12 of the Closest Beaches to Kissimmee for Families

When you think about a Florida vacation, amazing beaches, magnificent waves, and endless sunshine come to mind. You don’t have to give up this dream simply because you’re visiting Central Florida.

There are great beaches near Kissimmee that you and your family can enjoy. All the best beaches are a little bit of a drive away, but they’re worth the trip.

12 of the Best Beaches Near Kissimmee

We’ve compiled the best beaches near Kissimmee that you can consider for some seaside fun. The list is a combination of well-known beaches like Daytona Beach and Cocoa Beach and some lesser-known ones.

Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach is a quintessential beach town. It boasts 23 miles of white sand beaches on the Atlantic Ocean. At only an hour and a half away, this is fairly close to Kissimmee.

There are lots of activities year-round in Daytona Beach that might interest you aside from the beaches. There are ten beachfront parks to choose from that have playgrounds, picnic areas, splash parks, and boardwalks which you can fish from.

You can swim at Daytona Beach as well as rent out water sports equipment. You can rent bicycles and cycle along the beach. The Daytona Beach pier and Daytona Beach boardwalks host lots of shops and dining options for the whole family.

There are also other family-friendly activities available. You can take the kids on a boat tour to view dolphins and manatees. You can also visit the Marine Science Center. There’s also a Museum of Arts and Sciences that has a planetarium and interactive exhibits.

While in Daytona Beach, you can also visit Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, Point Park, and the Ayres Davis Lens Building.

Cocoa Beach

Cocoa Beach can be found in the middle of Florida’s Space Coast. The beach is seemingly endless, stretching over 72 miles of the Atlantic coast. Cocoa Beach is a little over an hour’s drive from Kissimmee.

Alan Shepard Park is one of Cocoa Beach’s most amazing beaches. This park has everything you might need right near the beach. There are restaurants and shopping options, as well as picnic areas that have picnic tables.

Lori Wilson Park is a less crowded beach if you’re looking to escape the crowds and go somewhere quieter. Cocoa Beach Pier is also a great place to go and engage in some bird watching, surfer watching, or fishing. Adults can also grab a nightcap while watching the sunset at the Cocoa Beach Pier.

Caladesi Island State Park

The sandy white beaches at Caladesi Island State Park are known for being some of the best in the country. This island is about 2 hours away from Kissimmee, north of Clearwater Beach.

Many people flock to this island to sunbathe, swim, fish and surf. Other popular activities include walking the nature trails or hiking further inland on the island. You can kayak through the mangroves and bays.

There is a marina where you can find water and electricity hookups, as well as picnic tables, pavilions, and shelters. You can get to this island via ferry from Honeymoon Island State Park.

Canaveral National Seashore

Canaveral National Seashore is a barrier island between Cape Canaveral and New Smyrna Beach. It’s not far from Cocoa Beach if you want to combine beaches.

It’s about an hour away from Kissimme. You and your family can watch a rocket launch from the beach if you’re lucky. It’s a little over an hour’s drive from Kissimmee.

Canaveral National Seashore is nothing but pristine beaches that stretch for 23 miles. There are no shops or restaurants at all. There are boardwalks in the dunes you can walk on, but otherwise, it’s untainted coastal wilderness. Klondike and Apollo are some of the best beaches on this seashore.

The untouched nature of these beaches means that they are popular and get quite crowded. Aside from watching rocket launches, you can also surf, fish, swim, snorkel, or just sunbathe. This shoreline is a habitat for many species, including sea turtles. You can witness sea turtles laying their eggs and see other endangered species like manatees.

There are a few public holidays where entry is free. On regular days, the entrance fee is $20 per car and $10 per person (if they’re a pedestrian). The entrance fee is valid for a full 7 days.

Flagler Beach

You can find Flagler Beach nestled between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach. It’s about an hour and a half away from Kissimme. It takes up 6 miles of the Atlantic coast with peaceful beaches. These beaches aren’t typically crowded.

At the end of the beach day, you can explore the many oceanfront stores and restaurants available. Most people swim or surf. You can also fish at the Flagler Beach Municipal Pier.

Melbourne Beach

This is another barrier island on the Space Coast, near Cape Canaveral. There are various beach parks where you can go and snorkel, fish, swim and sunbathe with your family. It takes about an hour and 15 minutes to get here from Kissimmee.

Sebastian Inlet State Park is popular with those who like to surf, dive and fish. Coconut Point is a great viewing spot for sea turtle nests, as well as for swimming and surfing. There are many great shopping and dining options available a walking distance away in downtown Melbourne Beach.

Clearwater Beach

Clearwater Beach has previously been awarded for being one of the most beautiful beaches in the US. These beautiful white sand beaches are lined with palm trees and border amazingly turquoise water. It’s located a two-hour drive away from Kissimmee.

There’s a full-time lifeguard on this beach, and the swimming zone is restricted to 300 feet. If you’re not in the mood to swim, you can rent out kayaks and paddle boards and still hit the surf.

There are dolphin cruises that are available all day. There is a large kid’s playground at the bottom of Pier 60. Kids can also get their fill of marine life by visiting the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Another family attraction is Captain Memo’s Pirate Cruise which is located on a replica of a pirate ship!

St. Augustine Beach

St. Augustine has 42 miles of amazing beaches. You’ll have to make a two-hour drive to get to this town.

St. Augustine Beach, in particular, has packed sand, which makes it a great beach for activities other than just swimming. This is a great beach for cycling and beach sports like volleyball. The waves at this beach are also great for surfers, boogie boarders, skim boarders, paddle boarders, and kitesurfers.

You can drive onto the beach in certain designated areas for a fee. Dogs are also welcome on the beach as long as they are on a leash.

Fort De Soto Park

This park is the largest in Pinellas County. It spans over five keys and 1136 acres. Over 328 different species of birds and loggerhead turtles call this park home. The park is rich with plant life. The park is about two hours away from Kissimmee.

There are mangroves, palm hammocks, and wetlands to explore. You can fish from the pier or explore the park and its many trails. You can go through the trails on a bike or in a canoe or kayak. You can take a historic tour of Fort De Soto as well.

There are 7 miles of waterfront for you and your family to enjoy. This includes nearly 3 miles of white sandy beaches. There are family camping areas that have facilities. There are picnic shelters, restrooms, and playgrounds. There are two large swimming centers and two fishing piers. They also offer a dog park on the beach.

Treasure Island

Treasure Island is close to Tampa and St Petersburg. It is also only a short drive away from the major theme parks in the area. It is a two-hour drive from Kissimmee.

There are 3 miles of beach here that are right next to the Treasure Island Beach Trail. This trail is a great, peaceful walk along the ocean and through the dunes. It’s perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and sunbathing on a quieter beach.

New Smyrna Beach

While New Smyrna Beach is close to Daytona Beach, it’s much quieter and much smaller. Only an hour and a half away from Kissimmee, the 17 miles of beautiful white sand beaches are not to be missed. This is the best beach closest to Kissimmee.

If you go during the summertime, you can enjoy the free concerts near the boardwalk at the Daytona Beach Bandshell. There is also lots to enjoy on the boardwalk, including arcades and rides.

This beach is a great choice if you’re looking for a great surfing spot. Aside from surfing and swimming, there are also trails you can walk or bike. There are also horse rides available.

Close to this beach is the Daytona Lagoon Water Park, which is sure to be a big draw for the kids. They also have a dog beach for your furry family members at the Smyrna Dunes Park.

Anna Maria Island

Anna Maria Island is actually a barrier island that is home to three cities. This island has 7 miles of white sandy beaches. It’s about two hours away from Kissimmee.

You can rent boats, bikes, kayaks, and paddle boards at Holmes Beach. You can also have a horseback riding experience on the beach. There are great seafood restaurants and shops for you to browse through.

There are three piers in Anna Maria that you can visit to watch the sunset or do some fishing. There’s The Anna Maria City Pier, the Rod and Reel Pier, and the Bridge Street/Bradenton Beach Pier. There are also fishing guides and charters available.

FAQs

Which beaches are the closest to Disney World?

Daytona Beach, Cocoa Beach, New Smyrna Beach, and Canaveral National Seashore are all the closest beaches to Disney World. They’re all about an hour away from the most magical place in the world.

Which beach near Kissimmee has the clearest water?

Clearwater Beach is aptly named in this regard, as the water there is quite beautiful and clear. If not Clearwater Beach, the Caladesi Island State Park waters have been compared to those in the Caribbean.