Look at a map! You can go east or west, Orlando is pretty much in the middle. Do you want Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf? Daytona, Tampa, Cocoa Beach, etc.

It’ll take you quite a while to get to the beach from Orlando. The Canaveral shore is pretty close… Cocoa Beach is relatively close. But if you think you’re going to get to the beach in a short time, you’re mistaken.

Daytona is well known on the Atlantic. Tampa and St Petersburg are what I like on the Gulf.

The beach is just an hour to an hour and a half away, depending on traffic.

There are nice beaches at the lakes near Orlando, but the ocean and gulf beaches are much farther away.

Cocoa Beach is an hr east, a straight shot down the Bee Line (I think it’s 516).

Yup, as previously noted, Cocoa Beach/Cape Canaveral beaches are your closest—just head directly east, should take you about an hour. If you want a little more privacy and/or less crowds, just head about an hour south from Cocoa Beach—there are some great beaches and Nat’l Parks down there that usuaully don’t have as many people.

If you could settle for man-made beaches, there are a few in Disney World, if the drive to the actual coasts of Florida are too daunting or time consuming.

The 7 Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake are by the Magic Kingdom, and the Polynesian, Contemporary, and Grand Floridian hotels all have beaches on their shores. No swimming is allowed, however.

Similarly, Crescent Lake lies between the Studios and Epcot, and the Yacht and Beach Club hotels have beaches on its shore. Again, no swimming allowed.

And then the two water parks (Typhoon Lagoon & Blizzard Beach) have “beaches” of sand up against their wave pools and wading pools, which of course you can swim in, but are pools, not lakes or oceans.

@MrItty Good point. I remember enjoying those fake beaches, sort of like part of the entire Disney experience of fun things.

DisneyWorld is sorta central….the closest beach would be Cocoa Beach (I am from that area) also south of Cocoa beach is my favorite beach in Florida…Playalinda Beach (meaning pretty beach) It was once in National Geographic very natural , sand dunes and sea oats, and you can see the VAB (Vertical Assembly Building, Space center to the south…possibly a rocket on the pad…if you go there you might want to make sure that it is not closed for a launch)

Playalinda in not touristy and Cocoa Beach is…depending on what you want…. Cocoa beach is about 1 hour away and PL is about 1½…

have a great time!

Right down the BeeLine and up I-95 about 30 miles is a great family beach town, New Smyrna Beach (just south of Daytona). Very good restaurants, beach is drivable, nice scenic byways. Well worth the trip if you want great waves and long stretches of beach.

i think its miami….because once we went to miami then the next thing planned was to go to epcot…so..its miami…maybe..