Cocco Beach

[jphilhower]

Is this a good beach to go to for the day?

 

[JohnnySharp2]

You mean Cocoa I presume?

It is only about an hours drive from Orlando so yes in that respect it is worth a visit. However, personally we prefer the west coast and the beaches of Clearwater and St.Petes.
It is a longer drive, just under 2 hours, but the beaches in my opinion are much nicer.

 

[Tinkerbellmom33]

We were just looking into Cocoa Beach too! I'd love to see what people have to say.

 

[Amity 3]

on a scale of 1-10, it's about a 5.

 

[makinorlando]

Cocoa Beach is nice enough for a day trip to the beach. We had always gone to Cocoa until we discovered Canaveral National Seashore a few weeks ago. We just always went to the familiar.

Canaveral is a "natural" area, no hotels or souvenier stores - it really is beautiful. http://www.nps.gov/cana/


Here are some photos of both Cocoa Beach and Canaveral Nat'l Seashore.

We have not headed to the west coast beaches, but the consensus is that they are nicer.

 

[NHLFAN]

We've stopped at Cocoa Beach on the way to and from Vero Beach and don't think much of it compared to other day trips to the beaches of Daytona, St. Pete or Clearwater.

 

[Syndrome]

makinorlando,
Canaveral National Seashore looks great. We are doing some west coast beaches (Siesta Key), but we were looking for a "nice" beach on the east coast, because they are a bit closer. Canaveral looks perfect. I went to the map/directions page, and it looks like there are north and south entry points. Which beach's did you take some of your pictures from? Can you give me some tips, on which beaches are nice and have the best access and facilitys (restrooms...etc). What is the best way to get there from WDW ???
Thanks.......!!!

 

[Nellas Elensar]

I like Cocoa's sand and surf, but there is absolutely nothing to do in terms of attractions there. I prefer Clearwater Beach.

Nellas Elensar

 

[makinorlando]

makinorlando,
Canaveral National Seashore looks great. We are doing some west coast beaches (Siesta Key), but we were looking for a "nice" beach on the east coast, because they are a bit closer. Canaveral looks perfect. I went to the map/directions page, and it looks like there are north and south entry points. Which beach's did you take some of your pictures from? Can you give me some tips, on which beaches are nice and have the best access and facilitys (restrooms...etc). What is the best way to get there from WDW ???
Thanks.......!!!

We went to the south end - Playalinda Beach. You enter through a "guard's booth" - where you pay $3 per adult. Once you pass through here, you follow the road and once you go around a sharp curve you will start to see the access ramps to the beach. We have accessed the beach from both parking lots, the beach is pretty much the same and both lots have rest rooms. For some reason I prefer #1! From the parking lot you walk up the steps over the dunes, to the beach. Both areas are pretty much the same. I like this beach in comparison to Cocoa, as the beach is not as wide. I feel comfortable sitting on the beach with DD playing in the water - whereas in Cocoa, I always feel like I am far away. We have not been here in the middle of the summer, so I don't know how crowded it gets, but mid October it was absolutely amazing.

If you have time we enjoyed the drive around Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. There is a 6 mile trail that you drive - we saw a Bald Eagle, alligators and many types of water fowl and birds.

From this area if you look to the south you can see the launch pads at Kennedy Space Center!

Toward the Nothern End about 7 miles up the road from this area there is a Manatee viewing area. We have not yet made it there!

This area is all about nature - there are no other amusements close by. It's a good place to pack a picnic lunch and just enjoy the great outdoors!

I am guessing the best way from Disney would be to take 528 (Beach Line)
Here is a link to directions from Mapquest - I picked the Contemporary as a starting point. This is a bit north of Cocoa, so you are talking closer to 1 1/2 hrs. From my house it's about the same distance to each of them as I am north east of "The World".

Disney to Playalinda Beach

 

[Syndrome]

makinorlando,
Thanks for the some of the details for Canaveral National Seashore. THANKS for taking the time to mapquest the directions for me !!! I modified our starting point (Windsor Hills), and printed them out. It about an 1 1/2 hr ride. The kids will enjoy the "surf" compared to the west coast beaches we are goint to. And its a little closer. This is perfect for us. We like to go to natural beaches vs, the commercially built up ones! Cant wait to do the Merrit Island thing. We will pack some lunch and make it a day.
I know they dont have any concession, or anything like that, but do they have some restroom facilities close to the beach area?
Thanks for the good info !!!
Syndrome

 

[Amity 3]

We like to go to natural beaches vs, the commercially built up ones!

check out Fort DeSoto on our side. take the Egmont Key ferry out to...Egmont Key. a 150 year old ghost town built to defend Tampa. the fort is sliding into the Gulf, which makes for great snorkeling. gopher tortoises walk around freely.

 

[makinorlando]

makinorlando,
Thanks for the some of the details for Canaveral National Seashore. THANKS for taking the time to mapquest the directions for me !!! I modified our starting point (Windsor Hills), and printed them out. It about an 1 1/2 hr ride. The kids will enjoy the "surf" compared to the west coast beaches we are goint to. And its a little closer. This is perfect for us. We like to go to natural beaches vs, the commercially built up ones! Cant wait to do the Merrit Island thing. We will pack some lunch and make it a day.
I know they dont have any concession, or anything like that, but do they have some restroom facilities close to the beach area?
Thanks for the good info !!!
Syndrome

Yes each of the two parking lots we have checked out have rest rooms you just walk up the steps over the dunes, down the steps an to the rest rooms. We did not check them out, so I can't vouch for the condition of them!

 

[JimB.]

I heartily recommend Cocoa Beach. Especially the northern end up close to Jetty Park (also depending on the day you go, you can watch the Magic or Wonder leave Port Canaveral in the late afternoon).

the Gulf is different, not necessarily better. If you do not like surf or waves (which can be an issue if you have little ones), then they may work out better.
THey don't have much surf & tides are not as strong.

Canaveral Nat'l Seashore is an awesome beach. Wide open & uncrowded. Absolutely non-commercial. Quiet. Pretty.