Daytona Beach Day Trip from Orlando: What to Do

Daytona Beach is the closest big beach town to Orlando, and one of the easiest day trips. Here's how to spend a day there.

How far is Daytona Beach from Orlando?

About 55 miles, roughly an hour by car on I-4 East. That makes it a realistic half-day trip too.

What to do in Daytona Beach

• The beach. Wide, hard-packed sand. On some stretches you can even drive on the beach, for a fee per car.
• The Main Street Pier and boardwalk. Arcades, rides and food right on the sand.
• Daytona International Speedway. Tours run on non-race days, and the Daytona 500 is every February.
• Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse. Florida's tallest lighthouse, a short drive south. Climb it for views of the inlet.
• Dolphins and manatees. A guided dolphin and manatee paddle tour explores Daytona's waterways by paddleboard or kayak, beginners welcome.

How to spend a day

1. Morning: a paddle tour while the water is calm.
2. Lunch: near the beach.
3. Afternoon: beach time, or the Speedway tour if you'd rather stay dry.
4. Late afternoon: the lighthouse, then dinner by the inlet.

Tips

• Watch the calendar. Bike Week (March), spring break and race weeks bring big crowds and higher prices.
• Bring water shoes for the paddle tour, and clothes you don't mind getting wet.
• Check beach driving rules before you drive onto the sand. Not every stretch allows it.

Closer to Orlando

Short on time? Real Florida is 30 minutes from the theme parks: airboat tours at Boggy Creek and baby highland cows at Mini Moo Land, both 10% off through us.

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