Overview
Playalinda is a sandbar beach break tucked inside a national park just north of Titusville, cut off from the rest of Brevard's breaks by the Kennedy Space Center on Cape Canaveral. It serves up rights and lefts over sand and runs a touch punchier than Cocoa Beach, though it isn't wildly different from the rest of Central Florida. Its real value shows when the Cape shadows the southern beaches from a north swell: with the south blocked out, Playalinda becomes a genuinely good alternative, especially when it's blowing from the southwest.
When It Works
The break draws swell from north-northeast to east-southeast, and it's usable from 0.6 m / 2 ft to 3 m / 10 ft. Average swells tend to set up average surf here, so this is a spot that really comes alive on solid hurricane swells. Plan around the fall-through-spring window plus hurricane season for the best of it.
Wind and Tide
Look for a west-southwest offshore wind, with a workable wind window running from south through west-southwest to northwest. Tide-wise, low tide is the call, and a rising tide is generally the better of the two as the water pushes in.
Local Tips
Playalinda suits just about everyone, from beginners through to experts, and it takes a broad quiver: shortboard, funboard, longboard, or fish all have a place depending on the day. Expect a moderately busy lineup that can feel a little reserved. It does get crowded, but there are enough sandbars that you can usually find a peak to yourself, though the best peaks on a good swell will be packed.
Access
There's an entry fee, and the park is open year-round, but it may close at times around rocket launches. Call 321-267-1110 for info before you make the drive.
