Are you wondering how best to get from Orlando to Cocoa Beach?

Well, you’ve come to the right place. Find out all about the best means of travel, depending on your comfort needs, budget, and how fast you want to make the commute. And get the latest information on the newest fastest routes to the most affordable and scenic.

Table of Contents:

First, it’s wise to know how far Cocoa Beach is from Orlando.

How Far is Cocoa Beach from Orlando?

Depending on the route you take and the means of travel you use, Cocoa Beach could be 60 miles or 68 miles from Orlando. The three routes we discuss for drivers can be found on this map:

What’s the Best Way to Get to Cocoa Beach from Orlando?

The cheapest and fastest way to get to Cocoa Beach from Orlando is by private means. Since the maximum distance for a person driving from Orlando to Cocoa Beach is 70 miles, the only expense incurred would be $8.28 for one way, or about $17 for a round trip in a personal car, and the toll fees.

Depending on the route you take, you can also minimize these fees, a subject we discuss at length in the article. Concerning fuel, you can make the cost of your trip even less by following government guidelines for how best to conserve fuel on a road trip.

If you do not live in Orlando and are only coming for a visit or passing by, renting a car is the next best option. It might sound counterintuitive to rent a car, but a careful analysis of the rates from agencies such as Tripadvisor tells a different story. You can get a rental car from Orlando to Cocoa at $46 minimum for a day, which can be negotiated and deducted if you need to use it for more than one day.

Although this might seem pricey, the freedom a car gives you is unmatched by any other means of transportation available. This is especially so if you want to spend a few days in Cocoa Beach. Without a car, the cost of moving around ends up being much higher, tiresome, and cumbersome.

Both these options are more affordable than what you would have to do to get to Cocoa without a car. You would need to take the Line 11 bus, a shuttle, and a taxi, which costs a whopping $110-$140 and takes almost thrice the time it takes by car, approximately three hours.

If you are confused about “Line 11,” it is the route you follow walking to South Orange Avenue. Jumping on the Line 11 bus to Oia Transfer Center is a better option. From there, you walk to Orlando International Airport, board the shuttle to Melbourne, then take a taxi to Cocoa Beach.

You can check other options and prices here. If you do not have a car and do not want to rent one, the other options will still serve you well. In this article, we look at how to get to Cocoa Beach by car and bus in detail, as there is no way to make the journey between the two places by train.

Orlando to Cocoa Beach by Car

There are three primary routes you can take if you’re driving from Orlando to Cocoa Beach:

FL-528 East
FL-528 East and Florida A1A South
Nova Road

Via FL-528 East

This route takes 55 minutes to an hour and 20 minutes and is 59.8 miles long. We divided the trip into three parts.

The first part is simple and covers 499 miles. Just get on FL-408 East. Head south on South Orange Avenue toward West South Street. Turn left onto East Anderson Street and drive on for 0.3 miles.

Take the ramp onto FL-408 East by taking the left lane. After turning, you will find a toll road. For cars, trucks, SUVs, and motorcycles, the costs are:

Sunpass: $4.10
Cash/AET: $5
Invoice: $8.20

You can calculate your toll cost again for certainty. You can find the toll rates for all subsequent toll roads by clicking here.

After the toll road, take FL-528 East to Florida A1A South in Brevard County, which will be a total of 45 minutes and 52 miles. This section of the journey starts when you merge onto FL-408 East and drive for 2.9 miles.

Keep left at the fork to stay on FL-408 East and drive for 3.4 miles.
Use the two lanes on the right to get off at Exit 18 for Orlando International Airport South, a 1.6-mile drive.
Merge onto FL-417 Toll South, drive for 5.4 miles.
Use the two lanes to take Exit 26 toward Cocoa Beach for 1.4 miles.
Merge onto FL-528 East, then drive for 37.3 miles.
From there, follow Florida A1A South to N 1^st Street in Cocoa Beach, the final section of this route that will take 15 minutes and 7.2 miles to drive.
On Florida A1A South, you pass by a Dollar General store on the right in three miles, then drive on for seven miles.
Make the left turn onto Minutemen Causeway and drive on for 364 feet.
Keep to the right lane and turn left at North Atlantic Avenue and go on for 0.1 miles.
Turn right at N 1^st Street, Cocoa Beach.
Alternatively, carry on one block further to Cocoa Beach Parking Garage and enter Cocoa Beach at Minuteman Parkway where you’ll find restrooms, showers and walking across the street heading to the beach you’ll find restaurants and bars.

Via FL-528 East and Florida A1A South

The next route is the FL-528 East and Florida A1A South, which takes one hour and five minutes and is a cumulative 68.6 miles. Like the last route, we divided the journey into three parts.

The first section of the trip is on Interstate 4 West and takes about two minutes and 0.6 miles. Head west on West South Street toward Boone Avenue, then turn left to merge onto Interstate 4 West.

The second section of the journey is between FL-528 East and FL A1A South in Brevard County, a 55-minute, 60.8-mile journey.

Merge onto I-4 W for three miles and keep left to stay on Interstate 4 West for 2.7 miles.
Take the Miami exit to your right and drive for 1.4 miles before merging onto Florida’s Turnpike, where there is a toll road (find rates here).
After 4.2 miles, take Exit 254 for FL-528 toward US-17/US-42/US-144 and continue for 0.4 miles.
Keep left at the fork for 0.3 miles to continue toward FL-528 East. This road and the next three are all toll roads.
Keep right, follow signs for Airport/FL-528 E/Kennedy Space Center, merge onto FL-528 East, then drive for 1.4 miles.
Keep left to stay on FL-528 East for 1.9 miles.

From here, we begin the last 15 minutes of the journey: Florida A1A South to North 1^st Street in Cocoa Beach. This section will take 7.2 miles.

For the next seven miles, continue on Florida A1A South and take note of Dollar General on the right after three miles in case you need anything from the discount retailer.
After that, turn left onto Minutemen Causeway (364 feet).
Use the right lane to turn left onto North Atlantic Avenue after 0.1 miles, turn right onto North 1^st Street, and drive an additional 194 feet to reach Cocoa Beach.
Alternatively, carry on one block further to Cocoa Beach Parking Garage and enter Cocoa Beach at Minuteman Parkway

Via Nova Road

The last route is via Nova Road, and it takes an hour and 25 minutes to two hours and 10 minutes. At 80.3 miles, this is the longest route. It starts on Interstate 4 West like the previous route.

For two minutes and 0.6 miles, you first head west on West South Street toward Boone Avenue. After 0.3 miles, turn left to merge onto Interstate 4 West and finish off the remaining 0.3 miles.

For the next section, follow Interstate 4 West, Florida’s Turnpike, and US-192 E/US-441 S to Nova Road in Osceola County. This section will be 30.9 miles and take 37 minutes.

Merge into Interstate 4 West for three miles, then keep left to stay on the interstate for the next 2.7 miles.
Take the Miami exit on your right, then drive for 1.4 miles, after which you will merge onto Florida’s Turnpike. Continue for 14.4 miles, then take Exit 244 toward US-192/US-441/Kissimmee/St. Cloud for 0.6 miles. This is also a toll road, and you can get a precise calculation of how much the combined rates will be by clicking here.
After the 0.6 miles, use the left two lanes to turn left onto US-192 E/US-441 S. Go on for 7.7 miles and pass by DQ Grill and Chill on the right after the first 3.1 miles.
Finally, turn left onto Nova Road and drive for 26.5 miles, which will take you approximately 25 minutes.

The last section of the route will be on FL-520 East. It is 22.2 miles and will take you 36 minutes.

From Nova Road, turn right onto FL-520 East. Then drive for 19.3 miles. You pass by Starbucks on the right after the first 13.9 miles.
Turn right onto North Atlantic Avenue, then drive for 2.1 miles. The route turns slightly right and becomes North Orlando Avenue. When it does, drive for another 0.6 miles.
Turn left onto Minutemen Causeway, then drive for the next 364 miles before using the right lane to turn left onto North Atlantic Avenue. Drive for 0.1 miles.
Turn right into North 1^st Street, then take 39 seconds to drive 194 feet into Cocoa Beach.
Alternatively, carry on one block further to Cocoa Beach Parking Garage and enter Cocoa Beach at Minuteman Parkway

It would be best to take the shortest route to save on fuel costs and time, but Nova Road is a good option if you want to enjoy the ride and the scenery. It also has fewer toll roads.

Orlando to Cocoa Beach by Bus

To travel by bus from Orlando to Cocoa Beach, you can use the Rally Bus. Its bus stop is at the Greyhound Bus Station, 555 N. John Young Parkway, in Orlando.

What Does it Cost to Travel by Bus from Orlando to Cocoa Beach?

The cost to travel from Orlando to Cocoa Beach via bus depends on your departure and arrival dates. A day trip via bus in mid-August of 2021 costs $64-$65. You can get a more accurate estimate by filling an online form and selecting your preferred means of travel (for travel by bus, click here), or get direct estimates by clicking here, depending on the season.

How Many Stops are On a Bus Trip from Orlando to Cocoa Beach?

There are 30 stops in total from Orlando to Cocoa beach by bus, but they vary depending on the condition of the road and weather. Because of all these stops and other logistics, taking a bus from Orlando to Cocoa Beach will be a six-hour trip.

Orlando to Cocoa Beach by Train

Unfortunately, there is no train from Orlando to Cocoa Beach.

Orlando to Cocoa Beach on an Organized Day Trip

If you want to make the trip feel like a treat, you could organize a guided day trip. One of the most popular destinations along the Orlando-Cocoa Beach route is the Kennedy Space Center.

This is a favorite among children and tourists, and the accommodations and day trip services are well-developed and easy to access.

This is a straightforward process that involves booking a day to have a guide take you to popular destinations. What is part of the package varies, but it should include a round trip. A good day trip adventure is inclusive of transportation to and from Cocoa Beach, unless you want to take a car on your way and maybe a bus coming back. But you can negotiate all arrangements with your service provider.

Another thing to look for carefully is what is included in the day trip package. The more exclusive the experience, the higher the cost will be, of course, but basic amenities such as a guide and access to the Kennedy Space Center should be available.
These packages include private tours, lunch with astronauts, a small group VIP experience, and you can even hire a private car and get driven to the space center. You can also check for deals with Viator by clicking here.

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James Brockbank

Founder at The Family Vacation Guide

A seasoned traveller, Dad, and avid sports tourist, James foundered The Family Vacation Guide to share his expert vacation experiences- especially when it comes to being a travelling family man.

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