Merritt Island is in eastern central Florida in the United States. The nearest cities are Orlando, Melbourne, and Daytona Beach. A significant portion of north Merritt Island is access-restricted (closed to the public) by United States federal agencies (Kennedy Space Center and Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge). The rest of Merritt Island is part of Brevard County.

North Merritt Island refers to the area north of State Road 528. South Merritt Island is the portion south of State Road 520. The remaining area between State Roads 520 and 528 is Central Merritt Island.

Boundaries

Merritt Island is long and narrow, bounded by the Indian River on the west and the Banana River on the east. Across the Indian River is the Florida mainland. Across the Banana River are barrier islands that have beaches on the Atlantic Ocean. In the south, the rivers merge, forming the southern boundary. Beyond the southern boundary, the Indian River flows into the Atlantic at Sebastian Inlet. On the north side, the boundary is the Indian River, a narrow strip of land, and Mosquito Lagoon. The north boundary makes Merritt Island a peninsula, however, it is functionally an island in most regards.

Roadways

The main road is north-to-south. In the north and central areas, it is known as State Road 3 and North Courtenay Parkway. In the south, the names are County Road 3, South Courtenay Parkway, and Tropical Trail. Although this road runs almost the full length of Merritt Island, usage of the northern portion is restricted by federal agencies. The southern portion is narrow with low speed limits.

The main east-to-west road is State Road 520. It connects with Cocoa on the west and Cocoa Beach on the east.

State Road 528 is east to west. It has a higher speed limit and only two exits for Merritt Island. It connects with Cocoa on the west and Port Canaveral on the east.

Bridges

Bridges connect Merritt Island to the Florida mainland and barrier island beaches.

Connections to the Florida mainland:

• A Max Brewer Bridge on Max Brewer Memorial Parkway, connecting north Merritt Island to Titusville.
• Courtenay Parkway crosses the Haulover Canal, connecting north Merritt Island to Oak Hill.
• Hubert Humphrey Bridge on State Road 520 crosses the Indian River, connecting central Merritt Island to Cocoa.
• NASA Causeway Bridge on State Road 405 crosses the Indian River, connecting north Merritt Island to Titusville.

Connections to the beach:

• Banana River Bridge on State Road 528 crosses the Banana River, connecting central Merritt Island to Port Canaveral.
• Mathers Bridge on County Road 3 crosses the Banana River, connecting South Merritt Island to Indian Harbor Beach.
• Willard Peebles Bridge on State Road 520 crosses the Banana River, connecting central Merritt Island to Cocoa Beach.
• Roy D. Bridges Jr Bridge on NASA Causeway crosses the Banana River, connecting Kennedy Space Center to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (within a restricted area).

Connections within Merritt Island:

• Christa McAuliffe Bridge on North Courtenay Parkway just north of State Road 528 crosses Canaveral Barge Canal.
• State Road 520 crosses Sykes Creek.
• Sykes Creek Parkway crosses Sykes Creek just north of State Road 520.

Waterways

Significant portions of Merritt Island are near waterways.

• Banana River forms the eastern boundary of Merritt Island
• Canaveral Barge Canal bisects Merritt Island just north of State Road 528.
• Haulover Canal is on federal property in north Merritt Island
• Honeymoon Lake is a lake in south Merritt Island
• Indian River forms the western and southern boundary of Merritt Island
• Sykes Creek bisects a large section of Merritt Island from north of State Road 528 to south of State Road 520.