The 7 Best Beaches Near Orlando Florida You Need To See
Orlando is an amazing place to visit with some of the best theme parks in the world. It hosts the largest number of visitors to Florida each year.
But did you know that there are also some incredible beaches near Orlando that are well worth visiting if you can tear yourself away from the theme parks?!
There are actually tons of great things to do in Florida which is why we love it so much. We have driven all over the State visiting National Parks and the incredible natural springs.
But at the end of the day, we were most impressed with the beaches, some of which are among the best beaches in the US.
If you are heading to Orlando to visit Disney World or Universal Orlando, you should really take some time out to discover some of the wonderful beaches.
You can base yourself at one of these great hotels near Universal Studios and still explore some of these beaches close to Orlando.
Make sure to check out our guide to the most family-friendly beach resorts in Florida if you are looking for exceptional Florida family vacation accommodation.
And if you are visiting Florida in the Fall, check out these amazing pumpkin patches in Florida or one of these corn mazes!
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Wait – if you’re visiting Orlando… have you got your theme park tickets?
Check Universal Orlando and Disney tickets with FloridaTix – the official ticket partner of Universal and Disney.
And if you’re going to do some sightseeing in Orlando, make sure you take a look at the GoCity Pass.
It includes a number of big attractions for families and you can make huge savings over buying individual tickets.
Best beaches near Orlando on the east coast
There are no beaches in Orlando near Disney because the area is landlocked. But travel an hour or so out of Orlando and you will find some of the best east coast Florida beaches.
The closest beaches to Disney on the east coast of Florida are:
Cocoa Beach
Cocoa Beach is the closest beach to Orlando and the closest beach to Disney in Florida.
It is located on Florida’s space coast around 60 miles directly east of Orlando. If you are just wanting to do a day trip to see one of the best beaches near Orlando, this is the one.
The beach is perfect for families with its soft white sand and clear waters. The calm waters of Cocoa Beach make it also a great place to learn how to surf.
Surf culture is big here. You’ll find the largest surf shop in the world, Ron Jon Surf Shop, as well as Ron Jon Surf School which is the largest surf school in the US.
Other water based activities here include paddle boarding, kayaking and kite surfing or you can try out your skating at the skate park on the beach.
One of the main attractions of Cocoa Beach is the historic Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier which stretches 800 feet over the ocean.
There are some excellent bars and restaurants on the pier where you can grab a bite to eat, as well as shop, enjoy live music and a spot of fishing.
Being one of the closest beaches to Orlando, it can get quite busy.
Car parking is available near the beach as well as picnic tables, restrooms and showers.
Distance from Orlando to Cocoa Beach: 60 miles / 1 hour by car.
Flagler Beach
Flagler Beach is one of the quieter beaches closest to Orlando. It is a bit of a hidden gem in terms of beaches near Orlando.
It is located on the east coast of Florida between Daytona and St. Augustine. You’ll find a six-mile stretch of pristine sandy beachfront with a fishing pier at one end.
In addition to great fishing here, the Atlantic Ocean tide brings in a lot of sea creatures including sea turtles who come to nest here.
The town of Flagler Beach has a bit of a laid-back, retro feel to it but with plenty of restaurants and accommodation options.
It is a great choice if you want to enjoy a relaxing Florida beach vacation after the thrills or the Orlando theme parks.
Distance from Orlando to Flagler Beach: 76 miles / 1 hour 15 by car.
Melbourne Beach
Melbourne Beach is located just south of Cocoa Beach on the east coast of Florida. It is known for wide sandy beaches, great surfing and being less crowded than many of the other Florida beaches near Disney World.
The Melbourne Beach area is made up of a few beaches, but Spessard Holland is great as it is low key, has a lot of free parking and all of the facilities.
Being on the Atlantic Coast, the water can be quite choppy which is fun for surfing and boogie boarding. If you prefer calm water, Spring is the best time to visit.
Most special of all about Melbourne Beach is that every year during the summer months, thousands of sea turtles lay their eggs on this beach. You might get a chance to see one nesting if you take a stroll at night.
If you get the timing right, you may even see a shuttle launching from Cape Canaveral just up the coast.
Distance from Orlando to Melbourne Beach: 76 miles / 1 hour 20 minutes.
New Smyrna Beach
New Smyrna Beach is approximately an hour from Orlando and yet feels a world apart from the fast paced life of the theme parks and attractions.
The beach here is beautiful and sandy and with its lifeguard tower it feels very old school America.
New Smyrna is one of the best surfing beaches near Orlando Florida so it’s better for wind sports rather than swimming.
From May through October, hundreds of turtles to lay their eggs on the sand. Three different species nest here – the Loggerhead, Leatherback and the Green Turtle.
There are also sharks and dolphins regularly spotted here so it’s great for a wildlife boat trip with so many beautiful creatures to spot.
In the town of New Smyrna you will find ice cream parlors, cafes and gift shops making it perfect for family holidays in Florida.
Distance from Orlando to New Smyrna Beach: 55 miles / 1 hour.
St Augustine
At just over 100 miles, St Augustine is a little way to drive from Orlando but we’ve put it on here because we absolutely loved it.
It is the oldest city in the US so it really deserves a visit. The city itself is so different to any of the other cities in Florida.
The main sights in St Augustine are the Castillo de San Marcos which is a 17th century Spanish fort and the oldest stone structure in the US. Also Flagler College and Ponce de Leon Hall are worth seeing.
You can take a stroll down the narrow lanes, popping into museums and boutiques or grab a bite to eat in one of the many restaurants.
The beaches around St Augustine are more wild and windswept but are beautiful and completely uncrowded if you head a little way out of St Augustine.
The best beaches are Ponte Vedra Beach which is great for finding sharks teeth or Crescent Beach. If you like a beach walk, you can take a stroll all the way down to Fort Matanzas National Monument which is where we were in the photo below.
Distance from Orlando to St Augustine Beach: 105 miles / 1 hour 45 minutes.
Best beaches near Orlando on the Gulf Coast
The Florida Gulf Coast beaches are a little further away from the east coast beaches near Orlando but they are well worth the drive.
Our favorite west coast beaches near Orlando Florida are:
Anna Maria Island
Anna Maria Island is a small barrier island about 7 miles long that lies off the west coast of Florida, 55 miles south of Tampa.
It is perfect if you’re looking for a laid back beach destination because it has a real low-key island vibe to it.
Until 1922 when the Cortez Bridge was built, Anna Maria Island was only accessible by boat which is what has helped it preserve its old Floridian style.
Anna Maria Island has several beaches along its western coast from Coquina Beach in the south to Bean Point in the north. The main beaches (Coquina Beach, Anna Maria Beach and Holmes Beach) all have facilities and life guards.
The water here on the Gulf side is perfectly calm and the sand is soft and white, making it one of the best beaches near Orlando for families.
The best beach in our opinion, however, is Bean Point on the northern tip of the island.
It’s not so easily accessible and there aren’t any facilities there, but it is perfect if you are looking for quiet beaches in Florida. It’s the ideal place to watch the sunset with a picnic.
Anna Maria Island is by far one of the best Florida beaches but it has become very popular in recent years and finding vacation rentals can be a challenge.
You can read more about Anna Maria Island here.
Distance from Orlando to Anna Maria Island: 125 miles / 2 hours 45 minutes.
Clearwater Beach
The very aptly named Clearwater Beach has the clearest water near Orlando and the sand is perfectly white. It is worth driving the two hours from Orlando to visit one of the most beautiful beaches in Florida.
It was voted best beach in the USA by Tripadvisor several years in a row and once you see it, you’ll know why!
Clearwater Beach is located close to the bustling city of Tampa on the Gulf Coast of Florida.
The beach is 2.5 miles long and with the crystal clear and shallow water, it is the perfect beach near Orlando for families! It’s also a great place to go kayaking or paddle boarding.
There are loads of facilities near Clearwater Beach. If you want to grab a bite or drink, head to the promenade. It stretches along the beach up to Pier 60 and is home to loads of beach bars, restaurants and ice-cream parlours.
At Pier 60 you will discover amazing views over the beach and the gulf. You may even catch a glimpse of dolphins jumping.
In the evening, Pier 60 is a popular spot to watch the sunset.
Distance from Orlando to Clearwater Beach: 105 miles / 2 hours.