Should I spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Cocoa Beach?

Should you spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Cocoa Beach?

Many travelers spend two to five days in Cocoa Beach during their visit. After all, the fun-filled beach town has plenty to explore such as the beaches, the famous sights and museums, and the restaurant scene.

Cocoa Beach is a fun destination that attracts families and surfers. It's proximity to the Kennedy Space Center make it a unique destination for outer space enthusiasts, but it also has wonderful beaches that have great waves for surfing. Beginning surfers will also benefit from the area's surf. Visitors can enjoy a fun combination of playing in the sun and learning about the country's space program.

Do you have 3, 4, or 5 days to visit Cocoa Beach? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.


Is 3 days enough time in Cocoa Beach?

Cocoa Beach is a small beach town that is quite popular with tourists. So with three days, you'll probably feel rushed to relax at the beach, wander through the museums, dine out at amazing restaurants, and enjoy the evening activities. You really need more time to appreciate everything that the fun-filled beach town has to offer. Many visitors prefer to have two to five days to enjoy the beach and other sights. If you have three days or less, we still have some great ideas for what to do while you're here.

How to spend 3 days in Cocoa Beach

When visiting Cocoa Beach, you can't miss the Kennedy Space Center as it's one of the most famous places in the world. Make sure you give yourself enough time to enjoy it.

You'll absolutely want to spend some time enjoying the food scene in this beach town, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine for a meal or two. 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.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Village Food Tours Lunch & History Tour ($100)

Public transit in Cocoa Beach is easy and efficient. In just a few days, you should be able to get around the beach town quite easily. 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).

The beautiful beaches await you in Cocoa Beach, so spend the day (or several, if you can) relaxing on the sand or swimming in the water. 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.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Bioluminescent Kayak Tour. Fin Expeditions is Cocoa Beaches Top Rated Kayak Tour ($69)
  • Dolphin and Manatee Kayak and SUP Adventure Tour of Cocoa Beach ($65)
  • Bioluminescent Clear Bottom Kayak or Paddleboard Sit-On-Top Kayak Hybrid Tour! ($75)

This beach town is very popular for nightlife. After the sun goes down, head out to one of the many popular venues around town. You'll find a number of casual pubs, bars, and grills around town where you can grab a drink in a relaxed setting.

Plenty of amazing museums and famous landmarks make Cocoa Beach a special place to visit. Spend at least one full day visiting the sights that are appealing to you. 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.

There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Cocoa Beach.

Is 4 days enough time in Cocoa Beach?

Four days is the perfect amount of time in Cocoa Beach, as many visitors like to spend around two to five days here. You'll be able to relax at the beach, wander through the museums, dine out at amazing restaurants, and enjoy the evening activities. We have some suggestions for what to do and where to start your adventure below.

Cocoa Beach, Florida Cocoa Beach, Florida

How to spend 4 days in Cocoa Beach

With 4 days in Cocoa Beach, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the beach town has to offer.

Shopping in Cocoa Beach is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. You'll find lots of great local shops as well as malls and beach stores where you can pick up everything you need.

There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Cocoa Beach.

Is 5 days enough time in Cocoa Beach?

Five days is more than enough time to see the activities and enjoy the beach in Cocoa Beach. Many visitors prefer to spend two to five days here, so more time would allow you to experience the beaches, the famous sights and museums, the restaurant scene, and the nightlife scene at your own pace. We have a few suggestions of things to do while you're visiting, and then take a day trip if you're looking to explore further around the area.

How to spend 5 days in Cocoa Beach

If you have more than 5 days in Cocoa Beach, you'll appreciate the added time for everything the beach town has to offer.

After you've explored most of Cocoa Beach, take a day trip to one of the many beautiful destinations nearby.

There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Cocoa Beach.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Cocoa Beach, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.

Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.

Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.