Planning a trip to Destin and want to stay in a hotel near Crab Island?
You’ve come to the right place since this article features the 10 best hotels near Crab Island in Destin Florida.
How am I sure these are the best? I’ve stayed in Destin 3 times so I know the importance of booking a comfortable hotel so you can enjoy your stay worry-free.
Crab Island is a sandbar located 5-10 minutes offshore from Destin Harbor. If you want to stay near Crab Island, the closest hotels are around HarborWalk village in Destin. All of the hotels listed in this article are less than a 10 minute drive from the Destin Harbor.
Not enough time to read the article? I recommend you book the Emerald Grande Vacation Resort – a 4 star beachfront hotel within walking distance to HarborWalk village.
Traveling with your dog? That won’t work since they don’t allow pets. Instead, opt for the Hampton Inn & Suites – a pet-friendly 3-star hotel with free breakfast.
If those two don’t work for you, don’t worry, we have 8 great other options that may better suit you.
Here are the 10 best hotels near Crab Island in Destin Florida.
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Our Top 3 Picks: Best Hotels Near Crab Island In Destin
1. Emerald Grande Vacation Resort
- Within walking distance to Destin Harbor (0.4 miles) 📍
- Features a restaurant and spa
- Views of Crab Island from the hotel rooms 🏝
2. Hampton Inn & Suites Destin
- Under a 10 minute drive from Destin harbor (3.2 miles) 📍
- Pet-friendly & has a free buffet breakfast
- Within walking distance to Destin beach
3. Homewood Suites by Hilton Destin
- Less than a 10 minute drive from Destin harbor (3.5 miles)📍
- Has hot tubs & a daily continental breakfast (at surcharge)
- Within walking distance to beaches and many restaurants
Best Hotels Near Crab Island In Destin Florida
1. Emerald Grande Vacation Resort
Distance from Destin’s Harbor (Crab Island): 350 feet
Located right on the harbor, Emerald Grande is the best hotel near Crab Island in Destin when it comes to location.
This family friendly hotel features a restaurant, bar, gym, indoor and outdoor pools, spa, and a private beach nearby.
Every room’s equipped with a fully stocked kitchen (microwave, toaster, coffee maker), and a balcony with beautiful views of Crab Island.
This is the ideal hotel if you want to be within walking distance to the beach, and restaurants in HarborWalk village.
What Guests Have Said
It beyond met our expectations. The amenities and location were amazing! Will definitely go back.
Marci – (See More Reviews)
Hotels Near Crab Island In Destin
2. Hampton Inn & Suites Destin
Distance from Destin’s Harbor (Crab Island): 3.2 miles
When it comes to amenities, the Hampton Inn & Suites tops the list of the best hotels near Crab Island. This pet-friendly hotel features a free buffet breakfast, gym, outdoor pool, and convenience store.
Rooms are clean, spacious, and equipped with a mini fridge and microwave. Unlike most Destin hotels, they allow up to 2 pets (cats and dogs) for a fee of 50 USD per night.
This hotel is within walking distance to Destin Beach, and just under a 10 minute drive (3.2 miles) from Destin Harbor. Being in the middle of Destin, it’s nearby many great restaurants as well.
If you’re traveling with family, this is a great option if you want to enjoy free breakfast and have convenient beach access.
What Guests Have Said
“Very clean and breakfast was great. Location was perfect as well.”
– Emilio (See more reviews)
Hotels Near Crab Island In Destin
3. Homewood Suites by Hilton Destin
Distance from Destin’s Harbor (Crab Island): 3.5 miles
Located right next to Henderson Beach Park, the Homewood Suites is another popular hotel near Crab Island in Destin.
This pet-friendly hotel features a gym, outdoor pool, hot tub, and delicious continental breakfast at a surcharge. The rooms are clean, spacious, and come with a fully stocked kitchen.
It’s within walking distance to many great restaurants, and under a 10 minute drive from Destin’s harbor (3.5 miles).
If you want to stay in a clean, comfortable hotel minutes from the shore, this is an excellent option.
What Guests Have Said
“Breakfast was very good, fresh and fulfilling. Easy access to walk to the beach. Rooms has a lot of space. Overall enjoyed my stay.”
– Aurora (See more reviews)
Hotels Near Crab Island In Destin
4. Wingate by Wyndham
Distance from Destin’s Harbor (Crab Island): 2.4 miles
Just around a 5-6 minute drive from Destin’s harbor, the Wingate by Wyndham is another considerable hotel near Crab Island.
This hotel features a free breakfast, gym, outdoor pool, spa, and outdoor hot tub. The rooms are clean, comfortable, and equipped with a refrigerator and microwave.
It’s within walking distance to grocery stores, restaurants, and only 2.4 miles away from HarborWalk Village.
If you want to be in a convenient location near Crab Island and the beaches, this is a great choice.
What Guests Have Said
“Very nice, clean and welcoming staff.Great amenities. Location was easy to find and convenient to restaurants and retail”
– Valerie (See more reviews)
Hotels Near Crab Island In Destin
5. Destin Holiday Beach Resort
Distance from Destin’s Harbor (Crab Island): 2.6 miles
The Destin Holiday Beach Resort is another popular beachfront hotel near Crab Island. This hotel features a gym, tennis courts, pool, hot tub, and private beach.
It’s conveniently located next to grocery stores, restaurants, and just steps away from the beach.
With activities like beach volleyball and bingo, this is an ideal hotel for families, or anyone wanting to enjoy the beach.
It’s 2.6 miles, or around a 5-6 minute drive from Destin’s harbor.
What Guests Have Said
“Great location with beach front access. Two pools and hot tubs made it convenient as well as tennis courts. Room was clean and staff was very friendly.”
– Andy (See more reviews)
Hotels Near Crab Island In Destin
6. Pelican Beach Resort by Colasan
Distance from Destin’s Harbor (Crab Island): 2.5 miles
The Pelican Beach Resort is an apartment style beachfront hotel near Crab Island in Destin. This hotel boasts a private beach, gym, outdoor pools, cafe, bar, hot tubs, tennis courts, and sauna.
The rooms are equipped with a fully stocked kitchen (coffee makers, microwaves, fridges, and cookware), and balcony with incredible gulf views.
With private beach access and many amenities, this hotel has everything you need for a comfortable stay.
It’s within walking distance to grocery stores, restaurants, and around a 5-6 minute drive from Destin’s harbor (2.5 miles).
What Guests Have Said
“Overall just a nice stay for family and very friendly staff! Convenient for shopping and walking distance to everything!”
– Nancy (See more reviews)
Hotels Near Crab Island In Destin
7. Club Destin Resort
Distance from Destin’s Harbor (Crab Island): 2.3 miles
The Club Destin Resort is another apartment style hotel near Crab Island in Destin. This hotel has indoor and outdoor pools, an arcade room, hot tubs, and a mini movie theater.
Rooms are spacious, and come with a fridge, microwave, and fully stocked kitchen with cookware.
It’s located near convenience stores, great restaurants, and less than a mile from Henderson beach.
With friendly staff, nice amenities, and a convenient location, this hotel has all you need for an enjoyable stay.
Plus, it’s only 2.3 miles, or around a 5 minute drive from Destin’s harbor.
What Guests Have Said
“Great place to stay for one night. Comfortable bed. Seamless checkin and nice amenities ti include hot tub and large pool.”
– David (See more reviews)
Hotels Near Crab Island In Destin
8. Village Inn Destin
Distance from Destin’s Harbor (Crab Island): 0.4 miles
Less than a mile from the harbor, the Village Inn Destin is one of the closest motels to Crab Island in Destin.
This pet-friendly motel has a free continental breakfast, outdoor pool, and free self parking. Rooms come with a fridge, microwave, coffee maker, and flat screen TVs.
They allow up to 3 pets for a fee of 25 USD per pet, per night.
If you want to be in a convenient location while saving money, this is an excellent choice.
What Guests Have Said
“I think the modern decor is awesome. The location is perfect for being able to enjoy the boardwalk. The breakfast in the morning was just a cherry on top.”
– Kevin (See more reviews)
Hotels Near Crab Island In Destin
9. Destin Inn and Suites
Distance from Destin’s Harbor (Crab Island): 1.9 miles
The Destin Inn and Suites is another motel located near Crab Island. This motel has free self parking, an outdoor pool, and rooms with a microwave, fridge, and TV.
It’s conveniently located near grocery stores, restaurants, and is only a 5 minute drive from Destin’s harbor.
With friendly staff and a convenient location, this is a great motel if you want to save money during your stay.
What Guests Have Said
“Location was good. Room was clean. Bed comfortable & linens were good. Everything worked. Quiet surroundings. Would definitely stay again.”
– Meri (See more reviews)
Hotels Near Crab Island In Destin
10. Home2 Suites By Hilton Destin
Distance from Destin’s Harbor (Crab Island): 3.5 miles
The Home2 Suites is a popular pet-friendly hotel near Crab Island in Destin. This hotel features a free continental breakfast, gym, outdoor pool, and is within walking distance to Henderson Beach.
Rooms are clean, comfortable, and come with a fridge, microwave, and kitchen with cookware. It’s located near many restaurants, convenience stores, and is under a 10 minute drive (3.5 miles) from Destin Harbor.
With comfortable rooms and convenient beach access, this hotel has everything you need for a relaxing stay.
What Guests Have Said
“Check In/Out were easy. Staff were polite and helpful. Room was clean and easy to get too. Walking distance to beach was nice.”
– Tiffany (See more reviews)
Hotels Near Crab Island In Destin
FAQ: Hotels Near Crab Island In Destin Florida
Where is Crab Island?
Crab Island is a floating sandbar located on the north side of the Destin bridge, about a half mile offshore. From the shore, it takes boats approximately 5 minutes to reach Crab Island.
How do you get to Crab Island?
To get to Crab Island, you can rent boats, jet skis, take a boat charter, or go on an excursion like the Crab Island Shuttle.
The Crab Island Shuttle is the most popular excursion that will take you to Crab Island for 2.5 or 3 hours.
The shuttle can hold up to 32 passengers, and is a great alternative if you’re not comfortable driving to Crab Island yourself.
What’s the cheapest way to get to Crab Island?
The cheapest way to get to Crab Island is to take the Crab Island Shuttle. The shuttle costs $45 for 2.5 hour excursion tickets, and $55 for 3 hour excursion tickets.
In contrast, typical boat rentals in Destin cost anywhere from $75 to $300 an hour. If you’re traveling in a small group, I highly recommend going on an excursion to save money on your trip.
How much does it cost to go to Crab Island?
The cost to go to Crab Island starts at $45 per person for the shuttle (2.5 hour excursion), and can be more expensive for boat charters and rentals.
How do you get to Crab Island without a boat?
The best way to get to Crab Island without renting a boat is to go on an excursion like the Crab Island shuttle, or rent out jet skis instead.
The Crab Island shuttle is the cheapest, starting at $45 per person (2.5 hour excursion), whereas jet ski rentals in Destin start at around $85 per hour.
When is the best time to go to Crab Island?
The best time to go to Crab Island is in the summer from May to August. This is the peak season when the weather’s nicest, and perfect for water sports.
If you’re seeking more of a party atmosphere, Crab Island is most crowded during the 4th of July, Memorial Day, and Labor Day weekend.
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