Daytona Beach
23 miles of hard-packed beach you can actually drive on — plus the Daytona International Speedway.
Distance
56 mi
Drive time
~65 min
Route
I-4 E to I-95 N — exits for International Speedway Blvd or Granada Blvd
Best window
March–May and September–November have the best beach weather without spring-break or Bike Week crowds
About Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach is the closest Atlantic-coast beach town to Orlando — about 56 miles and just over an hour on I-4 East to I-95 North. It's famous for its 23 miles of hard-packed sand that vehicles can drive on (in designated zones, with a $20 daily beach pass), the Daytona International Speedway and NASCAR experiences, and a laid-back boardwalk scene. With a 15-passenger van it's an easy day or overnight from Orlando.
Why it's worth the drive
- One of the few U.S. beaches where you can legally drive on the sand (designated zones, $20/vehicle daily).
- Home of the Daytona International Speedway and the Daytona 500 — speedway tours and the Motorsports Hall of Fame run year-round.
- Family-friendly boardwalk with a Ferris wheel, arcades, and the historic Daytona Beach Bandshell.
- Easy add-on to St. Augustine (45 min north) or the Kennedy Space Center (1 hr south) for a two-day Florida coast road trip.
Things to do
What groups actually do at Daytona Beach
Daytona International Speedway
Tour the home of the Daytona 500 — three tour tiers, with the All-Access option taking groups onto pit road and the start/finish line.
Drive on the beach
Buy a $20 daily beach pass at any access ramp (cash or card) — designated zones run roughly 8 AM to 7 PM (varies by season/turtle nesting).
Daytona Beach Boardwalk & Pier
Ferris wheel, arcade, and the historic Joyland — best at sunset.
Ponce Inlet Lighthouse
Florida's tallest lighthouse (175 ft) — 203 steps to the top for a Cape Canaveral-to-St. Augustine view.
Museum of Arts & Sciences
A surprisingly strong regional museum with a planetarium, root-cellar Cuban collection, and a giant ground-sloth skeleton.
Sunrise on the beach
East-coast sunrise from a free public beach approach — bring coffee, send the van back for breakfast in town.
Group + van tips
Driving a 12-15 passenger van to Daytona Beach
- Driving on the beach is allowed for standard vehicles only — large 15-passenger vans usually fit the size limit, but check at the access ramp for current rules.
- If you don't want to drive on the sand, free beach-approach parking lots are at every major street end (Granada Blvd, International Speedway Blvd, Dunlawton Ave).
- The Daytona International Speedway has free, oversized-vehicle parking next to the visitor center.
- Watch for sea-turtle nesting season (May–October) — beach driving rules tighten and lights are dimmed near the shore.
Beach access ramps and the Speedway lot both accommodate 12-15 passenger vans.
When to go
Best time to visit
March–May and September–November have the best beach weather without spring-break or Bike Week crowds. Daytona 500 (mid-February) and Bike Week (early March) are peak weekends — book lodging months ahead.
Need a van for the trip?
Our Orlando fleet of 12-15 passenger Sprinters and Ford Transits delivers free to MCO, Disney-area hotels, and downtown Orlando.
See Orlando vansPlan your visit
Official Daytona Beach resources
Visit Daytona Beach (CVB)
www.daytonabeach.com
Daytona International Speedway — tours & tickets
www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com
Volusia County — beach driving & passes
www.volusia.org
Ponce Inlet Lighthouse
ponceinlet.org
More background
Daytona Beach FAQ
How far is Daytona Beach from Orlando?
About 56 miles northeast of Orlando — typically 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes via I-4 East to I-95 North.
Can you really drive on the beach in Daytona?
Yes. Volusia County allows vehicles on designated beach zones with a $20 daily pass (or $100 annual). Hours are roughly 8 AM to 7 PM, with stricter rules during sea-turtle nesting season (May–October).
Is the Daytona International Speedway open when there's no race?
Yes — guided tours run almost every day of the year, including pit-road and start/finish-line access on the All-Access tour.
Can I combine Daytona Beach with Kennedy Space Center?
Yes — Kennedy Space Center is about 1 hour south of Daytona Beach on US-1 / I-95. Pair them for a two-day Space Coast + Daytona road trip from Orlando.
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