DeBary FloridaBEACHES & WATERFRONT ESCAPES
Listed below are the best beaches and waterfront escapes near DeBary, Florida.
1. Blue Spring State Park
CRYSTAL CLEAR SPRING WATERS
Blue Spring State Park is a popular natural attraction featuring a crystal-clear spring that maintains a constant 72-degree temperature year-round. Visitors can swim, snorkel, and tube in the refreshing waters during summer months, while winter brings hundreds of manatees seeking the warm spring waters. The park offers a perfect blend of recreational activities and wildlife viewing with beautiful boardwalks winding through lush Florida landscape.
2. De Leon Springs State Park
HISTORIC SWIMMING DESTINATION
De Leon Springs State Park centers around a natural spring where visitors can swim in the clear, rejuvenating waters once believed to be the legendary Fountain of Youth. The park combines natural beauty with historical significance, featuring swimming, kayaking, and paddleboarding opportunities in the spring and adjacent Spring Garden Lake. Visitors particularly enjoy the unique experience of making their own pancakes at the historic Old Spanish Sugar Mill restaurant within the park.
3. Wekiwa Springs State Park
NATURAL SPRINGS OASIS
Wekiwa Springs State Park offers a pristine swimming area in its emerald spring waters that stay at a refreshing 72 degrees year-round. The park provides opportunities for swimming, snorkeling, canoeing, and kayaking along the Wekiva River and its tributary creeks. Nature enthusiasts appreciate the park's diverse wildlife habitat with opportunities to spot otters, alligators, and various bird species while enjoying the scenic waterways.
4. Mary McLeod Bethune Beach Park
HISTORIC BEACHFRONT HAVEN
Mary McLeod Bethune Beach Park offers visitors nearly 800 feet of direct beachfront access with beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean. The park honors the African American heritage of Mary McLeod Bethune, founder of Bethune Cookman University, and provides amenities including restrooms, showers, and large picnic pavilions along the beachfront. The riverside section across Atlantic Avenue features recreational facilities like tennis, pickleball, basketball courts, and a fishing pier where visitors can spot manatees, dolphins, and pelicans.
5. Lighthouse Point Park
SCENIC COASTAL PARADISE
Lighthouse Point Park offers a pristine beach experience at the southern tip of the Ponce Inlet peninsula where visitors can enjoy swimming, fishing, and stunning views of both the Atlantic Ocean and Halifax River. The park is adjacent to the historic Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse, Florida's tallest lighthouse, providing a unique backdrop for beachgoers. Nature enthusiasts appreciate the park's observation tower and boardwalk for wildlife viewing in this scenic coastal environment.
6. Smyrna Dunes Park
FIVE ECOSYSTEMS BEACHFRONT
Smyrna Dunes Park encompasses 73 acres of pristine land at the northern tip of the New Smyrna Beach peninsula where five distinct ecosystems converge. A 1.5-mile elevated boardwalk winds through the park, providing access to beaches on both the Atlantic Ocean and Ponce Inlet sides while protecting the fragile dune environment. Visitors enjoy swimming, fishing, and wildlife observation in this unique natural setting where they can experience ocean, river, and dune landscapes all in one location.
7. Daytona Beach
FAMOUS DRIVING BEACH
Daytona Beach offers 23 miles of wide, hard-packed sandy beaches where visitors can drive their vehicles directly onto the shore for a unique beach experience. The beach is backed by a bustling boardwalk featuring rides, games, restaurants, and the iconic Daytona Beach Pier extending 1,000 feet into the Atlantic Ocean. Beyond swimming and sunbathing, visitors enjoy surfing, jet skiing, parasailing, and the energetic atmosphere of this world-famous beach destination.
8. New Smyrna Beach
SURFER'S PARADISE SHORELINE
New Smyrna Beach features 17 miles of white sandy beaches known for consistent waves that have earned it recognition as one of the best surfing spots on the East Coast. The beach offers both driving and non-driving sections, allowing visitors to choose their preferred beach experience while enjoying swimming, sunbathing, and water sports. Flagler Avenue, just steps from the beach, provides a charming collection of shops, restaurants, and galleries that complement the relaxed beach town atmosphere.
9. Gemini Springs Park
SERENE RIVERSIDE RETREAT
Gemini Springs Park encompasses 210 acres of natural beauty featuring two springs that produce millions of gallons of fresh water daily. The park offers fishing docks, canoe/kayak launch access to Lake Monroe and the St. Johns River, and scenic nature trails winding through lush Florida landscape. Visitors enjoy the peaceful atmosphere while picnicking, wildlife viewing, and exploring the historic structures that remain from the property's past as a rural estate.
10. Lake Monroe Park
RIVERSIDE RECREATION HUB
Lake Monroe Park provides direct access to the expansive Lake Monroe, part of the St. Johns River system, with facilities for boating, fishing, and waterfront recreation. The park features a boat ramp, fishing pier, and picnic areas where visitors can enjoy views of the 9,400-acre lake and observe diverse wildlife including wading birds and occasional manatees. Situated near the southern terminus of the Spring-to-Spring Trail, the park serves as both a waterfront recreation destination and a gateway to the region's extensive trail network.