Canaveral National Seashore Park

Website: https://www.nps.gov/cana/

Admission: Entrance fee: $20 per vehicle (7 days); $15 per motorcycle; $10 per person (on foot/bike)

Canaveral National Seashore preserves a largely undeveloped stretch of barrier island and lagoon habitat on Florida’s Atlantic coast, immediately south of Cape Canaveral and adjacent to the Kennedy Space Center. The unit protects beaches, dunes and estuarine waters and provides public access for beach recreation and wildlife observation.

Key on-site features include sandy beaches used for swimming and surf fishing, the shallow estuarine waters of Mosquito Lagoon, and sections such as Playalinda Beach that offer views across to the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral launch complexes on clear days. The seashore is important for migratory birds and sea turtle nesting.

The seashore lies along Florida’s east coast in Volusia and Brevard counties, with access points near Titusville, New Smyrna Beach and smaller barrier-island communities.

• Length and location: The seashore protects roughly 24 miles of mostly undeveloped Atlantic beach on Florida’s east coast and borders the Kennedy Space Center to the north.
• Turtle nesting: Sea turtle nesting occurs on the beaches in season; visitors should follow posted closures and guidelines to protect nests, especially at night.

What to See#

• Barrier-island beaches: A long stretch of undeveloped Atlantic barrier-island shoreline that includes public beaches, dunes and nesting habitat for sea turtles.
• Playalinda Beach: Playalinda Beach, a popular section with public access points, shallow surf and views toward Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center launch pads on clear days.
• Mosquito Lagoon: Mosquito Lagoon and adjacent estuarine waters that are important for birdlife and fisheries and popular for kayaking and wildlife viewing.

• Arrive early in the day or late afternoon to avoid the busiest beach periods and to see birds along the shore when activity is highest; weekdays are noticeably calmer than weekends.
• Enter via the Playalinda/Canaveral north access for the most undeveloped, long stretches of coastline (and direct proximity to Kennedy Space Center); check the park website before visiting-beaches are popular during rocket launches and some areas or parking can be restricted on launch days.