Orlando - Beaches near Orlando

I am going to be next week at Orlando, and it looks like my family wants to take a trip to a beach.

Which is the closest/nicest beach to Orlando?

Thanks

Clearwater Beach is on the Gulf side, no real waves, nice sand. It will be a 2 hour drive from the parks depending on time and traffic.

Don't know about the "other" side...LOL

The closest beach to Orlando is Cocoa Beach, about an hour away on the SR528 Beachline.. it's really touristy though.

My personal preference is drive 120 miles and go to St. Augustine Beach on the Atlantic side.

The closest beach to Orlando is Cocoa Beach, about an hour away on the SR528 Beachline.. it's really touristy though.

My personal preference is drive 120 miles and go to St. Augustine Beach on the Atlantic side.

Cocoa is closest, possibly touristy near the pier, but not near as touristy as Daytona. Other areas in Cocoa have a lot more locals, although it can still get a little crowded on weekends. There are several parking areas, and a bunch of the east-west side streets have beach access, with anywhere from 5 to 20 parking spaces. Some are free, some have meters. The free ones fill up first, take some quarters if you plan to get there after 9:30-10:00 on weekends. The beach is less crowded near these access points, but there are generally no lifegaurds, rest rooms, or showers.

The parking lot near the pier, where 520 and A1A intersect (near RonJons), has meters and probably more tourists.

The other two, see B23 and B20 on this (http://www.brevardparks.com/maps/map_features11x17.pdf) map are county parks, Cherie Downs Park (B23) is free, I think the one at B20 is too, but not sure, since we usually go to CDP. They both have showers, bathrooms, and lifeguards. The're called parks, but they are really just beach parking lots. It usually fills up by 9:30-10:00 on weekends. To get to CDP, take the Beachline (used to be Beeline) till it turns into A1A, take a left just before the McDonalds, follow till ends at Royal Mansion condos, take a right, Park is ~ 1/4 on left.

There is also a state park (Jetty Park) just a little north of B23, they charge, I think around $8.00 per carload. It is crowded, has a lot of campers (motorhomes), and other than a large parking capacity, nothing to recommend it, IMO.

A few miles further noth, near Titusville, is Playalinda beach, part of the Canaveral National Seashore. They have an entrance charge, not sure how much. IIR, it is about 5 miles long with ~20 parking areas and waterless toilet facilities, no showers or lifeguards. The last parking area (furthest north) is widely known to be a nude beach, but officially it is not legal, and there are occasional crackdowns. Not sure what the current status is, but avoid the last parking area if you are not into that, and plan on getting there very early for a parking spot if you are, that one fills early. Because of how spead out the parking areas and beach crossovers are, if you are willing to walk a few hundred yards from the dune crossover, you can avoid crowds. As an aside, you will see shore fisherman at any of the beaches, but espescially so here, but with just a little walking, you can find a spot plenty clear of them.

For the full on tourist experience, go even further north to Daytona or New Smyrna Beach, about 1 1/2 hours from Orlando, pay the fee, and drive on the beach. There are some parks with facilities, rental and food vendors on the beach, lifeguards.

Cocoa is closest, possibly touristy near the pier, but not near as touristy as Daytona. Other areas in Cocoa have a lot more locals, although it can still get a little crowded on weekends. There are several parking areas, and a bunch of the east-west side streets have beach access, with anywhere from 5 to 20 parking spaces. Some are free, some have meters. The free ones fill up first, take some quarters if you plan to get there after 9:30-10:00 on weekends. The beach is less crowded near these access points, but there are generally no lifegaurds, rest rooms, or showers.

The parking lot near the pier, where 520 and A1A intersect (near RonJons), has meters and probably more tourists.

The other two, see B23 and B20 on this (http://www.brevardparks.com/maps/map_features11x17.pdf) map are county parks, Cherie Downs Park (B23) is free, I think the one at B20 is too, but not sure, since we usually go to CDP. They both have showers, bathrooms, and lifeguards. The're called parks, but they are really just beach parking lots. It usually fills up by 9:30-10:00 on weekends. To get to CDP, take the Beachline (used to be Beeline) till it turns into A1A, take a left just before the McDonalds, follow till ends at Royal Mansion condos, take a right, Park is ~ 1/4 on left.

There is also a state park (Jetty Park) just a little north of B23, they charge, I think around $8.00 per carload. It is crowded, has a lot of campers (motorhomes), and other than a large parking capacity, nothing to recommend it, IMO.

A few miles further noth, near Titusville, is Playalinda beach, part of the Canaveral National Seashore. They have an entrance charge, not sure how much. IIR, it is about 5 miles long with ~20 parking areas and waterless toilet facilities, no showers or lifeguards. The last parking area (furthest north) is widely known to be a nude beach, but officially it is not legal, and there are occasional crackdowns. Not sure what the current status is, but avoid the last parking area if you are not into that, and plan on getting there very early for a parking spot if you are, that one fills early. Because of how spead out the parking areas and beach crossovers are, if you are willing to walk a few hundred yards from the dune crossover, you can avoid crowds. As an aside, you will see shore fisherman at any of the beaches, but espescially so here, but with just a little walking, you can find a spot plenty clear of them.

For the full on tourist experience, go even further north to Daytona or New Smyrna Beach, about 1 1/2 hours from Orlando, pay the fee, and drive on the beach. There are some parks with facilities, rental and food vendors on the beach, lifeguards.
Your knowedge is truly impressive :) I just avoid Brevard/Volusia beaches as a rule and head further north to St. John's County. The beaches, IME, are cleaner and less congested, and I don't risk an $80+ fine to bring my dog with me.

But the closest (and best, in many ways) is Blizzard Beach right in sunny Orlando! :D

But the closest (and best, in many ways) is Blizzard Beach right in sunny Orlando! :D

A water park is a very different experience than the beach, but if you want to avoid driving an hour or more each way, something to consider. Here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=554079) and here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=540468) are a couple of threads on the various water parks.

Cocoa Beach is touristy and there is a lot of traffic, but if you go south to the section that borders Patrick AFB, the beaches are a lot quieter and significantly less people. Satellite beach is on the south side of Patrick and the beaches there are nice as well. Or, just use the beaches on Patrick proper. They are outside the gate of the base (you don't have to go through security) and I've never seen the parking lot full. Drive time is about 45 minutes to 1:15 depending on traffic.

For dinner, you can't beat the Cocoa Beach pier, watching the cruise ships depart Canaveral for points east and south.

Nope, it's not a waterpark that I am looking for, is a nice beach with restrooms and showers that is not too far from Orlando

And I am going in the middle of the week

Thanks for the suggestions

Cocoa Beach is the closest...45 minutes via the 528 Toll Road. I don't particularly like the sand. Despite being touristy, I tend to go to Daytona (~75-90 minutes depending on where you are in Orlando) because of the white sand and availability of chairs and umbrellas for rent.

I wouldn't make the trek over to the Gulf side though.

Good advice from several about closest beaches. However, you should know there is a large difference between Atlantic beaches (Cocoa, etc.) and Gulf beaches (Clearwater or Bradenton areas). On the atlantic side, the beaches are steeper, the water is colder, waves are higher, and it gets deep very quick. On the gulf side, the sand is whiter and cooler, the water warmer and calmer, and it stays shallow quite a bit farther out. Quite a different experience. If you go West, you can also visit Busch Gardens, one of my favorite Florida parks (amusement park, zoo, and brewery all in one).:D

If you go West, you can also visit Busch Gardens, one of my favorite Florida parks (amusement park, zoo, and brewery all in one).:D

Busch Gardens still has a "hospitality house" where you can get a couple of beer samples a day, but the brewery is long gone.

Good advice from several about closest beaches. However, you should know there is a large difference between Atlantic beaches (Cocoa, etc.) and Gulf beaches (Clearwater or Bradenton areas). On the atlantic side, the beaches are steeper, the water is colder, waves are higher, and it gets deep very quick. On the gulf side, the sand is whiter and cooler, the water warmer and calmer, and it stays shallow quite a bit farther out. Quite a different experience. If you go West, you can also visit Busch Gardens, one of my favorite Florida parks (amusement park, zoo, and brewery all in one).:D

Good point. The Patrick beaches all have rip-tide warnings all over the place. Still, the area is a haven for surfers.

Just south of Cocoa is Melbourne Beach - much calmer, great waves, nice shells - all in all a delight imho.

We ended up at Cocoa Beach, it was alright

We were trying to escape the smoke that was in Orlando

We ended up at Cocoa Beach, it was alright

We were trying to escape the smoke that was in Orlando
it's still here :(