Cocoa Beach area

[jediranger3]

We were going to try to hit a beach one day. Looking for something close. I've been to Daytona and hated the feeling there. Has anyone been to the Cocoa Beach area? How long a drive from Disney? It looks like there is actually more than one beach there, which one would you recommend for a family with a 5 year old? Thanks for any help.

 

[kalimom6]

We were going to try to hit a beach one day. Looking for something close. I've been to Daytona and hated the feeling there. Has anyone been to the Cocoa Beach area? How long a drive from Disney? It looks like there is actually more than one beach there, which one would you recommend for a family with a 5 year old? Thanks for any help.

We LOVED Cocoa Beach. It was about an hour drive. The road has a lot of toll booths so be prepared. We just found a spot to park and went to the beach. But now I have read about a beach almost at the end that has showers. I wish I would have known that. It was an awesome day.

 

[IamErica]

We LOVED Cocoa Beach. It was about an hour drive. The road has a lot of toll booths so be prepared. We just found a spot to park and went to the beach. But now I have read about a beach almost at the end that has showers. I wish I would have known that. It was an awesome day.

My son and I went to Alan Sheppard beach, it is near the Ron Jon Surf Shop. There was a nice place to park (free) and there were showers there.
It was a nice walk to the Cocoa Beach pier too.

 

[BABY_EINSTEIN'S_MOM]

We always use one of our days to drive to Cocoa as well. We go to Lori Wilson park beach. There is never more than a few families there so it's very uncrowded. They have free parking, bathrooms etc as well.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Went to Coco about two years ago and it looked like a ghost town. Eveything was abandonded. Did I go to the wrong part or something?

 

[Art 1]

Went to Coco about two years ago and it looked like a ghost town. Eveything was abandonded. Did I go to the wrong part or something?

No you did not. Very overrated area. I would go to New Smyrna. But what I would really do is drive just a little further and go to the Sarasota Keys area. That's what I would do knowing what I know.

 

[DSLRuser]

My son and I went to Alan Sheppard beach, it is near the Ron Jon Surf Shop. There was a nice place to park (free) and there were showers there.
It was a nice walk to the Cocoa Beach pier too.

http://www.beachhunter.net/cocoa-beach/shepard-park.htm

Shepard park is where we go to the beach when we hit the atlantic side. 50mins from disney via the toll road. ($2.50 each way in tolls)

you can park for free, but it is a bit of an extra walk. We choose to park in the parks lot for $7.00. Nice and secure. Showers. Never gets too crowded. the sand is nice, and the water is nice as well. very clean beach.

 

[DSLRuser]

No you did not. Very overrated area. I would go to New Smyrna. But what I would really do is drive just a little further and go to the Sarasota Keys area. That's what I would do knowing what I know.

We base this only on time of year. in the summer, we take the shorter drive and go to shepard park on the atlantic side.

but in srping or fall, we drive the 2+ hours to clearwater indian rocks beach on the gulf. Slightly warmer water temps than the gulf in non summer seasons.