Looking for clean safe beach town 60-90 min from Disney btwn Jacksonville & Daytona

[deannec23]

We are driving from NC just before Xmas and want to stay about 1-1.5 hrs from Disney so we can arrive early the next morning. We will be coming down I-95. Last time we drove some of the little towns were creepy and run down. We have 3 kids (17,14,10). Would love to be close to the ocean. Is St Augustine Beach a good, safe clean town? Suggestions as to where to stay?

 

[jodifla]

Love St. Augustine Beach! We normally stayed at a Bryn Mawr campground, but there are good places around there.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Crescent Beach, on SR A1A just south of St. Augustine, is a popular beach destination for northern Floridians. Ditto for Flagler Beach which is closer to Daytona Beach.

BobK/Orlando

 

[Detailor]

St. Augustine Beach should be fine but I'd note that it's closer to two hours from Disney than in your 1-1.5 hour range. The Flagler Beach area is just about an hour and a half from the Disney resort area.

Dick Taylor

 

[lugnut33]

Our family loves new smyrna beach. Very easy to get to and nice.

 

[pr surfer]

St. Augustine Beach

 

[deannec23]

Thanks for all your ideas. I didn't realize that St Augustine Beach was 2 hrs away from Disney so I think we need to go further south. Some of you recommended Flagler Beach. Suggestions as to where to stay?? It is a nice town right? Not a creepy run down biker town or something?

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

Our family loves new smyrna beach. Very easy to get to and nice.

I 2nd New Smyrna. We stayed there twice this past year for our space shuttle trips. In July I was there alone with my 3 kids (11, 9, & 6) and felt completely safe. This is actually a cute little beach town that I could see myself moving to! We stayed at the Holiday Inn right on the beach. The rooms were nice and large, all had an ocean view and the prices could not be beat. Would return there in a heartbeat!

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...h_Daytona_Beach-New_Smyrna_Beach_Florida.html