Family day in Cocoa Beach
By Lauren Tjaden
No visit to Orlando is complete without a trip to the seashore, and great beaches on the Atlantic Ocean are only about an hour away from the City Beautiful. These public beaches are not only the closest to Orlando, they also possess
distinctly different personalities. So,
whatever your mood, you’re sure to find a beach that's not only close, but perfect for you.
Beaches are listed from north to south.
Ponce Inlet, just a few waves south of Daytona beach, boasts a sweet little park, a great beach and the tallest lighthouse in Florida.
- Lauren Tjaden for VISIT FLORIDA
1. Daytona Beach
This spirited city is famed for cars, racing, arts, culture and heritage. Tradition demands you roll down your car windows and cruise the hard-packed sands of its beach.
But you can do it all in Daytona Beach, which is the closest beach to Orlando on our list: enjoy watersports, motorcycle racing, kart racing, deep sea fishing and golfing, plus world-class dining and shopping
Investigate its legendary pier, and zoom over to Daytona International Speedway. If you want to spend a night or two at the beach, this destination is ideal not only because of how near it is to Orlando, but because it offers an abundance of accommodations right on the Atlantic
(58 minutes / 53.81 miles from Orlando)
2. Ponce Inlet
Ponce Inlet features a wide beach, thick with sand you can drive on, watersports that include parasailing, jet skiing, fishing and renting a speedboat, and even a handsome lighthouse – Florida’s tallest – that challenges you to climb it.
If you have an aversion to high rises and crowds but love adventure, nature and awe-inspiring beauty, this getaway beach near Orlando is for you.
(1 hour 8 minutes / 61.60 miles from Orlando)
3. New Smyrna Beach
The very definition of a perfect beach day trip not far from Orlando, this charming enclave is renowned for its surfing, but that’s just the tip of the sandbar.
You can cruise its hard-packed sand in your car until you find the perfect spot for your beach towel.
Enjoy an array of watersports or fabulous fishing, or just kick back by the waves. Save some energy to discover its quirky shops and vibrant arts community. And don’t miss digging into a generous burger or fresh seafood at Breakers, an open-air restaurant located smack-dab on the beach.
(1 hour 3 minutes / 55.66 miles from Orlando)
Cocoa Beach is the perfect place to learn to surf.
- Lauren Tjaden for VISIT FLORIDA
4. Canaveral National Seashore
Picture impressive dunes giving way to vast sweeps of empty sand, the music of the surf and wind and nothing more, and you’ll have Canaveral National Seashore about right.
This utterly tranquil escape boasts the longest expanse of pristine shore in Florida. Fish, swim, go hiking, or just unwind on the beach. Make sure to bring snacks, bottled water, sunscreen and insect repellent since you won’t find them in the park.
(1 hour 15 minutes / 64.55 miles to north entrance from Orlando)
5. Cocoa Beach
For the quintessential Florida beach experience, escape topopularCocoa Beach, just over an hour from Orlando. Explore its famed pier that extends 800 feet into the ocean, a historical landmark boasting five restaurants, four bars, gift shops, fishing, and free live musical entertainment.
Indulge in parasailing, windsurfing, kiteboarding, or learn to surf on its gentle waves. Save time to discover the Ron Jon Surf Shop. It’s the world's largest surf shop, encompassing 52,000 square feet chock-full of beach gear.
(1 hour 9 minutes / 59.57 miles from Orlando)
6. - 8. Satellite Beach, Melbourne Beach and Indialantic
The small towns of Satellite Beach, Melbourne Beach and Indialantic feel like old-time Florida, devoid of crowds, T-shirt shops and pretention.
Nestled between the Banana River, the Indian River Lagoon and the Atlantic, these Space Coast destinations are brimming with nature, water sports and outdoor recreation of all kinds, never mind generous, mostly-empty beaches rich with cinnamon-hued sand.
A turtle-walk with the Sea Turtle Preservation Society is a not-to-be-missed treat.
(1 hour 13 minutes / 67.35 miles; 1 hour 21 minutes / 74.11 miles; and 1 hour 25 minutes / 75.96 miles from Orlando, respectively)