Planning the perfect Daytona Beach weekend itinerary? Whether you’re looking for family-friendly activities, a couples beach escape, or a short road trip from St. Augustine or Cape Canaveral, this guide will help you make the most of your time. Daytona Beach, Florida, is the perfect spot for a weekend getaway and we’ll help you find the best things to do on your trip.
Whether you’re into scenic lighthouses, iconic boardwalks, or waterfront dining, this coastal gem has something for everyone. Plus, some of the best Daytona hotels are right on the beach so you’ll have amazing sunset and sunrise views!
Let our guide help you make the most of your bucket list trip to the Daytona Beach Coast.
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- 🌊 Where to Stay in Daytona Beach
- 🎡 What to Do in Daytona Beach
- 🍴 Best Places to Eat in Daytona Beach
- 🌴 Favorite Trusted Tours & Day Trips
- 🌟 Unique and Fun Facts About Daytona Beach
- ❓FAQs About Visiting Daytona Beach for a Weekend
- ✨ Why Daytona Beach is a Perfect Weekend Getaway
- Must-pack Essentials for your Daytona Beach Trip:
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☀️🌴Find the best stylish resort wear outfits for your Daytona Beach trip that are still budget-friendly on Amazon!
🌊 Where to Stay in Daytona Beach
Looking for the best hotels in Daytona Beach on the beach with oceanfront views and easy access to the beach? These top-rated Daytona Beach hotels are perfect for a weekend trip with amazing views.
- Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort – Located directly on the beach and steps from the boardwalk, this is a favorite for beachfront convenience and on-site dining. Read Reviews and Check Rates
- Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach – With a sleek vibe, ocean view rooms, and live music events, it’s perfect for couples or a girls’ weekend trip. Read Reviews and Check Rates
- The Shores Resort & Spa – This upscale oceanfront boutique hotel sits just south of Daytona Beach Shores and offers a serene spa and poolside fire pits. Read Reviews and Check Rates
- Daytona Grande Oceanfront Resort – One of the newer luxury hotels on the strip and on the beach, offering stunning views and modern amenities. Read Reviews and Check Rates
🎡 What to Do in Daytona Beach
Whether you’re looking for beach relaxation or action-packed adventures, here are some of the best things to do in Daytona Beach on a weekend trip:
- Walk the Daytona Beach Boardwalk & Pier – Ride the Ferris wheel, play arcade games, and enjoy oceanfront snacks while soaking in the classic boardwalk vibes.
- Tour the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse & Museum – Just 20 minutes south, this historic lighthouse is Florida’s tallest. Climb to the top for panoramic views and photos. (we got our first Lighthouse Passport stamp here!)
- Go beach e-biking – Take an e-bike tour along the hard-packed sand—it’s a signature Daytona experience!
- Catch a sunrise or sunset – Take a sunset champagne boat tour! The beach is wide and open here, offering spectacular sunrise/sunset views right over the ocean.
- Daytona International Speedway – Even if you’re not a racing fan, the tours and museum are super cool.
🍴 Best Places to Eat in Daytona Beach
Daytona is full of great local spots to eat! Some of these Daytona restaurants offer ocean views! Here are a few must-try places:
- Crabby’s Oceanside – Casual dining right on the beach with great seafood and cocktails.
- Chart House – Upscale waterfront dining with fresh seafood and a killer happy hour.
- The Oyster Pub – Fun, lively atmosphere with great wings, oysters, and big screens if you want to catch a game.
- Donnie’s Donuts – Don’t leave without grabbing a gourmet donut here (try the maple bacon or fruity pebbles!).
🌴 Favorite Trusted Tours & Day Trips
Want to explore more or see Daytona from a different angle? These highly-rated tours are popular with visitors:
- 🚤 Eco Boat Tour in Ponce Inlet – Spot dolphins, manatees, and other wildlife in this scenic waterway. Book a trusted tour here.
- 🌅 Take a Unique Paddle Pub Boat Tour – A relaxing BYOB paddle pub boat tour in the Inter-coastal with amazing views.
- 🏁 Daytona Speedway 500 Nascar Race Ticket – Catch an adrenaline-fueled race at the iconic speedway—great for all ages!
- 🏖️ Day trip to St. Augustine – Just an hour north, Florida’s oldest city is full of history, shops, and fun ghost tours. Check out what to do in St. Augustine.
- 🚀 Excursion to Cape Canaveral – Only 1.5 hours south, perfect for a NASA day trip! Visit Kennedy Space Center -Tickets here.
🌟 Unique and Fun Facts About Daytona Beach
- 🚗 You Can Drive on the Beach!
Daytona Beach is one of the few places in the U.S. where you can legally drive your car right on the sand. There are designated driving zones along the hard-packed beach, and it’s a fun novelty for first-time visitors. Just be sure to follow the speed limit (10 mph) and keep an eye out for pedestrians! - 🏁 Birthplace of Speed
Before the Daytona International Speedway was built, races were held right on the beach in the early 1900s. The packed sand and wide shore made it ideal for testing fast cars—hence Daytona’s nickname, “The Birthplace of Speed.” - 🎸 Hard Rock Hotel with a Music Vibe
Daytona Beach is home to one of only a few beachfront Hard Rock Hotels, offering live music, rock memorabilia, and a luxury experience with a fun twist. - 🎡 Historic Boardwalk Since the 1930s
The Daytona Beach Boardwalk has been a seaside attraction for nearly a century. It still has an old-school vibe with arcades, rides, funnel cakes, and live music during summer months. - 🚦 Famous for Bike Week and Biketoberfest
Daytona isn’t just about cars—it’s also home to Bike Week in March and Biketoberfest in October, drawing motorcycle enthusiasts from around the country. If you want to avoid huge crowds, steer clear of those weekends. - 🌞 Over 230 Days of Sunshine a Year
On average, Daytona Beach enjoys more than 230 sunny days a year, making it a great year-round destination for beach lovers.
❓FAQs About Visiting Daytona Beach for a Weekend
The best time to visit Daytona Beach with fewer crowds is late spring (May to early June) or early fall (September to mid-October). Avoid Spring Break (mid-March to early April) and Daytona 500 week in February, when hotels sell out and the beach and boardwalk are packed. Weekdays are also more relaxed than weekends if you can swing a Friday arrival.
Yes! Daytona Beach offers a mix of kid-friendly activities and grown-up fun. Families love the Daytona Lagoon Water Park, mini golf, bike rentals on the beach, and educational visits to Ponce Inlet Lighthouse. The boardwalk area has arcades and casual eats that are fun for all ages. Just be mindful of the party vibe during peak Spring Break weeks if you’re traveling with little ones.
Daytona Beach is in a prime spot for short day trips! It’s just about 1 hour north of Cape Canaveral and 1 hour south of St. Augustine by car. This makes it easy to add a day exploring NASA’s Kennedy Space Center or wandering historic streets and ghost tours in the nation’s oldest city.
✨ Why Daytona Beach is a Perfect Weekend Getaway
Daytona Beach isn’t just a spring break destination—it’s a year-round beach town with charm, history, and endless entertainment. From relaxing on the sand to climbing historic lighthouses and sipping sunset cocktails, this Florida gem delivers a perfect mix of chill and thrill.
So pack your weekend bag (don’t forget sunscreen and your beach hat!), and get ready to soak up the sun in Daytona.
Must-pack Essentials for your Daytona Beach Trip:
- We always pack a Refillable Water Bottle [Amazon] to save on buying water and stay hydrated!
- A portable phone fast charger [Amazon] is also a must because our phone battery drains quickly with all of the videos and photo ops!
- We also love the Travel Laundry sink wash kit – Soap Suds because they are TSA approved and will help you pack lighter because you can wash clothes as your trip progresses. (on Amazon)
- We love warm destinations so a Travel-Sized Cooling Towel [Amazon] is a must to stay a little cooler when walking around seeing the sights!
If you love Daytona check out our other Florida adventures ✨in St. Augustine , including our review of Cedar House Inn, and our Lighthouse road trip guide for even more road trip inspiration!
📌Don’t forget to save this guide to Pinterest for later to help you plan your Daytona Beach trip!
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