Daytona Beach holidays

When to go to Daytona Beach

While Daytona Beach is regarded as a fantastic year-round destination, the city does draw in extra crowds (and gets sticky with heat) at certain times throughout the year.

February is always a busy time in Daytona Beach when the Daytona International Speedway hosts four weeks of races, known as Speedweeks, before the Daytona 500 event.

If you're travelling with the family, it's worth avoiding Spring Break week in early March when the bars, restaurants and beaches are overrun with excitable students.

One of the best times for a cheap Daytona Beach holiday – for both weather and good-value hotels – is between late March and May, when the crowds of peak racing season and Spring Break have left. Temperatures are still a balmy 26C to 32C, but hurricane season on the Atlantic Coast – June to November – hasn't quite kicked in yet.

In the peak summer months, temperatures can reach and exceed a humid 38C – so be prepared.

What to do in Daytona Beach

Looking to enjoy a fly-and-flop holiday? Well, with a nickname like ‘World’s Most Famous Beach’, you won’t have any trouble experiencing just that on your Daytona Beach holiday. But don’t just stop there. There are races to be watched, art galleries and museums to be explored and endless fun to be had into the small hours of the morning.

Daytona International Speedway

Daytona International Speedway is NASCAR's most prestigious racetrack and the beating heart of America's motor racing scene. There are numerous events throughout the year, including the iconic Daytona 500, a 500-mile motor race held at the track in February and March.

Alternatively, book a VIP tour of the Speedway and visit the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, which features a wealth of Daytona racing memorabilia and historic racing cars.

Daytona Beach Boardwalk and Pier

Nothing quite says Daytona Beach like a stroll along a traditional boardwalk. Throughout the year, expect street performers, fireworks displays and ice cream stands. For thrills and spills, head to Screamer's Park, a small beachfront amusement park famous for the 'Slingshot'.

Elsewhere pick up some saltwater taffy at the Ocean Walk Shoppes and listen to the free concerts from the Daytona Beach Bandshell, which hosts music events and fireworks displays from May to September.

Drive on Daytona Beach

There are few places in the world where you can drive, quite safely, on the beach – and Daytona Beach is one of them. Beach driving has been a tradition in Daytona since 1903, when Alexander Winton first raced his 'Bullet' car on the flat sands.

There are four official driving zones along the 23-mile stretch, all with a speed limit of 10mph and a daily fee. Do note that access often depends on the weather and the tides, so check in advance.

Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse

Just south of Daytona Beach is Florida's tallest lighthouse. Built in 1887, the terracotta-coloured Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse stands at a towering 53m (175ft) and offers a little glimpse into the life of a lighthouse keeper.

Climb the tower's 200 or so steps for spectacular views over the Atlantic Ocean, then spend some time in the neighbouring Marine Science Center, which has a bird rescue and a sea turtle rehabilitation area.

Museum of Arts & Sciences

The Museum of Arts & Sciences is Central Florida's premier art, science and history museum. It's famed for its vast collection of American art, its Planetarium, and the Root Family Museum, where you’ll find an extensive teddy bear collection.

Where to stay in Daytona Beach

For families

Many families tend to flock to the hotels dotted along the southern stretch of the city, heading towards Daytona Beach Shores and South Daytona, but on the outlying spit. It features a wealth of beachfront hotels and condos, all of which are fully equipped and generally suited to a range of budgets.

Most come with Atlantic Ocean views and are within easy reach of all the family-friendly attractions along Daytona Beach Boardwalk and the Pier, as well as being close to Sun Splash Family Waterpark. If you’re going for the races, Daytona International Speedway is around nine miles’ away.

For travellers on a budget

Daytona Beach caters well for travellers on a budget – and they're not just relegated to the outer suburbs. There are a number of cheap inns and suites a few blocks south of Daytona Beach Main Street Pier, so you can still be in the heart of the action, even if you don't have an ocean view.

Alternatively, there are several budget motels and inns along US Highway 1 in South Daytona, on the mainland side of the Halifax River. From here, it's around five miles to both the Atlantic beaches of Daytona Beach and the Daytona International Speedway.

For food and drink

From laid-back crab shacks and steakhouses to Caribbean restaurants and buzzy beach bars, there's no shortage of great places to eat and drink in Daytona Beach - especially along the Atlantic Coast beachfront.

If dining out is top of your list of holiday must-haves, choose a hotel, B&B or condo along North Atlantic Avenue or close to Main Street, where you'll be within easy walking distance of numerous beachfront bars and restaurants.

For nightlife

Daytona Beach brings the party, hard. To be in the heart of it all, look to the hotels along North Atlantic Avenue or Main Street, which is the raucous hub of beach life after dark.

Here you'll find everything from low-key biker bars, blues clubs and Caribbean-themed beach bars, as well as more laid-back craft beer spots and sports bars. For the larger nightclubs and swankier cocktail bars, consider staying closer to East Daytona, where you'll find plenty of mid-range accommodation.

For culture

While the majority of Daytona Beach hotels are dotted along its Atlantic shores, the city's main museums, such as the Museum of Arts and Sciences and the Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art, are close to the Rosella Park neighbourhood, just east of the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the Daytona Beach International Airport.

It's around four miles from the main beachfront, but there are a number of chain hotels found along International Speedway Boulevard, a mere two miles from the museums and art galleries, and less than a mile from Daytona International Speedway.