A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Cocoa Beach vs. Mystic for Families, Attractions, Food, and Beaches

Should you visit Cocoa Beach or Mystic?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Cocoa Beach and Mystic. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Cocoa Beach

Cocoa Beach is a fun-filled, relaxing, and adventurous beach town. Other reasons to visit include food, beaches, and shopping.

Mystic

Mystic is a laid back, charming, and quaint town. It's also popular because of the food, beaches, and shopping.

Cocoa Beach and Mystic: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Cocoa Beach or Mystic?

Both Mystic and Cocoa Beach have plenty of things to do for visitors. Both offer a variety of sights, activities, and attractions for tourists. Cocoa Beach is better known for its food and resorts, while Mystic is more popular for its shopping. Cocoa Beach is well known for its wonderful surfing waves and its proximity to the Kennedy Space Center. Mystic is well known for its New England charm and local character.

How is Cocoa Beach different from Mystic?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Mystic and Cocoa Beach. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Cocoa Beach or Mystic?

You'll find a number of excellent museums and attractions in both Mystic and Cocoa Beach.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Cocoa Beach. The town's proximity to the Kennedy Space Center is a big appeal for space enthusiasts. It's easy to take advantage of the great beaches and then spend a day exploring the space center. Also in town is the Florida Surf Museum.

Mystic offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. There's a decent selection of museums around town with some of the favorites being the Mystic Seaport Museum, the Mystic Museum of Art, the Denison Homestead Museum, and the Old Lighthouse Museum, The Mystic Aquarium is also a popular destination.

Is the Food Better in Cocoa Beach or Mystic? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Cocoa Beach is an excellent place to visit for its restaurants. Also, Mystic is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Cocoa Beach. Seafood is the obvious choice in this beach town. Head to Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier for some great restaurants. In addition to seafood options, you'll find steakhouses, bistros, and pizza shops.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Mystic. As a coastal town, you'll find no shortage of seafood at many restaurants. Popular dishes include oysters, shrimp, or fish. There are also many casual restaurants that serve comfort food for classic American favorites like mac and cheese, pasta, or burgers.

Is Cocoa Beach or Mystic Better for Nightlife?

The notable nightlife scene is relatively similar in Cocoa Beach and Mystic.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Cocoa Beach. You'll find a number of casual pubs, bars, and grills around town where you can grab a drink in a relaxed setting.

Mystic has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. Head downtown for the most interesting bars and breweries. You can sip wine or enjoy a cocktail at a laid back pub with friends or family.

Is Cocoa Beach or Mystic Better for Resorts?

Cocoa Beach is a good destination for its luxury resorts. However, Mystic is not a resort destination.

Cocoa Beach has a handful of resorts to choose from. There are casual and family-friendly resorts in the area that make for a nice beach vacation.

Mystic is not a resort destination.

Is Cocoa Beach or Mystic Better for Beaches?

Cocoa Beach and Mystic both offer excellent beaches.

Many people visit Cocoa Beach for it's beautiful beaches. There are long stretches of sand that are great for swimming, surfing, water sports, or just relaxing in the sun. The most popular area is around Cocoa Beach Pier. For family-friendly, head to James H. Nance Park which also has a playground. If you have a dog, Canova Beach Park is your best option.

Mystic is considered a top beach destination. The beaches are accessible from town and offer a laid back setting that's not overly developed. Families will like Ocean Beach Park but Williams Beach Park is one of the easiest beaches to access. If you're willing to drive a bit out of town, you should check out Misquamicut State Beach.

Is the Shopping Better in Cocoa Beach or Mystic?

Mystic is a very popular place for its shopping areas. Also, Cocoa Beach is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Mystic. Head downtown for scenic shopping streets with boutiques, artisan craft shops, and jewelry stores.

Cocoa Beach is a great destination for shopping. You'll find lots of great local shops as well as malls and beach stores where you can pick up everything you need.

Is Cocoa Beach or Mystic Better for Families?

Cocoa Beach is an amazing beach town to visit for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Mystic is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

With a huge array of activities for kids, Cocoa Beach is very family-friendly. It's right by the Kennedy Space Center, which is a great excursion for kids and adults alike. There's also the Brevard Zoo, amazing beaches, and great parks where the kids can run around.

Mystic is a very kid-friendly beach town. Animal lovers will enjoy wandering around the many trails at Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center or visiting the famous Mystic Aquarium. You can also visit the shops around Olde Mistick Village or dine at one of the many kid-friendly restaurants.

Is Cocoa Beach or Mystic Better for Couples?

Cocoa Beach is an excellent place to visit for romance. Also, Mystic is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its romantic activities.

Cocoa Beach makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Beautiful beaches, fun outdoor activities, and great date night activities make this a wonderful couples destination.

Mystic makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Check out Mystic Seaport or drive down the coastline and visit the lighthouses. You'll also find breweries around town as well as many fun or romantic restaurants.

Is Cocoa Beach or Mystic Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Cocoa Beach is a good destination for times when you don't have a car. However, Mystic is lacking in options for its public transit.

Cocoa Beach has some public transit options. You can hop on the Cocoa Beach Trolley to access many sights in the area. It's a service provided by the Space Coast Area Transit (SCAT).

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Mystic. There is a bus but it has limited stops and only runs on weekdays.

Is Cocoa Beach or Mystic a more walkable city?

Cocoa Beach is a good destination for its walkability. However, Mystic is lacking in options for its high level of walkability.

Cocoa Beach is somewhat walkable. For the most walkable areas stay near the town center. In general, you'll want to have a car to access most of what the area has to offer though.

Mystic is generally not very walkable. While parts of town are very walkable, you'll need a car if you want to see the sights that are a bit further away.

For even more information, also check out Is Cocoa Beach Worth Visiting? and Is Mystic Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Mystic or Cocoa Beach?

How long in Cocoa Beach or Mystic?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Cocoa Beach and Mystic. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Cocoa Beach than in Mystic. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Cocoa Beach, and 2-3 days is enough time in Mystic.

Families should spend more time in Cocoa Beach than Mystic. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Cocoa Beach, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Cocoa Beach than Mystic. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Cocoa Beach that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Cocoa Beach than Mystic if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Cocoa Beach.

One day in Cocoa Beach or Mystic?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Cocoa Beach. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the laid back town of Mystic. It's also a great beach destination, too. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A weekend in Cocoa Beach or Mystic?

Cocoa Beach is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the quaint destination of Mystic. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. This town offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Five days in Cocoa Beach or Mystic?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Cocoa Beach. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Most people come for the beaches. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

The quaint town of Mystic offers shopping and museums. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A week in Cocoa Beach or Mystic?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the relaxing destination of Cocoa Beach. This beach town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Mystic. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people come for the beaches. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cocoa Beach and Mystic, we can see that Mystic is more expensive. And not only is Cocoa Beach much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cocoa Beach would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cocoa Beach and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Mystic would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mystic than you might in Cocoa Beach.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cocoa Beach Expensive? and Is Mystic Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Cocoa Beach or Mystic?

Cocoa Beach has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Mystic. When comparing the sizes of Cocoa Beach and Mystic, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Cocoa Beach or Mystic?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Cocoa Beach or Mystic in the Summer?

Both Mystic and Cocoa Beach are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Cocoa Beach because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the beaches and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Mystic this time of year.

In the summer, Cocoa Beach is a little warmer than Mystic. Typically, the summer temperatures in Cocoa Beach in July average around 81°F (27°C), and Mystic averages at about 73°F (23°C).

It's quite rainy in Cocoa Beach. In July, Cocoa Beach usually receives more rain than Mystic. Cocoa Beach gets 8.3 inches (211 mm) of rain, while Mystic receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Cocoa Beach or Mystic in the Autumn?

Both Mystic and Cocoa Beach during the autumn are popular places to visit. The shopping scene are the main draw to Cocoa Beach this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Mystic for the shopping scene.

In October, Cocoa Beach is generally much warmer than Mystic. Daily temperatures in Cocoa Beach average around 77°F (25°C), and Mystic fluctuates around 53°F (12°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Cocoa Beach. Cocoa Beach usually gets more rain in October than Mystic. Cocoa Beach gets 4.1 inches (103 mm) of rain, while Mystic receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain this time of the year. Also, June to November in Cocoa Beach is the hurricane season.

Should I visit Cocoa Beach or Mystic in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Cocoa Beach and Mystic. Many travelers come to Cocoa Beach for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Mystic in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Mystic can get quite cold in the winter. Cocoa Beach is much warmer than Mystic in the winter. The daily temperature in Cocoa Beach averages around 63°F (17°C) in January, and Mystic fluctuates around 28°F (-2°C).

In January, Cocoa Beach usually receives less rain than Mystic. Cocoa Beach gets 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain, while Mystic receives 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Cocoa Beach or Mystic in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Cocoa Beach as well as Mystic. Many visitors come to Cocoa Beach in the spring for the beaches. Additionally, most visitors come to Mystic for the beaches during these months.

In the spring, Cocoa Beach is much warmer than Mystic. Typically, the spring temperatures in Cocoa Beach in April average around 73°F (23°C), and Mystic averages at about 48°F (9°C).

Cocoa Beach usually gets less rain in April than Mystic. Cocoa Beach gets 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain, while Mystic receives 3.7 inches (94 mm) of rain this time of the year. Also, the hurricane season in Cocoa Beach is June to November.

Typical Weather for Mystic and Cocoa Beach