Beach 411 ~ Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach, Atlantic Coast (Central)

• Beach type: family beach, but top spring break beach location
• Beach geography: 27 miles of wide, orange coquina sand, hard-pressed near the shoreline. Generally flatter within Daytona Beach directly allowing for drive-on beach access.
• Ease of access: free 24/7 access to pedestrians, drive-on access allowed in designated spots for a small fee.
• Extra costs: Drive-on access at $20 per car
• Beach amenities: Rental outfitters, restaurants, services and facilities all along the Daytona Beach strip make Daytona Beach a versatile, popular, accessible stretch of beach. Lifeguard stations in the popular, busy areas.
• Special note: Make sure you visit the Daytona Beach Boardwalk for a stroll!
• Geo-locator: Where is Daytona Beach?

The land of fantastic beaches and NASCAR racing

You say you're not stressed, but you're not fooling anyone. Find your stress-free self on 27 miles of wide, sandy beaches leading into the clear, shining water. And if you still need to move fast - even on vacation - the "birthplace of speed," where the 1920’s battle for the highest recorded speed on the beach was clocked at 276 miles/hr should be your destination of choice.

Don't let the fame of this beach fool you though. Daytona is annually one of the most inexpensive places to spend your vacation. Need a super-special bonus? There's no shortage of eye candy here. So grab your girlfriends, leave the men at home and head off to one of the world's most famous beaches!

Daytona Beach activities & attractions

Daytona’s Beach Activities: It's all beachy-living here - swimming, sunbathing, frisbee and volleyball. Your imagination is the only thing limiting you. If you're looking for something more exciting though, try parasailing, kayaking, jet skiing and scuba diving. Take a walk beachside along the Daytona Boardwalk & Pier for amusement attractions and great restaurants.

Daytona International Speedway: the home of NASCAR, the Daytona International Speedway thrills with it’s 2.5-mile track and 31-degree bank turns with racing events throughout the year culminating in the Daytona 500 in February. See up close just how high the speeds reach when you see the drivers racing along the track at the Daytona International Speedway. Consider a thrill with the Daytona Speedway Racing Experience and take a shot at driving a NASCAR for some timed racing sessions.

LPGA Golf Excellence: From the LPGA International and stops at The Hills Course and The Jones Course, if golf is your passion, these distinctive courses fit for all skill levels.

Spa Day: Matching the upscale opportunities for accommodations within this beachside city, a day of pampering won’t be too hard to find. Try these for their pampering bliss … Indulge Spa (Shores Resort and Spa), Ocean Waters Spa (Plaza Resort and Spa), Remedy Spa (Pelican Bay)

• Daytona Beach Ale Trail
• Consider Kennedy Space Center 65 miles down the coast
• Consider a visit to historic St. Augustine 56 miles up the coast

Daytona Beach events

As often as the sun is up (and when it’s down too), there’s events, festivals and activities abounding in Daytona Beach. Plug in your dates and see what’s happening in Daytona, like a sampling of the ever-the popular events below:

• Spring Break (Spring): College parties, drinking and all the fun you can dream.
• Biketoberfest (October): Motorcycle enthusiasts gather and enjoy racing, festivals and life concerts.
• Daytona Blues Festival (October): Top artists and performances around the city.
• Halifax Art Festival (November): antiques, original artworks, live entertainment and street cuisine.

Daytona nightlife

Daytona Beach brings alive the craziness of Spring Break. Thank heavens Spring Break only happens for a short span of the year. For the rest of the year, enjoy an evening full of clubs - beach clubs, blues clubs, comedy clubs, nightclubs and dance clubs, along with pubs, karaoke, cafes, live entertainment and lounges all to make for a really fun night.

Keep in mind the vibrant performing arts scene in the cities live theater, concerts, performances – Daytona Beach may have a party town reputation, but it’s alive in many ways with excellent quality live theater.

GoGirlfriend Daytona Beach Hotel recommendations

Considering the vibrancy of the Daytona Beach area – from it’s Spring Break party scene to speed-craving race fans to family-friendly beach getaways, Daytona Beach seeks to offer the broad mix across the different clientele’s. Check these diverse options out:

• Shores Resort & Spa – luxury AAA Four Diamond beach resort hotel with full service spa, luxury dining and colorful rooms boasting a “window full of water” (oversized views of the Atlantic and coastal waterways). Being beachside on the barrier island of Daytona Beach Shores, it’s a wonderful spot to relax and unwind. Visit the Shores Resort and Spa online and check them out on TripAdvisor.  
• Tropical Manor on the Ocean – winner of the White Glove Award numerous years, this colorful beachside small inn will welcome you with great service, great location and a quaint inn experience. Visit the Tropical Manor page for rates and check their reviews on Tripadvisor.
• Rent a Beach house: Condo’s, apartments and beachfront cottages on Airbnb and VRBO
• Standard Hotel options: Want the ease of moving into a hotel and exploring the Daytona Beach area from the comfort of a great hotel? Consider the range of Daytona Beach hotel options from the Hampton Inn Beachfront, Nautilus Inn, Holiday Inn Oceanfront, Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront among many others.

Daytona Beach weather

While farther north along Florida’s Atlantic Coast, this is sunny Florida and the temperatures are moderated by a strong Atlantic current pulling heat from the Caribbean. This band of warm air and water helps minimize cold front dips in the gulf stream and offers wonderful temperatures year-round. The Atlantic’s easterly winds cool the air somewhat with consistent breezes, but trades that breezy effect for active surf conditions to play in the water. Summers are wonderfully hot (80’s ‘F) as the sun is much closer tipping northerly to the Tropic of Cancer, winters (50’s ‘F) moderated with the Atlantic current. The rainy season falls in alignment with the upswell of heat and humidity, matching that of the hurricane season – early June through late November.

For more information or help planning your next Florida getaway, visit: 

• Daytona Beach Visitor and Convention Bureau
• Visit Florida ~ Daytona Beach
• Daytona Beach on TripAdvisor

Planning your next Florida beach getaway, visit our other Florida Beaches Guides:

• Apollo Beach
• Caladesi Island State Park
• Clearwater Beach
• Cocoa Beach
• Daytona Beach
• Egmont Key
• Englewood Beach
• Fernandina Beach
• Florida's Historic Coast
• Fort DeSoto Park
• Fort Walton Beach
• Gulf Islands National Seashore
• Haulover Beach
• Honeymoon Island State Park
• Jensen (Blind Creek) Beach
• Marco Island Beach
• Naples Beach
• Navarre Beach
• New Smyrna Beach
• Panama City Beach
• Pass-a-Grill Beach
• Pensacola Beach
• Perdido Key
• Playalinda Beach
• Ponte Vedra Beach
• Seaside Beach
• Sebastian Inlet State Park
• Shell Island
• St. Andrews State Recreational Area
• St. George Island State Park
• St. Joseph Peninsula National Park
• St. Pete’s Beach
• St. Vincent Wildlife Refuge

Ever been to Daytona Beach in Florida? We'd love to hear what you most loved about it! Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram – and let's continue the conversation!