Desk reference
Best Beaches
The Atlantic beaches are about an hour and a half east of the resort; the Gulf beaches are about two to two and a half hours west. Every drive time below is from the resort.
5
Beach town · Space Coast
$ Lori Wilson Park: free parking. City lots such as Alan Shepard Park: $6/hour or $25/day, enforced 7am–7pm (Passport Parking app).
From the resort 66.6 mi · about 1 h 30 min typical, up to 1 h 50 min in heavy traffic
Facilities Lori Wilson Park: restrooms and outdoor showers. The closest classic beach to the resort; launches from the Cape are visible to the north.
Beach park · Cape Canaveral
$ Parking pass bought online in advance: see current rates.
From the resort 65.9 mi · about 1 h 35 min typical, up to 1 h 55 min in heavy traffic
Facilities Restrooms, lifeguards 10am–5pm, food trucks, chair rentals, fishing pier; no pets. Watch cruise ships sail past the jetty.
National seashore · Canaveral National Seashore
Currently 6am–8pm, last entry 7pm. $ $25 per private vehicle (valid 7 days at both seashore districts), card only.
From the resort 72.2 mi · about 1 h 45 min typical, up to 2 h 10 min in heavy traffic
Facilities Undeveloped beach: no showers and limited facilities; bring water and food. Wild, undeveloped shoreline backed by dunes.
National seashore · Canaveral National Seashore (north)
$ $25 per private vehicle (the same 7-day seashore pass as Playalinda), card only.
From the resort 83.7 mi · about 2 h typical, up to 2 h 45 min in heavy traffic The quieter north end of the national seashore, south of New Smyrna Beach.
Beach town · Volusia County
$ Driving on the beach: $30/day per vehicle. Off-beach county lots: $20/day. Plus tax.
From the resort 75.7 mi · about 1 h 45 min typical, up to 2 h 25 min in heavy traffic Surf town with a walkable Flagler Avenue; one of the few beaches where you can drive and park on the sand.
4
Beach town · Pinellas County
$ Pier 60 lot: $3.50/hour, open 6am–11pm. On-street meters: $4/hour.
From the resort 95.1 mi · about 2 h 5 min typical, up to 2 h 50 min in heavy traffic White-sand beach with Pier 60 and its nightly sunset gathering.
Honeymoon Island State Park
State park · Dunedin
$ $8 per vehicle (up to 8 people).
From the resort 94.5 mi · about 2 h 15 min typical, up to 3 h 5 min in heavy traffic Natural barrier island with shelling and nature trails.
County park · Tierra Verde
$ $6 parking per day (as of Oct 2026), plus a small fee when paying by app.
From the resort 107.9 mi · about 2 h 20 min typical, up to 3 h 10 min in heavy traffic Five islands of beaches, a historic fort and a long fishing pier.
County beach park · Siesta Key, Sarasota
$ Free parking (more than 950 spaces).
From the resort 125.3 mi · about 2 h 30 min typical, up to 3 h 25 min in heavy traffic
Facilities Restrooms, concessions, lifeguards 10am–5pm and free beach wheelchairs. Powder-soft quartz sand; named the top US beach of 2026.
Arrive early on weekends and holidays, when beach parking fills fastest. Gulf beaches face the sunset; Atlantic beaches face the sunrise. Check rip-current and flag warnings with the lifeguards before swimming.