Things to Do in New Smyrna Beach and Canaveral National Seashore
A surf town with two walkable streets and the gateway to an unbuilt stretch of coast.
See top-rated activities »About New Smyrna Beach
New Smyrna Beach is about 15 miles south of Daytona but runs at a different speed. The town was founded as a colony in 1768, making it one of the older European settlements in Florida, and its beachside has kept a low-rise, surf-shop character. Flagler Avenue, which ends at the beach, is the main strip for casual restaurants, ice cream and souvenir stores, while Canal Street on the mainland side has older brick buildings, galleries and a slower pace.
Surfers know the area well because the waves near Ponce de Leon Inlet are among the most consistent in Florida. At the inlet’s south side, Smyrna Dunes Park wraps around the point with about two miles of raised boardwalks over dunes and scrub, with views of the inlet, the lighthouse across the water and dolphins in the channel. Leashed dogs are allowed on part of the park’s beach, which is unusual for the county.
South of town, Canaveral National Seashore protects roughly 24 miles of beach without hotels or houses, and its northern district starts just past the city limits. Apollo Beach, the northern section, has boardwalk access points and a visitor center, and Turtle Mound, a shell midden built by the Timucua people, rises about 50 feet above the lagoon. Eldora, a former settlement on Mosquito Lagoon, keeps a restored early 1900s house open as a small museum.
The water behind the barrier island is the other draw. Mosquito Lagoon and the Indian River North are shallow, salty and dotted with mangrove islands, and they are some of the best places in the region to see dolphins and manatees from a kayak or paddleboard. The Marine Discovery Center runs lagoon programs and eco tours, and the Sugar Mill Ruins, a county park on the mainland, preserve the coquina walls of a plantation-era mill.
Don’t Miss
The beachside and mainland main streets, lined with locally owned restaurants, galleries and shops.
Boardwalks over dunes at the south side of Ponce de Leon Inlet, with beach, fishing and inlet views.
Undeveloped beach, dunes and lagoon, with Turtle Mound and the historic Eldora State House in the north district.
Coquina walls of a 19th-century sugar mill in a shaded county park on the mainland.
A nonprofit lagoon education center offering guided boat and kayak trips on the Indian River Lagoon.
An artists’ residency set in the woods, with a gallery and public programs; it also produces the IMAGES art festival.
Top-Rated Tours, Tickets & Activities in New Smyrna 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 »New Smyrna Beach — FAQ
Is New Smyrna Beach good for surfing?
Yes. The breaks near the inlet are among the most reliable on Florida’s Atlantic coast. Several shops on Flagler Avenue rent boards and give lessons.
Does Canaveral National Seashore charge admission?
Yes, the seashore charges an entrance fee per vehicle, person or bicycle, and the parking lots at Apollo Beach can fill and close on busy weekends. Arrive early in summer.
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