How to Spend 24 Hours in Cocoa Beach, Florida

Experience a full 24-hour coastal escape filled with beaches, wildlife, and adventure in Cocoa Beach.

Located on Florida's Space Coast, Cocoa Beach is a picture-perfect tropical paradise with miles of sandy beaches, an abundance of water sports and outdoor activities, infused with the laid-back feel of a small beach town. Known for its surf culture, beautiful beaches, the Atlantic Ocean, and its proximity to Kennedy Space Center, this small beach town has a lot to offer and has plenty of fun to have in one day! You’ll find endless fun things to do in Cocoa Beach, making it one of the most exciting attractions on the coast.

You can make every day feel like a vacation while catching a spectacular sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean, walking down the historic Cocoa Beach Fishing Pier, viewing local wildlife, dining on fresh seafood, or enjoying the laid-back beach atmosphere.

All set for an unforgettable beach experience? Read on to learn how to enjoy 24 hours of fun in Cocoa Beach, Florida!

Unlike other stores, The Dinosaur Store features three activities combined into one: The Museum of Dinosaurs and Ancient Cultures, Interactive Adventure Zone, and 4,000 sq. ft. of Gift Items (such as Authentic Fossils, including Dinosaur Teeth and Claws, Minerals, and jewelry in the Gift Store).

The Museum consists of 20,000 sq. feet of Dinosaur fossils/artifacts from all over the World, as well as hands-on interactive adventure with: Scientific Activity Stations, 25 Live Animals (including Full-Size American Alligators), and Additional Species Including Snakes, Frogs, and Tortoises.

The Movie Cave in Adventure Zone shows "Prehistoric", a Documentary about Dinosaurs, the Ice Age & Ancient Oceans. Recent Trainees for Paleontology have found the Dinosaur Store to be educational and realistic.

Address:

250 W Cocoa Beach Cswy, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931

Ron Jon Surf Shop began in the early 1960s with their original location being on Long Beach Island, New Jersey. Though this was their first store, it was the Cocoa Beach store (their flagship store) that really propelled them into a global brand.

The Cocoa Beach store, which opened in 1963, is "one of a kind" and occupies over 2 acres (52,000 square feet) of retail space filled with everything you could imagine for surfing, skating, swimming, or hanging out on the beach.

The store carries everything imaginable for a surfer, skateboarder, swimmer, or beachgoer, such as: T-shirts, bathing suits, hoodies, surfboards, skimboards, skateboards, sunglasses, hats, shoes, beach toys, beach towels, and sunblock.

Additionally, located adjacent to the retail store is their watercraft rental store where you can rent surfboards, beach bikes, paddleboards, beach chairs, and much more.

Address:

4151 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931

Beautiful, old-fashioned, and shady area of downtown Cocoa that was founded in the 1860s. Today, this village along the river contains 40 independent shops and boutiques, offering everything from antiques, colorful clothing, and art.

You can stop by many of the 12+ different kinds of restaurants and cafes where you can enjoy everything from casual dining to fine dining. Cocoa Village offers countless events throughout the year.

Cocoa Riverfront Park is a wonderful way to enjoy the beautiful weather of Florida, has an amphitheater, playground, and Splash Pad for cooling off on those hot days. You can see the historical sights while walking along a path through the village that goes past the historical landmarks, or you can take a walking tour to learn more about the area's history.

Address:

317 Riveredge Blvd, Cocoa, FL 32922

Visiting the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will be an out-of-this-world experience. Opened in 1960 for NASA astronauts and their families to gain insight as to how the center operates, now more than 1.5 million visitors per annum come from around the world.

The visitor complex is divided into 8 Mission Zones based upon each program's history, beginning with the earliest space program(s), and ending with NASA's future missions. With a Behind-the-Gates Tour, you’ll be able to visit historic launch sites as well as operational facilities.

If you’re looking for additional inspiration, visit the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame and learn about the pioneers of space exploration or take a stroll through the Rocket Garden and discover just how large the spacecraft are. The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is about 20 miles north of Cocoa Beach on Merritt Island.

Address:

Space Commerce Way, Merritt Island, FL 32953

Lori Wilson Park is a beachside park located on the coast of Cocoa Beach, Florida. The park is over 32 acres in size and offers plenty of family-friendly activities. Some of those activities include picnic pavilions, a playground, a volleyball court, and lifeguards.

Parking is free at the park, and restrooms and outdoor showers are provided to wash off the sand after your day at the beach. A nature boardwalk can take you through a maritime hammock and over sand dunes to the beach where you can swim in the Atlantic Ocean.

If you bring your dog with you to the park, you will find an off-leash dog park as well.

Address:
1500 North Atlantic Avenue, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931

The 140,000-acre Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is a great place for outdoor enthusiasts, bird watchers, and nature lovers. The 7-mile-long, one-way Black Point Wildlife Drive takes you through marshlands and pine flatwoods meeting area, where you have opportunities to view many local wildlife such as alligators, manatees, river otters, and bobcats. There are many additional recreational opportunities within the refuge, including hiking, fishing, paddling, photography, and ranger-led programs. With over 350 species of birds sighted to date, not to mention many other types of wildlife, birders will love the opportunities here.

Address:
1989 Scrub Jay Way, Merritt Island, FL 32953

Manatee Sanctuary Park is a beautiful outdoor park located on the Banana River, covering more than 10 acres. The park features a paved 1/2-mile walking trail, 10 exercise stations, and a covered boardwalk. You can bring a picnic and relax at one of the many picnic tables or get out of the sun under the pavilion. Dogs on leashes are welcome to join as well.

If you're visiting during the right season, you might even see one of Florida's resident manatees in the water around the park. The waters around the park are a protected habitat for manatees, and you may see one grazing on seagrass from the boardwalk. Manatee Sanctuary Park is located just west of Cape Canaveral, off A1A, approximately six miles north of Cocoa Beach.

Address:
701 Thurm Blvd, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920

The Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse (originally known as the Aladdin Theatre) opened in 1924 and has been entertaining local audiences as Broadway on Brevard’s Community Theatre with high-quality performances produced annually to over 55,000 people, providing a great source of volunteer activity.

The Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse is in Cocoa Village, to the west of Cocoa Beach, approximately 10 miles from Cocoa Beach, on the Indian River. The nearest Cocoa Beach Loop trolley/bus stop is located at the intersection of SR 520 and Brevard Avenue (on the northwest corner); the village is a short walk (approximately 5-10 minutes) from the trolley/bus stop.

Address:

300 Brevard Avenue, Cocoa, FL 32922

They will use vertical poles (45 feet tall) to keep you suspended in mid-air while you compete on 49 challenges located in a tree canopy made from live oaks (those are trees that are similar to live oaks). There will be 7 trails separated into 3 levels. The climber can do everything at their own pace on the entire course either as an individual or as part of a team.

Address:
6419 N Atlantic Ave, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920

Frank Baum’s book and 1939 classic film have been in operation since 2022 and contain over 2,000 items of memorabilia and original props from the movie, including the iconic dress worn by Dorothy (acted by Judy Garland) and a spear used by one of the Winkies.

Also included in the museum are the first advance (pre-published) copies of Baum’s book (published in 1900) as well as memorabilia belonging to the famous actors and actresses from the movie, and an ‘immersive room’ that allows visitors to be transported back to different scenes from the movie with the aid of large scale digital projections across three different surfaces (i.e., wall, floor, and ceiling).

The museum also has an “Immersive Van Gogh” exhibit to help enhance the beloved ‘Oz’ book and film creations, as well as custom created interactive Van Gogh paintings. The Wizard of Oz Museum is located approximately five miles north of Cocoa Beach at Cape Canaveral.

Address:
7099 N Atlantic Ave, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920

The Florida Surf Museum is located just outside the Ron Jon Surf Shop. The museum was established in 1999 with the goal of preserving and promoting the culture of surfing in Florida. The museum features both permanent traveling exhibits, programs and events related to surfing, and provides educational opportunities related to surfing.

The Florida Surf Museum is located at the Ron Jon Surf Shop Watersports Rental building, which is adjacent to the Ron Jon Surf Shop and has excellent access via the Cocoa Beach Loop Trolley/Bus System. The closest trolley stop to the museum is located at Shepherd Park, which is a short walk from the museum entrance.

Address:
4275 North Atlantic Avenue, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931

Maritime Pirate Museum has over 400 artifacts that span 17th–19th century maritime history of seafarers & pirates with insight into their lives, jobs, battles and quest for wealth. Some of its unrivaled treasures include a desk from the USS Ohio (battleship built in the 1800s) and ship-building tools from 2 of America's most famous shipyards-Jones River Shipyard and Dunn & Elliott Sail Loft, as well as replicas of artifacts associated with British East India Trading Company operations.

You will also find items from the estate of the infamous pirate, Henry Morgan, Captain Kidd's Articles of Agreement & Sea Desk that belonged to Commodore John Manley. Additionally, you will get to see many different types of maritime artifacts such as a 1660 Line Drawing of Sir Francis Drake, and genuine gallows rope from Gallows Point & Execution Dock in Jamaica.

This museum contains a broad overview of Pirate Culture and the tools they utilized for war (weapons), figureheads from ships, and shipwreck artifacts. The rotating exhibits change each month to feature, among others, Black, Barbary, Female, Asian pirates.

Address:
641 Brevard Ave, Cocoa, FL 32922

The Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier offers visitors a different view of Cocoa Beach from the pier. The Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier has 2.5 miles of boardwalk planking and extends out 800 feet over the Atlantic Ocean. People can catch fish off of the pier, play beach volleyball, or take semi-private surfing lessons. This pier has several casual eating establishments to help you refuel after a long day at the beach.

Address:
401 Meade Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931

After exploring Cocoa Beach in 24 hours, relax at Anthony's on the Beach with direct beach access and a prime oceanfront location.