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Daytona Beach is a vibrant oceanfront city on the Atlantic coast of Florida, some 50 miles away from the popular city of Orlando. Daytona is best known for its world-famous NASCAR race — the Daytona 500 — but it also has an incredible beach and lively beachfront community to explore.
There are plenty of fun things to do in Daytona Beach and the wider Volusia County area so you shouldn’t have trouble keeping busy on your visit. Here are 23 ideas to help you get started.
1. See Daytona from the Sky on a Helicopter Ride
A thrilling way to get the lay of the land when you first arrive in Daytona Beach is to take a helicopter aerial tour. You’ll spot key landmarks such as the Halifax River, the International Speedway, and the LPGA golf course, and you’ll be able to admire the long stretch of golden beach set against the bright blue of the Atlantic Ocean. Some tours travel right up the coast to the historic city of St. Augustine.
2. Explore the Halifax River
There are lots of ways to make the most of the Halifax River on your Daytona getaway. Paddleboard and kayak rentals are a peaceful way to explore, or you could rent jet skis and zip through the waters at speed. Boat tours can allow you to see the sights of Daytona Beach, or you could charter a fishing boat to see what you can catch for your supper.
3. Drive the Ormond Scenic Loop
The 30-mile Ormond Scenic Loop features picturesque waterfront scenes, live oak forests, and an abundance of wildlife. It passes through Tomoka State Park, Gamble Rogers State Park, and North Peninsula State Park, and it also gives you a chance to drop into The Casements, the historic site of John D. Rockefeller’s winter residence.
4. Spot Dolphins at Ponce Inlet
If you’re keen to see the manatees and dolphins that call the Florida waters home, join a tour at Ponce Inlet. Knowledgable guides share fascinating information about the wildlife that lives in the inlet while you paddleboard or kayak through the water. Ponce Inlet is also a great place to try parasailing for a fun bird’s eye view of the region.
5. Go Surfing in New Smyrna Beach
New Smyrna Beach is a charming seaside town that boasts fantastic art galleries, restaurants, and gift shops. It’s also an excellent spot for surfing. The American Professional Surfing Association holds one of its contests here, which is a testament to the quality of the waves. Head to the southern end of the area, where Bethune Beach offers cleaner breaks and smaller crowds, as well as a chance to see sea turtles.
6. Take a Day Trip to Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is the perfect spot for a day trip if you want to learn more about the region’s native wildlife. You can go hiking, spend time bird-watching, try backcountry fishing, or go kayaking in Mosquito Lagoon. The refuge overlaps with the John F. Kennedy Space Center, and it’s possible to catch a glimpse of the impressive rocket launch towers.
7. Drive on the Hard-Packed Sands of Daytona Beach
8. Learn About Wildlife at the Marine Science Center
The Marine Science Center is committed to educating visitors about Volusia County’s wildlife in the hopes of helping to protect it. A huge variety of species are rehabilitated and released here, and you have a chance to meet some of them in the teaching lab.
You can learn how to conserve and protect marine species such as sea turtles and stingrays, and you can also walk along a nature trail to discover the story of marine life in this region of Florida.
9. Watch Manatees in Blue Spring State Park
Blue Spring State Park is one of the largest winter manatee gathering sites in Florida. Hundreds of manatees head to these mild waters each year to avoid cold stress syndrome. Since the 1970s, numbers have grown from just 36 to 700, which is fantastic news considering the many threats these creatures face, such as pollution, habitat loss, and algae blooms. A boardwalk offers the perfect viewing point for observing the manatees without disturbing them.
10. Climb Ponce Inlet Lighthouse
Ponce Inlet is Florida’s oldest and tallest lighthouse and the second-tallest in the US. You can climb to the top of the lighthouse to look out across Ponce Inlet and admire the beachside views from 175 feet up. The lighthouse keepers’ cottages now serve as a museum and offer fascinating insight into the coastal lighthouses that have helped countless ships navigate safely to Florida’s shores.
11. Have Fun at Daytona Boardwalk Amusements
Daytona Beach Boardwalk is one of the biggest attractions on North Atlantic Avenue, the long highway that runs right alongside the beach itself. The Boardwalk is home to a variety of family-run stores, amusements, arcades, and eateries. It’s also where you’ll find the iconic Daytona Beach Bandshell, which hosts concerts and fireworks every Saturday evening in the summer.
From the Boardwalk, you can stroll through Ocean Walk Shoppes, see the Daytona Lagoon Waterpark, go on the rides at Screamer’s Park, and wander along the renowned Main Street Pier that extends 1000 feet into the Atlantic Ocean.
12. Tee Off at LPGA International Golf Course
LPGA International is the world-famous golf course that serves as the home course of the LPGA Tour. It’s a beautiful course that blends almost seamlessly with the natural environment surrounding it. It boasts 36 holes, a 3-hole championship practice course, putting greens, and short game areas.
13. Race on Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway, the race track of the annual Daytona 500, is a must-see attraction for racing fans and automobile enthusiasts. Take a tour to learn about the Speedway, or join the Richard Petty Driving Experience for a chance to drive a NASCAR race car on the track yourself with the help of a professional instructor. Be sure to check out the Motorsports Hall of Fame when you visit the Speedway to learn about the history of NASCAR and various other types of motorsports.
14. Chase Adrenaline at Daytona Beach Zipline
The TreeTop Daytona Beach Zipline Adventure is a fun activity for families in the heart of Daytona Beach. The park has two aerial obstacle courses with a total of 10 zip lines, but you’ll also have to tackle tight wires, hanging logs, swinging bridges, and other tricky games.
15. Go Hiking in Tomoka State Park
Tomoko State Park extends across 2,000 acres, and it’s a fantastic area to go hiking and explore the wilderness along the Tomoko River. There are many nature trails to explore, but a particularly popular one is a half-mile trail that passes through a hardwood hammock where the site of an ancient Timuncuan village once lay.
16. Indulge in Retail Therapy in Downtown Daytona
There are some fantastic opportunities for retail therapy in Downtown Daytona Beach. Tanger Outlets hosts some renowned brand names such as H&M, American Eagle, Coach, and Ralph Lauren. The Riverfront Shops is a great place to find antiques, books, jewelry, and specialty wine.
The Downtown Farmer’s Market is where you can discover handmade crafts, unique accessories, sporting gear, electronics, fresh produce, and much more.
17. Take the Kids to Sun Splash Park
Sun Splash Park is a 3,500-square-foot splash pad in Daytona Beach Shores and is the perfect way for the kids to cool off and have fun on a hot day, particularly if you’ve already visited Daytona Lagoon. Restrooms and outdoor showers are available, and there’s a covered playground and picnic tables.
18. Explore Daytona’s Artistic Side
There are lots of fantastic art galleries in Daytona Beach. One of the most popular is the Cici & Hyatt Brown Museum of Art, which has the world’s largest collection of Floridian art. The Museum of Arts and Sciences (MOAS), has a huge variety of artworks and artifacts that showcase American history, including a huge collection of Coca-Cola memorabilia. Ormond Memorial Art Museum exhibits fantastic art from local and national artists, including residents of Ormond Beach.
19. Celebrate Motorcycles with Daytona Beach Bike Week
Bike Week, a world-famous motorcycle rally, takes place in Daytona Beach on the first full week of March each year. Fun events take place throughout the week, including street festivals, bike rides and parades, and live music concerts. If you’re visiting the city in October, look out for Biketober instead.
20. Tour Daytona Beach by Segway
Segway is a convenient way of getting around Daytona, especially in the height of summer when the heat makes walking long distances a chore. There are lots of tour options available, and you can expect to pass a variety of important landmarks, such as the Bandshell, the Boardwalk, and the Jackie Robinson Ballpark, which is home to the Daytona Tortugas.
21. Stroll the Gardens of Dunlawton Sugar Mill Plantation
Dunlawton Sugar Mill Plantation in Port Orange was destroyed in the Second Seminole War in 1835, and its ruins remain today. Nature has thrived on the property, which is now considered a historic site and is home to lush botanical gardens. Look out for the huge dinosaur statues that were abandoned after the plantation’s brief stint as an amusement park called Bongoland between 1949 and 1952.
22. Find the Iconic ‘World’s Most Famous Beach’ Sign
Daytona Beach was nicknamed the ‘World’s Most Famous Beach’ in the 1920s, and there’s a cool retro sign to prove it. It’s situated right at the end of the East International Speedway Boulevard, and it’s a great spot for a family photo.
23. Relax in Mary McLeod Bethune Beach Park
Mary McLeod Bethune was an influential African-American stateswoman, educator, and civil rights activist who founded Bethune-Cookman College. The beach park in her name is the perfect place to spend a few hours relaxing or playing sports. It has volleyball, basketball, tennis, and pickleball courts, a fishing pier and boat launch, a playground, picnic pavilions, and restrooms.
Plan Your Daytona Beach Getaway
There are plenty of fantastic opportunities for sightseeing in the Daytona Beach area and now you know the best things to do, you can get started planning your trip. What will you get up to when you arrive in this sunny seaside city?
