Day trip to a Beach?

[Perpetuallydisneyplanning]

Hi everyone. We are going to WDW for Spring Break. We are renting a car and would like to go to the Beach for a day. Any recommendations for a beach? Has anyone been? Wondering which is the best and closest.
Thanks!

 

[Donald - my hero]

It's been a very long time since we went to the beach ourselves HOWEVER my grandparents lived in New Smyrna Beach which is about 20 miles south of Daytona Beach and both of those are gorgeous.

Mainly i wanted to welcome you to the boards!

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[mseyre]

We were there last November and did the daytrip to Cocoa Beach. Our hotel recommended going the other way though and checking out Clearwater but we did not want to travel that far. Cocoa Beach was lovely. It took us about an hour to get there. It was very quiet, but that would be expected in November -- only a bunch of crazy Canadians spending a day at a beach

 

[Perpetuallydisneyplanning]

It's been a very long time since we went to the beach ourselves HOWEVER my grandparents lived in New Smyrna Beach which is about 20 miles south of Daytona Beach and both of those are gorgeous.

Mainly i wanted to welcome you to the boards!

​

Awesome! Thanks!

 

[Perpetuallydisneyplanning]

We were there last November and did the daytrip to Cocoa Beach. Our hotel recommended going the other way though and checking out Clearwater but we did not want to travel that far. Cocoa Beach was lovely. It took us about an hour to get there. It was very quiet, but that would be expected in November -- only a bunch of crazy Canadians spending a day at a beach

Perfect. Thanks so much.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

If you are going during Spring Break AKA Easter beware the beaches will be VERY crowded. Lots of drunk college kids will fill the beaches then. I personally would not go.

 

[isabellea]

I personally prefer the Gulf beaches (warmer water, less drunk Spring breakers and no need to cross Orlando on I-4). Clearwater is a good choice imo.

 

[4cats2kids]

Clearwater Beach.

 

[starvenger]

I was at Clearwater Beach last May for a company retreat and it is really nice. But it is a 2 hour drive to get there.

 

[Perpetuallydisneyplanning]

I was at Clearwater Beach last May for a company retreat and it is really nice. But it is a 2 hour drive to get there.

Thanks. Good to know. Not sure if we want to drive that far.

 

[Sunshine25]

Siesta Key in Sarasota is paradise!
We go every year and love it. 2 hours on the Gulf side but worth the drive imo. Crystal blue waters, the white sand is 99% quartz.

 

[SaraMc]

Im a fan of Cocoa beach. Its not too far and a nice day trip.

 

[bankr63]

Cocoa and Daytona are closest. Siesta Key (Sarasota) is the nicest (according to Tripadvisor) and is the one we hit every year; but that is about 45 minutes longer drive. SK is gulf side, so the waters are warmer, calmer and "swimmable" in March. I quote swimmable because it doesn't seem to bother our Canuck hides, but I'm pretty sure the few other bathers are also Canadian.

ETA: crowds of college kids are not a problem I have ever seen. The US/Canadian College breaks don't generally align with our public/high school spring break at all.

 

[darwinsrule]

Gulf side would definitely be warmer. You are probably going to be fine anywhere from St. Pete's Beach up to Clearwater. There are a lot of islands so you pretty much have your pick. If you go up along Redington Beach and Mederia Beach there is a fun mini-golf course where you can feed baby gators as well.