Daytona Beach: drive onto the sand, then climb the lighthouse

Getting there

Daytona Beach is northeast of Orlando on Interstate 4. The drive usually takes about 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes from downtown Orlando, a bit longer from the parks. I-4 can back up near Orlando during rush hour, so leave after 9 a.m. and return before late afternoon or after dinner.

Driving on the beach

Daytona is one of the few places in Florida where you can drive and park on the sand. It's the main reason to choose it over other beaches. You enter at official ramps, pay a daily per-car fee, and drive slowly in marked lanes. The speed limit is low, around 10 miles per hour.

Driving is allowed only in certain areas and depends on the tide. At high tide, some sections close. Check conditions before you go. Don't drive on soft sand near the dunes, as cars get stuck. Some stretches are car-free, which is better if you want a quieter beach.

The big advantage of parking on the beach is convenience. Your cooler, chairs and shade stay a few steps away, and kids can nap in the car. Bring a windbreak or a pop-up canopy, since the beach is wide and open. Keep the car's windows cracked, and watch for people and children walking between vehicles. Lifeguards are posted along the driving areas in the busy months, and staff at the ramps can tell you which zones are open that day. Beach driving usually stops around sunset, so plan to leave the sand before then.

A beach day in order

1. Leave Orlando by 8:30 a.m. and enter the beach at a ramp south of the main pier for calmer sand.
2. Park facing the ocean, set up, and swim near a lifeguard tower.
3. Have lunch at a beachside spot or the pier.
4. Drive south to Ponce Inlet in the afternoon and climb the lighthouse.
5. Head home before dusk, or stay for an early dinner by the inlet.

The Speedway and the lighthouse

Daytona International Speedway hosts the Daytona 500, usually in February, and other big races through the year. On non-race days, the Speedway offers guided tours that take you around the track and behind the scenes. Tours run on a schedule, so book ahead.

The Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse, south of Daytona, is the tallest lighthouse in Florida. The climb is steep, with around 200 steps, and the view over the inlet and coast is excellent. The grounds include small museums in the old keepers' homes. Plan about 90 minutes. Nearby, the inlet has casual waterfront restaurants and a beach park with a jetty, good for watching boats come and go.

Back in Daytona, the main pier and the boardwalk area have arcades, rides and quick food, which suit kids. For a quieter evening, the riverfront downtown on Beach Street has a park and local restaurants.

When to go, and when to avoid

Daytona hosts big events that change the town completely:

• Speedweeks and the Daytona 500: usually February.
• Bike Week: usually early to mid March, with huge motorcycle crowds.
• Biketoberfest: usually October.
• Spring break: March and April bring college crowds.

If you're not here for those events, avoid them. Hotels fill, prices rise and traffic jams. Check Orlando in March for that month's crowd picture. Weekdays the rest of the year are usually relaxed, and late spring and fall weekdays are the sweet spot.

Daytona is wide, busy and lively, with hotels and arcades along the shore. For a smaller, surfier town, New Smyrna Beach is just south. For history instead of sand, St. Augustine is about an hour north.

Mistakes to avoid

• Parking too close to the water. The tide comes in faster than you think.
• Driving on soft sand. Tow trucks charge plenty.
• Skipping the flags. Rip currents are common.
• Coming during Bike Week by accident. Check the calendar.
• Leaving food out on the sand. Gulls are bold, and they will take a sandwich from your hand.