Where to Stay in Port Richey: Hotels, Inns and Rentals

The US-19 Main Drag

Most of the hotels sit on US-19, which is the spine of Pasco County. It’s not scenic, but it is practical—easy on and off, close to Gulf View Square, and a short drive to the river’s mouth where Aaron M. Richey first opened that post office in 1884. If you want consistency, this is where you’ll find it.

The two highest-rated options are Homewood Suites by Hilton Tampa-Port Richey and Hampton Inn & Suites Port Richey, both rated 4.3. Homewood has more reviews—1,471 to Hampton’s 999—and runs toward the extended-stay crowd. Hampton is the standard Hilton product. Neither will change your life, but both are reliable in a way that matters after a long drive. They sit close together around the 11000 block of US-19, which means you’re near the mall and not far from the Cotee.

One notch down, Holiday Inn Express & Suites Port Richey by IHG pulls a 4.1 from 819 reviews. It’s a solid middle option, roughly the same location profile, slightly lower price point. If you’re looking to save a few dollars without dropping into the rough end of the corridor, this is the safer bet.

The Budget End

The lower-rated properties on US-19 are honest about what they are. Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Port Richey has a 3.3 from 1,701 reviews—the most reviews of any hotel here, which tells you it gets volume. Rodeway Inn Port Richey North sits at 3.5 from 1,267 reviews. La Vista Inn is the weakest of the group at 2.7 from 1,031 reviews. These are places you book because the price is right, not because you expect comfort. If you’re just crashing overnight before heading to the coast, they’ll do. If you’re on a longer stay, pay the extra for the Hampton or Homewood.

There’s also Grand Boulevard Efficiency Motel, which is different—it’s off US-19, on Grand Boulevard, and it’s small. Only 23 reviews, rated 3.7. It’s the kind of place that doesn’t advertise much, and that’s fine. It’s not for everyone, but it’s worth knowing it exists if you want something less corporate.

The River Rentals

If you’re here for the water, the rentals are the better fit. Keys at Cotee River is the standout—rated 4.5 from just 46 reviews, on Tortuga Bay Boulevard. The name says it all; it’s oriented toward the Cotee. The low review count means it’s a smaller property, but the rating suggests people who stay there like it. This is the closest thing to a river-adjacent stay in the whole list.

The other two rentals are apartment complexes, not vacation rentals in the traditional sense. Agora at Port Richey Apartments (3.1, 169 reviews) and Armature Lake Apartments (3.0, 34 reviews) are residential buildings. They’re listed here because they show up in short-term rental searches, but they’re not really serving the tourist crowd. If you’re looking for a longer stay or a temporary base, they’re options. For a weekend trip, skip them.

The RV Option

Oak Springs RV Resort on Scenic Drive is the outlier—rated 4.0 from 243 reviews. It’s on the water side of US-19, tucked into a residential area. If you’ve got a rig, this is the place. The rating is solid, and the location puts you closer to the river than most of the hotels. It’s a different kind of stay, but for a certain kind of traveler, it’s the best fit in town.

What the Numbers Say

Port Richey is a small place—3,229 people, with a median age of 49.4. The median home value is $256,500, and median gross rent is $982. That rent figure is worth keeping in mind when you look at the hotel prices. This is a working-class town, and the lodging options reflect it. There are 1,857 total housing units, and 265 of those are held for seasonal or recreational use—so there is a transient population, but it’s modest.

The unemployment rate is 7.4 percent, which is higher than the national average, and only 29.9 percent of residents hold a bachelor’s degree. None of that directly affects where you sleep, but it explains the character of the options. This isn’t a boutique hotel town. It’s a place where the lodging is functional, and the appeal is the river and the pace.

The Bottom Line

Book the Homewood Suites or Hampton Inn if you want no surprises. Book the Keys at Cotee River if you want to be near the water. Book the Days Inn or Rodeway if you’re counting every dollar. Avoid La Vista unless you have no other choice. And if you’re in an RV, Oak Springs is your move.

Port Richey doesn’t pretend to be something it isn’t. The river made this place—the settlement began at its mouth, and the city still carries the motto On the Beautiful Pithlachascotee River. Johnny Cash lived here for over two decades, and that’s the kind of fact that tells you what this town is about: quiet, unflashy, and fine with that. Your hotel should match.