The Best Beaches Near Orlando for a Quick Coastal Escape

When I first moved to central Florida almost 20 years ago, a big factor in that decision was the desire to be close to the beach. I feel so lucky to be able to take a short drive and have my toes in the sand any time I want. While it is definitely more fun to plan a few days at the beach, it’s super easy to do a day trip to the beach from Orlando as well. I’ve put together a list of the best beaches near Orlando and I’ve added in a few of my personal tips, too. 

1 hour, 15 minutes 

Ormond Beach is located just north of Daytona and offers great beaches, but fewer crowds. There are spots where you can drive on the beach there, but if you don’t want to, Andy Romano Beachfront Park is a great place to park for free and access the beach. There’s also a splash pad and a playground there.   

Local Tip: Salty Church hosts a laid-back sunrise service right by the water on Sunday mornings. It is super casual and you can show up in shorts and flip flops and hear music and a message while you watch the sun rising over the Atlantic.

1 hours, 10 minutes 

Daytona Beach calls itself “The World’s Most Famous Beach,” so with its close proximity, it had to end up on the list of best beaches near Orlando. The hard-packed sand made it great for motorcycle and car racing back in the day, but these days that only happens at Daytona International Speedway. You can still drive your car on the beach there, but even though the area has deep racing roots, you’ll need to stick to the slow speed limits on the beach.

Local Tip: March-September, there is a local group called Beach Squad that meets up at Sun Splash Park each Sunday morning for weekly beach clean-ups. They bring the buckets and pickers and you just show up. It’s a fun way to help give back to our beaches and get some steps in.   

1 hour, 25 minutes 

There are a few parking lots where you can access the beach there, but there is one really cool spot I like called Lighthouse Point Park. You pay $10 per vehicle, or for $20 you can get an annual pass. They have a beach area that is dog-friendly and I think this is the best beach near Orlando to take your pup for a swim. 

Local Tip: The Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse is located just outside the park and is a fun thing to add on to your trip. It’s the tallest lighthouse in Florida, so you’ll be rewarded with some really awesome views if you climb to the top.

1 hour, 5 minutes 

This beach is well-known with the surfing community, but it’s really a great beach for everyone. You can drive down Flagler Avenue and keep driving right onto the beach. It’s nice to set up there for the day and enjoy some sun, surf, and sand, but make sure you save some time for a stroll down Flagler, too. It’s a very walkable area that has cute shops and restaurants

Local Tip: This is my pick for the best beach near Orlando for foodies. The Mermaid Cafe is popular for its creative array of waffles and Voo La Voo is known for their crepes. Flagler Tavern is steps away from the beach and offers a huge menu—including fresh oysters. You’ll also want to visit Spanish River Grill and try the eclectic menu created by a two-time James Beard finalist. 

1 hour, 20 minutes 

There is an area on Florida’s west coast called Apollo Beach, but the Apollo Beach I’m including on the list of best beaches near Orlando is located on the east coast, at the southern end of New Smyrna Beach. It makes up the northern part of the Canaveral National Seashore, which is an amazing, undeveloped stretch of natural coastline. There is a visitor center located there and you can pick up a free Junior Ranger book for the kiddos. 

Local Tip: Aside from lounging on the beach, you can also take a hike on the Castle Windy Trail. The short hike will lead you to Mosquito Lagoon and just like the name implies, there are often mosquitos on the trail. It’s a nice little walk, but bring the insect repellent.  

1 hour, 5 minutes

This beach is located in Titusville on the southern end of the Canaveral National Seashore. There are no concessions or stores within the park, so plan to bring everything you need. In addition to being one of the most natural, undeveloped beaches in Florida, it’s also the best place to see a rocket launch. 

Local Tip: Even if you aren’t lucky enough to plan your visit during a rocket launch, you can still get some pretty cool pictures. Before you get to the parking areas, you can pull over at Vista 6 and 7 to get some spectacular shots of the launch pad. 

50 minutes 

I actually took my first surfing lesson at this beach when I moved to Florida, but even if you aren’t hanging ten, this is a popular beach for everyone to enjoy. There are multiple spots where you can access the beach, but Lori Wilson Park is one that I like because it has free parking and public restrooms. Cocoa Beach is also only about 10 minutes away from Port Canaveral, making it easily accessible if you’re cruising out of that port. 

Local Tip: Don’t get confused when looking for hotels—Cocoa Beach and Cocoa are two totally different cities. If you want to be beachside, look for hotels in Cocoa Beach. Cocoa is about 10 minutes away, but it has a charming downtown area with great shops and restaurants. 

1 hour 

This is a cute little beach town located south of Cocoa Beach. You’ll still find a pretty shoreline, but it has less crowds and more of a local feel. There are multiple places to access the beach, but Pelican Beach Park and Hightower Beach Park have the most parking spaces. You’ll also find bathrooms and outdoor showers at those parks. 

Local Tip: Samsons Island is a nature preserve located on a spoil island in Satellite Beach. It’s only accessible by water, but if you don’t have a boat, you can take one of the free tours offered by the City of Satellite Beach. They take visitors to the island the first Sunday of each month but even though it’s totally free, you do need to make a reservation in advance.  

1 hour, 10 minutes 

Located north of Melbourne, you’ll find Indialantic Beach, which has a really laid-back, local feel to it. The town is located between the Indian River Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean, hence the name. James H. Nance Park is a great place to park and access the beach and you can also walk along the boardwalk here and take in the great views of the shoreline. 

Local Tip: Moo’s Soft Serve is the best place to enjoy a little indulgence after a day at the beach. They have traditional flavors like chocolate and vanilla and they even offer gluten-free options for those. But if you have a more adventurous palate, you may want to try some of the more creative flavors like the Purple Daze, Superman, or Eyes Wide Open. 

1 hour, 10 minutes 

This beach has a local feel and you won’t find as many visitors here as you would on some of the other best beaches near Orlando. There is one creature that is in abundance though—sea turtles. Melbourne Beach is located within the Archie Carr Wildlife Refuge, which is the # 1 nesting site in the world for loggerhead sea turtles. During nesting season, you’ll often see turtle tracks on the beach the morning after they’ve come ashore to lay their eggs. 

Local Tip:  On select nights in June and July, you can join Stella Maris Environmental Research for a night walk on the beach and see nesting sea turtles. They only allow 20 people on each turtle walk, so make sure you book a reservation early. 

After living in central Florida for years, these are the ones that I consider to be the best beaches near Orlando. The list starts with the northernmost beaches listed first and works its way down the coastline. 

If you’re traveling to Orlando, you’ll likely be flying into Orlando International Airport (MCO). Because of that, I’ve calculated the distances to each beach based on the amount of time it takes to drive there from that airport. However, there is also a smaller airport in Sanford: the Orlando-Sanford International Airport (SFB). That airport is closer to some of the best beaches near Orlando, like Daytona and New Smyrna. There are also airports in Daytona Beach (DAB) and Melbourne (MLB) that offer limited flights. I like to always look at all of the flight options because saving money on a flight means I have more money to spend on new swimsuits for the beach!