The right home base when traveling with your family can make or break your trip. As a Florida native (I was born in Miami and over the years have lived all over the state from the Gulf Coast to Jacksonville to Gainesville), I am conscious of how different communities, landscapes and attractions can really bond a family in fun or leave them cold. The state has so much to offer, in addition to its inarguable theme park domination and sunny disposition—I set out to determine which rental homes could claim being the best kid-friendly Airbnbs in Florida; I wanted people staying there, to see the Sunshine State’s most beautiful places in the best light.
I’m a Miami Native and Suggest You Book These Kid-Friendly Airbnbs in Florida ASAP
Beachfronts & Disney cabins all to yourself
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Published Apr 15, 2025
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Airbnb: Davenport, Marco Island, Sarasota
How I Chose the Best Kid-Friendly Airbnbs in Florida
I asked colleagues for intel about what they look for when traveling with kids. “I zoom in on the pictures and look for soft-sided furniture and minimal breakable decor. Some are so heavily decorated that you spend half your stay on edge, trying to keep things out of reach or worrying about what kids will get into,” VP of editorial content and mom-of-two, Candace Davison says. “After having a friend whose kid rolled over in the middle of the night and cracked her forehead on the corner of a mirrored nightstand, bleeding everywhere, I became much more aware of the types of furniture in a bedroom and living room, especially.” Additionally, I was schooled to note cleanliness, and check the ratings: “I love a SuperHost,” says editor Dara Katz. While proximity to attractions is a plus, one friend swears by nabbing a home a little further away because “you get more of a house that way.” Additionally, I perused reviews to see exactly what joys and pain points other families reported—it takes a village, even when you’re booking your Airbnb. Finally, I edited the list to include properties that are available beginning in late April 2025—but book now, because these places are so rave-worthy, they’re destined to sell out soon.
“My two biggest priorities are location and number of bedrooms,” says PureWow executive editor Alexia Dellner. “It's all well and good being in the middle of downtown, but I don't have any use for cool art galleries and hip bars when I'm on a family vacation with young kids. I need access to kid-friendly museums and restaurants, and preferably some type of outdoor area where they can run around every day (my kids are like dogs in that way).” Dellner maintains that she’s learned, after many years of trial and error, that “as a family, we can really only handle max one big activity per day (museum, theme park, etc.) and that the rest of the day needs to be spent by the Airbnb/hotel doing something fun but low-key (like hitting the beach or going to a playground or watching a movie). As for bedrooms, we can all snuggle up together if necessary (not preferable—I swear my kids run marathons in their sleep!).” Dellner says she insists on booking a property that has some other type of space that her husband and she can unwind in while her little kids are in bed: “Honestly, that's when the real vacation happens for us!” she laughs.
“Also for location, proximity to the airport is ideal. After traveling on an airplane with a toddler, my nerves can't handle a 90-minute car ride....get me to the Airbnb (and a glass of wine!) stat,” the mom-of-three says.
Best Kid-Friendly Airbnbs in Florida at a Glance
This very clean, very close to the beach Airbnb is a great crash pad for small, active families who want to be close to the surf and don’t need extra amenities. Since the pools, gym and hot tubs are closed at the moment, the rate has been discounted, which is a boon for value-minded guests who look forward to waking up with an ocean view.
Fast Facts
- Sleeps: 4
- Number of beds/baths: 2/1
- Amenities: Beach view, 1 min from beach
A screen-in pool patio and expansive game room threaten to keep you home bound at this Crystal River-adjacent home with three bedrooms that give one or two sets of parents their own rooms, with two single beds in the third bedroom and a comfy couch in the main room, along with a portable crib for whichever room you’re in. Have a teen that wants gaming time? The game room has a games console, 60-inch TV with Roku and also a pool table. And there’s a roomy backyard to throw kid-safe darts and just run little legs off. But still, make time or whatever deals with the littles necessary to take in some sightseeing at nearly Crystal River, the spring-fed Gulf water oasis that lets you float with manatees, take in wildlife via an airboat or other aquatic adventure.
Fast Facts
- Sleeps: 7
- Number of beds/baths: 5/2
- Amenities: game room, screened pool
Take the gang to the beaches (Flagler, Daytona, Matanzas) or even Disney World from home base at this airy home with double-height living room and heated saltwater pool. The kitchen has an attached breakfast room, while the screened-in patio with a saltwater pool has its own separate grilling kitchen—great for making a mess of burgers and hot dogs for the crew. Days can be spent here interspersed with trips to historic St. Augustine where besides crawling over an old fort, the family can beachcomb and sunbathe on the long beautiful flat stretch of sand.
Fast Facts
- Sleeps: 8
- Number of bed/baths: 5/1
- Amenities: screened pool, billiard/foosball, outdoor grill/kitchen
Does your family enjoy boating and all manner of water sports? Welcome to the sweet little village of Bradford, halfway from Gainesville to Tallahassee on the Suwannee River. Pickett Lake is quiet and unspoiled and this home has access to a boat ramp 100 yards down the road; the house itself has four kayaks, a canoe and a paddle board to launch right from the property, where you can also fish from the dock. There’s an outdoor grill and backyard fire pit with firewood set aside for you to enjoy s'mores with the kids after a long day on the water.
- Sleeps: 6
- Number of beds/baths: 3/1
- Amenities: kayaks, paddle board, canoe
Fifteen minutes from Siesta Key Beach, this home has something for everyone: a regulation-size pickleball court right in the front yard, a screened lanai with a cute couch and comfy bean bag chairs and more than 100 board games accessible on a digital game table. Close by is the world-renowned beauty, Siesta Key Beach. This barrier island beach is special because unlike most beaches, which are made of pulverized coral, Siesta Beach's powdery white sand is 99 percent quartz, most of which is millions of years old and comes from the Appalachian Mountains. (And the little town of Siesta Key itself made the PureWow list of best beach towns in Florida.)
Fast Facts
- Sleeps: 8
- Number of beds/baths: 6/2
- Amenities: private pickleball court, fire pit, Infinity game table
Want a vacation home that feels and looks baller? This sleek home right on the Intracoastal Waterway with a heated pool has an open plan, so the chef’s kitchen flows right into the dining room and living room, all overlooking the pool deck. Older kids will enjoy watching boats float by as they’re playing Marco Polo in the pool. Beach towels, umbrella, beach blanket, snorkeling gear are all ready to take to the beach just 15 minutes away, and there are two beach cruisers to enjoy during your stay.
Fast Facts
- Sleeps: 12
- Number of beds/baths: 8/3.5
- Amenities: heated pool, room with two bunk beds, waterside hammock
Just southwest of the center of Orlando and 15 minutes from Disney World, this house in a gated community is a great option if you’re getting families or multiple generations together to vacation near the theme park, but want something for everyone to enjoy. The Champions Gate community includes a restaurant, swimming pools, water slides, kids pool, arcades, cinema, sand volleyball court as well as a game room right inside the gates, and at your own home there’s a pool with Jacuzzi. And for convenience, there’s a babies kit with a crib, high chair and pram that’s available for $49 for your entire stay.
Fast Facts
- Sleeps: 12
- Numbers of beds/bath: 9/4
- Amenities: Star Wars game room, water slides
Fido is welcome in this tile-floor Old Florida style bungalow, and he’s equally welcome on nearby Ormond and Daytona beaches. That live-and-let-live ease is a hallmark of this area, a short distance from shopping and dining, and a less than two-minute walk to kayak launch and fishing dock. The king-sized bed, dog beaches and fenced-in, tree-shaded back yard are going to add up to your pet’s best vacay ever.
Fast Facts
- Sleeps: 4
- Number of beds/baths: 3/1
- Amenities: fenced yard, dog-friendly
Clean and stylishly decorated, this home gets high marks for not only its 10-minute proximity to Disney but also its preponderance of toys: a pool table, table tennis, mini golf and a play area for the kids. The pool can be heated for $30/day (a standard fee) but that’s only necessary during the coldest months. Parents appreciate the nearby Walmart for last-minute supplies, as well as the open-plan kitchen that lets you keep an eye on the kids while you’re prepping meals.
Fast Facts
- Sleeps: 8
- Number of beds/baths: 9/2
- Amenities: pool table, mini-golf, table tennis
Disney superfans will delight in this little gated retreat of three log cabins originally used by Disney that have been updated for guest use. You’re just 20 minutes away from the parks, but in a quiet wooded area. Each cabin can be rented separately or as a group, which is perfect for families who are traveling together. Best of all, the furnishings are vintage Disney frontier-type design: chairs fastened from tree limbs, leather ottomans and wooden décor carved in wildlife shapes.
Fast Facts
- Sleeps: 6
- Number of beds/baths: 4/1
- Amenities: yard games, picnic tables, fire pit barbecue grill
Every year from May to October, this little gulf coast community hosts scores of sea turtles who nest on its beaches to lay eggs that later hatch, freeing tiny little turtles that find their way alone into the waves. Staying at this home less than 10 minute’s walk from the beach gives your family access to this spectacle as well as a launching point to explore Florida’s Everglades National Park, a 50-minute drive away. Or drive just 10 minutes east to Goodland, a tiny fishing village where you can charter a day of fishing to create some family lore, if not dinner. (And for all you shoulder season travel aficionados, the Everglades is among the best fall getaways in Florida.)
Fast Facts
- Sleeps: 10
- Number of beds/baths: 6/3
- Amenities: game room, full gym, salt pool, bicycles, beach chairs, coolers, beach cart, umbrellas
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