Florida’s magical city of Orlando is an ideal vacationing spot for not only families but also singles, baby boomers, foodies, outdoor adventurous types, luxury shoppers, and international visitors.
Uncover the top beaches near Orlando for sun, surf, and relaxation. Find your perfect sandy getaway close to the city’s attractions
Famed with its theme parks and outlet shopping centers, Orlando is a place known for hospitality, and that extends to its many hotels, spas and services that suit every budget and taste.
The Atlantic coast is just an hour’s drive from Orlando, and the Gulf of Mexico lies 90 miles to the west. After spending time at theme parks, take some days to relax at the beach and soak up our famous Florida sunshine.
East Coast
Daytona Beach
About 1-hour drive from Orlando, Daytona Beach, famous as the “World Center of Racing” and home of NASCAR, is part of the East Central Florida greater metropolitan area. Daytona Beach is the best known of the seven area communities. Although the wide 23-mile (37 km) stretch of white sandy beach is still the biggest attraction here, with over 8 million visitors flocking to the area every year, the metro area is rapidly changing from event Mecca to family oriented resort destination. Historical sites like the Main Street Pier, the Oceanfront Boardwalk and the Clocktower in Oceanfront Park add to the appeal of this exciting city.
Check out the 10 best hotels and places to stay in Daytona Beach
Vero Beach
Around 1,5 – 2 hours drive from Orlando city center, Vero Beach is a haven for golf, water sports and fishing.
The beaches in Vero Beach are part of Florida’s Treasure Coast. Vero’s three main public beaches are South Beach, accessible at the eastern end of State Road 656 at the eastern end of 17th Street; Humiston Park, in Vero’s Central Beach Business District on Ocean Drive and Jaycee Park which is adjacent to Conn Beach. These beaches are lifeguard protected from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. There are 26 miles of oceanfront shore in Indian River County. Vero Beach also has other free public access trails and walkways with beach access, such as Riomar Beach, Sea Cove, Sea Grape Trail, Sexton Plaza, and Turtle Trail.
Where to stay?
Disney has its own beach resort here on Florida’s Treasure Coast: Disney’s Vero Beach Resort
Check out and compare prices of Vero Beach hotels on Booking.com
Cocoa Beach
Cocoa Beach is the closest beach to Orlando (60 miles) and is known for its surfing culture. The city is located in the narrow coastal region between the ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway. Activities include beach volleyball, surfing, sunbathing, surf fishing.
Explore its famed pier that extends 800 feet into the ocean, a historical landmark boasting five restaurants, four bars, gift shops, fishing, and free live musical entertainment.
Check out the 10 best hotels and places to stay in Cocoa Beach
New Smyrna Beach
New Smyrna Beach is about 1-hour drive from Orlando and 20 miles (32 km) south of Daytona Beach.
The name of “New Smyrna Beach” comes from the name of the Greek city of Smyrna, which was the hometown of the town’s founder’s wife, and is now the Turkish city of Izmir.
New Smyrna Beach is an eclectic mix of old and new; of subtle sophistication and bohemian soul that is as “real” as Florida gets. It occupies a notable place in history as the second oldest city in Florida, site of the largest single attempt at British colonization in the new world. In 2018, New Smyrna Beach celebrated its 250th birthday.
Accommodations range from charming bed and breakfast inns to family-size condominium units and oceanfront hotels. Natural attractions include 17 miles of sandy beaches from Ponce de Leon Inlet to Canaveral National Seashore and North America’s most diverse estuary – the Indian River Lagoon. Two distinct downtowns along Flagler Avenue and Canal Street and connected via the Waterfront Loop welcome visitors with independent restaurants, unique shops, artisanal coffee shops and art galleries.
10 Best Hotels in New Smyrna Beach
West Coast
Clearwater Beach
Around 2 hours drive from Orlando, Clearwater Beach is one of the top-rated beaches in Florida. Clearwater has miles of beautiful beaches and close proximity to other cities in the Tampa Bay area.
Besides lying in the white sand and swimming in the clear water there are also many activities offered such as fishing, sail boat, kayak, and jet ski rentals, dolphin and sunset tours, parasailing and more. Alongside the beach there are also many restaurants and shops. It is a great family environment. There are always lifeguards and specially colored flags that mean certain alerts such as any rip currents of marine life such as stingrays present. Beach chairs, tents, strollers, and wheelchair rentals are also available.
After spending a long, hot day at the beach, you can head on down to Pier 60 for the nightly ‘Sunsets at Pier 60’ event. Every night, lots of vendors and entertainers set up shop at Pier 60.
The 10 best hotels & places to stay in Clearwater Beach
St. Pete Beach
The City of St. Pete Beach is a barrier island community located just off the Pinellas County mainland of Saint Petersburg, just south of Treasure Island, and 20 miles from Clearwater Beach. With miles of pristine, white sandy beaches, year-round sunshine, an abundance of recreational opportunities, restaurants, and shopping, St. Pete Beach is one of the most enjoyable places to live and vacation, in the world.
The 10 best hotels & places to stay in St Pete Beach
Are you planning to visit Orlando? See the New Hotels of Orlando opened in 2018 – 2019 – 2020 and New Orlando Hotels 2022 – 2023
