Can You Drive on Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach?
Last checked: October 25, 2026. Rules, fees and dates change, so confirm on the official sites linked below before you go.
Yes, in designated areas. Volusia County lets cars drive and park on parts of the beach in Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Ormond Beach and Ponce Inlet, through official access ramps. Other stretches are traffic-free. Visitors pay a daily fee at the ramp, everyone follows a 10 mph limit, and the hours change with the season and the tide.
Here’s what you need to know before you roll onto the sand.
How much does it cost?
These are Volusia County’s current fees for visitors, per the county’s Beach Driving and Parking page:
- On-beach driving and parking: $30 per vehicle per day, or a $150 annual visitor pass
- Off-beach county lots: $20 per day, or $100 annual
- Volusia County residents can register for free beach driving and county-lot parking. See ParkVolusia for the documents you’ll need.
- Residents and visitors with verified disabled parking documentation get no-cost access after registering with ParkVolusia.
Pay the daily fee at the ramp booth or lot. Per ParkVolusia, a day pass allows re-entry that day. Annual passes can’t be bought at ramp booths. Buy them online at parkvolusia.org or at a ParkVolusia office. Non-residents need separate annual passes for beach driving ($150) and off-beach lots ($100). The county has more than 60 off-beach lots.
The county’s inlet parks, Lighthouse Point Park in Ponce Inlet and Smyrna Dunes Park in New Smyrna Beach, charge their own entry fee: $10 per vehicle per day, or a $20 annual pass, plus tax and card fees.
When can you drive on the beach?
Per ParkVolusia, beach driving hours are:
- May 1–October 31: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. or sundown, whichever comes first
- November 1–April 30: sunrise to sunset
Both depend on the tide. At high tide or in rough surf, ramps can close with little notice. The Volusia County Beaches app shows live ramp status, and New Smyrna Beach’s visitor bureau app also lists ramp openings.
The rules that get people ticketed
From Volusia County’s beach rules:
- 10 mph speed limit, strictly enforced. Fines start at $116.
- Headlights on and at least one front window open while driving.
- No texting while driving on the beach.
- Park only where it’s allowed: seaward of the conservation-zone posts, nose toward the ocean or backed in. Don’t park in the dune area.
- No parking in front of Sun Splash Park, Frank Rendon Park or Flagler Avenue Park.
- No front-elevated vehicles: trucks with more than 4 inches of front fender lift aren’t allowed on the beach, per ParkVolusia.
- No alcohol and no glass on the beach.
- Dogs only in designated areas.
- Keep music down. Sound you can hear more than 50 feet away isn’t allowed.
Daytona Beach vs. New Smyrna Beach
Both have drivable stretches, but they feel different:
- Daytona Beach is the livelier, classic beach-driving experience, with hotels, the pier and more activity.
- New Smyrna Beach is generally quieter and more laid-back. Driving is allowed only in designated sections, and some parts of NSB are non-driving zones.
Heads-up on city lots: county ParkVolusia permits aren’t valid at some city-run lots. Examples include 27th Street, Flagler Avenue and Esther Street Oceanfront Parks in New Smyrna Beach, and Breakers Oceanfront Park in Daytona Beach. Check the posted signs or the city for those fees.
Tips for a smooth beach-driving day
- Check the ramp status and the tide before you leave. NOAA’s tide predictions for the Daytona Beach station are free online.
- Arrive early on weekends and holidays. Ramps and lots can fill up.
- Watch for soft sand. Stay on the firm, packed area, and don’t drive into the soft sand near the dunes.
- Drive slowly and expect pedestrians. Kids, cyclists and dogs cross the traffic lanes.
- Keep a trash bag in the car. Carry out everything you bring in.
Plan your beach days
Our Daytona Beach Trip Planner ($4.99, printable PDF) puts beach driving, passes, tides and warning flags on one page, alongside a beach-day packing list and itinerary pages.
FAQ
Can you still drive on Daytona Beach in 2026? Yes. Volusia County still allows driving and parking on designated sections of beach through official access ramps.
How much is it to drive on Daytona Beach? For visitors it’s $30 per vehicle per day, or $150 for an annual visitor pass. Volusia County residents register for free.
Can you drive on New Smyrna Beach? Yes, in designated areas reached through access ramps. Some parts of New Smyrna Beach are non-driving zones.
What time does beach driving open? From November 1 to April 30, sunrise to sunset. From May 1 to October 31, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. or sundown, whichever comes first. Both depend on the tide.
Can I bring a beer onto the beach? No. Alcohol and glass containers aren’t allowed on Volusia County beaches.
Who do I call with a question about beach access? ParkVolusia has a 24/7 line at 386-260-1482. For beach safety questions, call Volusia County Beach Safety at 386-239-7873. In an emergency, call 911.
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Sources: Volusia County Beach Driving & Parking and Beach Rules pages · ParkVolusia (parkvolusia.org) · Visit New Smyrna Beach · NOAA Tides & Currents. Full links on our Sources page.
