Blockhouse Beach is one of several beaches with free parking along Florida's Space Coast, located…read moreon Patrick Space Force Base. The beach takes its name from the heavily fortified concrete-and-steel blockhouses used during the early Space Race. Throughout the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs, these structures served as protected observation and control points for monitoring rocket launches from Cape Canaveral. Afterward, the surrounding area was designated as a recreational beach for military personnel and their families. The area is also steeped in military history. What is now Patrick Space Force Base began as Naval Air Station Banana River, established in 1939 as an anti-submarine patrol and training base. During World War II, this stretch of Florida's Atlantic coastline was actively patrolled to defend against German U-boats operating offshore. Today, Blockhouse Beach offers free public parking directly across from the entrance to Patrick Space Force Base. A wooden boardwalk crosses the coastal dunes and leads to a wide, uncrowded stretch of sandy beach. It's a favorite destination for surfing, fishing, swimming, and is known for a quieter beach experience. The beach is also one of the area's popular spots for watching air shows and rocket launches from nearby Cape Canaveral.

This location may not be as popular as all the other beaches, but it's quiet and super convenient…read morefor bird and nature enthusiast. There's no fee to get in and there are showers available. It's really cool inconvenience how it's located across the street from Patrick Air Force Base, which is the current location for the United States space force

Pineda Beach is one of several beautiful beaches along Florida's Space Coast. Located in the…read morecharming 1950s era beach town of Satellite Beach, about 10 miles south of Patrick Space Force Base, it offers a quieter alternative to some of the area's more popular beaches. Satellite Beach is a small coastal city on a barrier island in Brevard County, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Banana River. Pineda Beach takes its name from the original mainland village of Pineda, which was established in the 1890s. The town was located a few miles inland along the Florida East Coast Railway near present-day Suntree. Developers E.C. and Anna Dearborn surveyed and subdivided the community in November 1894, making it one of the earliest settlements in this part of Brevard County. The area's military history is equally significant. What is now Patrick Space Force Base began as Naval Air Station Banana River in 1939, serving as an anti-submarine patrol and training base. During World War II, this stretch of coastline was actively monitored to protect against German U-boats operating off the Atlantic coast. In the 1970s, Brevard County completed the four-lane Pineda Causeway (State Road 404), which spans the Indian River and Banana River. The causeway provides direct access to the barrier islands, Patrick Space Force Base, and the surrounding beaches, making Pineda Beach much more accessible. Today, Pineda Beach is known for its uncrowded wide, white sand shoreline and typically calm surf. Amenities include free parking with approximately 35 spaces, an outdoor rinse shower, a covered picnic pavilion with a table, and a boardwalk that crosses the dunes through native coastal vegetation before reaching the beach. There is no lifeguard on duty, so visitors should swim at their own risk. A life ring is available for emergencies. If the parking lot is full, don't worry because there are several other public beach access points just a short drive up or down the coast.

This was our first time to Pineda Beach in Satellite Beach…read more Pros: Free Parking Restrooms - spacious to change too Showers Short Walk to Beach Spacious Beach Cons: Stairs are steep about 15-20 straight up and down steps. No ramp for wheels(wagon, stroller, wheel chair) with 20 steps it is impossible. Not Dog Friendly There is one female restroom and one male restroom Still a lovely visit and I do love that Satellite Beaches are a hop, skip, and jump from the parking lot. Cocoa beach beaches to parking lots at least the ones we have been to are quite far. I think I would return to this beach again. I was happy that the restrooms and shower were conveniently available.

In March of 2024 Brevard County Commissioners renamed Coconut Point Park Val M. Steele Park in…read morerecognition of his lifelong dedication to public service and community improvement. Steele served a total of four years as Melbourne Beach Council Member, town commissioner, and later as the mayor of Melbourne Beach. Some if his accomplishments included moving the main county courthouse to Viera, the building of the Spessard Holland Golf Course, and the creation of the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge. He volunteered on the St. Johns Water Management District Board during which he was instrumental in protecting and restoring hundreds of thousands of acres of marshland. He contributed to the economic growth of Brevard as a director of the Bank of Brevard, Atlantic Bank, American Bank of the South, American Mortgage Corporation and Holmes Regional Hospital. Steele passed away on October 12, 2020, at the age of 79. Val M. Steele Park is a 36.9 acre beach park located within the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge complex. I love that the parking is free. It is a popular spot for surfing, beachcombing, and fishing. Park amenities include a picnic shelter, restrooms, and outside showers. One of the two dune crossovers is wheelchair accessible. If you are looing for a beach day, it doesn't get much better than this. This beach park is also a stop on the Great Florida Birding Trail. The primary habitats here are beach dune and coastal strand. Shorebirds on the beach include Black-bellied Plovers, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Red Knots, Northern Gannets, Bonaparte's Gulls and Great Black-backed Gulls in fall and winter. From late summer through winter look for Magnificent Frigatebirds, and Parasitic and Pomarine Jaegers. In the surf are Common Loons and Lesser Scaup. In addition to the birds this beach area is also an important sea turtle nesting site preserve from spring to fall.

Great covered bbq area with tables. Little beach area so bring a chair and relax for a while too.read more

My first time going to Cocoa Beach, I was hit with the paid parking, and I didn't like that,…read moreespecially since I planned on spending the whole day at the beach. After doing some research, I found out that there are public parking lots, which was great to know. That's when I came across Lori Wilson Park, which has both North and South parking lots. I decided to go with the North side. It was close to the restrooms, and it was just a quick walk across the bridge straight to the beach. There are three beach entrances on this side, and they also have showers right at the entrance where you can rinse off the sand after leaving the beach. There is also a South side with more parking, but for me, the North side just looked more appealing. As you enter the North side, there's a playground to the left where the kids can play. I thought this was really convenient for parents who want to let their children burn off some energy before heading to the beach. Between the playground and the beach, that sounds like a great day for a kid! On this side, there was also a lifeguard, as well as someone renting sunbeds, umbrellas, and surfboards. It seemed like they had pretty much everything you would need for a great beach day. I brought my own tent and chairs, so that worked out just fine for me. But having the rentals right there is really convenient if you don't want to deal with the hassle of bringing everything yourself. The beach was great! The waves were a little rough, but not so rough that you couldn't get in the water and enjoy yourself. There was also a surfing competition going on while I was there. There seemed to be people of all ages participating, so that was really cool to watch and added something extra to the day. Another great beach day accomplished!

When visiting this beautiful 32.43-acre oceanfront park it is to picture that this was once an…read moreunofficial city dump. Standing among the sea oats and beach, it's almost impossible to imagine that this land was neglected until the mid 1970s. The park owes its transformation to the vision and determination of Lori Wilson, an attorney, Florida State Senator, and passionate environmental advocate. After moving to Florida in 1960, Wilson served in the Florida Senate from 1973 to 1978, becoming only the third woman and the first Independent to hold the office. She was a strong supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment and championed numerous environmental causes, working with organizations such as Save Our Waterways, the National Association of County Officials Environmental Steering Committee, and the Central Florida Zoological Society. Senator Wilson was a visionary and she was determined to restore this stretch of coastline organized a massive community cleanup. Local youth organizations, including the Boys & Girls Clubs, spent weeks removing trash, planting native vegetation, and restoring it back to its natural condition. In appreciation for her leadership and dedication, the grateful community voted to name the restored park in her honor. Today, Lori Wilson Park is one of Cocoa Beach's most popular beach parks. The Mansfield Maritime Hammock which is stop on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, features a .6-mile interpretive boardwalk through a protected coastal canopy filled with native plants. It is an important stopover for migratory birds. Dog lovers will appreciate the spacious 32,000-square-foot fenced off-leash dog park, which opened in 2006 through a partnership between Cocoa Beach and Brevard County. More recent improvements include upgraded dune crossovers built with durable composite materials, a renovated dog park, and modernized restrooms and outdoor shower facilities. The park also is where you can find I Dream of Jeannie Lane named in 1996 in honor of the TV show I Dream of Jeannie, a TV show about a genie in love with an astronaut that aired from 1965 to 1970 and was fictionally set in Cocoa Beach. The historical marker was added in 2012. I appreciated that the parking is free and there is easy beach access. I also enjoyed my time exploring the maritime Hammock. Thanks to Lori Wilson residents and visitors can enjoy ocean access, nature walks, and a place for off leash dog play. Lori Wilson Park is an inspiring example of what a community can accomplish when they pull together.

The absolute best place to watch the cruiseships sailing away or for a picnic near the ocean. New…read morefacilities currently being built (new restrooms, pavilion, and playground opening soon). There's a fishing pier or you can fish from the rocky shore by the parking area. The staff is a great group of people who are always super friendly to me. I haven't gone to jetty park to go to the beach, but many people do. There's a no pet policy for the park area which I appreciate. The camping area could be different as far as pets but I'm not 100% sure. Super close to plenty of dining and entertainment options. Highly recommend! If you are a Brevard County resident, you can get an annual pass for $25.

The best part about this place is being able to reserve parking online. If you do that, from what I…read moreunderstand, you are guaranteed entry. Bonus, if there is a line waiting for the booth and someone scans your QR code before that, you can just swing around them and enter if there is room. You still get a great view of SpaceX though those pads are about as far to the north as you can get. The real reason to go here would be for any boosters coming down to the LZs or perhaps Blue Origin which I believe launches from the south.

We are just wrapping up our first stay here in our RV after one week, this is a wonderful park with…read morelots of amenities. Our site was partially shaded with a perfectly level pad with full hookups. The staff here was extremely friendly and helpful from the moment we arrived at the entrance and since all reservations are completed online check-in at the camp store was fast and easy. The sites in our section were spacious with plenty of parking for our tow vehicle and accommodated our 41 foot MotorCoach without any issues. One of the things we liked about this campground is it's located inside Jetty Park but has a secure entrance that requires a code for the camping community with separate restrooms and showers if you need them. There is also easy access within walking distance to the beach and a pier located along the inlet which provides great views of the cruise ships entering and exiting the port as well as great views of the numerous rocket launches throughout the year. Jetty Park also has a cafe serving breakfast and lunch and a fully stocked bait shop, on the weekends you may find food trucks and Kona Snow Cones as well as many picnic tables and shaded pavilions for public use. The park is regularly patrolled and provides a safe family environment. This is definitely a campground we'll return to again and again - a little planning will allow you to pick the perfect RV or Tent site of your choosing...

Camped July 24 -26 2026 on site 227 The grass was not cut…read moreand high itchy weeds were annoying. The bathhouse has zero ventilation! No fans,no AC, no windows,which is crazy for Florida heat. The campsites are cramped and overcrowded. No privacy between sites. The sites do not have much vegetation or trees for shade or privacy. It's basically a parking lot full of campers.

I have been coming to KARS Park for over 30 years. It has always been a great place for family…read morefun. My kids grew up going to KARS Park. I am in the process of having a home built so I have been staying at KARS Park until it is complete. One of the great things over the years that being a family park small infractions of the park rules were often over looked. Any place you go in an environment like KARS Park though you always have a few complainers and busy bodies. These individuals seem to relish making sure that all the guest strictly abide by the rules and will immediately report even the most minor of infractions. Having worked for the Federal Government my whole life and having to have to deal with the public I have noticed something. When some one makes a complaint they often embellish to get their point across. Subsequently the people who enforce the rules don't get the real picture of what went down. There is one camper who likes to refer to himself as the "Mayor". I have been told that he is the "Camp Host". Of course I have never seen any credentials appointing this person to this position. I have also noticed that there is some prejudice toward some campers who stay in tents or small campers. Now if you camp in one of these large expensive campers you are not watched as closely and those who are on the less affluent end of the economic scale. Personally I am fairly well off but stay in a camper I use for hunting and fishing trips. I guess this makes me look like some of the "ref-raf" the KARS Staff would like to see gone. I am leaving Kars Park to another place in Florida and stay in my camper on my property until my house is built. It is doubtful I will return. Also I plan to send this complaint to a higher level to see if the treatment of campers at KARS Park is on an equal level. MSG (Ret) Terry Overly trashfishterry@gmail.com (321)536-3723

I was harassed for being a veteran that suffers from PTSD, AND KICKED out of Kars park. Beware of…read morethe clickIE CREW and if you are not like them, they will harass you. When you pull up to check in your greated by a guy blowing cigar smoke in the RV. the man with the cigar also claims the park as his, and says the rules on the answer machine are wrong and he controls the rules. Now fast forward a few days, and ii suffer PTSD, TBI injury, and from the loss of 2 families I'm dealing with a diagnosis from emotional stress So I went to Kars park because I felt safe there, unfortunately the troll made sure that didn't happen. I was eating lunch on 8/18/2025, and a rude gentlemen (probably drives a white Tacoma with silly fake graphics). The phone says "US government". I answer and the guy asks "what's up with your spot" and " what's your deal"? Being extremely aggressive, and after I had that intruding phone conversation I didn't want to stay. So I drove straight to Kars park and paid in full, telling them it's my last night. Then the next morning, and after receiving another cold shoulder from the short cigar smoker (turning his back to me, and taking his time opening the gate (troll). I decided I'm not going to let the cigar smoker, and the harassing workers effect my stay. I called and after a conversation (man doesn't know how to take constructive criticism.i was out surfing and instead of extending my stay I was told to leave by 11. Like a criminal I had to have my parents grab my truck and we drove away.

Coming back to Cocoa Beach as an adult brought back a lot of memories…read more It's timeless. The beach is just as relaxed and welcoming as I remember, but now I appreciate the little things more: the breeze, the waves, and grabbing a snack by the pier. It's simple, familiar, and still one of my favorite spots to unwind.

Beautiful beach!!! We stopped both by the pier and simply further out at Cocoa Beach which is a bit…read moreaway from all the hustle and bustle. There were lots of rip currents when we visited the beach and we were grateful for the life guard that was stationed at the beach. Beach rentals are available. Only thing I didn't see was a public restroom. Overall - this beautiful beach invites for a relaxing day.