5 Best Beaches near Orlando

Cocoa Beach is on the east coast of Florida, just a 45-minute drive from Downtown Orlando. The beach is famous for its surf, laidback lifestyle and beautiful natural landscape. There are stunning (albeit inconsistent) waves to ride, and if you want to try surfing for the first time you can take surf lessons. Cocoa Beach was home to Kelly Slater, the world’s most successful surfer ever, so it is a great place to pick up a board and ride the waves.

The well-maintained shores around Cocoa Beach are wonderful for relaxing as well as taking nature walks around the coastline. This quintessential beach town is great for leisure time, with watersports and deep-sea fishing both popular. Plus, if you want to venture slightly further you can also head to the nearby Kennedy Space Center.

A resort area on the Gulf of Mexico, Clearwater Beach is an immaculate white sandy beach with beautiful, calm, blue waters that are excellent for swimming. Clearwater Beach is a popular spot for watersports, snorkeling, parasailing and jet skiing, and the beach is only 2 hours from downtown Orlando.

Regularly rated as one of the best beaches in the United States, the climate at Clearwater Beach is mild and warm throughout the year. With beautiful tropical plants and palms lining the beach, it really is a paradise for those who love the sun, sea and sand.

Daytona Beach is a fun and friendly seaside town in central Florida. The beach is long, with regular lifeguard stations, and a popular boardwalk. There is a lively ambience here, particularly on weekends, with a funfair and games arcade overlooking the sand. There’s a nice collection of hotels in Dayton Beach if you decide to spend more than a day here.

One of the most secluded and pristine beaches near Orlando is the Canaveral National Seashore. It is home to many endangered species, including sea turtles that come to the beach to lay their eggs in the sand.

Like many seaside cities, the area is ideal for visitors who enjoy outdoor activities. You’ll find horseback riding, canoeing, kayaking, surfing, swimming, fishing, and boating. If you enjoy hiking, there is a trail near the Visitor’s Center. There are nude beaches on each end of the Canaveral National Seashore. For everyone’s security and peace of mind, police patrols are frequent in these areas.

The 13-mile stretch of white sand that makes New Smyrna Beach so wonderful is just an hour's drive from downtown Orlando. Located on the stunning Atlantic coast, the beach is popular among surfers and sunbathers alike, as well as anyone looking for a picture-perfect day out close to downtown Orlando. Adventurous visitors can attempt to surf on the famous eastern waves, which has been listed among the world's best.

Quiet and residential, the town of New Smyrna also has some important sites that should be visited during your time at the beach, including the New Smyrna Beach Sugar Mill Ruins and the historic downtown region with its quaint cafés and restaurants.