Port Orange FloridaBEACHES & WATERFRONT ESCAPES
Listed below are the best beaches and waterfront escapes near Port Orange, Florida.
1. Dunlawton Bridge Beach Access
GATEWAY TO THE SHORE
Dunlawton Bridge Beach Access provides Port Orange residents with their closest entry point to the Atlantic Ocean. Visitors can drive directly onto the beach through this access point and enjoy swimming, sunbathing, and beach activities in a family-friendly environment. The beach features beautiful sandy shores with ample space for relaxation while offering the convenience of on-beach parking for those with the proper permits.
2. Port Orange Causeway Park
RIVERSIDE RECREATION HUB
Port Orange Causeway Park is a beautiful 30-acre community park located on the Halifax River at the Port Orange Bridge. The park features excellent facilities including seven boat ramps, three fishing piers, covered pavilions, picnic tables, grills, and restrooms with ample vehicle and boat parking. Visitors can enjoy wildlife viewing, fishing, boating, and picnicking while taking in the scenic riverside setting.
3. Toronita Avenue Beach Park
LOCAL BEACH GETAWAY
Toronita Avenue Beach Park offers a convenient beach access point just a short drive from Port Orange. This beach destination features the characteristic golden sands and blue waters of Volusia County's Atlantic coastline. Visitors can enjoy swimming, sunbathing, and beach activities with typical amenities including parking and beach access.
4. Smyrna Dunes Park
PRISTINE COASTAL PRESERVE
Smyrna Dunes Park is a 73-acre natural preserve situated on the northern tip of the New Smyrna Beach peninsula. The park features a 2-mile elevated boardwalk that loops through five distinct ecosystems including ocean, river, dunes, saltwater marsh, and scrub zone. Visitors can enjoy swimming, fishing, and wildlife watching while taking in breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean, Indian River, and Ponce Inlet.
5. Daytona Beach Main Street Pier
ICONIC BEACHFRONT LANDMARK
Daytona Beach Main Street Pier extends 1,000 feet into the Atlantic Ocean from the famous Daytona Beach Boardwalk. The historic pier offers fishing, dining, and panoramic views of the coastline with the Joe's Crab Shack restaurant located at its entrance. Visitors can enjoy the adjacent beach area for swimming and sunbathing or stroll along the boardwalk to experience the quintessential Daytona Beach atmosphere.
6. Ponce Inlet Beach
SERENE SOUTHERN SHORE
Ponce Inlet Beach offers a more peaceful alternative to the bustling beaches of Daytona, located at the southern tip of the peninsula. The beach features pristine sands, excellent surf conditions, and is home to Florida's tallest lighthouse, the historic Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse. Visitors can enjoy swimming, surfing, and fishing while experiencing a more natural, less developed beach setting with on-beach driving available in designated areas.
7. New Smyrna Beach
SURFER'S PARADISE
New Smyrna Beach is consistently rated as one of Florida's best surf spots and offers 17 miles of white sandy beaches along the Atlantic Ocean. The beach features a unique ability to drive and park directly on the hard-packed sand in designated areas, making it convenient for families with equipment. Visitors can enjoy excellent surfing conditions, beach volleyball, swimming, and a charming beach town atmosphere with nearby shops and restaurants.
8. Ormond Beach
BIRTHPLACE OF SPEED
Ormond Beach offers 7.5 miles of hard-packed sandy beaches that were once used for land speed records, earning it the nickname 'Birthplace of Speed.' The beach features a more relaxed atmosphere than neighboring Daytona Beach while still offering on-beach driving in designated areas. Visitors can enjoy swimming, sunbathing, and beachcombing in a family-friendly environment with convenient access to restaurants and shops in the charming downtown area.
9. Lighthouse Point Park
HISTORIC COASTAL PRESERVE
Lighthouse Point Park is a 52-acre natural beach park located at the southernmost tip of the Ponce Inlet peninsula. The park offers pristine beaches where the Halifax River meets the Atlantic Ocean, with excellent opportunities for swimming, fishing, and observing marine life including dolphins and manatees. Visitors can explore nature trails, climb the adjacent Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, or enjoy the observation deck and pavilions while experiencing one of the area's most scenic coastal settings.
10. Blue Spring State Park
CRYSTAL CLEAR SPRINGS
Blue Spring State Park is home to the largest spring on the St. Johns River and serves as a manatee refuge where hundreds of gentle sea cows gather during the winter months. The park features crystal-clear 73-degree waters perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and tubing during the warmer months when manatees aren't present. Visitors can also enjoy canoeing, kayaking, wildlife watching, and hiking along the boardwalk that runs alongside the spring run.