We are looking to spend one day at the beach which one would you recommend? And why?
Cocoa Beach, driving time: about 1 hour, 5 minutes.
Daytona Beach, driving time: about 1 hour, 7 minutes.
New Smyrna Beach, driving time: about 1 hour, 8 minutes.
Canaveral National Seashore, driving time: about 1 hour, 9 minutes.
Melbourne Beach , driving time: about 1 hour, 24 minutes.
Glad to see you listed all East Coast Beachers. I am an East Coaster. My kids were bored on the Gulf side beaches by the time they were 5. To get to Cocoa Beach you probably would take I4 to 528 which is a toll road. You said you didn't want to mess with Sun Pass but easy to get, use, and program. It is the best way to go if using the Florida toll roads. Trying to come to the beach on 192 from Disney property takes longer than going I4-528-520.
Lots of good beaches in the area and even one right on Patrick Air Force Base if you wanted to see what Patrick is like. Our favorite in Cocoa Beach is Lori Wilson park because it has the nature walk, pavilions, bathrooms, out door showers, life guards, and free parking. The beach at Patrick has a pavilion, bathrooms, outdoor showers, but no guards. while in the area you just have to check out the surf shops and Ron Jons. You can rent boogy boards, surf boards, and chairs if you choose the beach at the end of 520 I think that is Cherry Down. The Cocoa Beach pier is owned and run by Westgate now and has a good beach. You do have to pay to park, though. Lots to do in that area too.
Daytona Beach is more touristy and has the hard packed sand to drive on. If you have kids might want to find a section where cars not allowed. we like to go South on A1A to the Ponce Inlet area because the beaches are less crowded. There is even a Light House park which is pretty cool. I think it costs $5 to get in and you can climb to the top of the lighthouse.
If you choose New Smyrna.....Flagler Avenue is the spot to head to. Has some nice shops and at the end is a good bar/restaurant....The Breakers. Doesn't look like much from the outside but the food is really good. You can drive on the beach there, too. If you drive South on A1A from there, you end up in the North part of Canaveral National Seashore.
Canaveral National Seashore is beautiful. I am more familiar with the South Section which you get to in Titusville. It is a long drive out after you go across the causeway bridge but oh, so worth the drive. Merrit Island Wildlife preserve is out there. There is a drive you can take through the mangroves and marshes which is awesome. Nature at its best, never know what you will see from gators to Eagles etc. On the way to the beach you will have great sights of the VAB and gantries on Kennedy Space Center. There are 13 parking lots at the beach. The 13th is the more clothing optional area so stop before then. 1st parking usually is the most crowded and you can walk South and see the gantries on KSC. Each area has a port-o-potty in a block building, but there is no water for showers or drinks. You have to bring everything you will need for the day in with you. I think there is a $10 charge to get in per car. There are no life guards.
Melbourne Beach area has a lot of good county parks that have free parking, bathrooms, out door showers, and usually a food/drink trailor or stand. Some beaches have a reef right off shore that is exposed with low tide. It is rocky under water at other times so you have to be careful going out or you could get scrapes. It is awesome at low tide though. Paradise is a nice beach with pavilions, sand volleyball, a playground, bathrooms, free parking and a food stand. If you drive South to the Indialantic area the beaches are sandy.
The beach at end of 192 has guards, boardwalk, bathrooms, and places to eat in the area, but you have to feed the meters there. If you continue farther South there is a beach access in Melbourne beach with guards, bathroom, and some beach area bars and restaurants. Farther South are the Spessard Holland North and South. North has a good place to eat on the beach. Both have free parking,showers and bathrooms. We usually find bigger and more shells South of Indialantic but has not been really good shelling since they refurbished the beaches last year.
And if you want to go to another of our favorites.... Sebastian Inlet State Park.....again a charge to get in, but worth the trip. There is a fishing pier, a restaurant, an area for surfers and an area for people not surfing. There is also a wade pool on the river side of A1A where little ones can play and not be worried about waves etc. On one side of the park there is a fishing museum and camping. We are always on the surfing side so not sure if there are guards in the swimmers area or not.
Where ever you choose to go have fun, but remember the ocean is not the same as swimming in a pool.
Tampa St Pete beaches I thought were about 1 hr 15. I thought that Sarasota Longboat Key Siesta Beach about 2 hrs..it's been awhile so maybe I am not correct. LOVE the west coast!
