Welcome to a wonderful stretch of natural coastline close to Central Florida. If you flew in from Europe or the UK, you are likely to have flown over or at least viewed (depending on what side of the plane you were on!) some of this area.
This beach is one of 3 beaches along this stretch, from Apollo Beach just south of New Smyrna, Klondike Beach (which has no road access) and onto Playlinda Beach just north of Cape Canaveral with the space launch sites visible.
Playlinda Beach is the most popular, due to the proximity to the Space Station and Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge.
There are 13 parking areas (with basic restrooms) along a 4 mile stretch and each has beach access via a boardwalk. Handicap accessible ramps are at parking areas 3,8, 10 and 11, as well as at Eddy Creek where there is a boat ramp and a covered pavilion with picnic benches.
Mosquitoes and other biting bugs can be a nuisance here but once you’re on the beach the breeze keeps them away.
There is no shade other than what little shade the boardwalk gives on this beach and so sunshades or umbrellas are a necessity.
This stretch of beach is popular with fishermen, but they generally arrive early and are gone by lunchtime.
It should be noted too that area 13 (the most northern) is commonly known as a nudist beach. You will not find naked people in the parking lot, but once on the beach they do shed their clothes. On occasion it has also been found that they drift onto area 12 too and so if you have young children or this offends you, it may be worth sticking to the more southern areas.
The best time to go is during the week and there is a parking fee of $10 per vehicle or $1 for bicyclists/pedestrians. The Beach opens at 6am daily year-round and the gates close at 6pm in the winter and 8pm in the summer.
Because of its relative seclusion there is a good chance of spotting wildlife when getting or leaving here or during your visit. Gopher tortoises have been known to live in the sand dunes, and you may see an armadillo scurrying around. During the summer months you will find turtle nests that are marked and protected, and turtle egg laying tours may be available - more info here.
We love visiting this beach – it is our closest natural beach and try to visit a couple of times a year.
The address for this beach is Canaveral National Seashore, Cape Canaveral FL 32920