Daytona Beach Vacation Guide

Discover the Best of Daytona Beach 

Planning a trip to Florida’s Atlantic Coast? Start with our Daytona Beach vacation guide, designed to help you find the ideal time to visit, explore top Daytona Beach attractions, enjoy family-friendly activities in Daytona Beach, and savor local dining favorites. Daytona is world-famous for its beaches, motorsports, and entertainment, making it a top vacation destination in Florida. Whether you’re planning a romantic retreat, a family getaway, or an adventure-filled escape, Daytona Beach offers something for everyone.

When you stay in an iTrip Daytona Beach vacation rental, you’ll be close to it all. Our oceanfront condos, family homes, and beachside escapes in Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach Shores, Ponce Inlet, and Port Orange each offer unique amenities tailored to every traveler. Explore the area, enjoy the sun, and make the most of your Daytona Beach vacation.

Read on for our Daytona Beach vacation guide and things to do:

History & Culture

  • Daytona International Speedway Tour - Get up-close and behind the scenes at the World Center of Racing! The tour takes you through the world's most iconic racetrack, home to the DAYTONA 500 and Rolex 24 at DAYTONA, where you can see how hallowed ground meets a state-of-the-art motorsports facility. Truly a unique and exciting experience!
  • Ponce Inlet Lighthouse - Step back in time and discover Florida's rich maritime and social history as you tour the world-famous (the tallest lighthouse in the state and one of the tallest in the United States) at Ponce Inlet Lighthouse and Museum
  • Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens - From a sugarcane plantation to a Civil War base, from a theme park to now a garden paradise. There is surely something to catch your interest at this beautiful botanical garden!
Things to do for families in Daytona include the Ponce Inlet Light House

Family Fun

  • Daytona Aquarium & Rainforest Adventure: An interactive educational experience featuring animals from both land and sea. The facility features more than 50 separate exhibits, including a 110,000-gallon shark exhibit and a guest-favorite 10,000-gallon stingray touch pool! Entertainment for all to beat the heat or stay out of the rain!

 

Outdoor Adventures

  • Rosebay Watersports: Located on Rose Bay, offers rentals of kayaks, stand-up paddleboards (SUPs), canoes, pedal boats, mouse boats, and fishing skiffs, as well as guided Sea-Doo adventures.
  • Cypress Head Golf Club is an 18-hole golf experience nestled in amongst the natural beauty of Port Orange. Owned by the City of Port Orange and open to the public.
  • Daytona Beach Zipline Adventure By TreeTop Trekking: Features zip lines and treetop courses for all skill levels.
  • Daytona Lagoon: A family-friendly water park with go-karts, mini-golf, an arcade, laser tag, and a climbing wall.

 

Dining & Drinks

  • Incas 360: where traditional Peruvian cuisine meets international grill. Discover a fusion of flavors in a vibrant setting. From the freshest ceviche to mouthwatering grilled dishes, Incas 360 is a unique culinary adventure in the heart of Port Orange. Start with the Choritos a la Chalaca (Mussels) - Fresh, flavorful, and full of zest – a taste sensation you won't forget.
  • Mama Foo Foo: a beautiful, stylish, waterside destination (located in the Halifax Harbor Marina) serving craft cocktails and fresh tapas from around the world, in an elegant and welcoming environment. Happy Hour served daily on both food and drinks, but don't skip the fresh sea scallops served with risotto and carrots!
  • Hanwoo Korean BBQ: a unique dining experience providing an experience you will never forget! Enjoy all you can eat marinated meats, seafood, and vegetables, to their refreshing and traditional Korean appetizers and side dishes, you will experience a wide array of complex flavors that will give your palate a new perception of taste! Be sure to include the Hanger Steak, which is a fan favorite that won't disappoint!
  • Aunt Catfish's on the River is Down South River Cookin' by natives that you definitely don't want to miss! Fresh Seafood, Ribs, and Libations in a Unique Old Florida Atmosphere. Happy Hour, All You Can Eat Sunday Brunch and cinnamon rolls keep the locals and tourists returning for more. No pretenses at this southern seafood joint on the river, where all the servers are cousins and treat you like family!
  • Iron Axe Bar & Grill provides fresh made BBQ daily, fresh hand packed burgers and daily cocktail specials. Featuring mouth-watering, chef inspired food with most items made in house, from scratch using locally sourced products from or near South Daytona as much as possible with their focus always on fresh, quality food. This is not your average bar food plus 6 lanes of axe throwing and other games to provide a truly unique entertainment experience!
  • Caribbean Jacks, voted Daytona's Favorite Waterfront Restaurant, is a lively hangout nearby the Loggerhead Marina featuring live music, Caribbean-inspired eats & drinks as well as views of the Halifax River! You must not leave without trying the Banana Foster!
  • Madeline's Wine Bar, located on Historic Beach Street in Daytona is a funky, trendy wine bar pairing a large wine selection with excellent charcuteries and other bites, plus live music on the weekends! You can't go wrong with a charcuterie board selection! 
  • Ocean Deck (located directly on the beach) has the best live local bands, karaoke & DJs. Their lineup of fun events throughout the year ensures that something exciting is always happening at their beachside party spot!
  • Beaches Restaurant in Daytona Beach on International Speedway Blvd is your go-to spot for live music, great vibes, and chef-inspired dishes! Beaches offers a unique dining experience with entertainment every weekend. Perfect for date nights, dancing, family gatherings, or a casual night out, Beaches brings in top local artists to set the vibe!

🎉  Annual Events & Venues

  • The Daytona 500 is a prestigious 500-mile NASCAR Cup Series race held annually at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It's the season-opening race of the Cup series and is often referred to as "The Great American Race."
  • The "Rolex in Daytona" refers to the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA, a 24-hour endurance sports car race held annually at Daytona International Speedway. It's the opening race of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season. Rolex is the title sponsor of the race, and winners receive a specially engraved Rolex Cosmograph Daytona watch.
  • The Daytona Turkey Run is a large, family-friendly car show and swap meet held annually in Daytona Beach, Florida, during Thanksgiving week. It features thousands of classic and collector cars, a swap meet with auto parts and accessories, and a Car Corral where vehicles can be bought and sold. The event takes place at the Daytona International Speedway and is considered the largest combined car show and swap meet in the United States.
  • Daytona Bike Week is a large, annual motorcycle rally held in Daytona Beach, Florida, typically in March, and is one of the most popular motorcycle events in the United States. It's a 10-day event featuring motorcycle racing, concerts, bike shows, street parties, and more.
Vacation in Daytona for Bike Week

📅  Sample Itineraries

4-Night Stay

Day 1:

  • Morning/Afternoon: Check in, unpack, and head straight to the beach for sunbathing or a leisurely stroll.
  • Evening: Sunset dinner at Aunt Catfish’s on the River — comfort food and cinnamon rolls.

Day 2:

  • Morning: Visit the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse & Museum (climb if you’d like, or just enjoy the grounds).
  • Afternoon: Quiet downtime at your rental or the beach pool.

  • Evening: Dinner at Caribbean Jacks with live music and a tropical vibe.

Day 3:

  • Morning: Paddle at your own pace with Rosebay Watersports (kayak or SUP).

  • Afternoon: Relax with a book at Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens—shady trails and historic ruins.

  • Evening: Casual beachfront dinner and drinks at Ocean Deck.

Day 4:

  • Morning: Daytona International Speedway Tour (a light activity, not an all-day outing).

  • Afternoon: Return to the beach for one last long lounge.

  • Dinner: Treat yourself at Madeline’s Wine Bar for a slow, cozy evening.

5-Night Stay

  • Morning: Sleep in and relax by the pool.
  • Afternoon: Stroll to nearby shops or a short beach walk.
  • Lunch: Tapas and cocktails at Mama Foo Foo overlooking the water.
  • Dinner: Fun, interactive feast at Hanwoo Korean BBQ.

6-Night Stay

  • Option A – Chill: Spend most of the day at the beach or your rental’s deck with coffee and cocktails.

  • Option B – Light Activity: Try Daytona Lagoon (mini-golf or arcade—skip the big rides for a shorter visit).

  • Dinner: End with an easygoing night at Beaches Restaurant, pairing chef-driven dishes with live music.

Plan Your Escape to Florida’s Iconic Coastline

No matter how you spend your days—on the sand, on the water, or exploring the town—Daytona Beach makes every moment feel like vacation.

Biking at sunrise on Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach downtown with cars and palm trees
Boating on the river in Daytona
iTrip ® has been a short-term rental property management company since 2008.

Booking Hours

Mon - Fri: 
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sat: 
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Sun - Closed
Closed on Major Holidays
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