Holiday Inn Express & Suites Nearest Universal Orlando Review

This guide contains affiliate links to Booking.com. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Nearest Universal Orlando is a 184-room IHG hotel on Major Boulevard that bundles a free hot breakfast, free parking and a free scheduled shuttle to Universal’s parks, Epic Universe included, with no resort fee. It sits across Kirkman Road from Universal Orlando, about 1.7 road miles from the parking garages and close enough that IHG calls Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and CityWalk walkable.

What you don’t get is anything resort-like: one heated outdoor pool, no restaurant or bar and, with a room-only booking, no Early Park Admission or Express. This review covers rooms, the shuttle, the real walk, fees and where IHG, Universal and Booking.com disagree, based on official pages checked in October 2026.

Quick answer: Book it for a budget Universal or Epic Universe trip if you want breakfast, parking and park transport covered without a daily fee. It suits families who will ride the shuttle or walk the 25 to 30 minutes to CityWalk. Skip it if you want Early Park Admission, a pool with slides or dinner on site.

Find budget hotels in Orlando for your dates

Destination or hotel

Check-in

Check-out

Adults 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Children 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Rooms 1 2 3 4 5

Search hotels

Holiday Inn Express Nearest Universal photos

Here is a look at the rooms, suites, breakfast area and lobby from the hotel’s own photo gallery. Tap any photo to enlarge it, or browse the full gallery and current rates on Booking.com.

Location and distances: across Kirkman Road from Universal

The hotel stands on Major Boulevard, a short hotel strip between Kirkman Road and I-4 at the northeast corner of Universal Orlando, a few minutes from I-4 west toward Disney. We mapped the routes below with OSRM from IHG’s map pin, without traffic; IHG’s rounded figures are mostly shorter than ours.

Destination	Our route	IHG’s figure	Main roads
Universal garages (toll plaza)	About 1.7 mi (1.2 back)	1 mi	Kirkman Rd, Universal Blvd
Universal CityWalk	About 1.2 mi on foot	1 mi	Sidewalks across Kirkman Rd
Epic Universe parking toll plaza	About 4.7 mi	Not listed	Kirkman Rd, Epic Blvd
SeaWorld parking toll plaza	About 7 to 7.5 mi	5 mi	I-Drive, Central Florida Pkwy
Orlando International Premium Outlets	About 1.3 mi	1 mi	Grand National Dr, Oak Ridge Rd
Mall at Millenia	About 2.2 mi	2 mi	Vineland Rd, Millenia Blvd
Disney Springs garages	About 10 mi	8 mi to the Disney area	I-4, SR 535
EPCOT and Magic Kingdom lots	About 13.5 to 14 mi (EPCOT), 15.5 (Magic Kingdom)	Not listed	I-4, Epcot Center Dr
Orlando airport (Terminals A/B)	About 14 mi	15 mi	Sand Lake Rd, SR 528

Can you walk to Universal?

Yes, if you’re a steady walker, but it isn’t a short stroll. OpenStreetMap’s walking router puts the middle of CityWalk about 1.2 miles away, roughly 25 minutes, and the Universal Studios Florida entrance area about 1.4 miles, roughly 30 minutes, crossing Kirkman Road. Islands of Adventure’s gate is a few minutes farther, and you walk the same distance back after a long park day.

Epic Universe, about 4.7 road miles away, and Volcano Bay, about 2.2 miles on foot, aren’t realistic walks. If a short walk matters most, compare our list of hotels within walking distance of Universal.

Rooms and suites: doubles, kings and sofa-bed suites

IHG lists three room types. Room sizes aren’t on IHG’s site; the figures below come from the hotel’s Booking.com listing.

• Standard rooms: one king, one queen or two double beds, about 28 square meters (roughly 300 square feet); Booking.com lists its accessible queen room at 23 square meters. Booking.com describes some two-bed rooms as two queens rather than doubles, so check the bed size on your reservation.
• Suites: two double beds or one king, plus a living area with a sofa bed, about 33 square meters (roughly 355 square feet). IHG says select suites add a wet bar with a dining table.
• One-bedroom suite: two double beds in a bedroom, a living and kitchen area and a sofa bed, about 37 square meters (roughly 400 square feet).

Every room has a mini fridge, microwave and safe, plus a work desk, TV, hairdryer and free Wi-Fi. IHG’s description adds a Keurig coffee maker and a Kohler showerhead, although its room-features list says a coffee maker is available on request; the hotel’s photos show Keurigs in the rooms.

IHG doesn’t publish a maximum occupancy per room type, and Booking.com shows occupancy only for the group you search, so enter children’s ages before you compare. Universal’s vacation site lists up to four people in a two-double room, two in a king room and six in a suite with the sofa sleeper, adding that the maximum may need a rollaway paid at check-in. For a family of five, look at a suite and confirm the limit with the hotel before you pay. IHG lists 10 accessible rooms, with a roll-in shower or an accessible tub (Universal’s page says 8).

Cribs need a check. IHG’s room page lists cribs and rollaway beds as available on request (with a fee mentioned), while Booking.com’s policies say cribs and extra beds aren’t available. Ask the hotel before you count on one. IHG lists limited housekeeping, while Universal’s vacation site and Booking.com list daily housekeeping, so ask how often rooms are serviced on longer stays.

Pool and recreation

Recreation is basic. IHG lists one outdoor pool, heated, open 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., with towels at the pool and an accessible route from the entrance. Universal’s partner page mentions a sun deck, and Booking.com describes the pool as fenced with a shallow end.

IHG lists no splash pad, slide, game room or kids’ club. Planning a water park day? Universal Volcano Bay is scheduled to close for maintenance on October 26, 2026, with a planned reopening on or before April 1, 2027 (dates can change).

Free hot breakfast and dining

Breakfast is included for every guest and runs from 6 to 9:30 a.m. IHG lists pancakes, cinnamon rolls, eggs, pastries, fruit, breads, yogurt and sausage, and the hotel’s photos show omelets and a pancake machine. A bean-to-cup coffee machine in the lobby runs 24/7.

There’s no restaurant on site, as IHG’s FAQ confirms, and IHG lists no bar, so plan lunch and dinner in the parks, at CityWalk or off-site. The lobby market sells drinks and snacks, and the in-room microwave and mini fridge help with simple meals.

For other places where the morning meal is part of the rate, see our list of hotels near Universal with free breakfast.

Parking, resort fee and hotel policies

This is the hotel’s strongest point. IHG’s “Included in every stay” note promises “no surprise resort fees or extra expenses” and lists free on-site parking, daily breakfast, an on-site Universal planning center and “a scheduled shuttle service run through Universal.” Its parking page shows complimentary self-parking in an outdoor lot with 224 spaces. On Booking.com, a sample November 2026 stay showed only taxes on top of the room rate: a 6% tax plus a 6.5% city tax, 12.5% in total.

• Check-in and check-out: 3 p.m. and 11 a.m., with a minimum check-in age of 18. IHG lists late check-out as available; ask at the desk.
• Deposit: a refundable $100 deposit by credit card at check-in, according to both Booking.com and Universal’s page for the hotel, which adds that cash isn’t accepted at check-in.
• Pets: IHG allows up to two dogs or cats of up to 75 pounds each for a non-refundable $75 for one to four nights or $125 for five or more. Booking.com’s fine print instead quotes $50 per pet for the first night plus $10 per pet for each extra night, and Universal’s page says dogs only. Confirm the policy with the hotel before you travel.
• Laundry: a self-service guest laundry is on site.

Driving to the parks yourself? Universal’s regular self-parking is $35 a day, tax included, at the time of writing (prices can vary by day). Using the free shuttle or walking saves that on each park day.

Getting to Universal, Epic Universe, SeaWorld and Disney

IHG calls the hotel an official Universal Orlando hotel partner, and Universal’s vacation site lists it among its value partner hotels. The free shuttle runs on a schedule to the Universal parks: Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Volcano Bay and Epic Universe. IHG’s transportation page also names SeaWorld. You must register in advance at the Universal kiosk in the lobby (the Universal Vacation Planning Center), where the schedule is posted.

Shuttle times aren’t published online. At check-in, ask for the first morning departure, the last return, where the bus drops you (Epic Universe has its own entrance) and whether the SeaWorld run operates during your stay.

• Included: the shuttle, plus the Bonus Benefits Universal’s partner page flags for this hotel: discounts on merchandise at select park shops and on food and non-alcoholic drinks at select CityWalk and park locations. Ask what applies to a Booking.com reservation.
• Not included: Early Park Admission. Universal’s page offers it to guests of Universal’s own hotels “and other selected groups,” so a room booked on its own, including on Booking.com, doesn’t come with it. Our Universal Early Park Admission guide explains the rules.
• Not included: Universal Express. Free Express Unlimited comes only with three of Universal’s own premier hotels.

Disney World: IHG lists no Disney shuttle. By car it’s about 10 miles to Disney Springs, where standard parking is free, about 14 miles to EPCOT’s main lot and 15.5 to Magic Kingdom’s Transportation and Ticket Center, where Disney’s standard parking is $35 a day.

Airport: IHG’s transportation page says no shuttle is available to Orlando International (MCO) or Orlando Sanford (SFB). MCO is about 14 miles away by our route, mostly along Sand Lake Road and SR 528 (IHG says 15). Our Orlando airport to Universal guide compares shuttles, rideshare and rental cars.

Amenities: fitness, Wi-Fi and the lobby

The extras are basic but useful on park days.

• Fitness center: open 24 hours, with elliptical machines, a stationary bike, a treadmill and free weights.
• Wi-Fi: free in rooms and public areas.
• Lobby: a market for drinks and snacks, 24/7 bean-to-cup coffee and the Universal planning kiosk.
• Business center: open 24 hours, with copying and fax services.
• IHG One Rewards: IHG’s member terms exclude online travel agencies such as Booking.com, so a Booking.com stay earns no points on the room rate.

Holiday Inn Express vs Drury Inn near Universal

The Drury Inn & Suites near Universal Orlando, about 2.3 road miles from the garages on Sand Lake Road, is the closest rival with a free Universal shuttle and free parking. Figures below are from each hotel’s own pages at the time of writing.

What matters	Holiday Inn Express	Drury Inn near Universal
Walk to Universal	About 1.2 mi to CityWalk	Not practical (about 2.4 mi)
Breakfast	Free, 6 to 9:30 a.m.	Free, 6 to 9:30 a.m. weekdays, 7 to 10 weekends
Evening food	None included	Free 5:30 Kickback, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Parking and shuttle	Both free; reserve seats	Both free; reserve seats
Pool	Heated outdoor pool	Outdoor pool and whirlpool
Pets	$75 for 1 to 4 nights (IHG)	$50 per day plus tax

Pick the Holiday Inn Express if walking to CityWalk matters or you’re bringing a pet for several nights. Pick the Drury if you’ll use the free early-evening food most days.

Who it suits

• Budget-minded Universal families who want breakfast, parking and park transport covered.
• Drivers who would otherwise pay for overnight parking at Universal’s own hotels.
• Walkers happy to do 25 to 30 minutes each way to CityWalk.
• Pet owners, within the weight limit and after confirming the fee.

It suits you less if you want the first ride of the day, a showpiece pool or a mostly Disney trip; for Disney-focused stays, our roundup of Holiday Inn hotels near Disney World covers IHG’s options there.

Pros

• No resort fee, free self-parking, free Wi-Fi and a free hot breakfast.
• Free scheduled shuttle to all four Universal parks, Epic Universe included.
• CityWalk and the two original parks are walkable for able walkers.
• Sofa-bed suites, and a mini fridge, microwave and safe in every room.
• Heated pool open until 11 p.m. and a 24-hour fitness center.

Limitations to know

• No Early Park Admission or Express with a room-only booking.
• Shuttle times aren’t published online, and seats must be reserved in advance.
• The walk to CityWalk is about 1.2 miles each way.
• No restaurant or bar, and a basic pool with no slide or splash pad.
• No Disney or airport shuttle.
• Official sources disagree on pets, cribs and bed sizes.

What to check before you book

• Shuttle departure and return times for your park days, the Epic Universe drop-off and how early to reserve.
• Whether your room has two doubles or two queens, and the maximum occupancy for your group.
• Crib availability, since IHG and Booking.com disagree.
• The pet fee and whether cats are accepted.
• The total price, including Orange County’s 12.5% hotel taxes at the time of writing, and your rate’s cancellation terms.
• A credit card for the $100 refundable deposit.

Nearby alternatives

• DoubleTree at the Entrance to Universal: on the same street and closer, about 0.9 mile on foot to CityWalk, but breakfast costs extra.
• Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort: a lower-priced on-site hotel with Early Park Admission, walking paths and buses to the parks; parking and breakfast cost extra.
• Our roundup of cheap hotels near Universal Studios compares 14 budget picks, including this one.

Check your dates for Holiday Inn Express & Suites Nearest Universal Orlando before you decide.

Frequently asked questions

Does Holiday Inn Express & Suites Nearest Universal Orlando have a shuttle to Universal?

Yes. The hotel offers a free scheduled shuttle to the Universal Orlando parks, including Epic Universe and Volcano Bay, and IHG’s transportation page also lists SeaWorld. You must reserve a seat in advance at the Universal kiosk in the lobby, where the schedule is posted. Times aren’t published online, so ask about morning departures and evening returns when you check in.

Can you walk to Universal from Holiday Inn Express Nearest Universal?

Yes, for able walkers. The walking route to the middle of CityWalk is about 1.2 miles, roughly 25 minutes, and the Universal Studios Florida entrance area is about 1.4 miles, roughly 30 minutes, crossing Kirkman Road. Islands of Adventure is a few minutes farther. Epic Universe and Volcano Bay are too far to walk, so use the shuttle or drive.

Does Holiday Inn Express Nearest Universal charge a resort fee or for parking?

No, according to IHG, which promises “no surprise resort fees” and lists free self-parking in a 224-space outdoor lot. A sample Booking.com stay showed only the 12.5% in taxes on top of the room rate. Expect a refundable $100 credit card deposit at check-in, and confirm the total price before you pay.

Is breakfast free at Holiday Inn Express Nearest Universal Orlando?

Yes. Every stay includes a free hot breakfast from 6 to 9:30 a.m., with items such as pancakes, eggs, sausage, cinnamon rolls, pastries, fruit and yogurt, according to IHG. There’s no restaurant or bar on site, but the lobby has a market for snacks and drinks and a coffee machine that runs 24 hours a day.

Is Holiday Inn Express Nearest Universal pet friendly?

Yes, but the official policies differ. IHG allows up to two dogs or cats of up to 75 pounds each for $75 for one to four nights or $125 for five or more. Booking.com quotes $50 per pet for the first night plus $10 per pet for each extra night, and Universal’s page says dogs only. Confirm with the hotel before you book.

Bottom line

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Nearest Universal Orlando is one of the simplest budget bases for Universal: breakfast, parking and a park shuttle are included, there’s no resort fee, and CityWalk is a walk away if you don’t mind 25 minutes on foot. In return you get a basic pool, no on-site dining and no early entry. Compare rates for Holiday Inn Express & Suites Nearest Universal Orlando, or weigh other options in our guide to the best hotels near Universal Studios Orlando.

Sources checked in October 2026: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Nearest Universal Orlando (IHG), IHG parking and transportation, Universal value partner hotels, Universal Early Park Admission, Universal Orlando directions and parking.