How far is the beach from Orlando? The closest beach is a 1 hour drive from Orlando. Taking a day trip to the beach is a great way to unwind from theme parks. There are plenty of amazing beaches to choose from on both the east coast and west coast. A day trip to the beach is a fun way to slow down and relax together. 

Closest Beach to Orlando 

The closest beach to Orlando is Cocoa Beach. Orlando visitors and locals can drive to Cocoa Beach in about 1 hour. Is the beach near Disney? It takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to get from Disney World to Cocoa Beach. Whether you are a local or visiting Orlando theme parks, Cocoa Beach is an easy day trip from Orlando.

How far is the beach from Universal Studios? Universal Studios is about 1 hour and 10 minutes from Cocoa Beach, FL.

Photo by Hinson Photography, Lori Wilson Park, Cocoa Beach, FL

If you are wondering how to get to the beach from Disney World, you can take a car or bus to get from Disney World to Cocoa Beach. There are several buses and shuttles that can take you from Disney to the beach, if you don’t have a vehicle or car rental. Cocoa Beach shuttle provides transportation to the beach and Cape Canaveral cruise port.

You can also go to the Walt Disney World Ticket and Transportation Center to get on the line 50 bus to Cocoa Beach. You should check with your travel agent or a cast member ahead of time to make these plans go more smoothly.

Best Beaches Near Orlando

The best beaches near Orlando are:

• Cocoa Beach
• New Smyrna Beach
• Ponce Inlet
• Clearwater
• St Pete Beach
• Siesta Key
• Anna Maria Island
• Ormond Beach

Cocoa Beach

Famous surfing destination and home of the largest Ron Jon Surf shop, Cocoa Beach is the most convenient beach near Orlando.

The waves of the Atlantic are big, consistent and perfect for boogie boarding. Lori Wilson Park is a great spot to spend a beach day in Cocoa Beach.

Jetty park is also a really nice spot to watch cruise ships embark in the evening!

Lori Wilson Park

1500 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931

Jetty Park

9035 Campground Circle Cape Canaveral, Florida 32920 (must purchase daily parking permit online)

New Smyrna Beach 

If you are looking for beaches near Orlando with white sand, New Smyrna Beach is perfect. Located just about 1 hour and 18 minutes away, New Smyrna Beach is also a great beach near Orlando for families. It’s on the east coast of Florida, so the waves are consistent and big enough to play in.

Smyrna Dunes Park in New Smyrna Beach, FL

The sand is soft and white and it’s also one of the few beaches in the country that allow beach driving. I highly recommend checking out Smyrna Dunes Park, if you really want to immerse yourself in nature and enjoy a long walk through the sand dunes.

Flagler Avenue is the hot spot with lots of shopping and restaurants to choose from and beach access nearby. You can’t miss a burger from Breakers on the beach!

Ponce Inlet 

Another white sand beach near Orlando is Ponce Inlet. Ponce Inlet is a small seaside community along the east coast of Florida. It’s sprinkled with mostly homes and residential condos, so it’s very quiet and rarely very crowded. Lighthouse Point Park is one of the best spots to enjoy a wide variety of views like the tallest lighthouse in Florida, Ponce Deleon Inlet and the stunning Atlantic Ocean.

Clearwater & St. Pete Beach

If you are looking for beaches near Orlando on the Gulf Coast, then you’d love Clearwater or St. Pete Beach. The gulf side of Florida is more calm and has very small waves – perfect for families with young children!

Sand Key Park is a great spot in Clearwater that tends to be a little less crowded and there are tons of fun things to do in Clearwater.

Siesta Key & Anna Maria Island

Are there beaches near Orlando with clear water? The beaches near Orlando with the clearest water are Siesta Key and Anna Maria Island.

It’s very important to note that the water isn’t always clear and this depends on many factors such as tide, weather and time of the year. In my experience, Siesta Key has pretty consistent looking water. You can check in advance for red tide, recent hurricane activity or storms.

Anna Maria Island feels like another world. There are no condos and it’s a small island with vacation homes and the primary mode of transportation is golf cart. If you are looking for a great dinner spot, we had a blast at The Ugly Grouper.

Ormond Beach 

I love the downtown area in Ormond Beach and I almost never see it get as crowded as Daytona Beach. Ormond Beach has coquina sand, which gives it an orange tint and it’s made of lots of tiny pieces of shells. It’s a great spot to enjoy peace and quiet for the day.

Beaches Near Orlando

Whether you are looking for white sand beaches near Orlando or beaches near Orlando for families, there is a beach for everyone! There is something special about all Florida beaches and it’s a can’t miss activity during your Orlando vacation.

As much as we love theme parks, we all need a break from the thrills and wait times very now and again. The moment you drive over the causeway and smell the salty air, you’ll feel refreshed and ready to relax.

Many families fall in love with a beach and return every year together for their family vacation. It’s a wonderful tradition and we love watching families grow up at the beach. We have photographed families that have come to visit every year for over 30 years and now are returning with their adult children and grand children.

You may fall in love with one of these Florida beaches and decide to come back just or a beach trip.