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Daytona Beach is a popular holiday destination on Florida’s Atlantic coast, just 55 miles from Orlando. It’s known for its iconic Daytona 500 NASCAR race, but its hard-packed sand beach and thriving boardwalk area also make it a fantastic city for sunbathing and surfing.
There’s no shortage of fun things to do in the Daytona Beach area, but here’s a roundup of the 21 best attractions to check out on your next getaway to this thriving seaside city.
1. The World’s Most Famous Beach
- Website: codb.us/407/Beach-Information
- Address: 219 S Atlantic Ave, Daytona Beach, FL
The 23 miles of pristine sand that stretches along Daytona’s coastline is considered the “World’s Most Famous Beach” by locals. It’s perfect for sunbathing and playing volleyball but also a fantastic beach for driving on, thanks to its hard-packed sand. A myriad of parks are set along the beach, where festivals and community events occur throughout the year.
2. Daytona Beach Boardwalk
- Website: daytonabeachboardwalk.com
- Address: 12 N Ocean Ave., Daytona Beach, FL
- Opening hours: 9 am – late daily
Daytona Beach Boardwalk is a hub of family fun, boasting amusements, arcades, gift shops, sweet shops, and restaurants. There are often street performers entertaining the crowds during summer, too. The Boardwalk is one of Daytona’s most famous landmarks so be sure to check it out along with the nearby Ocean Walk Shoppes.
3. Daytona International Speedway
- Website: daytonainternationalspeedway.com
- Address: 1801 W International Speedway Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL
- Opening hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily
Daytona International Speedway was built by NASCAR racing founder Bill France, and since 1959 it has hosted the world-famous Daytona 500. The speedway has certainly put Daytona Beach on the motorsports map, and you can learn about its history when you take a tour or walk through the Motorsports Hall of Fame. Try the Richard Petty Driving Experience to drive a race car on the track yourself after being trained by a pro driver.
4. Halifax Historical Museum
- Website: halifaxhistorical.org
- Address: 252 S Beach Street, Daytona Beach, FL
- Opening hours: 10 am – 4 pm daily
Head to Halifax Memorial Museum to learn more about the history of Daytona Beach. Exhibits cover the prehistoric area, Native American history, early settlements in Volusia County, the Civil War, and other key moments in history right up to the present day.
5. Mary McLeod Bethune Home
- Website: cookman.edu/mmbhome
- Address: 640 Dr Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL
Mary McLeod Bethune was an influential African-American civil rights activist, stateswoman, educator, and philanthropist. She founded the National Council of Negro Women and was appointed the director of the National Youth Administration’s Office of Minority Affairs by President Franklin Roosevelt.
Her home is now a protected national historic landmark and serves as a memorial of her life and work. It is temporarily closed for refurbishment at the time of writing, but you can still admire the house from the outside, wander around the gardens, and visit Mary’s burial place which lies just west of the property on the nearby university campus.
6. Daytona Beach Main Street Pier
- Website: codb.us/529/Daytona-Beach-Pier
- Address: 1200 Main St Bridge, Daytona Beach, FL
- Opening hours: 8 am – 11 pm daily
Daytona Beach Pier in Daytona Beach Shores extends 1000 feet into the Atlantic Ocean and is a popular spot for fishing. It’s a picturesque place for a walk, and you can enjoy fresh seafood at the restaurants here.
7. Breakers Oceanfront Park
- Website: codb.us
- Address: 13 S Atlantic Ave, Daytona Beach, FL
- Opening hours: 8 am – 7 pm daily
Oceanfront Park is one of many beach access points and is a great spot for surfing and playing volleyball. The park is equipped with plenty of amenities, including bathrooms, showers, water fountains, and picnic tables, so you can easily spend the entire day here.
8. Marine Science Center
- Website: marinesciencecenter.com
- Address: 100 Lighthouse Dr, Ponce Inlet, FL
- Opening hours: 10 am – 4 pm Tuesday to Saturday / 12 pm – 4 pm Sunday
The Marine Science Center is where essential research and rehabilitation takes place to protect local wildlife. Sea turtles, freshwater turtles, snakes, tortoises, and many more species have been rescued, nursed back to health, and released into the wild. The same goes for birds that have found their way into the center’s Mary Keller Seabird Rehabilitation Sanctuary.
This is a must-see for animal lovers who want to learn about marine life and have the chance to meet some critters in the center’s large touch tank.
9. Jackie Robinson Ballpark
- Website: milb.com/daytona/ballpark/jackierobinsonballpark
- Address: Jackie Robinson Ballpark, 105 E Orange Ave, Daytona Beach, FL
- Opening hours: 9 am – 5 pm Monday to Saturday / 11 am – 5 pm Sunday
In 1946, Jackie Robinson became the first African-American to play in a professional baseball game in America, and that game took place at the Daytona Beach stadium that now bears his name. Situated in the downtown waterfront district, the Jackie Robinson Ballpark is a beloved landmark and a popular venue for live music as well as baseball games.
10. Cici & Hyatt Brown Museum of Art
- Website: moas.org
- Address: 352 S Nova Rd, Daytona Beach, FL
- Opening hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily
The Cici & Hyatt Brown Museum displays a huge collection of Floridian artwork, and it also serves as a history museum. Its 2,600 works of art tell the history of Florida from the pioneer days all the way up to the present day. Exhibits cover the Seminole people, the Everglades, the railroads, Americana, and popular cities such as St. Augustine. Tickets also include entry to an impressive planetarium show.
11. Angell & Phelps Chocolate Factory
- Website: angellandphelps.com
- Address: 154 S Beach St, Daytona Beach, FL
- Opening hours: 9.30 am – 5 pm Monday to Saturday
Angell & Phelps has been handmaking chocolates since 1925, and although the woman-owned company’s operations started in Michigan, the factory moved to Daytona Beach at the start of World War II. The founders of the business paved the way for female entrepreneurs at a time when woman-owned businesses were rare. Free factory tours allow you to see the chocolates being made and sample a few sweet treats.
12. Ponce Inlet Lighthouse & Museum
- Website: ponceinlet.org
- Address: 4931 S Peninsula Dr, Ponce Inlet, FL
- Opening hours: 10 am – 6 pm daily
Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse is said to be situated on the very spot where Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon slept when he landed in Florida. This is Florida’s oldest lighthouse, having been built in 1887 along with ten others along the east coast where shipwrecks were common.
Visit this historic site to watch a short film about the structure’s history and climb the 203 steps to the top of the lighthouse for an incredible view.
13. Museum of Arts and Sciences
- Website: moas.org
- Address: 352 S Nova Rd, Daytona Beach, FL
- Opening hours: 10 am – 5 pm Monday to Saturday / 11 am – 5 pm Sunday
The Museum of Arts and Sciences (MOAS) houses in the region of 30,000 objects that help visitors learn about American art, science, history, and culture. It boasts the largest collection of Cuban art outside of Cuba, a gallery focusing on Chinese art, a train station with railway cars, a collection of iconic Coca-Cola memorabilia, and a children’s museum with fun interactive learning experiences.
14. Lilian Place Heritage Center
- Website: lilianplacehc.org
- Address: 1000 S Peninsula Dr, Daytona Beach, FL
- Opening hours: 1 pm – 4 pm Wednesday to Sunday
Lilian Place was built in 1884 by one of Daytona’s first settlers and is the oldest Victorian-era building in the city. You can learn about the property’s history when you take a guided tour, but look out for ghosts as it’s said to be haunted by former residents. After your tour, head to the nearby historic Hotchkiss House for afternoon tea. You can also take a Halifax River Blueway kayak tour from the on-site access point.
15. Tomoka State Park
- Website: floridastateparks.org/Tomoka
- Address: 2099 N Beach St, Ormond Beach, FL
- Opening hours: 8 am – sundown daily
Since 1945, Tomoka State Park has been a haven for nature lovers. The 2000-acre nature reserve is largely unspoiled and is an excellent place to go kayaking, paddleboarding, walking, fishing, and bird-watching. Watersports rentals are available, and there’s a campground if you want to spend a couple of nights here. As you explore, look out for alligators, manatees, river otters, and bald eagles!
16. Daytona Beach Bandshell
- Website: daytonabandshell.com
- Address: 70 Boardwalk, Daytona Beach, FL
The Bandshell is an outdoor amphitheater situated at the north end of Daytona Beach Boardwalk. Since 1934, it has hosted a variety of acts and events, including a regular family-friendly show and fireworks display on Saturday nights during the summer.
17. Daytona Lagoon
- Website: daytonalagoon.com
- Address: 601 Earl St, Daytona Beach, FL
- Opening hours: 5 pm – 10 pm Thursday & Friday / 12 pm – 10 pm Saturday / 12 pm – 8 pm Sunday
Daytona Lagoon is both a waterpark and an arcade and is the perfect place for families to blow off some steam. There are thrilling water slides to try, a go-kart track for racing fans, an arcade, a miniature golf course, and a high-flying sky rope course with zip lines.
18. Daytona Flea and Farmers Market
- Website: daytonafleamarket.com
- Address: 1425 Tomoka Farms Rd, Daytona Beach, FL
- Opening hours: 9 am – 5 pm Friday to Sunday
Six hundred vendors set up over 1,000 booths at the renowned Daytona Flea and Farmer’s Market. You can shop for fresh produce, jewelry, artwork, fishing equipment, handmade crafts, cosmetics, kitchenware, and much more. Plus, there are restaurants on-site and plenty of other stores to browse nearby, including the popular Riverfront Shops.
19. New Smyrna Beach
New Smyrna Beach is a short drive from Daytona Beach and offers a quieter, less crowded atmosphere. This charming beach town is dotted with unique art galleries, stores, and eateries and is a great place to eat delicious fresh seafood. Relax by the beach, go walking in nature, or take a boat tour of the Indian River to spot dolphins and manatees.
20. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
- Website: kennedyspacecenter.com
- Address: Space Commerce Way, Merritt Island, FL
- Opening hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily
The Kennedy Space Center is an hour’s drive away from Daytona, and is worth the excursion to witness this incredible NASA facility. There are plenty of fun astronaut experiences to enjoy, including a shuttle launch simulation, and you can even get up-close tours of real rockets.
21. Ocala National Forest
Ocala National Forest is just over an hour’s drive inland from Daytona Beach and is the perfect destination for a day trip if you want to escape into the tranquil Floridian countryside. There are plenty of trails to explore in this 600-square-mile preserve. You can hike, camp, fish, swim in natural springs, and spot some local wildlife.
Plan Your Daytona Beach Sightseeing Itinerary
Now you’re familiar with the most popular attractions in Daytona Beach; you can get started planning your itinerary for your upcoming vacation to this sunny region of Florida.
