From the southernmost platform, we could take in both Mosquito Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean at once. Are Wedding Ceremonies Allowed In The Park? Yes, you heard that right! This page explains the variety of accessibility throughout the seashore. Canaveral National Seashore and Apollo Beach, Florida - My Backyard 36 acres area for naturists. Our VIP coordinator is Ranger Avia Woulard. All that remains of the settlement today is the graceful State House, standing watch on the shores of Mosquito Lagoon, surrounded by the dense coastal hammock. We have visited this beach a few times while staying in Orlando and have enjoyed walking the beach, looking for shells, watching the fishermen on the bay side and frequently see dolphins and manatees over by the visitor center - which was true for this visit as well. Find incredible places and experiences that help you bring home a story through Can I Ride A Horse On The Beach? I had a great day photographing the Apollo District, at 7611 S. Atlantic Ave, New Smyrna Beach, FL. Annual passes are $40. This guide focuses on the Apollo Beach section of Canaveral National Seashore, which is located on the Atlantic Coast about 24 miles south of Daytona Beach. There is a sign as you approach telling you that is a possibility. We dont know its full purpose, but the hope is that by preserving it, the Timucua will also be remembered. My wife and I were in town and wanted to check out the place, primarily for birding. When & Where Do I Call To Make Turtle Watch Reservations? A once thriving late 1800's community that resided along the edge of Mosquito Lagoon at what is now Canaveral National Seashore. Playalinda Beach does not currently have a beach wheelchair. Provided by Touchpoints Contact Info Mailing Address: Canaveral National Seashore, Apollo Visitor Center 7611 S Atlantic Ave New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169 Phone: 386 428-3384 x0 Contact Us If you want to visit other areas, such as Playalinda Beach near the Kennedy Space Center, you will need to enter the park at Titusville or Oak Hill. All Rights reserved.Designed by National Park Planner. Boardwalk parking around 12 & 13 was full but opened up in a short time. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Fecal matter should be disposed of in a trash receptacle, toilet, pit toilet. Can we feed the wildlife? Read our. We lured them away with an armadillo sighting on the nearby boardwalk. The visitor center is compact, and offers a few small but well done displays highlighting the native flora and fauna. Do they go to the nude beach? I will say that most of the people I saw were aged hippies. However, if you choose to go beyond your comfort zone to enjoy feeling the sun and wind all over, you'll won't regret it. It may not be the most exciting destination, but the trail itself is lovely, leading through forests of saw palmetto and live oaks draped with ferns. After returning along a narrow trail through the hammock, two more armadillos greeted us at the parking lot. However, the next two parking lots at Playalinda are within walking distance of the nude beach, whereas Parking Lot #4 at Apollo is nearly two miles away, making it impracticable to use as an overflow lot for the nude beach unless you have a bike with you. At 50 feet high, its one of the largest shell middens found in Florida. Canaveral National Seashore Tide Times, FL 32775 This was a great beach for a first time clothing optional experience. It is not as popular as the parks southern beach, Playalinda, mainly because there is far less parking here. The law regarding weapons in national parks was revised Feb 21, 2010 (learn more). Co Road A1A Canaveral National Seashore, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169. Admission is good for ANY Canaveral parks, including Apollo Beach which is around an hour away. Service animal fecal matter must be picked up and disposed of properly. No. Just be sure to bring everything you will need for a day at the beach even the umbrella if you want shade. If you want to escape civilization, you cant do better than Apollo Beach, a breathtaking sweep of sand that embraces everything natural. Make reservations by calling (386) 428-3384 ext. For more information on our canoe rentals call the Visitor Center (386) 428-3384 ext. I lost my park pass. There were five of us in our party, all adults with an 8 year old. Our VIP coordinator is Ranger Avia Woulard. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Across the road from the beach lies the trailhead for Castle Windy. We pulled into a small parking lot across the road from the Castle Windy trailhead. New Smyrna Beach, Large sand dunes block the view of the park road and parking areas, so once on the beach all you see is sand and surf. New Smyrna Dolphin and Manatee Adventure Tour, Polynesian Fire and Dinner Show Ticket in Daytona Beach, Bioluminescence Clear Kayak or Clear Paddleboard Adventure Tour, Zipline Adventure through Tuscawilla Park, Dolphin and Manatee Stand Up Paddleboard Tour in Daytona Beach, Florida Bioluminescence Kayaking Tour | Haulover canal (Titusville), Cocoa Beach Dolphin Tours on the Banana River, Guided Wildlife Eco Kayak Tour in New Smyrna Beach, Small-Group Sailing Tour in Daytona Beach. Parking Lot #1 has 85 regular spaces, plus 6 handicap and 3 RV spaces. Mosquitoes can be very bad at the parking areas and in the restrooms, though once out on the beach the breeze keeps them away. Remember, it's clothing optional. During the summer the beach is open from 6am - 8pm and during the winter until 6pm. I eagerly collected the Junior Ranger booklets for J and T, but admit we didnt complete them during our visit. Fishing is part of a healthy lifestyle. If you aren't going to at least enjoy the freedom, just stop at gate 4. Reservations may be made up to six months in advance and paid for at the time of reservation. Canaveral National Seashore: Florida's longest unspoiled beach About Canaveral National Seashore and its 24 miles of undisturbed beach is the longest such stretch on the east coast of Florida. With plenty of wide open space to run, shells to discover, and even a washed up coconut, Apollo Beach at Canaveral National Seashore was far from boring. A service animal is defined as any animal that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. If you have a Senior Pass, it is $7.00 for the pass holder only. Was it a lookout to watch for approaching enemies? Backcountry beach camping is no longer allowed. Apollo Beach is a breathtaking sweep of sand that embraces everything natural. Sure enough, ants were swarming the ground near the signpost, and poor T suffered several bites. Some individuals, including active military and fourth graders, may qualify for a free pass. Visitors wishing to hike in the backcountry must have a Backcountry Hiking Permit. At Apollo Beach, which is at the north end of the park in Volusia County, nudity is legal, and an agreement was made between the nudists and the National Park Service to keep suits on until 150 yards south of the last parking area (though not everyone follows the rules). Located within the Canaveral National Park, this is a natural beach. By continuing on our website, you consent to our use of cookies. Picnic tables are available near the visitor center and the Eldora parking lot. Food and food containers must never be left unattended and must be kept out of reach of wildlife. At first, there were a few complaints. Apollo Beach Visitor Center does not offer reservations through Recreation.gov. After checking out the visitor center, we huddled under a nearby picnic shelter for a hurried lunch. Apollo beach is accessible via New Smyrna into the north end of Canaveral National Seashore. See all 2 Canaveral National Seashore tours on Tripadvisor, Playa Linda Frappe & Delicious Hispanic Food, View all restaurants near Canaveral National Seashore on Tripadvisor, View all attractions near Canaveral National Seashore on Tripadvisor, Allswell Communities Holiday Parks - parent brand in Florida, Canaveral National Seashore: Tickets & Tours, Canaveral National Seashore Tours and Tickets, Top Sites Of Istanbul: Half Day or Full Day Private Walking Tour, Skip the Line: Day Tickets Wet n' Wild Waterworld, Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Trolley Tour of Savannah, 7-Day Scenic Scandinavian Tour from Copenhagen exploring Denmark, Sweden and fjords in Norway. There are no bike trails, only the paved roadways. 7611 S Atlantic Ave Boyfriend and I wanted to visit the nude beach here, but only made it in time with 20 minutes to spare since it closed at 8pm, so we skipped viewing the nude beach located at #5 btw and instead parked at the closest entry to the beach. We love the beach and going nude there its super relaxing and a great place to visit, problem is the creep gawkers that go there to look and perv. There may be a slight decline leading to the sand, but some ramps traverse if the dunes are tall. Definitely worth a day-trip. Parking lot #3 is about three miles to parking lot #5, a log walk. Above you a Brown Pelican may be flying or diving for fish. Assuming all the beaches are about the same? Canaveral National Seashore Natural Wonder: Apollo Beach, Canaveral National Seashore - VISIT FLORIDA Does Canaveral National Seashore have any RV parking spots available? Yes, but glass containers are prohibited. The wife and I will be going down in the beginning of October for our anniversary we are a younger couple we went to the nude section of the beach last year through the week and was nice but was wondering if the weekends are more popular with people going as we would like to try and make friends while we are down there who also enjoy the nude sunbathing section. Since Canaveral National Seashore is part of our national parks system, it offers its own Junior Ranger program. No. We spent our final minutes on the beach hunting for shells and watching the waves as the tide slowly rolled in. All beaches have boardwalks with a ramp at each end, making them wheelchair accessible. New Smyrna Beach, FL - North District (Apollo Beach): ADA accessible ramps to the . You may choose any of the following links if there is something specific you are looking for. I'm not sure, but certainly other parts of the beach are busier most of the year. " Apr 2022 Great views of the launch pad were a bonus. COOL BLOCKS, MAIN STREETS AND WALKING TOURS, Certified Visitor Information Centers North Central Florida, Certified Visitor Information Centers Northeast Florida, Certified Visitor Information Centers Central West Florida, Certified Visitor Information Centers Central Florida, Certified Visitor Information Centers Central East Florida, Certified Visitor Information Centers Southwest Florida, Certified Visitor Information Centers Southeast Florida, Florida Travel and Vacation Guides - United States, Exchange Rates, Conversions, And Processes, Canaveral National Seashore Romances the Senses, Playalinda Beach at Canaveral National Seashore, 2 Florida Beaches with Incredibly White Sand. For now, we were off to explore more on foot. Canaveral National Seashore, Near New Smyrna Beach, Florida. One word of warning: As we stood near the stop sign by the parking lot, about to cross the road, six-year-old T suddenly began to scream. The first boat ramp you come to in the Apollo Beach district of Canaveral National Seashore is located right after the entrance station. Everyone was nice or just minded their own business. But there definitively should be quite a few people around,a gain especially on the weekends. We did not plan on swimming, so we were wearing shorts and tshirts. As you ascend the mound you might wonder what it was used for. This is a completely paved facility that launches into Mosquito Lagoon and has a parking area that can hold 22 vehicles with trailers. It is highly suggested to wear long sleeve shirts and long pants, loose fitting for warm weather. Keep the "wild" in wildlife. We do know that the first Floridians built mounds of this type wherever they lived and that the mounds contain the remains of their lives and have many stories to tell. It was our first armadillo sighting in the wild, but certainly not the last. Some individuals, including active military and fourth graders, may qualify for a free pass. Here on the Atlantic Coast, youll find mostly small clam shells in a variety of colors. By the way, it is legal to collect shells from Canaveral National Seashore, as long as they are not currently home to a living creature. Great views of the launch pad were a bonus. It can be a long night. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Wildlife Refuge Manatee, Dolphin & Mangrove Kayak or Paddleboarding Tour! There are no hotels, homes, restaurants, or other tourist amenities lining the shore. This national park is the largest stretch of undeveloped beaches in the state of Florida making it a national treasure. Own or manage this property? Don't touch it, make a note of the specific location, then report your sighting to a park ranger. Explore different ways to experience this place. Entry Fee: $20 for cars; $15 for motorcycles; $10 for pedestrians, bicyclists. A Summer Morning at Canaveral National Seashore. 96% of travelers recommend this experience. For us, it was a beautiful way to end our visit at Canaveral National Seashore. 91% of travelers recommend this experience. The dune system that is the backbone of the barrier island remains intact here in the seashore and changes with the winds and tides. The snowbirds will not be back until next month and stay until March and April. In contrast, the smallest parking lot at Playlinda Beach holds 50 vehicles. As someone who grew up near the Oregon coast, wide open beaches are kind of my thing, so I was delighted to discover Apollo Beach offered much of the same. Again, the souths popularity is due to the limited parking at Apollo Beach. No. Inquire at the Apollo Beach Visitor Center. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. If you want to see the difference, compare the crowds in the Apollo Beach photos on this page with those on the Playalinda Beach review page. Their phone number is 321-267-1110. The kids were aghast at the thought of naked strangers on the beach, but we assured them that on a blustery February day, it was probably a little too cold for most people to take their clothes off. It did seem an expensive entry fee just to visit brieflymaybe have a discounted rate for after 5:00pm. and reservations. This guide covers all the main stops that are accessible by road from the north entrance of Canaveral National Seashore, including Apollo Beach, Turtle Mound, Eldora, and Castle Windy.For information about Playalinda Beach at the southern end of Canaveral National Seashore, visit the National Park Service website. Be prepared before fishing at Mosquito Lagoon or the Atlantic Ocean. When is Canaveral National Seashore open? Throw in a little history at Eldora and Turtle Mound, some beautiful boardwalks and lush green forest paths, and you have all you need for a fabulous day on the Florida coast. To operate any motorized vehicle within the seashore or the adjacent refuge, it must be registered, licensed and insured, just like a car or motorcycle. To obtain a permit, speak with the Visitor Use Assistant on duty at the Apollo Beach or the Playalinda Beach entrance station. At Beach #8, handicap parking spots are right next to the ramp. This beach along with neighboring Klondike and Playalinda beaches are home to many thousands of sea turtle nests.