Yes! Yes! Yes! Everything you imagine a Florida beach to be and more. I'm not even going to write a lot here about why. You just have to see and explore for yourself. Plus, I kind of low key dont want this place to blow up any more. What a great area!!! read more

I see billboards around Orlando about Cocoa Beach and heard about it from a few people so I decided to check it out with a friend that came to visit. We went on a weekday so we were able to find parking on the street, which it is limited. From my understanding from people from the neighborhood, cops go around and mark your tires, that's how they can tell if you were parked there for over the timeline. I want to say the time limit was an hour. There were a lot of shells. When I was trying to walk through the sand to find somewhere to sit, I needed to put my sandals on because the shells and rocks were hurting my feet. Also, there were cigarette butts everywhere. This was definitely not a well maintained beach. read more

Hi...I'm a professional beach bum. Not really, but this was a dream of mine when I was about 15 (still now). I'd imagine the polite introductions at a small party (adult me would never go to a giant party) where you do the back and forth about your job and I'd say that and receive the polite chuckle until I'd insist no really! And the other party would nicely say they were looking for someone. I digress.. We went during an Orlando vacation to catch some sun and take a break. This is one of a few beaches along the A1A, and if you're a fellow beach person, or just want to see the Atlantic, I'd recommend Cocoa Beach. Drinking is allowed and we were given special straws from a nearby restaurant. I love the commitment to keeping the beach clean and safe. We went on a weekday during spring break, and there were people there, but the beach was pretty clean and calm (read there were hundreds of trash cans everywhere) and the Atlantic looked great, so I'd recommend it. It's located near many other beaches and has a lot of food/coffee/ drink options and the A1A is a nice drive if you're an out of towner like me! Recommended! read more

A sleepy sort of town with gorgeous beaches and a pier that makes you feel like you are on the water in another world. I was there on a windy day and the ocean was angry but the drinks were great and so were the people. Smiles and sun everywhere. Loved it! read more

I wake up in cold sweats at night thinking of this beach on the Fourth of July. It was like something pulled out of Apocalypse Now or the first 20 minutes of Saving Private Ryan. There was smoke everywhere. You couldn't tell who or where anyone was and it was a whole lot of explosions to the left and right of me. It was madness. Utter madness. It was the fourth of July. Didn't know where else to go and heard a lot of things about the beach firework show here. Though from what I can find, it hasn't been happening in the last few years. I guess the kids won't be traumatized with its absence. They had boats out in the ocean... reminding you of U-boats. Explosions flying out of them exploding every which way. The plume clouds coming from those ships. The madness. Those barges must have been loaded with enough explosions to take down a federal building. Or the contents of your average fireworks store in central Florida. This whole beach 4th of July thing was insane. It was as if you were in NAM. You had no idea what the hell was going on, but you knew with one wrong step, you wouldn't even hear the one that got you... Okay, well you would. You would hear a loud BOOM right in your ear and the pain of getting hit by some bottle rocket. How the hell are these flying pieces of explosives legal again? I know this is a swamp land, but Jesus christ, the madness. This beach on any average day is pretty chill. Really empty, I guess the fact that you live so close to a beach means you never use it. But it was always wide open spaces to set up and enjoy some smooth waves and fairly decent temperature water. Just remember to not take off your helmet when here on the fourth. My god. The horror.... the horror. read more

I like Cocoa Beach. A lot of locals don't. They call it the 'trash beach' or 'ghetto' or 'dirty'... I have NO IDEA where they are going, because the spot me and my lady have found is perfect. Great sand, great people, great water. No complaints. It's a beach! I'm sure if you go get drunk at Coconuts or spend a ton at the pier or something like that, you could have a bad time. But take a trip, go explore, this really is a great beach! read more

This is a super fun beach on many levels. For starters - it is great for people watching. You have a good mix of locals, snow birds, and well, people who simply don't care about how they look. This is definitely not South Beach which made me feel all the more normal in my bikini. Think of it as the People of Walmart beach if you catch the reference. I liked it for that purpose. People are here to enjoy themselves and not to make a statement.... even though my sister had plenty to say about its 'unsightly grandeur'. She moved 3 stop lights up from here back a few months ago, and she has come to grips that not every beach in Florida is going to have as beautiful people such as herself roaming its sands. She'll survive. This is now her local beach and that is exactly what it is - local. I really enjoyed it aside from getting eaten alive by no-see ums AKA sand mites. Side note - if you drink on the beach - don't bring glass or you will be fined if they see it. read more

I grew up loving this beach with the beautiful sand and warm surf. I remember seeing Kelly Slater and his brothers tear it up at 16th St South and 2nd light. The beach is completely open to the public and is lined with hotels and condos. Even with thousands of tourists flocking each year, it remains a slow paced small town. read more

Cocoa Beach - Welcome to Cocoa Beach! - Beaches Near Me - Cocoa Beach, Florida

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This place has so many memories for me that I just had to check it out again for shits and giggles. I used to spend weeks here when I was a kid. I didn't get the chance to do what I used to do back then and watch the lighting show from afar.....but I wish I did. The beaches are still laid back...even with the storm. The movies are still cheaper than back home. The grocery store still has this donut called....get this...an "ugly" cuz it's this lump of deep fried dough!! hahahaha!!! It's the south and anything that is deep fried down here is heavenly....regardless if it looks like something out of Sab's pics of gawd only knows what. http://www.yelp.com/user_photos?userid=va2XugPlo3Q_QHW0Ag90vA&select=uVXRmtS505RVRN-m5L5OfA&return_url=%2Fuser_details%3Fuserid%3Dva2XugPlo3Q_QHW0Ag90vA ;D read more

If you live in Orlando this is probably the closest beach to you. There are different parts of the area from touristy hot spots near Ron John's or Coconuts on the beach, but also more local spots further down the road. If you have children, look for a spot with a lifeguard. They are here and there. Public bathrooms can also be spotty so keep an eye out when looking for a parking spot. Bring snacks, sunscreen, etc and the beach will be there. read more

A lovely, clean beach with almost white sand and turquoise blue water. It's a quick drive from Orlando and worlds away from the commercialized, artificial "fun" of amusement parks. It's a nice quiet way to spend a day relaxing and reconnecting with your family. Park is one of the many public access lots, bring your picnic and blanket, and find yourself a spot to hang out. Walk along the long, long stretch of beach, collect sea shells, watch kids of all ages having fun in and out of the water. This is nature's amusement park. read more

Cocoa Beach is the area that you need to come visit if you are a SoFla import and have never driven up the coast to hit all the other Florida beach towns. It's such a different vibe. Compared to Lauderdale, there is a much more family friendly atmosphere here. It's probably the closest beach to Orlando, and considering all the people that fly in to come to Disney/Sea World/Universal, these people all usually want to see the ocean at least once during their time in Florida. Also this is a huge cruise ship port. There are TONS of cruise ships that leave from here, and some people will park on the bridge and just sit and watch the ships. The other biggest difference between here and South Florida is the WAVES. There is a reason that Ron Jon put their signature shop here. It's the largest location, and it's because of all the surf spots in Florida, here is the best place to catch some surf. Go any further south and the waves fall flat in comparison-literally. Moms may not like that for their little kids as much-but that's what the gulf side of Florida is for. There are a bunch of restaurants, condo complexes, and your typical chintsy beach shops around. Want a tacky airbrushed beach T shirt or a seashell necklace? No problem. Parasailing? Sure. Vacation hot spot. Just search for free parking, be prepared to walk or be prepared to pay. read more

It's been a long time since I've visited Cocoa Beach but I always enjoyed visiting this town. The beach was memorable - maybe not particularly the beach itself (although it was clean) but more or less because my family and I used to stay out at Patrick AFB a lot so we accumulated a lot of memories in this area. read more

Beach is clean and safe for the whole family. I choose to say close to the pier because there are life guards present and that makes me feel safer. I loved florida so much that in one year im moving there and close to COCOA BEACH. Parking is free in places around the area. Make sure to google the cooca beach and find out where. Also, they have showers for you in differnt spots along cocoa beach. I prefer to park close to one of these areas because sand is messy. Cant wait to come back!!!! read more

Nice beach and not crowded- I love here...very peaceful and enjoyable :) read more

Cocoa Beach - Cocoa Beach - Beaches Near Me - Cocoa Beach, Florida

I don't know what I expected when I hit Cocoa Beach, but it was like I had stepped back in time, but not in a completely good way. It had the small beach town feel I was looking for, but it was surprisingly more built up (felt like a little Daytona) than we expected it to be. When you're away from the hub-bub at the 520 interchange, it does take on that small beach town feel which was kind of nice. And further inland definitely gave you more of the local vibe. I will admit, I was a little surprised when I found they had a Macy's; Jacksonville can't even get a Macy's. It's rare I have a reason to find myself in Cocoa & I don't know if/when I will again, but at least I know what I'm getting into next time. read more

We mainly came to Cocoa beach because it was close to our accommodations and was more of a good beach to chill at so we could rest after our long week of tackling all the parks and etc. We brought our own food and had a picnic and blasted music on my cousins waterproof speaker, it was a great relaxing afternoon filled with wave-surfing, shell-picking, pictures, picnic and beach walking. We managed to get a good umbrella. Spots with chairs and umbrella's are already set up and ready for you to rent when you get there. The only things are it's a bit difficult to find nearby parking and bathrooms are in the bars which are pretty dirty and smelly, as well as the lack of showers to hose off, but if you are willing to put in the work to prepare, you will definitely have a good time. Use the restroom before you get to the beach, trust me. Positive vibes, Marilyn Nguyen. read more

Came after our Segway tour! Eric our tour guide told us to park behind Ron Jon's surf shop because parking is free! He didn't lie! We stopped at 7 eleven grabbed some snacks and drinks and walked across to the beach. It was nice out. We rented a lil beach cabana for $15 for 3hours. It was worth it. This beach is small, but chill. It was wasn't too crowded and we had a relaxing time there! read more

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Police everywhere. Complete quota BS because I seen them stopping everyone and even using flashlights outside random restaurants searching parked cars and motorcycles. PLEEZE!! Stop, just stop! I checked their traffic fines. OMG. Speeding of 6 mph is $134. Seat-belt $119. Fail to Stop at traffic signal $267. Etc. So they are out in forces making as much money as they can. That, in itself, is a turn off for what could be a fun little town. I didn't get a ticket, but I had a friend who did. Excessive amount of cops everywhere. Stay away on this fact alone. read more

Great little community beach with a good bit of public parking for only $5. Lots of restaurant options nearby and chair/umbrella rentals right on the sand. It was full of families on the September afternoon that we visited. Great little spot. read more

I really enjoyed this place I got there early so I could enjoy it with not so many people were there it was very beautiful and my family really had fun playing in the sand and water read more

What can I say? It's a beach. There's ocean, there's sand, there's sun. However, the winning thing here? Laying on said beach in the middle of January and it's 80+ degrees. You can even go for a dip in the ocean and it'll be practically warm enough to swim in! Awesome. There is easy parking, easy access, and plenty of beachfront for everyone to not be crowded. If you're in the area, definitely check this beach out. read more

This place was great! We started by having lunch at a cute little restaurant nearby. We loved that it had a quaint beachy vibe in the surrounding area, and that most of the places were in walking distance of the beach. The beach was lovely! It really does have soft white sand. We came at a time were it was not crowded which is nice. The water wasn't as blue as I thought it would be but it was alright. The only downfall is the cigarette buds EVERYWHERE. No matter how far you walked along the shore there was always many on the ground. Which is pretty gross considering there are lots of trash bins on the beach. I spent a good 20 mins just walking around the area where my family sat picking up buds. So I could let my 2yr old niece play with peace of mind. read more

Not the prettiest, clearest beach, but not the worst either. I've been several times. I've alway enjoyed Cocoa. It's a nice laid back town. You are about an hour from Orlando. There's plenty to eat around town. It's home to the original Ron Jon's. You are around the corner from Cape Canaveral. If you want blue water with soft sand you better head south. If you want to relax then come to cocoa. read more

Cocoa Beach - Beaches Near Me - Cocoa Beach, Florida

Although I'm partial to the gulf coast, Cocoa Beach is the place to go on the Atlantic coast. It's convenient from Orlando, and there's plenty of parking. Just watch out for those waves. They're killer! read more

I love Cocoa Beach. The shore has a very gentle slope so you can wade pretty far out to the Atlantic and still be touching ground. There are plenty of things to do in town, and many good restaurants too. read more

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Nice place, but I should have read the other reviews about not forgetting the sunscreen. Even a hat would help if you are "follically challenged" like me. I would probably give it 4 or 5 stars if the top of my head wasn't so red. read more

Cocoa Beach - Don't forget the sunscreen. Wear a hat if you are "follically challenged". Would be fun if the top of my head wasn't so red. - Beaches Near Me - Cocoa Beach, Florida

You can't go wrong with Cocoa Beach- they have free entry, shops and food close by, and you will get a killer tan. Only wish is that the sand was a little nicer, I kept stepping on shells and there was more seaweed hanging around than I would have liked. I love the beach no matter what, so would recommend. read more

Too much C leaders gonna buy a condo when I decide not you can they never pick up its seaweed off the beach

Beautiful and not too crowded there is alot to love about Cocoa beach. We spent most of the relaxing on the beach and listening to the waves. I was really happy that the beach was trash free and everyone was repecting other people's space. I would recommend this beach to everyone. read more

Cocoa Beach - Ocean - Beaches Near Me - Cocoa Beach, Florida

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Nice beach but couldn't enjoy as it was full of jelly fishes the day we went. But overall it's good, plenty of bars and restaurants around read more

Cocoa Beach - Beaches Near Me - Cocoa Beach, Florida

The beach was fine and we enjoyed eating at Captain J's Seafood Restaurant 211 E Cocoa Beach Cswy sitting upstairs with a distant view of the sea, although the service was terrible - we had to wait an hour for a grilled cheese sandwich made on a hamburger bun! But beware of the public parking lot - horrendous because even though I used the pay machine I still got a parking citation ticket for $38! And of course its impossible to protest because you have to appear in person within 10 days (I live 500 miles away). So, don't park at the public parking lot, go to Ron Jon's (buy something there), find parking on the street, or park at a restaurant. read more

Being a fan of privacy, I was pleasantly surprised to find a spot on the beach with few people. My mom and I were able to enjoy tanning and playing in the waves on what felt like a private beach. But my mom loves to people watch. So further down the beach, later in the day, we walked in the surf among throngs of people enjoying the waves. I never saw trash, the water was pretty clean (I hate not knowing what I'm stepping on), and the ocean was nice and cool with some mild cresting waves. Great beach and close to Orlando. read more

I love this beach. My first time there and I had fun. Friendly people, nice atmosphere, it was amazing. The sand is so fine and it reminds me of the Caribbean. Fun for families and friends. ;) read more

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This place was not great at all, and looked really sketchy. Me and my wife flew into Orlando and went to Disney World. We rented a car and figured we'd go check out the beach at some point. We took a ride to this beach, and everything looked ran down. We were looking for a place to eat with a beach view. Using Yelp for a recommendation, we found one. Walking there after parking, right away we see people drunk and kissing, and witness a fight almost brake out. Ten minutes being there... Nothing but young drunks, and the smell of marijuana. My wife said she saw a guy snorting drugs off his finger sitting on a bench. This was a waste of time and it defenetly put a dent in the fun we had on our trip. We 100% regret wasting time on this detour (and all the tolls you have to pay coming from Orlando) and stuck out like a sore thumb. Cocoa beach defenetly is not for you if you are from out of town with your family and looking for a fun detour. Maybe try Kennedy Space Center. read more

Cocoa Beach is a normal beach. in walking on the sand, it does feel cleaner with less trash when walking bare foot. since it's still summer time, the water had a nice warm feel to it. read more

This beach is one of the closest ones to Orlando, Florida. It's a very nice beach to spend your Saturday on a random weekend or even during a major holiday weekend. I'll say on any holiday weekend, it is definitely more crowded. But it's very clean. There are even security on the beach to make sure people are picking up after themselves. The crowd is pretty diverse. Some young, some older. Some families and some singles. It does seem like a nice place to bring the kids and let them have a good time in the sand. There are lifeguards on the beach. The water is nice as well. I've been here several times. One drawback is parking can be a bit of a chore as it's unlikely you'll be a lucky one to get street parking and the nearest parking lot isn't huge so you may need to park a bit further and walk. And depending on the weekend, parking price can increase. Anyhow, it's a good time if you like the beach! read more

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This beach was a really relaxing and calming beach. The water is so nice and the parking is great.

The only downside is there are a lot of shells on the beach and they can be sharp! Oh and you need to rent the chairs and stuff if you dont wanna dry under the sun but otherwise its pretty cool read more

A nice beach but with some swell when we were there which made swimming potentially risky with rips. The sand is nice and water warm. The town is less attractive. We went to Clearwater Beach the next day which was much better. read more