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25 beach towns within driving distance of Orlando worth exploring

By Orlando Weekly Staff on Fri, Jul 13, 2018 at 9:33 pm

Orlando's great and all, but one can only take so much of Disney and massive tourist hordes. That's why we put together a few of our favorite beach towns that deserve a weekend road trip. If you give these beach towns and their natural preserves, museums, historic sites and, of course, great beaches a chance, you can thank us later.

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Ormond Beach

1 hour 3 minutes from Orlando
What’s great about it: Ormond’s Tomoka State Park hosts a variety of outdoor activities like camping and boating, but you could also check out Bulow Creek State Park’s historic trails and ancient trees. Multimillionaire John D. Rockerfeller’s riverside mansion in The Casements still exists in this beach town, but it’s been repurposed as a cultural center for hosting a variety of events, including free tours every day except Sundays. Tropical cocktails and seafood are Lulu’s Oceanside Grill’s speciality, but there’s also Larry’s Giant Subs, if you can handle it.
Beaches to check out: Ormond Beach, Daytona Beach Shores, Palm Coast
Photo via Adobe Stock

New Smyrna Beach

1 hour and 3 minutes from Orlando
What’s great about it:New Smyrna is a favorite spot for surfers and has been named one of the best surf towns in the country. A variety of water activities await you, like fishing and kayaking, but there’s more to do. Highlights include the Black Heritage Museum and the Atlantic Center for the Arts. For foodie heaven, hit up Third Wave Cafe down Flagler Avenue, or people-watch at the bar beachside at Breakers.
Beaches to check out: New Smyrna Beach, Disappearing Island, Lighthouse Point Park, Smyrna Dunes Park
Photo via atlanticcenter/Instagram

Vero Beach

1 hour and 43 minutes from Orlando
What’s great about it: Vero Beach’s popular Riverside Theatre hosts live music shows and a variety of theatrical productions, making it a prime location for visitors. Vero is also home to many nature parks, like the Oslo Road Conservation Area and the Archie Carr National Wildlife Reserve. For more of nature’s beauty, check out the McKee Botanical Gardens. The Vero Train Station is a small but peculiar place filled with railroad memorabilia, but was once an active train stop in 1903, for those seeking local history. The Wave Kitchen & Bar fuses new American with Cuban and offers happy hour specials.
Beaches to check out: Vero Beach, Ambersand Beach, Round Island Beach Park, Golden Sands Beach Park
Photo via Adobe Stock

Santa Rosa Beach

5 hours and 44 minutes from Orlando
What’s great about it: This one is a bit of a job, but it's worth it. Walton County’s Santa Rosa Beach sits along northwest Florida’s Emerald Coast, offering a quiet getaway for those seeking a low-key beach spot. Camp Helen State Park, home to one of the largest freshwater coastal dune lakes in the world, boasts a local legend of a sea monster that haunts the area. The park is a great spot for prime beach access, though, but once you start feeling hunger strike, hit up The Red Bar for grub and live music.
Beaches to check out: Santa Rosa Beach, Dune Allen, Seaside Beach, Grayton Beach
Photo via Adobe Stock

Destin

6 hours from Orlando
What’s great about it: This one is also quite a drive, but we didn't want to leave it out. Destin’s boardwalk at the Henderson Beach State Park is situated right in the Gulf curve of the sunshine state. Pass the afternoon in a dolphin-watching cruise with a small group, with the possibility of catching a glimpse of other marine life. There’s a local dog park, and a local History & Fishing museum with exhibits of early life in 1830s Destin, dubbed the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village.” Fill up at the oyster bar beachfront at The Crab Trap seafood shack before (or after) hitting the sand.
Beaches to check out: Calhoun Beach, Crystal Beach, O’Steen Beach, Pompano Street Beach
Photo via Adobe Stock