Something for everyone

From dolphin tours to space exploration, Cocoa Beach is home to a wide range of attractions featuring the natural beauty and history of the area.

WE’RE LOCATED CLOSE TO

So Many Fun
Things to Do

Just 14 miles south of Kennedy Space Center and and hour’s drive east from Orlando, Cocoa Beach is ideally situated to explore all the Space Coast has to offer.

Cocoa Beach is a cozy beach town that came into its own in the 1960s, when NASA settled in for the long haul and the area became known as the Space Coast. It features miles of great beaches, surfing (and surf culture), historic attractions like the Cocoa Beach Pier and boardwalk and Cocoa Village, and wetlands filled with manatees, dolphins, and birds. Educational attractions include a zoo, dinosaur museum, planetarium, observatory and botanical garden.

The town is about 15 square miles and has a population of around 11,000. It’s just south of Port Canaveral, one of Florida’s largest cruise ports.

There’s plenty to do here in Cocoa Beach, but it’s also a great place to just chill. Here are a few key attractions to get you started.

NATURE

GET ACTIVE

LEARN

CULTURE & HISTORY

DINING

NATURAL WONDERS

Kayak Tours

Sunset tours, manatee tours, mangrove tunnel tours, bioluminescence tours…there are dozens of great kayak tours by day and night to get up close and personal with the marine life and ecosystems in and around Cocoa Beach.

Boat Tours

Tour by airboat, catamaran, or fishing boats to see manatees, dolphins, and more along the Banana River.

Jetty Park

Jetty Park at Port Canaveral features 35 acres of park with a 1,200-ft. paved fishing pier, beach and campground. Here, you can surf, kayak, enjoy the beach, ride bikes or just take in the cruise ships gliding by.

Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge

This national wildlife refuge encompasses 140,000 acres, overlaid with the Kennedy Space Center. Mosquito Lagoon and the Indian River run through the refuge, which contains more than 1,000 species of plants, 117 species of fish, 69 amphibian and reptile species, 330 birds and 31 mammal species. Manatees, alligators and bald eagles are just a few of the wildlife you can see via hiking trails, kayak tours and wildlife drives.

Turtle Mound

Turtle Mound is the largest shell midden on the mainland United States, extending for over 600 feet at a height of around 50 feet. The shells are from oysters and bones from the prehistoric Timucuan people, who built the turtle-shaped shell mound between 800 and 1400 CE. It's located 9 miles south of New Smyrna Beach. In addition to its archaeological significance, the area provides sanctuary for thousands of species of plants and animals.

Sebastian Inlet

In addition to being a surfer's paradise, Sebastian Inlet is a great place to bike, hike, camp, go birding, shelling, swimming, and wildlife viewing. Two museums provide area history. The McLarty Treasure Museum highlights the 1715 Spanish treasure fleet; The Sebastian Fishing Museum chronicles the history of the area's fishing industry.

GET ACTIVE

Watersports

Parasailing, paddle boarding, kite boarding, wind surfing, and jet ski rentals are just a few of the watersports to enjoy here.

Golf

There's no shortage of golf courses here, including Turtle Creek Golf Club, Duran Golf Club, Aquarina Country Club Golf Course, and Spessard Holland Golf Course.

Surf Lessons

Cocoa Beach Pier is a hub for surfers and surf culture, including the largest surf shop in the world. There are a number of companies offering surf lessons and clinics here for all levels on the "east coast surfing capital."

Treetop Trek

This thrilling aerial adventure at Brevard Zoo in Melbourne features three ropes courses at various skill levels and zip lines as well. Zoo admission is not required to experience Treetop Trek.

Pickleball & Tennis

Cocoa Beach parks offer tennis and pickleball courts, including Cameron Barkley Park and Ramp Road Park. Indoor you can play at the Cocoa Beach Recreation Center.

Fishing

Florida’s Space Coast offers great fishing year round — from Mosquito Lagoon south to Sebastian Inlet. There are more than 500 species of fish along the Space Coast, and ways to fish: charter offshore, inshore, freshwater and surf fishing.

EDUCATIONAL

Kennedy Space Center

The iconic Kennedy Space Center is a must-see attraction on the Space Coast. Here, you can experience the past and future of space exploration through tours, interactive exhibits and live events.

Port Canaveral Exploration Tower

Enjoy stunning panoramic views of the Space Coast from atop the Exploration Tower's 7th Floor observation deck. Inside, take in the interactive exhibits and displays that highlight the area's history and natural beauty.

Brevard Zoo

Dedicated to conservation, rehabilitation and education, Brevard Zoo features lush, open-air habitats for more than 900 animals and 195 species. Visitors can get up close with guided experiences, kayak tours through the habitats and aerial adventures.

The Dinosaur Store & Museum

Just two blocks from the beach and right around the corner from Ron Jon's Surf Shop, The Museum of Dinosaurs & Ancient Cultures is an educational center attached to the Dinosaur Store, a 20+ year Cocoa Beach landmark that sells dinosaur fossils. It features three stories of exhibits including a 46 foot Giganotosaurus skeleton.

Florida Tech Botanical Garden

The Joy and Gordon Patterson Botanical Garden is a lush, 15-acre garden including a stream bordered by a shady hammock filled with palm trees and tropical growth.

Astronaut Memorial Planetarium & Observatory

Florida's largest planetarium features star shows, a 3-story IWERKS movie theater and laser shows. The building also houses a fully accessible observatory, a hands-on demonstration hall and a museum honoring space explorers from around the world. Please note, this facility may be closed for repairs from damage sustained in Hurricane Irma.

CULTURE

Ron Jon Surf Shop

The Ron Jon Surf Shop is more than just a surf shop; it's a cultural icon and a must-see while in Cocoa Beach. The flagship store in Cocoa Beach features 52,000 sq. ft. of all things surf, from boogie boards to skate boards, swimwear to surf boards. Watersports rentals are available next door to the store.

Cocoa Beach Pier & Boardwalk

Stretching 800 feet over the Atlantic Ocean, Cocoa Beach Pier is an historic landmark that is home to restaurants, bars, gift shops and live music. You can play volleyball on the sand, take a surf lesson, or rent watersports equipment, too.

Historic Downtown Melbourne

Historic Downtown Melbourne has a unique vibe — equal parts quaint, hip and eccentric. Explore charming streets lined with craft eateries, outdoor lounges, boutique gift shops, public art and immersive experiences — all wrapped in a walkable, waterfront footprint.

Historic Cocoa Village

Stroll the historic, tree-lined streets, shop the boutiques and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of a nostalgic riverside community. Dine at one of the gourmet restaurants, shop, catch a show at the historic Cocoa Village Playhouse, or visit the Florida Historical Society to discover more about Florida's past.

Cape Canaveral Lighthouse

The only fully operational lighthouse owned by the United States Space Force, Cape Canaveral Lighthouse was established in 1848 to warn ships of the dangerous shoals near its coast. It's located inside the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Florida Surf Museum

The Florida Surf Museum preserves and documents the unique history and culture of Florida surfing. It's located in the Ron Jon Surf Shop watersports building.

Something for everyone

So Many Fun Things to Do

NATURAL WONDERS

GET ACTIVE

EDUCATIONAL

CULTURE

Dining

There's no shortage of great food in Cocoa Beach. These are a few of the restaurants we recommend.

So Many Fun
Things to Do