Lakes and Beaches Near Orlando

The area is dotted by hundreds of lakes as well as blissful beaches on the nearby East and Gulf coasts. Pack your bathing suit and sunscreen for the whole family and get ready to make a splash in central Florida.

Beaches Near Orlando

Cocoa Beach, just a one-hour drive from Orlando, has beckoned ocean lovers for decades to its pristine stretch of white sand along the Atlantic Ocean. Surfers flock to the waters for the high surf, while the flat, clean sands are great for joggers and sunbathers. Cocoa Beach is also close to the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, so even if you book your hotel in Orlando, you can visit the beach, watch the rocket launches from the pier and explore other fun things to do along Florida's Space Coast. More seasoned surfers may prefer New Smyrna Beach, also about an hour from Orlando, where offshore rock ledges create championship-level waves.

Orlando to Daytona

About an hour from Orlando, Daytona Beach features 23 miles of pristine sand along the coastline. Bring a picnic lunch or buy snacks from the nearby food trucks and enjoy the seaside scenery. But don’t bring your favorite adult beverage—alcohol is not allowed on the beach here. Daytona Beach also delights with parasailing, snorkeling, inflatable banana boat rides and jet-boat excursions. When you tire of swimming or surfing, head to the boardwalk for thrill rides or walk along the pier.

Gulf Coast Beaches

If you dream of peaceful waters and powdery, white-sand beaches, head west from Orlando for some 90 minutes toward the Gulf Coast beaches. The closest one is Clearwater Beach, on a small island with spotless, gleaming sand and a friendly, party atmosphere—understandable, given its proximity to the cities of Orlando and Tampa. A wide, palm-lined promenade runs along the beachfront, and the sunsets turn the sky—night after night—into a melting pot of fire.

Kissimmee Lake Country

It's hard to drive more than a few miles in Kissimmee lake country, just south of Orlando, without coming upon water. The Chain of Lakes Area spans more than 21,000 acres and includes more than two dozen lakes—from Cypress Lake in the north to Lake Kissimmee in the south. The Kissimmee lakes were once connected, and the associated marshes, wetlands and pine flatwoods provide majestic hiking and wildlife viewing areas. Animal enthusiasts (and normal folk too) can spot bald eagles, deer, wild turkey, wading birds and sandhill and whooping cranes. You'll find miles of birding trails through the lake area, as well as swimming and exciting bass fishing in Lake Kissimmee.

Spring-Fed Lakes

Heart-jolting water sports and creative swimming endeavors await travelers at several lakes fed by fresh springs near Orlando. During the summer months, the warm, clear waters of Blue Springs State Park invite swimming and kayaking for outdoor beginners, and even scuba diving and snorkeling for the more adventuresome. In the winter, come watch the manatees—Florida's large marine mammals (also known as sea cows)—that flock here November through March. So, swimming is not allowed during these months at the park.

Or, try Silver Springs, 90 miles north of Orlando, with its crystal-clear spring water and jungle-like trees and vegetation. This is where Tarzan movies and early James Bond films were made. Thousands of visitors venture out on the water on glass-bottomed boats to observe fish, turtles and crustaceans. You can also rent canoes or kayaks for another fun way to take in the scenery.