Fort DeSoto was established in the area in 1840 as a trading post and stagecoach stop. A series of small settlements also came to the region, finally consolidating into the Hernando County seat with the name Brooksville in 1856. Follow the brick-laid streets of Brooksville and you will see rows of historic homes and even a Native American log cabin. You can also check out an authentic one-room schoolhouse or historic train depot. Be sure to stop into the May-Stringer House (which is said to be haunted) — just one of the landmark historic homes on The Historic Brooksville Walking/Driving Tour.
The region used to be known as "The Home of the Tangerine," a major hub of citrus fruit production. The agriculture sector underwent hard times during the Great Depression but bounced back with a diverse modern economy. Today, it boasts exceptional health facilities like Oak Hill Community Hospital and a campus branch of Pasco-Hernando State College.
The Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport is located just 6 miles outside of the city. Not far away lie favorite vacation spots like Weeki Wachee Springs and Pine Island Beach Park, as well as Tampa and St. Petersburg's many attractions.
If you're looking to relax and unwind, you'll find ample space to picnic and play at one of Brooksville's three city parks. You can also get on the greens at a nine-hole golf course or head out to fish, bike, hunt, kayak, or camp. Hiking enthusiasts can also explore excellent scenery in and around Brooksville on the Good Neighbor Trail, Suncoast Trail, or Withlacoochee State Trail.
Arts lovers should check out Brooksville City Hall's Uptown Art Gallery. In cooperation with the Hernando Fine Arts Council, the city hosts five exhibits per year of solo and group artworks. If you prefer to discover arts and culture in the wild, look out for some of the city's hand-painted murals around downtown. While you're there, you can spend the afternoon perusing the charming local shops and dining at one of many locally owned restaurants.
Its historic downtown, fascinating landmarks, arts, culture, and proximity to Tampa and St. Petersburg all make Brooksville an appealing destination on the Gulf Coast.
What is the best time to visit Brooksville, FL?
Brooksville enjoys a subtropical climate, and as such, the weather tends to be bright and sunny year-round. Winters may peak in the high 60s or 70s, and summers get humid and range into the high 90s. From June to September, Brooksville is also typically rainy, with an average rainfall of 30 to 40 inches. For this reason, many of Brooksville's community activities are often scheduled later in the cooler months of September and October on during the holiday season.
Check out the Halloween Haunted House Festival the last two weekends in October. In December, visit the May-Stringer House for the Night of Lights Tour. In January, the Hernando Historical Museum Association presents the 39th Annual Brooksville Raid Reenactment. Mid-February brings the Heritage Day Festival. Any of these events makes a great excuse for a weekend getaway to Brooksville, Florida.
If you're an avid cyclist or love to get active outside, be sure to check out the Good Neighbor Trail Bike Ride in mid-October. Come to Brooksville each November for the annual Freedom Fun Run. Runners of all abilities can sign up for a 5K, 10K, or 1-mile run with a small registration fee.
You don't have to wait for an official festival to have a good time in Brooksville. Friday Night Live takes over Brooksville's Main Street on the Second Friday of each month. Bring your lawn chairs or blanket to enjoy some live music, a full bar, and cuisine from the region's best food trucks.
Come for business, to study, to learn, or to relax. Brooksville, Florida, will extend a small-town welcome that's full of fun surprises.
Below is a chart of the current pricing seasonality of hotels and motels in Brooksville, FL:
Brooksville, FL: Prices by Star Rating Class
Below we've posted 3 graphs illustrating avg. price patterns by star rating class in Brooksville, FL. Browse these illustrations to determine the least expensive months to book in Brooksville throughout the year.
Where can you find luxury hotel options in the Brooksville area?
4 Star Average Prices: $178.84
Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites Brooksville West in Spring Hill offers one of Brooksville's most luxurious and convenient hotel stays. When you book this luxurious 2.5-star hotel, you'll be within about 7 miles of the Hernando Heritage Museum as well as the area's best country clubs and golf courses. Each guest room comes equipped with a microwave and a fridge, so you can keep snacks or light bites on hand in a pinch. Breakfast at the Holiday Inn Express Hotel is taken care of, as all guests enjoy a free daily breakfast in the lobby.
During your stay, you'll have plenty of entertainment options, from cable programming and free wireless internet in the room, as well as access to the hotel's outdoor pool and on-site fitness center. Enjoy free coffee and tea and sit down to read the free daily newspaper before starting your day in Brooksville.
Are there affordable hotels in Brooksville, FL?
3 Star Average Prices: $111.92
When you check into Motel 6 Spring Hill Weeki Wachee in Spring Hill, you'll be delighted to discover an affordable, cozy motel with style to spare. Guest rooms are comfortable and well decorated in cheerful colors like aqua or sunny yellow. Step outside onto the red-tiled roof balcony overlooking an outdoor pool (and children's pool) that's ringed with palm trees. It feels like a vacation bungalow, but the view can be yours for a fraction of the price.
Enjoy free breakfast and housekeeping services each day, as well as free coffee or tea in the motel lobby. When you stay at the Motel 6 Spring Hill Weeki Wachee, you'll be within miles of Weeki Wachee's attractions and downtown Brooksville and not far from Pine Island Beach Park.
2 Star Average Prices: $79.18
What are the best hotels in Brooksville, FL with discounts?
If you're looking for discounts near Brooksville, look no further than the Quality Inn Weeki Wachee. AAA members, seniors, and military service members will all score hotel discounts at this affordable hotel. It's a favorite for travelers who are headed to nearby Weeki Wachee Springs to see the mermaid shows in the natural springs or to visit the nearby waterpark. It's also just miles away from the Nature Coast Botanical Gardens.
There's plenty to love about this property, especially for families. The rates are unbeatable, the hotel has an outdoor pool, free daily housekeeping will offer peace of mind during your stay, and the free daily breakfast helps you save even more. The hotel is also pet-friendly.
What are the best value hotels in Brooksville, FL?
If you're looking for all-around value and comfort, it's hard to beat the excellent rates and warm welcome you'll receive at the Hampton Inn Brooksville Dade. This hotel is set against a wooded backdrop, making it a peaceful retreat after a long trip. It's also ideal for those looking to hike at the nearby Withlacoochee Trail State Park.
Highlights of the Hampton Inn Brooksville Dade include a manager's complimentary happy hour with cocktails and light bites. Once you settle into your room, you'll discover an LCD television with cable programming, an in-room coffee and tea maker, and free wireless internet connectivity. Be sure to check out the hotel pool and fitness center.
What are some ways to explore the past and the paranormal in Brooksville, Florida?
History lives in Brooksville, Florida. Sure, there are plenty of museums and historic sites to visit, like the May-Stringer House, the 1885 Train Depot., and the Countryman One Room Schoolhouse Museum. But what if history still lived on, in a paranormal sense?
The May-Stringer House has just the sort of backstory that encourages ghostly legends. A four-room home was built on the current property by John May, a homesteader who died in 1858. His wife, Marena, lived on and ran a plantation on the spot. She eventually remarried a Confederate soldier, Frank Saxon. She died during childbirth in 1869.
The house was eventually sold to Dr. Sheldon Stringer, who expanded the home to its current Victorian grandeur, complete with gingerbread-trimmed gables, soaring 10-foot ceilings, and a sweeping porch. A military room, an 1880s doctor's office, and a 1900s communication room offer reminders of different time periods.
Make an appointment for a spooky ghost tour on Friday or Saturday nights. This is not a casual experience for young kids. Given the scary nature of the two-hour tour, only those 16 years old or older are admitted. During the two-hour event, a docent will guide you through the house in the dark while telling you about the paranormal evidence collected in the house over the years. Then, you are let loose to explore and experience your own paranormal encounters.
Bring your digital recorders and paranormal meters because, for a flat group fee, you can book the mansion or the nearby Train Depot for an entire late night of amateur paranormal investigation. If you want to bring your kids 12 years and up, consider an all-day Brooksville Paranormal Experience at the May-Stringer House Museum, held in late September. Ghost tours, exhibits, and psychic readings throughout the day will give you chills, while the vendors and food trucks will offer welcome, tasty refreshment.
A small historic town defined by its past, yet looking to the future, Brooksville is the family-friendly destination you've been looking for on the Gulf Coast.
FAQs about hotels in Brooksville
How much does a cheap hotel in Brooksville cost per night?
In the last year, a 2 star hotel in Brooksville can be as cheap as $79.18 per night. (based on HotelPlanner prices)
How much does a 3 star hotel in Brooksville cost per night?
In the last year, the average 3 star hotel in Brooksville has been $111.92 per night. (based on HotelPlanner prices)
How much does a 4-5 star hotel in Brooksville cost?
In the last year, the average 4 star hotel in Brooksville has been $178.84 per night. (based on HotelPlanner prices)
Verified reviews of the city: Brooksville, FL
Below are reviews of the city of Brooksville, FL from an actual visitor's perspective.
"Cute little town with antique shops and great eateries!"
Score
5.0 / 5
Brooksville is a cute little town with antique shops and Florida Cracker restaurant is a great place to eat!
Margaret K., from 18-Nov-2024
"Beautiful Area!"
Score
5.0 / 5
The location of everything and the area is beautiful!
Tina C., from 25-Oct-2024
"We recommend!"
Score
4.0 / 5
We recommend!
Lee R., from 11-Oct-2023
"Visiting the psychic, Deb Smith."
Score
5.0 / 5
Visiting the psychic, Deb Smith.
Linda M., from 10-Oct-2023
"The rooms were very clean, and the bed was comfortable."
Score
5.0 / 5
The rooms were very clean, and the bed was comfortable.
Jeffrey S., from 15-Mar-2023
"Very Nice!"
Score
4.0 / 5
Very nice!
Robert C., from 30-Sep-2022
"Excellent Hotel"
Score
5.0 / 5
Brooksville, Fl has an excellent Microtel hotel.
Vivian B., from 01-Jun-2022
"Farmland, woods, small, quiet, historic!"
Score
4.0 / 5
Farmland, woods, small, quiet, historic!
Irina M., from 24-Mar-2022
"So Much To Do"
Score
4.0 / 5
Love this town...lots of good things and everything we needed close and convenient to places we needed to get to.
Connie M. B., from 31-May-2016
"Distance is important"
Score
4.0 / 5
The state and city were great. Good fast food restaurants, but shopping was too far from the hotel.
Patricia N., from 28-Jul-2014
"Spread out and limited social life"
Score
4.0 / 5
Hard to get used to the distance to get where I needed to go. Limited social life seemingly. Better restaurants were way toward Soring Hill. I come there often.
Carolyn R., from 31-Oct-2013
The average traveler rating of the city of Brooksville, FL shown above is
4.5 out of 5 based on 11 reviews