Hot Florida

5 Best Family Hotels in Destin, Florida with kids

Enjoy the ultimate Florida beach vacation at these amazing family resorts Destin FL

So you are planning a trip to Destin, Florida with kids and need help finding the right hotel? Well high-five, because you landed in the right place!

This article will help you choose the best Destin hotels for families, whether it’s a desire for:

  • bunk beds
  • connecting rooms
  • large family suites
  • a family pool area
  • on-site restaurants
  • easy beach access, etc

Whatever you need, our list likely has you covered!

Hot tip: Located on the Florida Panhandle along the Gulf of Mexico, Destin is known as the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village.” However, thanks to its beautiful beaches, nature trails in Henderson State Park, and world-class golfing, Destin has become a popular family vacation destination.

Ok, so we begin this article with a set of answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). I recommend you start here if you are just beginning your research on Destin hotels for families.

As an alternative, you can jump straight ahead to our list of Destin’s Best Family Hotels. It’s your choice.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What Destin family hotels have direct beach access?

The Destin hotels with direct beach access is The Henderson and the Embassy Suites by Hilton Destin. However, Emerald Grande does have a complimentary boat shuttle to a private beach and The Palms of Destin Resort has a complimentary beach shuttle.

Which family hotels in Destin have large family suites?

The Destin family hotels with the largest family suites are the Emerald Grande, The Palms of Destin and The Henderson, which sleep 6 to 10. The Best Western Sugar Sands and Embassy Suites by Hilton Destin also have spacious family rooms.

Do any family-friendly hotels in Destin have complimentary breakfast?

Yes. The Destin family hotels with complimentary breakfast are the Best Western Sugar Sands Inn and Embassy Suites by Hilton Destin.

Which kid-friendly Destin hotels have on-site restaurants?

The Destin hotels with on-site restaurants are The Henderson, The Palms of Destin Resort, Emerald Grande and Embassy Suites by Hilton Destin.

Do any of the family hotels in Destin have a kids’ club?

The hotel in Destin for families that has a kids’ club is The Henderson.

Which family-friendly hotels in Destin has great family pools?

The Destin family hotels that have awesome family pools are The Henderson, The Palms of Destin Resort and Emerald Grande. However, Embassy Suites by Hilton Destin and Best Western Sugar Sands Inn also have pools.

Top Family Hotels in Destin

Pin’able Comparison Chart:

The Henderson Resort & Spa

4-star hotel | 200 Henderson Resort Way Destin, F 32541

family friendly pool at the Henderson Resort in Destin Fl

Editor’s Pick: Best all-around choice

Key features

All rooms have views of the gulf and beach preserve
Has a Kids’ Club and tons of family activities
Live Music Entertainment!
Family pool with lazy river
Resort fee
Certain parts of the resort shut down during off season

Here’s why you will love it

It was a hard choice, but Henderson Resort & Spa is my top overall pick as the best family hotel in Destin, because of how much it offers in combination with its sheer beauty. Reminiscent of a luxury seaside manor, The Henderson oozes with class. Although elegant, The Henderson is very family-friendly offering a ton of activities and amenities for family travelers. Starting with the plush luxury accommodations, some of the rooms can sleep up to 6. All rooms have views of either beach and/or nature preserve with mini-fridges. On-site there are several fabulous dining options, including Primrose their signature restaurant serving up excellent seafood and steaks. The atmosphere is casual yet elegant and is where guests can eat breakfast in the morning. Horizons is an octagon shaped bar and restaurant with panoramic views of the Gulf. This is a great spot to enjoy some small plates or sushi with a delicious cocktail. On Taco & Tequila Thursdays, Horizons has live music and $2 tacos and margaritas. Sea Level is the poolside restaurant and Beach Cantina located by the beach and offers grab-and-go salads and sandwiches, snacks as well as fun mocktails and cocktails.

On the property of you and your kids will love the family pool complete with a lazy river. In addition to a number family activities, games, crafts and recreation rentals, there is the Poppy’s Kids Club. For an additional charge, Poppy’s offers meals, activities and crafts for the kids. There are two sessions, a day time block from 9:00am to 1:00pm and an evening block from 5:00pm to 8:00pm. If you are looking for ultimate relaxation with your little ones, the spa offers a mommy and me spa treatment. Your stay also includes a family pass to Henderson State Park. This why it makes the top of our list for the best family hotels in Destin, Fl.

Best Western Sugar Sands Inn & Suites

3-star hotel | 4415 Commons Drive E Destin, Florida 32541

Best Western Sugar Sands Suites Destin Fl

Top Budget Friendly Choice

Key features

Complimentary breakfast
Laundry facility
Game room
Outdoor pool
No onsite restaurants or bars
Not on the beach
Family rooms inside Best Western Sugar Sands Suites Inn Destin Fl

Here’s why you will love it

Best Westerns are always a solid choice when looking for a comfortable and affordable family hotel in any destination. The Best Western Sugar Sands Inn made my list for Destin resorts for families, because we love the spacious rooms, featuring two queens and a sofa bed and mini-fridge and complimentary breakfast. Any hotel that offers complimentary breakfast scores major points in my book.

Kids will enjoy the outdoor pool and game room after a fun day at the beach. There is no on-site restaurant, but since The Best Western Sugar Sands is centrally located, you are just walking distance from a ton of great family restaurants in Destin. Back at the hotel, there is a laundry facility, which makes it great for preventing sandy beach suitcases when it is time to go home.

Embassy Suites by Hilton Destin Miramar Beach

3-star hotel | 570 Scenic Gulf Dr, Destin, FL 32550

Embassy Suite by Hilton Miramar Beach Destin Florida

Key features

Evening reception
Complimentary made to order hot breakfast
Outdoor pool and hot tub
Private beach access
No special kid activities or club
No shuttle service
Beach lounge at family hotel Embassy Suites by Hilton Miramar Beach Destin Fl

Here’s why you will love it

The Embassy Suites one of the best places to stay with kids in Destin Fl, because of its location to many area attractions like Silver Sands Premium outlet, Baytowne Wharf, Big Kahuna’s Waterpark and world-class golfing at The Links. Plus they have private beach access in addition to an outdoor pool. The rooms are spacious for families and include pull out sofa beds for additional sleeping space. There are also connecting rooms, cribs and/or pack n plays, and mini-fridges available, which is great for those traveling to Destin with babies and toddlers.

For your convenience, the Embassy Suites offers complimentary made-to-order hot breakfast and a complimentary evening reception with drinks and snacks. On the property there is an on-site restaurant, Calypso Cafe, which is Caribbean-themed and offers fresh seafood and other Caribbean specialties.

Emerald Grande at HarborWalk Village

4-star hotel | 10 Harbor Blvd, Destin, FL 32541

Emerald Grande at HarborWalk Village Destin Fl

Key features

Boat shuttle to private beach with free beach chair service
Indoor and outdoor pools
Huge suites that sleep up to 10 with bunk rooms!
Located at the exciting HarborWalk Village
Busy, slow and confusing elevators
East Tower can be noisy due to location on HarborWalk Village
Fun bunk room at the family friendly Emerald Grande in Destin Fl

Here’s why you will love it

This family resort in Destin is a great pick for traveling families to Florida, because it has an amazing location on HarborWalk Village that puts you and your family just steps from tons of entertainment, restaurants and activities. Even though Emerald Grande does have an on-site restaurant, Grande Vista Bar & Grill, you will be surrounded by a variety of other exciting dining options as well.

The rooms are huge too, sleeping up to 10. Some rooms even have bunk beds, which kids will love! The rooms have kitchens and laundry facilities, making family travel a breeze. In addition, there are cribs, pack n plays and other baby essentials available for rent. There are both indoor and outdoor pools available, so fun never stops due to weather. If you want to hit the beach, the Emerald Grande has a complimentary boat shuttle that takes you to an awesome private beach with beach chair setup, making it one of the best family resorts in Destin.

The Palms of Destin Resort

3-star hotel | 4201 Indian Bayou Trail, Destin, FL 32541

Family-Friendly Destin Palms Resort in Destin Fl

Key features

Huge family suites sleeping up to 8
Beautiful lagoon pool
Sports courts and playground
Complimentary beach shuttle
Not on the beach
Need wristbands to get into pool
large family suites at Destin Palms Resort in Destin Fl

Here’s why you will love it

This Destin family resort is actually a collection of Destin vacation rental apartments. The cool thing about this is that it functions in many ways as a resort, with maintained grounds, sports courts, playground, a beautiful lagoon style pool and front desk services. The apartments have full kitchens and are large enough to accommodate large families, some sleeping up to 8 people.

When you want to get the beach, the Palms of Destin Resort offers a complimentary beach shuttle. The shuttle also makes 15 other optional stops, which is great if you want to explore more of Destin without driving around yourself. On-site the Palms of Destin has The Palms Bistro and the Poolside Tiki Bar.

That’s a Wrap!

Well there you have it. Destin is a wonderful beach community and your family is sure to have a great time on a kid-friendly trip to Destin. Hope you found this information useful and that you found the right family hotel for your next family beach vacation to Destin!

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Author

I am a busy mama with 3 delicious babies and a serious itch for travel and writing (when I am not bartending, that is)! After graduating from Cal State San Marcos with a B.A. in Communications, I decided to start a family and pursue a career in freelance writing. I created HotMamaTravel as an outlet to do what I love while sharing useful travel tips and inspiration with others. Our mission is to show parents how to master travel with kids, while keeping your Saturday-night selves. We call it "Family travel...with a twist".

4 Comments

  1. Great article. I’m interested in the Henderson, but I wondered if you’ve compared it to the Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort. It appears to have a lot of amenities for activities for older kids and adults.

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