Beach driving and parking (2024)

Driving on the beaches of the Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach areas is a Volusia County tradition dating back to the early days of the automobile. For years, beachgoers have enjoyed a leisurely drive on the wide, hard-packed sands. Please be a responsible beach driver by driving only in designated areas and observing the speed limit. The driving areas are designated by signs and wooden posts. Please watch for pedestrians, sunbathers and wildlife. Parking is allowed east, or seaward, of the posts.

The beach is open to vehicles from 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. or sundown whichever is earlier from May 1 through Oct. 31, and between sunrise to sunset from Nov. 1 to April 30, tides permitting. There is a year-round $20 per day per vehicle access fee to drive on the beach; this includes one same-day re-entry.

Effective Aug. 21, 2023, front-elevated vehicles are not permitted on the beach. Vehicles with front fender height alterations exceeding four inches compared to the rear are not authorized. A "fender" is the contoured part over road wheels that limits mud, water dispersion, or other substances.

Beachgoers are encouraged to follow Volusia County Beaches on Facebook and Twitterfor the latest beach information.

Beach Pass Holders Express ramps

From March 1st through September, oneof Volusia County’s vehicular access ramps is now a Pass Holders Express rampand permit entry to handicap vehicles and current annual pass holder vehicles only. Thisramp islocated at:

• Crawford Road in New Smyrna Beach.

Beach passes

Annual beach passes are $25 for Volusia County residents and $100 for non-residents. For further information regarding beach passes, please visit www.VolusiaBeachPass.com or call the County’s beach toll vendor, TTec, at(866) 398-6352.

The following feesand passes are available at beach toll locations and the inlet parks.

• $20 daily beach entry per vehicle (one free re-entry/day/same vehicle)
• $10 daily inlet park entry per vehicle at Lighthouse Point and Smyrna Dunes Park (one free re-entry/day/same vehicle)
• $25resident annual beach pass (unlimited beach entry - 365 days from date of purchase)
• $20annual inlet park pass (unlimited inlet parks entry - 365 days from date of purchase)
• $100non-resident annual beach pass (unlimited beach entry - 365 days from date of purchase)
• $45resident combo pass (beach and inlet parks unlimited entry - 365 days from date of purchase)
• $120non-resident combo pass (beach and inlet parks unlimited entry - 365 days from date of purchase)

Steps to get a beach toll windshield sticker replacement.

1. Remove as much as possible of the sticker and record the serial number on the front of the sticker.

2. Turn in the sticker pieces to a beach toll booth or to the local office of the County’s beach toll vendor, TTec, at 2422 S Atlantic Av, Daytona Beach Shores, 32118.

The beach is always open and free to pedestrians and bicyclists depending on tides and access ramps being opened.

Volusia's beaches are divided into three experience zones -- Natural, Transitional and Urban. Natural beach zones exist from the North Peninsula State Recreation Area to Granada Boulevard in Ormond-by-the-Sea, from Emilia Avenue in Daytona Beach Shores to Beach Street in Ponce Inlet, and from 27th Avenue in New Smyrna Beach to Canaveral National Seashore in Bethune Beach.

The Natural zones generally correspond to the areas where off-beach development is less intense. The dune habitats within this area largely are intact. These areas also have the highest concentration of turtle nests on Volusia beaches. Public driving and parking is not allowed in the Natural beach areas.

The Transitional zones are those areas which have a mixture of natural dunes and some beach seawalls. The concentration of people in these areas generally is less intense most of the year. Sea turtle nesting in these areas is moderate. Public driving and parking is allowed in the Transitional zone 30 feet seaward of the dunes or seawall.

The Urban zones are those areas where off-beach development includes hotels, high-rise condominiums and seawalls. The concentration of people is the most intense most of the year. Sea turtle nesting in these areas is minimal. Public driving and parking is allowed in the Urban beach areas 15 feet seaward of the dunes or seawall.

Beach parking

On the beach, parking is allowed east (seaward) of the conservation zone. Please park either facing the ocean or the dunes. Please refer to the map for locations of off-beach parking areas.

More than 3,500public parking spaces exist at numerous locations adjacent to and near the beaches.

Off-beach parking is offered at these parks and parking lots:
(additional parking fees may apply)

• Ormond-by-the Sea: Bicentennial, North Shore and Tom Renick parks
• Ormond Beach: Andy Romano Beachfront Park
• Daytona Beach: University, 834 N. Atlantic Avenue
• Daytona Beach: Sun Splash and Breakers Oceanfront parks
• Daytona Beach Shores: Frank Rendon, Van Avenue and Larry Fornari parks
• Wilbur-by-the-Sea: Heron Street, Toronita Avenue and Major Street
• Ponce Inlet: Winterhaven and Lighthouse Point parks and Inlet Harbor Road
• New Smyrna Beach: Smyrna Dunes, Flagler Avenue and 27th Avenue parks; and Matthews Avenue
• South of New Smyrna Beach: Bethune Beach Park

Marine life

Volusia County's world famous beaches attract millions of visitors each year. The sparkling, white sands of Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach offer a variety of environmentally friendly recreational experiences.

The beaches also are home to hundreds of fascinating plant and animal species. Some animals, such as the loggerhead sea turtle and the piping plover, are threatened with extinction. As a result, they are protected by state and federal laws. To preserve this beautiful natural resource for future generations of beachgoers, all of us must work together to care for and protect this fragile beach ecosystem.

From May 1 through Oct. 31, Volusia beaches host an unusual marine visitor -- the sea turtle. These magnificent animals emerge from the surf at night to lay their eggs in nests dug into the dry sand, then return to the sea. Two months later, about a hundred baby turtles or hatchlings emerge from each of these nests and crawl to the ocean. This amazing cycle of Mother Nature is thousands of years old.

Volusia County has taken several steps to protect these gentle creatures. Beach driving and parking is regulated. Vehicles are not allowed west (landward) of the dune conservation zone where sea turtle nests are most common. Night driving and lighting from beachfront properties is restricted because the mother turtles and tiny hatchlings are confused by bright lights.