Apollo Visitor Center is sited at 7611 S Atlantic Ave, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169. Five parking lots with beach accesses run south from it along a six-mile road. Here are detailed directions to Apollo Beach and Playalinda Beach, both in Canaveral National Seashore, but more than an hour drive apart.
Vibe
Wild and pristine, Canaveral National Seashore boasts the longest stretch of undeveloped Atlantic coastline in Florida. It encompasses almost 58,000 acres and includes 24 glorious miles of unspoiled beach. It invites you to watch ospreys ride the sea breeze; to listen to the sound of the waves and play in them, and to reflect on the beauty of a world unmarked by civilization.
See, feel
Forget hotels, T-shirt shops, and eateries: Apollo Beach is about the surf, sand and sky, which stretch as far as the eye can see. Boardwalks span the impressive dunes, bristling with saw palmettos and brush, and have decks with benches where you can sit and admire the view. The sand is mostly crushed coquina shells, giving the beach a rich cinnamon hue, and strewn with shells, so you may want beach shoes or protective footwear. Most people set up by the boardwalk, but you can hike down the beach to have more privacy. Beach #1 tends to be the most crowded. Beach #5, the last beach on the park road, is a nude beach. Expect some waves, which will vary depending on the tides, wind, and offshore systems.
On or near the beach
Swimming, surfing, shelling and fishing are favorite pastimes. The Park also features other outdoor experiences that include back-country camping, horseback riding, kayaking, and birdwatching.
Accessibility
This page details park accessibility. At Apollo Beach, parking areas one through five provide beach access, and all are wheelchair accessible. Accessible parking spaces are located at the entrance of every beach ramp. At the Apollo Beach Visitor Center, you can check out a beach wheelchair to use. The Visitor Center is accessible by wheelchair as well as the pavilion and the dock behind it.
Facilities
The Apollo Visitor Center offers interpretive displays, restrooms, a gift shop, and a spacious auditorium for enjoying the closed-captioned park video. Bring everything you need for the beach—chairs, towels, water, food, sunscreen and the like. Beach #1 is the only beach in Canaveral National Seashore with a rinse-off shower. Each parking area has a restroom with chemical toilets. There’s no running water.
Lifeguards
No. Swim at your own risk. Check out Park safety information.
Parking
160 parking places; arrive early on weekends as the park will close when they’re filled.
