So you’re planning a trip to beautiful Cocoa Beach. You’ve probably started wondering what airport is closest to Cocoa Beach, Florida. Well never fear, we’re here to help!
The Orlando area welcomes over 59.3 million visitors each year to its various airports. However, the two closest airports are Melbourne Orlando International Airport and Orlando International Airport. Melbourne is a bit closer, but Orlando has way more flight options.
So which one should you choose? It depends on your travel plans. In this quick guide, we’ll explore your airport options along with how to get to Cocoa Beach from Orlando.
Sit tight, keep scrolling, and use this information to help you plan your trip. No matter which airport you choose, we’re sure you’ll have a wonderful time in Cocoa Beach.
Where Is Cocoa Beach, Florida?
Cocoa Beach is a coastal city located in Brevard County, Florida. It is situated on the Atlantic Ocean, just southeast of the city of Cape Canaveral.
Cocoa Beach is known for its extensive coastline, which includes several popular beaches and stretches of sandy shores. This includes popular tourist destinations such as:
- Ron Jon Surf Shop
- Cocoa Beach Pier
- Canaveral National Seashore
The city is also close to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, where visitors can tour launch facilities and learn about the history of the space program.
All in all, with its beautiful beaches and proximity to Orlando, it’s easy to see why Cocoa Beach is such a popular tourist destination.
What Airport Is Closest to Cocoa Beach, Florida?
As mentioned above, there are two common options when it comes to choosing the airport closest to Cocoa Beach. While one is slightly closer to the coastal city than the others, each offers benefits.
Likewise, there is an additional third airport you can fly into (bet you didn’t know there were three international airports near Orlando, did you?). Here’s what to know and how to choose the right arrival airport.
Melbourne Orlando International Airport (MLB)
What’s the closest airport to Cocoa Beach, Florida? The Melbourne Orlando International Airport.
The Melbourne Orlando International Airport is only about 20 miles away from Cocoa Beach. This means it’ll take you about 35 minutes to get to Cocoa Beach from the airport under normal traffic conditions.
Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB)
Just north of Orlando is the Orlando Sanford International Airport. While it’s convenient sometimes for travelers planning on spending some time in Orlando before visiting Cocoa Beach, it’s not ideal for those arriving straight to our sandy shores.
The Orlando Sanford Airport is about 75 miles away from Cocoa Beach, which means that it takes about an hour and 20 minutes to arrive if there’s no traffic.
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Finally, the airport that’s closer to Cocoa Beach than the Orlando Sanford International Airport but not quite as close as the Melbourne Orlando International Airport is the Orlando International Airport.
This is the largest airport of the three (and the busiest in the entire state of Florida). It’s about 50 miles away from Cocoa Beach. This means that your trip from the airport to Cocoa Beach would take about an hour long.
Cocoa Beach Airlines: Who Flies to Cocoa Beach?
While the Melbourne Orlando International Airport is the closest to Cocoa Beach, the Orlando International Airport is the largest and busiest airport in Florida. This means that you’ll often find more airlines offering flights to and from this airport along with more flights per day.
Airlines that arrive at the Orlando International Airport (MCO) include:
- Aer Lingus
- AeroMexico
- Air Canada
- Alaska Airlines
- American Airlines
- Avianca
- Bahamas Air
- British Airways
- Copa Airlines
- Delta
- Emirates
- Frontier
- Jet Blue
- LATAM Airlines
- Southwest
- Spirit
- United
- Virgin Atlantic
- Viva Air
- West Jet
As you can see, the Orlando International Airport serves nearly every major airline and most prominent international airlines around the world.
Currently, only four airlines fly in the Orlando Sanford International Airport. This includes Allegiant Airlines, Flair Airlines, Swoop Airlines, and Sun Country Airlines. This means that this airport isn’t ideal for those traveling on major commercial airlines.
The Melbourne Orlando International Airport does serve major airlines, unlike SFB, but only caters to domestic flights from Allegiant, American Airlines, Delta, and TUI. The flight routes are also limited with only a few flights from places like Atlanta, Charlotte, and Washington DC.
Traveling to Cocoa Beach From Orlando
Regardless of which airport you arrive at, how do you get from any one of the three Orlando airports to Cocoa Beach? You’ve got three main options.
Rental Car
Driving is the most common option, and it is usually the quickest and most convenient option. The drive takes about an hour, depending on traffic.
Do note that if you want to rent a rental car at the airport, arriving at the Orlando International Airport will provide you with more rental car options and providers.
Shuttle
There is also the option to take a shuttle from the airport. Several companies offer shuttle services from the Orlando International Airport to the cruise ships of Port Canaveral and the Cocoa Beach area.
Bus
Taking the bus is another popular option, and several different companies offer buses to Cocoa Beach. The ride takes about two hours, and the buses generally run on time. To look at bus schedules, look for the line 11 bus.
What to Do in Cocoa Beach
Ultimately, if you fly into the Melbourne Orlando International Airport you’ll be able to reach Cocoa Beach faster, which means you can start to explore all of the great restaurants, attractions, and sandy shores this city has to offer. But what else is there to do in Cocoa Beach aside from enjoying the sand, sea, and spectacular vibes?
There are also several restaurants and bars in the area, as well as shops selling souvenirs and beachwear. If you’re looking for something a little more active, you can go on a dolphins cruise or take a kayak out onto the water. There’s also a boardwalk that runs along the beach, perfect for an evening stroll.
Whether you’re looking to relax or stay active, Cocoa Beach has something for everyone.
Plan the Perfect Cocoa Beach Vacation
So, what airport is closest to Cocoa Beach, Florida? The Melbourne Orlando International Airport is only about 20 miles away from Cocoa Beach. However, it doesn’t matter how you get here, just that you do!
Cocoa Beach has everything you need for a fun-filled getaway. View our travel resources to find helpful information on things to do, where to stay, and how to get here. We are always happy to welcome you to our beachside paradise.
