Best Florida Beaches Near Orlando

What Beach is right for you?

What makes these the Best Florida Beaches?

1.) They are all within two hours drive of Orlando, Florida.

2.) They offer their visitors plenty of fun and attractions.

3.) They are all affordable.

Orlando's in the middle of the state which offers great access to all of the surrounding beaches!

Most of my favorites beaches are a little over an hour drive from anywhere in Orlando.

I’m part Irish so I have very fair skin and light eyes so my experience with the sun has not always been a good one. But that never takes away from the fact that I love the beach!!

I love, love, love Daytona Beach! I’ve been going there since I was a tiny tot. I think that I would label Daytona as the best Florida beach to have a good time.

It has everything you could want or need. Plus it’s one of the more affordable beaches near Orlando to stay the night. Depending on what time of year that is.

If you go during the Daytona 500 or in the middle of spring break you may be looking at a more costly stay but if you go during the summer there’s always small hotels that have vacancies.
You can drive on the beach in Daytona. Making it easy to take all of the things you need with you.

If you just want to make it a day trip this gives you easy access to the beach and you don't have to worry about parking. There’s a ton of debate whether or not that’s a good thing.

Just up the road from Daytona Beach is Ormond Beach Florida. It offers a more relaxed experience. It’s on the quieter side of things and not close to all of the action on the pier in Daytona. But it still has a variety of things to do.

You can travel into the town of Ormond to take a look at their botanical gardens or head to a movie. Or you can get some great local fare at Barnacles on the Beach. A restaurant with a yummy salad bar and fresh seafood.

Cocoa Beach is one of the closest beaches to Orlando. About forty five minutes on the highway will get you there. It’s one of the best Florida beaches for fun in the sun.

Coconuts on the beach is a restaurant and bar that’s right on the beach! Last time we went there it was packed. But there’s serval other restaurants near the beach to hang out and have a good time.

You can’t drive on the beach in Cocoa which means you have to drag all of your gear and supplies with you. But you also don’t have to worry about getting run over by someone that’s not paying attention.

I love Cocoa Beach for one reason...Ron John's Surf Shop. This place has all the great gear for the beach. Every shape and size can find a bathing suit that fits their needs.

New Smyrna Beach is a favorite of surfers. The rock formations help to cut down on dangerous uncurrents. It has tons of white sand and plenty of fresh seafood restaurants to choose from.

Definitely one of the best Florida beaches for families. Only a portion of the beach can be driven on making it fun and safe.

Close to Kennedy Space Center and near Merritt Island, New Smyrna offers many fun things to do. Including a wildlife refuge in Merritt Island. Plus it’s only a little over an hour away from Orlando Florida.

Melbourne Beach is another one of the best Florida beaches near Orlando. About an hour and a half drive gets you to this family friendly beach. Keep your windows open and your door unlocked because this is a little piece of paradise.

Melbourne is a great place to go fishing or just enjoy a little peace and quiet.

If you're willing to drive a little longer you can visit what I think’s the best Florida beach of them all.....Clearwater Beach. Named after its crystal blue water this beach near Orlando takes about two hours to reach.

Once you get there you may not want to leave. Clearwater beach is fun for the whole family. All the way down to the smallest of your crew.

Take a ferry ride to the Caladesi Island State Park for a little piece of heaven and some well deserved R and R. Take a kayak tour of the tunnels or just a nice walk around to see what you can find.

Go a few hours south to the east coast of Florida and you'll arrive in Fort Lauderdale boasting 23 miles of beaches, the area has grown up to be a casual chic and family-friendly destination and has left its crazy spring break days behind.

If you're willing to drive really far you can check out the Florida Keys. Some of the most beautiful snorkeling can be done there!

If you’re looking to just get cooled off you may also want to consider some of the natural springs in Florida. One of my favorite places to go when I was a kid was Kelly Park Springs Florida.

But there's several other state parks in Florida. Including Blue Springs Florida State Park. You haven’t felt cold and refreshing water until you’ve been in a natural Florida spring. You can come here and relax with a family picnic or you can canoe or kayak down the river.

If you go to Blue Springs during colder months of the year you can see some Florida manatees. These gentle giants will having you smiling all day!

Another great Florida springs to visit is Ponce De Leon Springs Florida State Park. There you can enjoy the natural beauty of the springs. Take a hike, canoe ride, kayak and much more.

Work up an appetite and then check out the Old Spanish Sugar Mill where you can make your own pancakes on a griddle that's built into the tables! It's a fun and unique expereince.

Where ever you decide to go to cool off just make sure to pack the sun screen. Florida sun is no joke! So apply....then re-apply.
*Tip* Put the sunscreen in the cooler it will keep it nice and cold. That way when you go to re-apply it will be a refreshing and welcome experience.

So there you have it. All of my favorite beaches near Orlando. Which one do you think is going to be the best Florida beach for your family?

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