Things to Do in Daytona Beach, Port Orange and Ponce Inlet
The Speedway, the boardwalk, a beach you can drive on and a lighthouse at the inlet.
See top-rated activities »About Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach is the center of the county’s tourist trade, and its beach is the reason. At low tide the sand is wide and firm enough that cars have been driving on it for more than a century, and parts of it remain open to vehicles today. The core of the beach district runs along A1A between the Halifax River and the ocean, with the boardwalk, an amusement strip and the Main Street Pier near the Ocean Center. Storm repairs to the pier and seawall have dragged on since the 2022 hurricanes, but the boardwalk is open and new sections keep opening.
Daytona International Speedway sits on International Speedway Boulevard near the airport, about five miles inland. On non-race days, guided tours take visitors into the garages, onto the high-banked track and through the stands, and the Daytona 500 in February is the biggest single event of the year in the county. Downtown, across the river on Beach Street, has older storefronts, the Halifax Historical Museum and the riverfront parks where the November art festival is held.
Culture is closer than many visitors expect. The Brown, the museum long known as the Museum of Arts and Sciences, holds one of the largest collections of Florida art anywhere along with science and history galleries. The Mary McLeod Bethune Home, on the Bethune-Cookman University campus, reopened in 2025 after a long restoration and tells the story of the educator and civil rights leader who founded the school.
South of the city, Port Orange and the small town of Ponce Inlet are quieter. The Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse, the tallest in Florida, can be climbed for a view over the inlet and the river, and the nearby Marine Science Center treats injured sea turtles and seabirds. Lighthouse Point Park at the tip of the peninsula has a jetty walk, and Halifax River fish houses serve seafood on docks where the dolphins swim past.
Don’t Miss
Home of the Daytona 500 and the Rolex 24. Guided tours run on most non-race days and include the track, garages and victory lane.
Arcades, rides and snack stands beside the beach, anchored by a long fishing pier; sections are still being rebuilt after the 2022 storms.
Known for years as MOAS, it now goes by The Brown, with Florida paintings, science exhibits and a planetarium on a wooded campus.
Florida’s tallest lighthouse, with restored keepers’ houses and a climb of more than 200 steps to the gallery.
A county-run sea turtle and seabird hospital with exhibits and outdoor habitats, reopened in 2025 after renovations.
Local history in a 1910 bank building on Beach Street, including beach racing and early resort days.
A riverside ballpark where Jackie Robinson played in 1946; the Daytona Tortugas play minor league games here in summer.
Gardens planted around the ruins of a 19th-century sugar mill, with paths under old oaks.
Top-Rated Tours, Tickets & Activities in Daytona Beach
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ViatorTours, tickets, prices and reviews from Viator (a Tripadvisor company) and Tiqets — prices are per person, from, and were checked October 27, 2026. Best of Volusia County may earn a commission when you book, at no extra cost to you.
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Get free trip quotes »Daytona Beach — FAQ
How long is a Daytona International Speedway tour?
The standard guided tour lasts about an hour, and longer versions add more behind-the-scenes stops. Tours do not run on race days or during some events, so check the schedule before you go.
Where can I drive on the beach in Daytona?
Look for the marked beach ramps along A1A; driving lanes and parking are signed on the sand. Some areas near hotels and in conservation zones are closed to cars, and hours change with the sea turtle season.
Can you climb the Ponce Inlet lighthouse?
Yes. The climb is part of admission to the lighthouse museum, and the top gives views of the inlet, the river and the beach. Young children must be able to climb on their own.
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