Drive on Daytona Beach

Drive on the Beach during your Florida vacation

At the turn of the 20th century, wealthy industrialists used to visit John D. Rockefeller at his winter home in Ormond Beach and some would speed their sporty cars along the beach - this tradition has continued on sections of  Daytona’s beach, although lower speeds are enforced! At low tide, Daytona beach is up to 500 feet wide and the hard-packed sand makes it conducive to wheels. Of the 23 mile stretch of sand, when the tide allows it, you can drive a gentle sloped section for 11 miles.

The Right of Way

Pedestrians, sunbathers and wildlife get the right-of-way so it’s important to drive the speed limit and stay in designated areas marked by wooden posts and signs. Driving and parking is permitted from dawn until dusk seven days per week at a cost of $5 per vehicle from Nov. 1 to April 30th.

Natural Beach Areas

The pedestrian-only beach zones and conservation areas are off limits to vehicles and besides the obvious, there are reasons for these regulations. Sand dunes are as high as 25 feet and sea turtle nests are commonly found in the dune zone. Aside from hundreds of wildlife and plants, there are some such as the loggerhead sea turtle and the piping plover, that are a threatened species.  From May 1 to October 31, sea turtles leave protected waters at night to dig a hole in the sand and lay their eggs before returning to the sea. Months later, the tiny hatchlings make their way back to the ocean. If you’re enjoying your ride, don’t forget about these creatures and preserving the delicate beach ecosystem they are a part of.