Jacksonville is a city that is not just a tourist destination but also a hub for business trips, sports, and conventions.

Typically, hotel prices are not that high, but during major events like Jaguars home games, the Florida-Georgia football game, or the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, downtown hotel prices suddenly spike.

Considering the size and location in Jacksonville, the first place to look is the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront.

This large hotel, located right in front of the downtown St. Johns River, has 951 rooms and suites. It features approximately 116,000 square feet of meeting and event space and over 40 meeting rooms, making it a great venue for corporate conferences or large banquets.

The biggest advantage here is definitely the location. If you book a good room, you can overlook the St. Johns River and the bridge, and you can easily access the Riverwalk. It's also convenient for those attending downtown events or Jaguars games.

Prices vary significantly depending on the date. Checking weekday rates for September 2026, a standard queen room starts at around $183 before tax, while a king room starts at about $193. A river view queen room is around $192, and a river view king room is about $202. Studio types exceed $300, and suites can go over $400.

It's important to note the taxes and parking. Just because the room rate is $190 doesn't mean you'll only pay $190. Various lodging-related taxes are added, and according to the hotel's official guidelines, self-parking starts at $34 per day, while valet parking starts at $44. Larger vehicles start at $59.

For example, even if the room rate is around $200, the actual daily expenditure can easily exceed $250 when you add taxes and parking.

If breakfast is not included in the rate, there will be an additional cost. On weekends when demand is high, like during Jaguars games, room prices can be significantly higher than usual, so it's best to book early.

If you're planning to stay near the airport, the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Jacksonville Airport is practical.

It's right next to Jacksonville International Airport, making it especially convenient for those arriving late at night or catching morning flights. A 24-hour airport shuttle is also available.

Prices are often cheaper than the downtown Hyatt. For weekday rates in September 2026, a room with two queen beds starts at around $130 before tax, and a rate that includes breakfast goes up to about $170. If you choose to have breakfast separately, expect to pay around $20 per person.

Parking fees are about $10 per day, which is much less burdensome compared to the Hyatt. Therefore, if you're staying for several days with a rental car or are a business traveler moving around the airport, the overall accommodation cost difference can be quite significant.

The character of the two hotels is completely different. If you're visiting Jacksonville for the first time and want to enjoy the downtown atmosphere while attending events or games, the Hyatt is definitely more convenient. Especially, the river view rooms provide a true sense of being in Jacksonville, even if it costs a bit more.

On the other hand, if you just want a comfortable place to sleep before catching a flight the next day or plan to explore Jacksonville with a rental car, the airport DoubleTree is more economical. Considering both room rates and parking fees, the daily difference can be over $50 to $100.

What I want to emphasize most about booking hotels in Jacksonville is not to make decisions based solely on the displayed room rates. Even a $150 hotel can end up costing close to $200 when you factor in taxes, parking, and breakfast, and a $200 downtown hotel can actually cost $250 to $300 per day.

Especially on weekends with major events, the usual prices can vary so much that they become meaningless, so if the dates for games or events are set, it's best to secure a hotel first.

Jacksonville usually has plenty of hotel options, but on days with big events, rooms in good locations can get booked up very quickly.