Last updated: October 10, 2026 · By Ronen, Stay Near The Venue
The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) is at 9800 International Drive in Orlando, one of the biggest convention centers in the US. Its halls are far apart, so your hotel choice really matters.
Quick answer: stay at a hotel connected by a pedestrian bridge so you never need a ride, or on South I-Drive for a short walk.
Top hotel picks at a glance
| Hotel | Location & highlights | |
|---|---|---|
| Hyatt Regency Orlando | connected by skybridge. | Check price |
| Hilton Orlando | connected by a pedestrian bridge. | Check price |
| Rosen Centre | covered skywalk to the West Building. | Check price |
| Rosen Plaza | skybridge to the center. | Check price |
| Four Points by Sheraton | about a 5-minute walk. | Check price |
Prices change daily – tap “Check price” for live rates on your dates.
This article contains affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Transport, perks and hotel details change, so always confirm with the venue and the hotel before you book.
Hotel map: live prices near the venue
Hotels connected to the convention center
- Hyatt Regency Orlando – connected by skybridge.
- Hilton Orlando – connected by a pedestrian bridge.
- Rosen Centre – covered skywalk to the West Building.
- Rosen Plaza – skybridge to the center.
- Four Points by Sheraton – about a 5-minute walk.
Getting around
The OCCC campus has three main buildings: the West Concourse at 9800 International Drive, the North Concourse at 9400 Universal Boulevard and the South Concourse at 9899 International Drive. They are far apart, so confirm which concourse your event uses.
- I-Ride Trolley: stops are in front of the West building and the North/South buildings. It is run by the International Drive district, so check current schedules before you travel.
- LYNX buses: LYNX serves the center and connects to Orlando International Airport and downtown. Confirm routes on the LYNX website.
- Rideshare and taxis: Uber and Lyft have designated pick-up and drop-off points on campus, and several taxi companies operate on site.
- Pedestrian bridges: five pedestrian bridges link the center to nearby hotels, and free pedicabs are available (tips are customary).
- From the airport: Orlando International (MCO) is about 12 miles from the center according to the OCCC.
Parking at the OCCC
The center has three parking locations: the West Building lot, the North-South Building lot (entering from Universal Boulevard is recommended) and the Destination Parkway Garage, two blocks west on International Drive. The OCCC lists standard vehicles at $20 plus tax, with rates that may vary by event, and parking is cashless with no overnight parking. You can prepay through the official parking portal.
Major events at the OCCC, 2026–27
The big one for travel planning is IAAPA Expo, November 16–20, 2026, held at the North/South Concourse. Expect hotels near International Drive to fill early. For other shows, check the calendar at occc.net before you book.
Which area to stay in
Connected hotels are the easiest choice. According to the OCCC, the Rosen Plaza, Rosen Centre, Hyatt Regency Orlando and Hilton Orlando connect to the center. International Drive has tens of thousands of hotel rooms nearby, so you can often find something within walking distance or a short trolley ride. If your show is at the North/South Concourse near Universal Boulevard, check the walking distance to the building that matters to you.
Tips for show days
- Check the concourse. West and North/South are a significant distance apart.
- Prepay parking when you can. Lots fill on big show days.
- Allow time to cross campus. Pedestrian bridges help, but the buildings are large.
- Book early for IAAPA. It is one of the busiest weeks of the year around International Drive.
Before you travel: three things worth booking ahead
Airport to hotel. If you land at Orlando International, a pre-booked private transfer (Welcome Pickups or Kiwitaxi) gives you a fixed price and a driver waiting at arrivals.
Bags between checkout and your show. Radical Storage lets you leave luggage for a few hours when checkout and registration do not line up.
If you have an extra day. Browse attraction tickets on Tiqets or tours and tickets on Klook before you go.
Affiliate links: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Choosing between International Drive and the surrounding areas
Most people searching for a hotel near the Orange County Convention Center are really choosing between a few priorities, and it helps to rank them before you compare listings. If you want to leave your hotel and be at a hall within a short, predictable trip, prioritize proximity and look at properties along International Drive. If you want quieter evenings, a wider choice of restaurants, or a lower nightly rate, a slightly longer commute may be a fair trade.
Be honest about how you will spend your time. A trade-show exhibitor who works long days and returns after dark values a short, simple route home. An attendee who plans client dinners may want to be close to restaurants. Someone traveling with colleagues may prefer one hotel that offers shared transport so the group stays together. Write down your top two priorities, then use maps and the hotel’s own directions to test each shortlisted property against them instead of relying on the word “near” in a listing.
Also remember that Orlando is a large resort destination. A hotel can sit close to theme parks, but not close to the convention center, so always check the address against the venue before booking.
When to book and how to use free cancellation
Convention weeks in Orlando can fill the best-located hotels well before the event, particularly when a large annual show is in town. If you know your dates, reserve early, and favor rates that allow free cancellation. That gives you a safety net: you hold a room now and can still change course if your registration, flights, or employer approval shifts.
Read the cancellation terms rather than the headline. Note the exact cutoff date and time, whether it is shown in local time, and whether the rate is refundable or merely changeable. Some discounted rates are prepaid and non-refundable, which may suit you only if your plans are firm. If an event publishes an official housing bureau or hotel block, compare it with open-market rates, but check the terms of each and decide based on flexibility as well as price.
A practical habit is to re-check availability a few weeks before travel. If a better-located room reappears at a similar rate, you can rebook and cancel the earlier reservation, provided your original rate was refundable.
Arrival day and departure day planning
Arrival and departure days are where trips most often go wrong. If you land in the morning and your room is not ready, ask the hotel whether it can store your bags so you can head straight to registration or a meeting. If your show opens early the next day, consider collecting your badge on arrival day, when registration areas are often calmer than on the opening morning, provided the event allows early pickup.
On departure day, confirm checkout time and ask about late checkout if your flight is in the evening. Build a generous buffer for the trip to the airport, because traffic and rental-car returns can take longer than expected after a large event lets out. If you travel with display materials or samples, check shipping rules ahead of time so that nothing is stranded at the hall.
If you are driving, plan where you will park before you arrive rather than circling on the day, and compare the cost of event parking with a hotel that provides a shuttle or sits within walking range.
Accessibility and comfort questions to ask a hotel
Large events attract attendees with a wide range of mobility and comfort needs, so it is reasonable to ask direct questions before you book. Ask whether the hotel has accessible rooms with roll-in showers or grab bars, whether the route from the entrance to the elevators is step-free, and whether any shuttle is wheelchair accessible. If you rely on a mobility aid, ask how long the walk is from the hotel’s door to the nearest transit stop or pickup point, since a distance that sounds short on a map can feel long at the end of a full show day.
Noise matters too. Rooms facing a busy road or a pool deck can be loud, so request a higher floor or a quiet side of the building. If you need a refrigerator for medication or snacks, a desk for working in the evening, or reliable Wi-Fi for calls, ask before you reserve and keep the reply in writing.
Common mistakes to avoid when booking near the OCCC
The most common mistake is trusting a listing that says it is close to the convention center without checking the real route. Another is booking a room for the show dates only and forgetting about setup or teardown days, which exhibitors often need. A third is ignoring resort or destination fees that may be added at check-in, so read the fine print on the total cost.
Travelers also underestimate how tiring a convention is. If you will be on your feet for most of the day, a comfortable bed and an easy commute are worth more than a fancy lobby. Finally, avoid booking separate flights and hotels with no slack. Leave room for delays, and keep your confirmation numbers and the hotel’s phone number saved on your phone.
Orange County Convention Center: parking, trolley and rideshare
The Orange County Convention Center says it operates three parking lots, with rates that vary by vehicle size, entry time and event, and it accepts cashless payment only. It describes itself as only minutes from Orlando International Airport and lists a taxi fare to the airport of $45 to $50.
Transit options on its page include the I-RIDE Trolley, which stops at the West and North/South buildings on International Drive, and LYNX buses serving the center, the airport and downtown. Rideshare has three designated pickup points across the campus, and five connected skywalks link hotels to the convention buildings, which is a real advantage if you book one of them. Check the official page for your event’s parking rates.
How we checked this guide
The “Last updated” date at the top of this page is when we last reviewed it end to end.
- Parking rates, shuttle fees and transport times are taken from the port’s, venue’s or operator’s own published pages and from each hotel’s own website — not from aggregator sites.
- Distances and journey times are the figures the venue or transit operator publishes, not our estimates. Where we give a distance, we say what it is measured to.
- Hotel amenities (breakfast, shuttle hours, pet and parking policies) come from each hotel’s own site. These change more often than anything else here, so confirm them when you book.
- Room rates are deliberately not listed anywhere on this site. They move daily, and a price written one month is wrong the next. Our links take you to live pricing instead.
- We have not stayed at every hotel we write about. Where we contacted a property directly, the guide says so and gives the date. Where a figure comes from a third-party report rather than an official source, we say that too.
Found something out of date or wrong? Tell us and we will fix it.
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- Hotels Near McCormick Place: Skybridge Hotels & South Loop Options
- All convention center guides
FAQ
Which hotels are connected to the Orange County Convention Center?
Hyatt Regency Orlando, Hilton Orlando, Rosen Centre and Rosen Plaza connect by pedestrian bridges.
How far is the Orange County Convention Center from Orlando airport?
About 12 miles from Orlando International Airport (MCO), according to the OCCC.
How much is parking at the OCCC?
The OCCC lists standard vehicles at $20 plus tax, but rates may vary by event. Parking is cashless and overnight parking is not allowed.
Which hotels connect to the OCCC?
The Rosen Plaza, Rosen Centre, Hyatt Regency Orlando and Hilton Orlando connect to the center, according to the OCCC.
More venue guides
Theme parks: Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Universal Orlando, Universal Studios Hollywood.
Convention centers: Las Vegas Convention Center, Javits Center, McCormick Place. Also see our stadium hotel guides, festival guides and cruise port hotel guides.
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We start at the venue and work outward: walking time, shuttle and transit options first, then guest review scores and value for money. Hotels can’t pay to be listed. Some links are affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Prices and availability change daily, so always check live rates before you book.
