Guides · Steinhatchee, Florida
Where to Stay in Steinhatchee, FL: Best Areas & Hotels
Steinhatchee is a working river town. Where you sleep should match how you plan to spend the day.
Stay on the River: Top Steinhatchee Waterfront Hotels
The Steinhatchee River runs past the center of town, and the docks get the morning traffic before the sun tops the trees. Want to step out and have your boat in the water within minutes? This is the side to work from.
Good Times Motel & Marina sits at 7022 SW Hwy 358, rated 4.4 from 324 reviews. It is the largest lodging operation in town and the most reviewed. The marina puts you on the river, and the highway address keeps you close to the launch ramps.
Fiddler's Resort is at 1306 Riverside Dr, rated 4.3 from 184 reviews. The name comes from the fiddler crabs that work the mud flats, and the resort sits on the river side of town. A solid second option if the bigger marina is booked.
Off The Clock Fisheries & Marina and Ideal Marina & Motel share the 412 Riverside Dr address. Both are small operations, rated 5.0 from 7 and 2 reviews respectively. Bare-bones places for people who came to fish, not to sit on a balcony.
Rocky Creek Getaway, at SW 459th Ave, is rated 4.5 from 6 reviews. Quieter, on the creek side, a little off the main drag. You trade riverfront access for less traffic noise.
Central Avenue Vacation Rentals: Houses & Duplexes in Steinhatchee
Central Avenue runs parallel to the river, a block or two back. This is where the vacation rentals cluster, and they tend to be houses or duplexes rather than hotel rooms.
Steinhatchee River Rentals, at 1601 Central Ave, is rated 5.0 from 22 reviews. The best-reviewed rental operation in town and the most established of the Central Avenue properties. The name says what it does.
Steinhatchee Place Resorts, at 15 1st St W NW, is rated 4.0 from 15 reviews. A mixed bag by the numbers, but central and close to the water.
The Estuary At Steinhatchee, at 116 1st Ave SE, is rated 5.0 from 2 reviews. The name suggests marsh views, and the location puts you near the south end of town.
Steinhatchee Apartments, at 1117 3rd Ave S, is rated 4.0 from 1 review. A basic rental block, fine for a short stay, not much more.
Highway 358 Lodging: Convenient Steinhatchee Hotels & Rentals
The highway into town from the east passes a few standalone rentals. Good if you want to be near the action but not in the middle of the boat traffic.
The Scallop Inn, at 7086 SW Hwy 358 #1c, is rated 5.0 from 1 review. A single-unit rental with a name that tells you what season brings the crowds.
Playin Hooky in Steinhatchee FLA - Vacation Rental, at 6014 SW Hwy 358, is rated 5.0 from 1 review. The name is the pitch. A house rental on the highway, easy to find, easy to leave.
Rentals by Valena, at 1 15th St E, is rated 5.0 from 1 review. A small operation, likely a single property, run by one person.
April Showers Cottage Vacation Rental, at 315 Lisette Ln NE, is rated 5.0 from 4 reviews. A cottage on the northeast side of town, a little quieter than the riverfront.
The Kingfisher Cove Units
Two rentals sit under the Kingfisher Cove name, and they are the only properties in town that advertise a private boat slip and a pool.
Kingfisher Cove- upper unit sleeps 7 private boat slip & pool is the larger of the two, built for a family or a group of friends.
Kingfisher cove - boat slip , pool and view -lower unit is the lower unit, same amenities, smaller footprint.
These are the closest thing to a resort experience in Steinhatchee, though that is not saying much. The pool is the selling point, because most of the town's lodging is dock-and-done.
River's Edge Condominiums
River's Edge Condominiums, rated 4.2 from 5 reviews, is the only condo building on the list. A mid-sized option for people who want a full kitchen and a separate bedroom without renting a whole house. The river view is in the name.
Which Part of Town, Then
The river district is for boaters. If your trip is about scalloping, you want to be within walking distance of the marina because you will be wet, sandy and tired by noon. The Good Times and Fiddler's are the safest bets.
The Central Avenue side is for families who want a house. The rentals there are bigger, and you get privacy. Steinhatchee River Rentals has the most reviews and the best rating.
The highway stretch is for people who just need a bed. The single-unit rentals are fine, but they do not have the infrastructure of the marinas.
The Kingfisher units are for people who want a pool. That is the deciding factor, because nothing else in town has one listed.
One more thing to keep in mind. The scallop season in 2019 ran from 15 June to 10 September. The 2027 Fiddler Crab Festival, three days in February, will be the 19th edition. That is the other big draw, and if you come for the festival, book early. The town is built for about 770 people, and the seasonal housing stock of 1,043 units fills up fast.
The unemployment rate is 0 percent, which tells you the town runs on working people. The median household income is $48,208, and the median home value is $255,600. That is a working town with working prices.
Pick your side of town, book your slip, and plan to get your hands wet. That is what Steinhatchee is for.
Common questions
- Where should I stay in Steinhatchee?
- Pick the riverfront for marinas and easy boat access. Good Times Motel & Marina and Fiddler's Resort sit on the water. Inland rentals like Steinhatchee River Rentals are quieter. The whole town is small, so nothing is far from the river.
- Is Steinhatchee a good place for scalloping?
- Yes. The bay-scallop season runs in high summer, and the shallow flats of Deadman's Bay fill with families working the grass beds by hand. The season opens in June, and the whole town goes wading.
- How far is the Gulf from Steinhatchee?
- The open Gulf is 2.5 miles downstream on the Steinhatchee River. Boats from marinas like Off The Clock Fisheries & Marina or Ideal Marina & Motel run out to Deadman's Bay for scalloping and fishing.
- What is there to do in Steinhatchee besides scalloping?
- Fishing is the other main draw. Commercial fishing built the village, and locals still ply the Gulf. The Fiddler Crab Festival runs three days in February with a parade, fireworks, car show, and fishing tournament.
- Is Steinhatchee crowded in summer?
- Yes, during scallop season. The town has 1,637 housing units, but 1,043 are for seasonal or recreational use. Expect crowds on the water and at marinas from June through early September.
- Can I visit Steinhatchee for a day trip?
- You can, but staying overnight is better. The town is small, with 770 people, and lodging fills fast in scallop season. Book early at places like Rocky Creek Getaway or River's Edge Condominiums.
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