If you are here on vacation, you may want to check out the beaches near Orlando – Cocoa Beach, Daytona Beach or New Smyrna Beach. They are all about the same distance driving time – about an hour. If you don’t mind an extra half hour or mileage on your rental car, the beaches in Tampa/St. Petersburg are very nice. While they all provide like-amenities, the east coast beaches allow driving directly on the beach in many areas.

Driving on the beach is nice, because you don’t have to find parking, or tote all of your umbrellas, towels, chairs, coolers, etc. for blocks just to drag it through the sand and back at the end of the day. It allows you to play your tunes, or seek shade inside your vehicle throughout the day. Driving on the beaches near Orlando is a nice convenience, however, it also presents a danger you don’t often expect to encounter at the beach. Note: Most beaches now charge to drive on the beach.

Driving Safety When Visiting Beaches Near Orlando

Over the years several accidents on our east coast beaches have caused quite a concern with beach-goers. Deaths have included a 4-year-old who was killed by a driver on Daytona’s beach as she darted in front of a vehicle. A 23-year-old woman was ran over while lying on the beach between two parked cars. Although it is a violation of county code to layout between cars, Volusia County Beach Patrol officers only cited the driver who rolled over the woman.

Bottom line is, even though you’re at the beach, you still need to pay attention and use some common sense. Don’t lie down between your car and another vehicle. Go closer to the water, or layout behind the row of parked cars where no one will be driving or parking. Look both ways before crossing the “road.” Explain to your children that the strip of sand between the cars and water is the road and depending upon the tide, the location of the “road” can be different throughout the day.

Other required laws when driving on the beaches near Orlando include:

• at least one window must be rolled down
• low volume on your radio
• obey the speed limit (zero tolerance)
• lights must be turned on
• no texting

For more information on beach safety, visit Volusia County’s website. Another great beach to visit is Cocoa Beach.

Other Safety Factors

If you have young children or are not a strong swimmer, find a spot near a lifeguard. Read all warning signs. The booth attendant (at the street entry) or lifeguard will have warnings posted. These warnings often include rip currents, jelly fish and strong winds. While these warnings can present problems, they don’t have to ruin your trip to the beaches near Orlando. Be aware, use good sense, and have a great time.

Other advice is to arrive early if you want a good spot. Bring plenty of sun screen and water. If you want to pack light, there are vendors on the beach; bring cash. Plan to stay an entire day. Because the waters are still cool, the breeze off the ocean provides hours of enjoyment without feeling as if you’ve been in the sun all day. You’ll most likely want to make an entire day of it.

The beaches near Orlando are quite a “hit” with our visitors, let’s keep it that way and be safe.

Last Updated on March 12, 2018