Florida
Daytona Beach is the rare destination where the beach is also the history lesson.
Cars have driven on its hard, white sand for more than a century, speed records were set here before the speedway was built, and the Daytona 500 still opens the NASCAR season every February. This guide covers the headline sights, from the high banks of Daytona International Speedway and the boardwalk and pier to the 175-foot Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, then widens the frame to the wild side of Volusia County: manatees at Blue Spring in winter, the springs at De Leon, dolphins on the Halifax River, clear-kayak mangrove tours at New Smyrna Beach and airboats on the St. Johns. It adds the quieter towns of Ormond Beach and Daytona Beach Shores, the museums and the Jackie Robinson ballpark, and it matches you with ten hotels across the central strip, the Shores, the speedway area and Ormond Beach, with guides on when to go and how to plan around race weeks and Bike Week.
Daytona International Speedway
The 2.5-mile high-banked tri-oval that hosts the Daytona 500 every February. On non-race days you can tour the track, the garage area and the grandstands; on race weekends the whole city turns into a motorsport festival.
Driving on Daytona Beach
One of the few places in America where you can still drive your car onto the sand. Cruise the hard-packed shoreline at beach speed, park by your umbrella and watch the surf from your own front seat.
Daytona Beach Boardwalk and Main Street Pier
The classic oceanfront strip: arcades, rides, a long fishing pier, a historic bandshell and the neon after dark. Free to wander, with attractions that charge by the ride.
Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse and Museum
Florida's tallest lighthouse: 175 feet and 203 steps to a sweeping view over the inlet, the Atlantic and the Halifax River, plus a campus of keepers' houses and a museum of historic lenses.
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
The 2.5-mile high-banked tri-oval that hosts the Daytona 500 every February. On non-race days you can tour the track, the garage area and the grandstands; on race weekends the whole city turns into a motorsport festival.
One of the few places in America where you can still drive your car onto the sand. Cruise the hard-packed shoreline at beach speed, park by your umbrella and watch the surf from your own front seat.
The classic oceanfront strip: arcades, rides, a long fishing pier, a historic bandshell and the neon after dark. Free to wander, with attractions that charge by the ride.
Florida's tallest lighthouse: 175 feet and 203 steps to a sweeping view over the inlet, the Atlantic and the Halifax River, plus a campus of keepers' houses and a museum of historic lenses.
Winter's great wildlife spectacle: manatees crowd into the clear 72-degree spring run at Blue Spring State Park, and a pontoon cruise on the St. Johns River adds herons, alligators and turtles.
Slip into 72-degree spring water and snorkel over the boil, with fish, turtles and limestone formations below. Available outside the winter manatee closure.
Paddle the quiet St. Johns River from Blue Spring with a guide who knows the herons, turtles and gators, and in winter the manatees that wander out of the run.
Paddle the calm Halifax River and Intracoastal waters with a guide, looking for bottlenose dolphins, manatees, pelicans and mangrove shorelines just minutes from the beach.
Paddle a see-through kayak through the mangrove channels and lagoon shallows near New Smyrna Beach and watch fish, rays and crabs glide beneath you.
Glide around New Smyrna Beach on an electric bike with a guide: Flagler Avenue, the historic district, riverfront and quiet residential streets, with stops for stories and snacks.
A relaxed evening sail from Ponce Inlet waters: gentle wind, dolphins in the wake, manatees in the shallows and the sun going down behind the mainland.
A relaxed evening on the water with dinner on board, views of the Halifax River and the skyline lights, and a chance to spot dolphins at dusk.
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Central Oceanfront
A large oceanfront resort on the central beach strip, close to Ocean Walk, the pier and the boardwalk, with pool areas, a beachfront setting and a full-service Hilton feel.
Check rates →Oceanfront
A modern, mid-priced oceanfront hotel with spacious rooms, a casual lobby, a pool and easy access to the beach and the central entertainment area.
Check rates →Oceanfront
A family-friendly oceanfront resort with pools, beach access and a relaxed holiday atmosphere, suitable for groups, families and event travellers.
Check rates →Oceanfront
A large oceanfront resort with a spa, pool areas and a lively setting on the beach, popular with families and with visitors who want a bit more pampering.
Check rates →Daytona Beach Shores
A Marriott-brand oceanfront hotel in Daytona Beach Shores, a quieter stretch south of the main strip, with a modern look, pool areas and a car-free beach nearby.
Check rates →Oceanfront
A retro-flavoured boutique-style hotel near the beach, with a nostalgic design, a lively social scene and an appeal for travellers who like character over scale.
Check rates →Speedway / Airport area
A dependable mid-priced hotel near the speedway and the airport, with free breakfast in the brand tradition, a pool and an easy base for race weekends and inland trips.
Check rates →Daytona Beach Shores
A dependable oceanfront Hampton in the quieter Shores, with pool, beach access and good value outside event weeks.
Check rates →Ormond Beach
A comfortable base on the north side of Daytona, near Ormond Beach, with the Casements, Tomoka State Park and the quieter beaches on your doorstep.
Check rates →Ormond Beach
An oceanfront resort-style stay in Ormond Beach with suites and a relaxed, residential feel, ideal for longer visits and families who want space.
Check rates →What to do first, where the beach rules differ, how the coast breaks into areas, and how to mix the speedway, the boardwalk and the wild side of Volusia County.
A three-day plan that balances the beach, the speedway, the lighthouse and a day of springs, with rainy-day swaps and timing tips.
How the main areas differ, which hotel types suit which trips, and how to choose a base for race weeks, family holidays and quiet getaways.
How to plan around the Daytona 500, the Rolex 24, Bike Week and Biketoberfest: when to book, where to stay, and how to get around.
When to see manatees at Blue Spring, how to swim and paddle in the springs, and where to find dolphins, birds and alligators in Volusia County.
A month-by-month look at weather, crowds, water temperature, events and wildlife, with advice on when to go for the beach, the springs or the races.
