great place to stay with your little ones, this Holiday Inn is a ton of water fun: there’s a lazy river, a four-story waterslide, a big pool, plus the white sands and surf of the beach nearby. In addition, there is a minigolf course, an arcade, a cinema, and different sports courts. The hotel’s private boardwalk takes you to the beach at Jetty Park, where you can swimming and watch rocket launches. The condo-style studios and villas are decorated in creams and blues and come equipped with kitchenettes and full kitchens, respectively.

A 20-minute drive from the Kennedy Space Center, you will find welcome relief from Florida’s heat at this hotel, with its two pools, and a shaded garden courtyard terrace. The rooms are comfortable, if not terribly Instagram-worthy, with a colour palette of browns and sands and caramels. Each comes with a balcony overlooking either the irregularly shaped pool or the ocean. There is a Family Suites building with family-friendly suites with extra-large private balconies, a kitchenette, large refrigerators and microwaves; children under 17 stay free with one paying adult. The Blue Flip Flop Bar serving poolside beers is an extra boon.