Fort Walton Beach splits into two very different places to stay. Okaloosa Island, across the Brooks Bridge, is where the beach hotels and Gulf-front condos are, with The Boardwalk, the Gulfarium and Destin’s East Pass all close by. The mainland, along Santa Rosa Sound and the Miracle Strip Parkway, is where you’ll find the historic downtown, a waterfront bed and breakfast and hotels that often cost less than the island. Both put you about 15 minutes from Destin, often for less. Here’s how to choose where to stay in Fort Walton Beach.
Quick answer
- Big family resort: The Island Resort or Holiday Inn Resort on Okaloosa Island.
- Beach and bay in one: Destin West Beach & Bay Resort.
- Smaller beachfront hotel: Beal House or Wavecrest Lodge.
- Condo with a front desk: The Breakers.
- Waterfront bed and breakfast: Aunt Martha’s on Santa Rosa Sound.
- Kitchen and value near the bridge: Residence Inn, walking distance to downtown.
Okaloosa Island: the beach resorts
The east end of the island, along Miracle Strip Parkway, is the resort row, with the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center across the street and the Gulfarium and The Boardwalk within walking distance.
- The Island Resort at Fort Walton Beach: a family resort since 1966 on one of the widest beaches on the island, with more than 450 rooms, reopened in 2020 after a $15 million renovation. Its signature is the Grotto, a swim-up pool bar.
- Holiday Inn Resort Fort Walton Beach: 152 rooms on the Gulf with a beachfront lazy river, a short walk from the Gulfarium.
- Hilton Garden Inn Fort Walton Beach: 178 rooms on the sand, including junior suites with bunk beds for kids, and a lazy river.
- Four Points by Sheraton: 216 rooms between the Gulfarium and The Boardwalk, with two pools and a beach bar. Despite the Destin in its name, it’s on the Fort Walton Beach side of the pass.
Next to the Marler Bridge into Destin, Destin West Beach & Bay Resort has buildings on both sides of the island, linked by a skybridge over U.S. 98. Gulfside units sit on the beach, and bayside units face Choctawhatchee Bay, with studios to three-bedroom condos.
Best for: families who want pools, the beach and the Gulfarium in one place.
Tradeoff: the resort row is busy in summer, and the convention center brings tournaments and events.
West of The Boardwalk: smaller and quieter
West along Santa Rosa Boulevard, the island gets quieter, and beyond the hotel row it opens into undeveloped Eglin Air Force Base land. Beal House, part of Hilton’s Tapestry Collection, has 100 rooms, and 60 of them have balconies facing the Gulf. It’s named for Dr. James Hartley Beal, an early promoter of Fort Walton Beach tourism. A few doors down, Wavecrest Lodge is a four-story independent hotel with an easygoing style and free breakfast.
This stretch is also condo country. The Breakers of Fort Walton Beach runs its own rental program with a staffed front desk, which many island condos don’t. El Matador is a gated complex on about 12 landscaped acres, with more lawn and space than most of its neighbors. Island Princess has more than 490 feet of beach and roomy one- to three-bedroom units. See all of them on our Okaloosa Island page.
Best for: couples and families who want a calmer beach and a kitchen.
Tradeoff: fewer restaurants you can walk to.
The mainland: history, the sound and value
The hotels on the mainland side of the Brooks Bridge are a short drive from the beach and within walking distance of downtown Fort Walton Beach, Landing Park and the Indian Temple Mound Museum.
- Aunt Martha’s Bed & Breakfast: a Southern summerhouse-style inn on Santa Rosa Sound, with a veranda of rocking chairs over the water. The owner’s grandparents ran Fort Walton Beach’s first hotel.
- Residence Inn by Marriott: suites with full kitchens at the foot of the Brooks Bridge, some with sound views, plus free hot breakfast.
- La Quinta Inn & Suites: an Art Deco-style hotel across the road, under two miles from the island’s beaches.
- Quality Inn Fort Walton Beach: a budget pick that backs onto Santa Rosa Sound, with a small beach, a dock and water sports rentals.
Best for: travelers on a budget, longer stays, military visitors to Eglin and Hurlburt Field, and anyone who prefers the sound to the Gulf.
Tradeoff: you’ll cross the bridge to reach the Gulf beaches.
Fort Walton Beach or Destin?
Okaloosa Island shares the same white sand and emerald water as Destin, and The Boardwalk and the Gulfarium are right there. Destin has more restaurants, the harbor and more upscale resorts. If you’re watching the budget or have young kids, Fort Walton Beach is often the easier choice. If the harbor and nightlife are the point, see where to stay in Destin. Destin is about 15 minutes east across the Marler Bridge.
Tips for booking in Fort Walton Beach
- Check the event calendar. Big tournaments at the convention center can fill the resort row.
- Book condos by the unit. Island condos are individually owned, so check each unit’s layout and view.
- Fly into VPS. Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport is about 20 minutes from Okaloosa Island.
Where to stay in Fort Walton Beach FAQ
Is Okaloosa Island part of Fort Walton Beach? Yes. It’s the barrier island on the Gulf side of Fort Walton Beach, across the Brooks Bridge from downtown.
Is it cheaper to stay in Fort Walton Beach than Destin? Often, yes, especially at the mainland hotels, and the beaches are only minutes apart.
Which Fort Walton Beach hotels are right on the beach? The Okaloosa Island hotels, including The Island Resort, Holiday Inn Resort, Hilton Garden Inn, Four Points, Beal House and Wavecrest Lodge.
Plan the rest of the trip with our guides to things to do in Fort Walton Beach and Okaloosa Island, or browse our Fort Walton Beach stays page. Comparing towns? See where to stay on the Emerald Coast.
Featured photo: The Island Resort at Fort Walton Beach.