7 Best Beaches in the Daytona Area

Few beach destinations are as iconic and world-famous as Daytona Beach, where NASCAR took off. With miles of coastline, jam-packed sand you can drive on, and warm Atlantic waters, it’s no wonder people have been flocking to Daytona for decades. Daytona’s coast has all kinds of experiences for a beach day, from quiet, relaxing days far from civilization to an adventurous water sports experience. Let’s look at some of the best beaches in the Daytona area.

Daytona Beach

This iconic beach in the heart of all the action is the one that started it all. Its vast stretch of golden sand and lively atmosphere are free and public. Find a perfect patch of sand for sunbathing, swimming, and beach sports like volleyball and surfing.

Since many people flock to its shores in prime months, Daytona Beach does have lifeguard stations and dedicated Volusia County Beach Safety Patrols. Designated surfing zones run throughout the summer, with surfing allowed across the beach the rest of the year except near the Pier.

Part of what makes Daytona’s beaches stand out from other world-famous beaches is the wide, hard-packed sand. In most places, a bicycle or car would get stuck. Here, you can bicycle or drive your car right on the beach in designated zones, creating a unique beach day experience. Find 26 vehicle access points all along A1A. Volusia County (including all Daytona area beaches) charges a $20 vehicle access fee. You must obey the traffic access rules and watch out for pedestrians. While people may have once raced cars on the sands, the speed limit is now 10 miles an hour to protect people and sea turtle nests.

If you want to live near the beach, most of Daytona Beach’s barrier island communities are historic districts. The architecture and style vary considerably. Check out homes and condos in Surfside, Seabreeze, Ortona, and South Peninsula neighborhoods.

Ormond Beach

Don’t like the crowds of Daytona Beach? Head north from Daytona to the quieter and more laid-back Ormond Beach. You still get the broad swaths of golden sand and pounding Atlantic surf, but it’s much easier to find your patch of sand for a day at the beach. The less crowded shores are perfect for couples and families looking for peace and quiet.

On the south end is Andy Romano Beachfront Park, which has some beachfront facilities, a pavilion, and a playground. From there, it’s a stretch of A1A beach resorts, a golf and country club, and a mix of private and public beach access points. The warm waters are great for swimming or enjoying water activities like kayaking and paddleboarding.

The sands are hard-packed, so cars are allowed to drive in Ormond Beach. Hours are from sunrise to sunset with a $20 vehicle fee and only in designated zones.

To live near the Ormond Beach waterfront, look in neighborhoods like Ormond Shores, Rockefeller Heights, Plantation Island, Dianne Shores, and Surfside Club.

Flagler Beach

A short drive north of Ormond Beach awaits Flagler Beach. Residents and visitors like the laid-back vibe of this classically Floridian beach town. The town stretches six miles from North Peninsula State Park up to Beverly Beach. Along the journey on the A1A are more parks, oceanfront resorts, condos, and seafood cafes. There’s even a fishing pier and a winery, although the latter was damaged in a hurricane in 2022 and is still closed as of 2023.

The beach here is known for its soft sand and calm waters, perfect for swimming and sunbathing. Thanks to its length, you can choose your own adventure. See fewer people when you sunbathe at the Gamble Rogers section or go closer to town where beachgoers play music and a wine slushy is steps away at the tiki bar.

A stroll around town will give you a peek into old Florida coastal charm, with the open-air restaurants and 1950s design styles. No high-rise condos dot the skyline, but plenty of vacation resorts and smaller condos exist. Most homes are on the west side of Hwy A1A, which traces the beachfront through Flagler Beach.

Ponce Inlet Beach

Now, let’s turn southward from Daytona Beach. Four miles down on the southern tip of the Daytona Beach barrier island is the idyllic Ponce Inlet. Those in the know prize its peaceful and secluded atmosphere. The town runs from Wilbur Beach south to where it dead-ends at the Ponce Inlet. Here, the Halifax River reaches the Atlantic Ocean. The southern beach is a popular surfing destination; the colliding currents create rolling breakers.

Like other regional beaches, driving on the beach is allowed, but it’s confined to the southern end of Ponce Inlet Town. Large swaths of sand are vehicle-free. Midway down the beach is Winter Haven Park, which has handicap access to the beach, freshwater showers, and picnic facilities. Inside the inlet is a dog beach for your furry friends.

At the southern tip is the orange-and-black historic lighthouse. Climb the spiral stairs or the observation deck for breathtaking ocean and inlet views from the top. The museum has exhibits on its history, while the surrounding picnic grounds are open to the inlet.

To live near the beach, look in neighborhoods like Las Olas, Inlet Terrace, and Lighthouse Shores. Most homes are a short walk to the sandy shores of Ponce Inlet. They may have Halifax River views if they don’t have ocean views.

Smyrna Dunes Park

Directly across Ponce Inlet lies another hidden gem – Smyrna Dunes Park. Part of an 184-acre preserve right at the end of the barrier island, surfers and kiteboarders trek to its undeveloped beachfront for its consistent breaking surf. It’s one of the most popular surfing points on this stretch of coast. You’ll need to scramble on the pathways through the rolling sand dunes or drive northward on the beach from the Tide St access to get there.

With sand dunes, wildflowers, and coastal plants, this is truly a scenic and tranquil beach experience. It’s perfect for wildlife enthusiasts, as the park is home to various species of birds and sea turtles. A two-mile elevated boardwalk winds through the sand dunes, marshes, and inlet landscape with multiple overlooks. A handicap-accessible fishing pier extends 300 feet over the waters.

Smyrna Dunes Park also has a designated and rather large dog beach area on the inlet side where your furry friends can run off-leash and splash in the water.

As for where to live, The Inlet at New Smyrna and Inlet Villas are the closest neighborhoods to the park.

New Smyrna Beach

A favorite among locals, New Smyrna Beach’s 17-mile stretch of sand runs from the barely touched and undeveloped to the beachside small-town vibe the A1A is famous for.

The beach itself has earned accolades for exceptional opportunities for surfing, kiteboarding, and other water sports. It begins where the Halifax River empties through the Ponce Inlet Beach, creating one of the state’s better surfing breaks.

From there, a string of public parks and access points protect the sand dunes and seashore along New Smyrna Beach. Pick and choose from Clancy Park, with its small two-acre park and rustic facilities, to McLeod-Bethune Park, with a fishing pier and pavilion facilities. No matter where you plant your beach chair, you’ll enjoy a day at the beach swimming and soaking up the sun on the shore. If you settle in closer to the town, take a leisurely walk along the boardwalk or grab some delicious seafood at one of the beachfront restaurants.

If you do spend a day at New Smyrna Beach, there is one little thing to be aware of: sharks. Due to the strong tidal flows and the amount of small baitfish, shark sightings are common here. Some call it the “World’s Sharkbite Capital.”

But don’t worry; of the thousands that come to the beaches each year, only a few are nipped, and usually, they are surfers, not casual beachgoers. Lifeguards usually do alert when sharks are spotted nearby. 

To live on the barrier island and closer to the beachfront, look in neighborhoods like Coronado Beach, Colin Park, and Sea Woods. This more developed section has plentiful condominiums and some dedicated resorts. Single-family homes are on both sides of the A1A, and some are directly on the beachfront.

Canaveral National Seashore

Finally, for a unique beach experience, keep heading south to Canaveral National Seashore. This is Florida’s longest stretch of undeveloped coastline: read, no crowds. Nature lovers will love spotting various species of endangered birds, sea turtles, and even dolphins. Those with their eyes on the heavens should visit the seashore to watch rocket launches.

Part of the National Park Service, stop by the visitor center to learn about the area’s rich history or take a guided tour. With 24 miles of undeveloped beach, this will take you back to what Florida’s coast looked like before development and people.

Individual stretches of beaches are named Apollo, Shiloh, Playalinda, and Klondike Beach. There is no driving on these beaches. The park does charge an entrance fee even if you enter on foot. Facilities are minimal and, when they exist, primitive. And please note that two sections, one at Apollo and one at Playalinda, are nude beaches.

You can’t live in the National Seashore, but Bethune Beach and New Smyrna Beach are the nearest residential areas with to access the seashore.

Best Beaches Near Daytona

So there you have it – some of the best beaches in the Daytona area! Pack your sunscreen and towel, grab a beach umbrella, and get ready for some fun in the sun at these beautiful beaches. And remember, you don’t have to make Daytona just a vacation destination. People live here part-time and full-time! Find a beachfront home near one of these oceanfront beaches or work with a local real estate agent. And explore even more of the best beaches of Florida’s Atlantic coast.