Things to do in Cocoa Beach

Searching for things to do in Cocoa Beach during your Florida vacation?

Located on the Florida Atlantic Ocean, an hour’s drive east of Orlando, Cocoa Beach is a popular destination. With good reason, it has access to incredible beaches, waves, and astonishing nature not available elsewhere in Florida.

These things to do in Cocoa Beach are perfect for spending time with your family and friends and satisfying your adventurous side!

Here is a list of our top 7 things to do in Cocoa Beach:

Go on a Dolphin and Manatee Wildlife Adventure Boat Tour!

If you’re ever looking for things to do in the Cocoa Beach, make sure you find time for this experience!

This is undoubtedly one of the top things to do in Cocoa Beach and the Cape Canaveral area. The unique natural environment and location near the Cape Canaveral locks support a diverse ecosystem that attracts numerous fish, which dolphins like to eat, making it a prime location for observing bottlenose dolphins! These curious species swim, leap, and play alongside the boat, sometimes offering a cool show to their audience! You will also see manatees grazing on seagrass or calmly surfacing for air. Some of these gentle giants of the river may grow to 13 feet long and weigh more than 3,500 pounds!

Along with dolphins and manatees, you can also spot stingrays, turtles, crabs, and other marine life, as well as an array of local bird species, from elegant herons to curious pelicans. We recommend taking those tours that use small, family-sized boats for up to 6 people. These little pontoons can go anywhere and flexibly change the route to see more wildlife! You can even make a stop at a swimming lagoon in the middle of the river and disembark from the boat to see the wildlife up close!

The captain will also provide a captivating narration about the local history of the area, including anecdotes about the Space Coast and its significance in maritime and space exploration. The combination of wildlife sightings, beautiful scenery, and enriching commentary makes this tour one of the best things to do in Cocoa Beach area.

Choose your boat tour and check all the information here: tours/https://dolphinfamilytours.com/our-tours/

Taking a Helicopter Tour is one of the coolest things to do in Cocoa Beach!

Enjoy incredible views of Florida’s coastlines from the bird’s-eye perspective! You will smoothly fly over the beautiful scenery and wildlife below. With large clear windows, this helicopter tour will create cool memories. The ‘See It All’ Tour features views of the beach, the Indian River Lagoon, and a pass by the space shuttle runway at Kennedy Space Center.

Please note that this tour accommodates up to three passengers.

For more information go to: https://www.visitspacecoast.com/profile/cape-canaveral/attractions/cocoa-beach-helicopters/

Have a Beach Day in Cocoa Beach + visit the Cocoa Beach Pier

After seeing the area from the river and from the sky, it’s time to breathe in the ocean air from the beach! Cocoa Beach is the perfect place for a day at the beach. Because you’re on the Atlantic Ocean, the waves tend to be higher than on the Gulf side of Florida. That’s not to say that you won’t have calm waters, because you can have them here as well.

For an uncrowded beach experience, visit Canaveral National Seashore.

The Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier is situated near Cape Canaveral Beach. The pier stands tall over the waves, offering a picturesque view of the ocean and the beach shoreline. Here, you will find gift shops, restaurants, occasionally live music, and the Rikki Tiki Tavern at the end of the pier.

Visit Kennedy Space Center

If you stay in Cocoa Beach, don’t miss this opportunity, even if you are not keen on space exploration. It’s about a 25-minute drive across the Intracoastal Waterway to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

The Kennedy Space Center is renowned for being the launch site of the Apollo 11 mission, which brought the first human to the moon.

Check out the Rocket Garden! You can see rockets from NASA’s Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs up close there. The center also houses the Saturn V rocket, the largest rocket ever built on Earth and designed to carry astronauts to the moon.

Additionally, the Vehicle Assembly Building is a true marvel in itself; it ranks as one of the largest buildings in the world by volume, spacious enough to hold four jumbo jets at once!

Get your tickets here: https://www.kennedyspacecenter-tickets.com

Watch a Rocket Launch!

If you’re visiting Cocoa Beach, there’s no better place to watch a rocket launch! As one of the most unique things to do in Cocoa Beach, where else can you watch it live?

You can watch a rocket launch, if one is scheduled, at the Kennedy Space Center, or take a special boat. However, note that the rocket launch schedule is subject to change, as launches are often rescheduled for a later time or another day. Here’s a local tip to enjoy the fantastic view and not worry too much about missing your tickets: head to the 528 Bridge, the one that spans from Cape Canaveral to Merritt Island. You will see a dirt road exit to the right with lots of cars and people already waiting for the launch. Bring comfortable chairs, snacks, and drinks, and enjoy the view!

Check the Space Coast rocket launch schedule here: https://www.visitspacecoast.com/launches/

Brevard Zoo

If you’re looking for other things to do near Cocoa Beach, we suggest you hitting up the local zoo. The Brevard Zoo is located just outside Cocoa Beach, approximately 30 minutes away. If you’re looking for additional activities and you love animals, this is the place to go.

One of the unique features they offer is kayaking within the zoo. You can float past giraffes, rhinos, lemurs, and more in the Expedition Africa area!

Tickets can be bought at the entrance: https://brevardzoo.org

Dinner at the port

This is not something you’ll commonly find on the list of things to do in Cocoa Beach, but it’s worth it!

Check the cruise ship leaving the port schedule: https://www.portcanaveral.com/docs/default-source/cruise/2025-master-cruise-schedule-temp.pdf

Then come for dinner or just a drink at any of the Port’s restaurants, such as Grills Seafood Deck & Tiki Bar, Fishlips Waterfront Bar & Grill, or any other place, and watch as those giant cruise ships pass by! Usually, they start to leave around 4 pm, but some of the biggest may leave earlier, so it is better to check the schedule before.

One more time! Here is the short list of things to do in Cocoa Beach:

• Go for a Dolphin & Manatee Wildlife boat ride!
• Take a helicopter tour!
• Have a beach day
• Visit Kennedy Space Center
• Watch a Rocket Launch!
• Visit Brevard Zoo
• Have a dinner at the Port!

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/watch-wild-dolphins