Beach Guide: Pelican Park in Satellite Beach

A. At 1525 Highway A1A in Satellite Beach, on the barrier island south of Cocoa Beach in Brevard County. The city runs it, not the county. See the city's beach parks page.

Satellite Beach is a small residential city with 17 beach crossovers and four beach parks along its stretch of coast. In this smorgasbord of sand, sun and surf, Pelican Beach Park is a favorite.

A. Parking at all Satellite Beach lots is paid, enforced from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., 365 days a year.

Pelican Beach Park has over 130 spaces including six accessible spaces, plus an electric vehicle charging station. There is a payment kiosk on site, and current rates and annual passes are on the city parking program page. Parking on A1A or on residential streets is not allowed. The city now offers nonresidents a free annual parking permit specifically for Pelican Beach Park and Hightower East, provided they apply in advance.

A. No.

Brevard County Ocean Rescue staffs towers in designated areas of Brevard County. Satellite Beach has no towers on the county's list, and the city does not staff its own. Every beach in Satellite Beach is unguarded, all year.

That puts the responsibility on you. Rip currents are the real hazard on this coast, and they occur even on calm-looking days, particularly near structures. Check the National Weather Service rip current threat for Brevard before you swim. If you get caught, do not swim against it: float or tread water until the pull eases, then swim parallel to shore. The flag system used along this coast runs double red for water closed, red for high hazard, yellow for medium, green for low hazard and stay alert, and purple for dangerous marine life; see the county tourism office's beach safety page.

A. Pavilions with grills and electricity, available for reservation, two sand volleyball courts, an accessible playground, an accessible dune crossover, accessible restrooms and outdoor showers, and a little free library.

There is also the Pelican Beach Clubhouse, a beachfront indoor event space with an outdoor wooden deck and direct beach access. Tours are by appointment Monday through Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Call the Recreation Department at 321-773-6458 for the clubhouse or pavilion bookings.

A. Hightower Beach Park is the big one by area: more than 18 acres with 2,800 feet of beachfront and a 560-foot wooden boardwalk with observation areas, education signage, benches, covered picnic areas, restrooms, showers and an accessible dune crossover. It has 31 parking spaces, two of them accessible.

Shell Street has 18 spaces, covered picnic areas and restrooms. Crotty Park has 13 paved spaces plus unpaved overflow and no facilities. All of them are paid parking, and none has a lifeguard.

A. Pelican Beach Park is the best equipped in the city for it. The dune crossover, restrooms, outdoor showers, parking and playground are all ADA compliant. Hightower also has an accessible crossover, restrooms and showers.

Beach wheelchairs are available free from the Satellite Beach Fire Department. Call 321-773-4405 to arrange one.

A. Not onto the beach. The city's position is direct: pets are not allowed on beaches within Satellite Beach.

The nearest dog-friendly options are Canova Beach Park in Indialantic to the south, and parts of Cocoa Beach to the north during certain hours. The city has been reviewing its policy, including a pilot program that ran in early 2026, so the rule may change. The current prohibition is the one to plan around.

A. Quieter than Cocoa Beach, and more local. There is no pier, no strip of souvenir shops and no cruise-port traffic, just a residential town with beach access at the end of a lot of streets.

Surfing is the main draw. Satellite Beach has produced serious surfers, and the break here works for both surfing and skim boarding. Shelling is decent after a blow. The Ocean Reef Beach Festival takes over the park on the first Saturday in December.

A. Brevard County's coast is one of the world's most important nesting grounds, and the county's nesting season runs March 1 through Oct. 31. That is earlier than most of Florida, so spring visitors need to pay attention.

Lights on beachfront properties should be off or shielded through the season to keep nesting females and hatchlings from heading the wrong way. The state's three rules are keep it low, keep it long wavelength (amber, orange or red at 560 nanometers or more) and keep it shielded downward. Take gear off the sand at night, fill in holes and leave nests alone. See the state's sea turtle lighting page and the county's wildlife page.

The Sea Turtle Preservation Society in Indialantic runs guided turtle walks in June and July. Reservations are required and they fill.

A. Often, yes. Patrick Space Force Base sits immediately north of the city, and launches from Cape Canaveral are visible from much of the Space Coast.

Nothing about a launch is guaranteed; schedules slip constantly. Check the Space Coast launch page for the current schedule and suggested viewing spots before building a trip around one.

A. Satellite Beach sea temperatures peak in the range 28 to 30°C (82 to 86°F) on around the 26th of July and are at their lowest on about the 11th of February, in the range 20 to 23°C (68 to 73°F). You can check the current reading at NOAA's Cape Canaveral nearshore buoy.

Crowds build through spring break and summer, and weekends are busier year-round. Paid parking starting at 7 a.m. makes early morning the reliable window for a space. Summer is hot and humid with afternoon thunderstorms.

A. Satellite Beach has a solid run of casual local spots rather than tourist restaurants, including Long Doggers and Sun On the Beach.

The county tourism office keeps current listings in its restaurant directory.