Port Canaveral Hotels in the Cocoa Beach Area: Shuttles & More
Cocoa Beach Hotels
Port Canaveral is a popular cruise port in Cape Canaveral, Florida, located about 45 minutes (approximately 47 miles) from the Orlando International Airport (MCO). Given its close proximity to the theme park capital of the world, some travelers choose to drive or fly in 1-2 days before their cruise to stay at a hotel in Orlando and enjoy the area’s many attractions, but others prefer a property that is close to Port Canaveral, like these hotels, many of which offer shuttle service to port.
If you choose to stay near the port, you can opt for an affordable hotel just minutes from port and with shuttle service, and I detail my top picks here. If you’re a “sand and sun” type who wants to add on an extra beach day before your cruise, I recommend a beachfront hotel in nearby Cocoa Beach, just about 15 minutes from Port Canaveral and 20 minute from Kennedy Space Center. Below are my top recommendations.
Beachfront Hotels in Cocoa Beach
Hampton Inn Cocoa Beach/Cape Canaveral
Address: 3425 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL, 32931
The Hampton Inn is “beachside”, meaning it’s a short walk to Cocoa Beach, and also in close proximity to restaurants and shops such as Ron Jon Surf Shop. Vendors at the beach rent umbrellas, chairs, and boogie boards to travelers, and guests can use towels from the pool area to take and use at the beach. The property offers free Wi-Fi and complimentary breakfast, and shuttle service to and from Port Canaveral is available at a cost of $10 per person or $16 per person round trip (scheduled in advance or at check-in). An Uber, however, may be a more affordable and convenient option. Parking is $12 for guests overnight for their stay, and additional parking beyond the stay is $15 per night. Hampton Inn does offer “Park and Cruise For Two” bundled option, which includes shuttle service for two and parking for up to 7 nights built into the room rate, but this is likely only cost-effective for longer 6-7 night cruises.
Best Western Cocoa Beach
Address: 5600 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL, 32931
This property is well regarded by cruisers for its value, cleanliness, and proximity to Cocoa Beach (just a short four-minute walk), although beach towels are not provided. Guests enjoy free Wi-Fi and hot breakfast, and shuttle service to port is available for $10 per person each way. Shuttles run 10:30 am, 11:30 am, and 12:30 pm, and guests schedule this upon check-in. Again, I urge cruisers to check Uber rates, which may be more affordable and convenient. Parking is available for $12 per night. Parking is $10 per night and Best Western offers a “Stay and Cruise” rate. Like some other hotels near cruise ports, this rate offers cruisers a bundled option, including the overnight stay, along with round trip shuttle to port for two, and parking. The distinction here is that there is no limitation to the number of nights, making this an attractive option for travelers embarking on a lengthy cruise.
Beachside Hotel & Suites
Address: 3901 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL, 32931
The standout feature of Beachside Hotel is its close proximity to Cocoa Beach, located just 315 feet behind the hotel, and its impressive pool area, which features a lazy river. Guests enjoy free Wi-Fi and hot breakfast and complimentary use of beach chairs, umbrellas, bikes, and surfboards, although these are limited in supply each day and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests may also use the hotel’s pool towels at the beach. As for shuttle service, Beachside offers a “Fly, Snooze & Cruise” transportation package, which can be purchased individually at $80 per person and includes for two people the following: transportation from MCO to the hotel, shuttle to the port and at disembarkation return transportation back to MCO from the cruise port. Parking is free on the first night for cruisers traveling by car, and then $10 per additional night. The shuttle each way to Port Canaveral is $10 per person.
Getting to Port Canaveral from the Airport
There are over 30 Cocoa Beach hotels, but these consistently rank among the top choices for travelers cruising out of Port Canaveral. When it comes to getting to these properties from the MCO airport, there are four main options. To view these options, and see the pricing for each of them, is check out my post here.
