Unspoiled, sandy beaches. Rolling waves. Surfing. Rocket launches. Did you know all of those can be found at Canaveral National Seashore’s Playalinda Beach?
Canaveral National Seashore consists of thousands of acres of lagoon, hammock, flatwoods, and offshore waters. 24 miles of undeveloped beaches provide perfect nesting beaches for threatened and endangered sea turtles.
Playalinda Beach is one of two beaches at Canaveral National Seashore. It is on the southern end and is surrounded by the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge and Kennedy Space Center.
Playalinda Location
Playalinda Beach is located on the east, central Florida coastline. The closest city is Titusville. If traveling from I-95 take exit 220 and drive east. After passing through Titusville you will cross the Indian River and enter the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. Follow the signs and keep heading east. After the traffic light, you will soon approach the beach entrance gate.
The Seashore sign and pay station are a short distance from the entrance gate. 13 separate beach parking lots will be a bit further ahead.
Playalinda Admission
Currently, Playalinda Beach is open from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm. The beach frequently reaches capacity on busy weekends, holidays, and rocket launch days. Since the beach is in close proximity to active rocket launch pads, hours may vary on launch days. Be sure to check their website or Facebook page before visiting.
Admission to the beach is $20 per vehicle, $15 per motorcycle, and $10 per bicycle. Your pass is then valid for 7 days. The beach also accepts Seashore Annual Passes, National Park Passes, Military Passes, and 4th Grader Passes. The pay station is also where you can collect your National Park Passport stamp.
Kennedy Space Center
As you drive past the pay station and onto the parking lots there are numerous pull-offs on both sides of the road. On the south side, you can get great views of Kennedy Space Center launch pads and the Vehicle Assembly Building.
Playalinda Beach is one of the closest and most popular spots to watch a Florida rocket launch. You can read more about rocket launch viewing spots in my post 5 Places to Experience a FL Rocket Launch. Want to know more about the Vehicle Assembly Buiding? Check out Space Age Chronicle’s post, Iconic Building Remains a Pillar of America’s Spaceport.
Playalinda Beach
By now you’ve finally arrived at the stretch of parking lots. There are 13 different lots. Some may be closed for construction or dune restoration efforts. Each lot has a pit toilet. There is NO running water or concessions. The closest restaurants and shopping are back in Titusville. Cell service can also be spotty out here. A few of the lots have picnic tables on the boardwalk.
The Eddy Creek parking lot is the only lot with a boat launch to access the Mosquito Lagoon. The boat launch is only available during park operating hours and entrance fees apply. There is no ocean boat launch.
One note of caution “you may encounter nude sunbathing within Boardwalk 13”. This is the farthest north parking lot. Locals call Playalinda the “Nude Beach”. Technically nudity on the beach is against the law, but it is not often enforced in this area. Most nudists head even further north, so as not to be seen from the boardwalk.
Sea Turtles
Sea turtle nests can be seen along the beach from April through June. Five different species of sea turtle, Loggerhead, Leatherback, Kemp’s Ridley, and Hawksbill, have been documented along the Canaveral National Seashore. At the peak of the season over 100 nests may be deposited along the beach each night. Yellow stakes mark nest locations.
Some of these sea turtles are threatened or endangered. Please do not disturb or walk over the nests. Volunteers try their best to protect the nests from raccoons and other predators.
Playalinda Activities
Playalinda Beach is the perfect spot to do numerous activities. Shore fishing, surfing, boogie boarding, walking, sunbathing, and sandcastle building are just the start. Bring the family out for a few hours or a full day of fun.
Another note of caution, there are NO lifeguards on this beach. Swim at your own risk.
Further Reading
- 5 Places to Experience a FL Rocket Launch
- Titusville’s Enchanted Forest Sanctuary with Kids
- Viera Wetlands with Kids
- Rediscovering the Brevard Zoo
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this post are strictly my own. I was not compensated for this post. Before visiting Playalinda Beach check operating hours and beach conditions.
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