A laid-back coastal town on Florida's Space Coast, known for its surf culture, pier fishing, and proximity to Kennedy Space Center. Popular among beach-goers and wave riders.
Cocoa Beach stretches along Florida's Space Coast with six miles of sandy shoreline, waves suitable for surfing, and clear views of rocket launches from Kennedy Space Center. Walk the 800-foot Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier to watch anglers reel in fish, or explore the 24-hour Ron Jon Surf Shop with its neon-lit aisles stocked with boards and beach gear. Families often eat fish tacos at oceanfront restaurants like Coconuts on the Beach, while others rent paddleboards to glide through mangrove channels where dolphins surface. Accessible beach ramps, designated dog-friendly zones near Cape Canaveral Avenue, and the Florida Surf Museum with vintage boards make this town practical for varied interests. You’ll find surf instructors teaching beginners near Shepard Beach Park and kayak guides pointing out manatees in the Thousand Islands Conservation Area.
Beaches and Ocean Activities
Cocoa Beach’s six-mile shoreline includes free entry points at Lori Wilson Park and three smaller oceanfront parks with showers and picnic areas. Gentle waves near the shore create ideal conditions for new surfers; sign up for lessons with 321 Kiteboarding or rent a foam-top board from their shop. Fish from the Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier, where lifeguards watch swimmers year-round, or join volleyball games on the courts below the pier structure. Paddle through the Thousand Islands Conservation Area’s mangrove tunnels with a guided tour—guides often point out roseate spoonbills and juvenile sea turtles. From May to October, nighttime kayak tours reveal glowing plankton in the Banana River, creating bright trails with every paddle stroke.
Kennedy Space Center Visits
The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex sits 15 minutes north, offering bus tours to active launch pads and the Apollo/Saturn V Center with its suspended 363-foot rocket. Check the launch calendar online—rocket liftoffs viewed from the beach illuminate the sky and water with orange reflections, free to watch. Meet retired astronauts during daily talks or try simulated space shuttle landings in the Heroes & Legends exhibit. Plan visits around the Easter Surfing Festival, when surf competitions coincide with space-themed activities for families. Many visitors combine a morning at the space center with afternoon dolphin-spotting boat tours departing from Port Canaveral.
Surfing History and Local Shops
Cocoa Beach’s surf scene includes Kelly Slater, an 11-time world champion, and the Florida Surf Museum inside Ron Jon’s rental store. The museum displays 1940s wooden surfboards and photos of early wave riders like Dick Catri. Ron Jon Surf Shop covers two city blocks with wetsuits, snorkel gear, and a tropical fish tank near the entrance. New surfers take group lessons at Shepard Beach Park, where instructors teach pop-up techniques in waist-deep water. Each March, the Space Coast Mural Festival adds colorful surf-themed artwork to buildings, including a mural of Slater near downtown’s main intersection.
Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier Food and Events
The Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier stretches over the Atlantic, hosting five restaurants like Atlantic Ocean Grille, where locals order blackened mahi sandwiches and coconut shrimp. Watch experienced surfers ride the pier’s right-hand break from Marlins Good Times Bar, which mixes rum-based drinks with views of the lineup. At dusk, crowds gather at Coconuts on the Beach for live music and plates of bacon-wrapped scallops served at tables on the sand. Food trucks near Minutemen Causeway sell crispy conch fritters and handheld key lime pies for quick snacks. The pier hosts weekly fishing tournaments and occasional weddings, maintaining its 1960s retro aesthetic with weathered wooden planks and pastel paint.
Banana River Exploration
The Banana River, part of the Indian River Lagoon system, separates Cocoa Beach from the mainland and supports manatees, dolphins, and over 150 bird species. Launch kayaks from Ramp Road Park to explore seagrass flats where redfish feed during high tide, or join Fin Expeditions to learn about osprey nesting habits. Wade fishermen often target snook in the lagoon’s shallow sections, especially near mangrove roots at dawn. Golfers play the city’s 27-hole course, where water hazards attract herons and egrets hunting for fish. In winter, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge becomes a hotspot for spotting white pelicans and other migratory birds.
Family-Friendly Facilities
Free beach wheelchairs with wide tires are available through Cocoa Beach Surf Company and other vendors, with ramp locations detailed on the city’s accessibility map. The Cocoa Beach Skate Park’s concrete bowls and rails draw teens, while the Museum of Dinosaurs & Ancient Cultures lets kids touch fossil replicas and dig for mock artifacts. At the Wizard of Oz Museum, interactive projections recreate tornado effects and the yellow brick road. Dogs on leashes can play on beaches north of Cape Canaveral Avenue until 10 AM, and The Fat Donkey café sells dog-friendly ice cream near downtown.
Nearby Attractions
Orlando’s theme parks lie an hour west, but closer options include the Brevard Zoo, 25 minutes inland, where kayak routes pass grazing giraffes and rhinos. Port Canaveral, 10 minutes north, offers half-day fishing charters targeting mahi-mahi and sunset cruises on the Victory Casino ship. Watch cargo ships enter the port from Jetty Park Beach, or climb Exploration Tower’s seven floors for views of the harbor and historical exhibits on shipwrecks. Grills Seafood Deck serves fresh catches like blackened grouper beside docks filled with yachts and charter boats.
Planning Your Trip
March to May brings mild temperatures in the 70s and smaller crowds compared to summer’s peak season. Ride the Cocoa Beach Loop trolley to avoid parking fees and limited spaces near the pier during events. Lori Wilson Park provides free parking and a shaded trail through oak hammocks where raccoons and armadillos forage. Reserve hotels early for rocket launch dates—options include budget motels on Atlantic Avenue and condo rentals with kitchens. Check tide charts online; low tide exposes sandbars where sand dollars and whelk shells wash ashore.
