25 beach towns within driving distance of Orlando worth exploring

Villano Beach

2 hours and 2 minutes from Orlando
What’s great about it: This incredibly small beach community is the perfect place to unplug. Nease Beachfront Park is right across the A1A, and just north you’ll find the historic Castle Ottis, a thousand-year-old Irish castle. It’s open by appointment for those who want to see the blue glowing light through the windows in the evening. The oldest masonry fort in the U.S., Castillo de San Marcos, is also nearby. Cap’s On The Water’s seafood fare overlooks the Tolomato River for a meal—and sunset—to remember.
Beaches to check out: Vilano Beach, Surfside Park, North Beach Park, Nease Beachfront Park
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Satellite Beach

1 hour and 10 minutes
What’s great about it: This beach town is right below the Patrick Air Force Base on the southern part of the Space Coast. It’s a pretty low-key gem. There’s incredible Japanese cuisine at Haru Sushi Bar & Grill, a local town center with a Publix serves the community’s needs, and you’re just a few blocks from the Atlantic Ocean no matter where you stay in this area. Samsons Island Nature Park is an outdoor haven for nature lovers who want to kayak or bird watch, and it’s only accessible by boat. And if you want to go up or down A1A seeking more adventures along the coast, it’s a reasonably quick drive.
Beaches to check out: Pelican Beach Park, Canova Beach Park, Hightower Beach
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Atlantic Beach

2 hours and 37 minutes from Orlando
What’s great about it:Historians believe Atlantic Beach to be the first year-round Native American settlement in North America. This is a dog-friendly beach, so bring your furry child with you. A new local town center supplements the area with a variety of restaurants and other places of interest. Check out the Hanna Park campgrounds for more than 20 miles worth hiking and biking along the northern border of the small city. Fill up with some worthwhile eats at Ragtime Tavern & Seafood Grill.
Beaches to check out: Atlantic Beach, Circle Regional Beach, Tom Doe Memorial Beach
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Venice Beach

2 hours and 13 minutes from Orlando
What’s great about it: Venice Beach is known for its shark teeth and seashell galore along its Atlantic sands. If you’re looking for even bigger shark teeth, though, grab a mask and snorkel in Caspersen Beach. River boat tours along the Myakka River provide a different side of Venice, complete with alligators, herons and other animal life in their natural habitat for you to gaze at. If you want to bring your best friend, the Brohard Paw Park is dog-friendly, and it’s also a perfect spot for a picnic. The Venice Museum & Archives offers free admission for guests to observe fossils and artifacts of the historic town.
Beaches to check out: Venice Beach, Nokomis Beach, Brohard Beach, Carperson Beach
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Flagler Beach

1 hour and 17 minutes from Orlando
What’s great about it: This unique seaside community is home to six miles of sand along the Atlantic. The Flagler Beach Municipal Pier is a popular spot for fishing, and there’s a great deal of green like the Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park, 150 acres of scenic trails leading to a monument of Florida’s history with sugar plantations on the eastside. There’s a beachfront winery and plenty of seafood options. Try Funky Pelican for happy hour and late-night eats, and head a block north to Finns Beachside Pub for a nightcap and karaoke.
Beaches to check out: Flagler Beach, North Peninsula State Park
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Cape Canaveral

56 minutes from Orlando
What’s great about it:There’s more to Cape Canaveral than just the Kennedy Space Center. The Exploration Tower has seven floors of interactive exhibits, and you may even be lucky enough to catch a rocket launch from great heights. The Canaveral National Seashore is a 24-mile beach home to 1,045 plant species and 310 bird species, but if you’re looking for more aquatic critters, check out the Manatee Sanctuary Park. The 1848 Cape Canaveral Lighthouse is a great spot for history buffs. Papa Vito’s Italian Restaurant could satisfy your desire for classic comfort foods, and there’s craft beer and live music at Hogan’s Irish Bar.
Beaches to check out: Canaveral National Seashore, Jetty Park, Sebastian Inlet State Recreation Area
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Boca Grande

2 hours and 52 minutes from Orlando
What’s great about it:The Port Boca Grande Lighthouse is the oldest structure on the island where this beach village is found. If you’re seeking fishing feats, try the Boca Grande Pass, one of the deepest natural channels in Florida. Cruise or stroll through the historic district of Downtown Boca Grande for a variety of options for grub. For those up to take a boat into the wild, try the Cape Haze Aquatic Preserve, a rich habitat with shallow waters perfect for kayaking, bird-seeing and fishing.
Beaches to check out: Boca Grande Beach, Gasparilla Island State Park, Englewood Beach, Manasota Beach
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Captiva Island

3 hours and 55 minutes from Orlando
What’s great about it: Neighbor to the hailed Sanibel Island, Captiva Island has much to offer itself, including great snook fishing spots, art galleries, parasailing and a variety of nature and wildlife tours. You don’t have to be in town during the new moon to go New Moon Sailing with your very own captain, but you could catch a beautiful sunset on the water with otters, dolphins and other wildlife nearby. Keylime Bistro is the spot for classic American goods and, of course, some pie.
Beaches to check out: Turner Beach, Bowman’s Beach, Lighthouse Beach Park
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Stuart Beach

2 hours and 7 minutes from Orlando
What’s great about it: How does feeding stingrays sound? ...No? Well, you can do it at Florida’s Oceanographic Coastal Center. Visit the Elliot Museum, or the House of Refuge Museum, which sports traditional architecture and tells the story of one of the last surviving refuge houses along the Florida coast. Before crossing over to the sand, try out Dolphin Bar and Shrimp House’s for happy hour and blackened dolphin fingers.
Beaches to check out: Santa Lucea Beach, Hobe Sound Beach, Jensen Beach, Chastain Beach
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Anna Maria Island

2 hours and 32 minutes from Orlando
What’s great about it: Anna Maria is home to an abundance of activities—self-guided tours, snorkeling, stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking and scuba diving… you get the point. But the Robinson Nature Preserve’s land and water trails are a good excuse to get away from the beaches, called a hidden west coast gem by visitors. There’s also the quaint and historic Bridge Street Pier with shaded benches, and you can rent a fishing pole for the day, no license required.
Beaches to check out: Coquina Beach, Bradenton Beach, Cortez Beach, Holmes Beach
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Cedar Key

2 hours and 16 minutes from Orlando
What’s great about it: The Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge, part of Florida’s Big Bend Estuary, is home to a variety of bird species. Visit the historic 1854 lighthouse at Seahorse Key. Tony’s Seafood Restaurant is a known and loved spot for fishy grub, but there are plenty more options to explore.
Beaches to check out: Cedar Key Beach, Cedar Key Museum State Park, Atsena Otie Key, Seahorse Key
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Cocoa Beach

1 hour from Orlando
What’s great about it: Cocoa Beach is a well-known beach zone boasting 72 miles of Atlantic shoreline. It’s one of the only beaches where you can legally drink alcohol, so you can keep your discreet coozy at home if it matters. There’s plenty of nightlife locations to top off a day spent on the sand, like Coconuts on the Beach. If you’re up for more seafood, pop into Jazzy’s Mainely Lobster and Seafood Company.
Beaches to check out: Lori Wilson Park, Shephard Park, Playalinda Beach, Cocoa Beach
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Deerfield Beach

2 hours and 52 minutes from Orlando
What’s great about it: This beach town is on the heavier side population-wise, but nonetheless, it’s worth a visit. It was named after the hordes of deer that grazed along the Hillsboro River in the late 1890s. The Deerfield Island Park preserves, home to mangrove swamps and nature trails to explore, are only accessible by a weekend shuttle. For food, don’t play yourself—eat like the locals do and indulge in authentic Latin food at El Balcon de las Americas. If you insist on eating closer to the water, JB’s on the Beach offers seafood with a view of the Atlantic.
Beaches to check out: Hillsboro Beach, South Inlet Park, Dania Beach
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Delray Beach

2 hours and 45 minutes from Orlando
What’s great about it: In 2012, USA Today rated Delray Beach as the best small town in America, and for good reason. Atlantic Avenue in Downtown is full of adventures, especially at night, and parking at the municipal beach is pretty cheap at $1.50 an hour. Check out the Cornell Art Museum or the Sandoway Discovery Center for some interactive nature exhibits. If you’re down for some comfort food and a good happy hour, enjoy Latino dishes at Cabana El Rey.
Beaches to check out: Sarah Gleason Park, Sandoway Park, Anchor Park, Atlantic Dunes Park
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Siesta Key

2 hours and 31 minutes from Orlando
What’s great about it:Other than gaining even more popularity because of the MTV show, Siesta Key is genuinely a prime spot to kick back and relax. There are three beaches along the city’s 8 miles along the Gulf of Mexico, equipped with snorkeling at the Point of Rocks and a local music venue at The Beach Club. Check out the Oyster Bar for happy hour specials and seafood fare, plus draft beer and more live music.
Beaches to check out: Siesta Beach, Crescent Beach, Turtle Beach
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Fernandina Beach

2 hours and 45 minutes from Orlando
What’s great about it:Found on Amelia Island, this small city is also home to the 1,400 acres of Fort Clinch State Park, which dates back to the Civil War. You can view wildlife or camp and hike the natural trails. You can explore the historic district and check out the Museum of History in particular, which used to be a jail. There’s also the Amelia Island Light, a historic lighthouse that requires reservations in advance. Timoti’s Seafood Shak is your one-stop shop for satisfying your marine desires, or stop by The Crab Trap for crab legs.
Beaches to check out: Fernandina Beach
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Sanibel Island

3 hours and 32 minutes from Orlando
What’s great about it:At Sanibel Island, you can hit a nature tour trail, take a diving tour at a sunken U.S. Navy Ship, or kayak through the coastal waters and Lee County’s inland tributaries through The Great Calusa Bluesway. One of the first lighthouses of Florida’ Gulf Coast lives on the island. The Mad Hatter Restaurant is a popular waterfront spot for dining, but you can also check out the Lazy Flamingo for daily happy hour specials.
Beaches to check out: Bowman’s Beach, Tarpon Beach, Lighthouse Beach
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Juno Beach

2 hours and 30 minutes from Orlando
What’s great about it: The beach is fairly close to the Juno Dunes Natural Area, as well as the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and Museum. There’s also the Ocean Cay Park if you’re into having a picnic or grilling out in the sun. If you’re in the mood for fishing, there’s a pier waiting for you, but it’ll cost you a buck or two. This is another dog-friendly beach, but only in some parts so check in advance. For food, Thirsty Turtle Seagrill & Market will hopefully satisfy your needs for beers and laidback pub grub.
Beaches to check out: Juno Beach, Loggerhead Park, Ocean Cay Park
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Pass-A-Grille Beach

2 hours and 9 minutes from Orlando
What’s great about it: Found at the southernmost point of St. Pete, Pass-A-Grille is a historic beachside town packed with local shops and activities. The Island Ferry takes you on an excursion to Anna Maria Island, or you can view dolphins and other wildlife with the sunset as your backdrop. Rent a speedboat or try paddleboarding. If you want to try your luck with fishing, stop by the famous Merry Pier. As far as food options, you might be set with Paradise Grille’s American fare oceanside, but you could also give Sea Critters Cafe’s seafood a shot.
Beaches to check out: Pass-A-Grille Beach
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Madeira Beach

1 hour and 58 minutes from Orlando
What’s great about it: Take a stroll on the boardwalk through John’s Pass Village, home to shops and dining in an old fishing village. There’s also a more quiet preserve if you’re looking for privacy while you float in the Boca Ciega Bay waters. Smugglers Cove hosts mini-golf with a compelling pirate theme, plus there’s live gators. If you’re looking to fill up before you soak up the sun along the Gulf, there’s Japanese happy hour food at Hinata Steakhouse & Seafood.
Beaches to check out: Treasure Island, Redington Beach, Archibald Beach Park
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