Your guide to the best things to do in Daytona Beach with kids!
Known for its stunning beaches, thrilling attractions, and warm weather, Daytona Beach, Florida is a great family vacation destination.
The nice thing about Daytona Beach is that it offers a wide variety of things to do. There are parts of Daytona Beach that are busy and flashy (great for people who love to be in the middle of the action) and other sections that are more low-key and serene.
From pristine beaches to thrilling adventures, this sunny city has it all.
Let’s dive into the 21 best things to do in Daytona Beach with kids!
Best Things to Do in Daytona Beach with Kids
1. Go to the Beach
This is #1 on the list for a reason. Daytona Beach has 23 miles of beautiful, hard-packed sandy shoreline along the Atlantic Ocean.
Area Beaches
- Daytona Beach – nicknamed the “World’s Most Famous Beach”, this section of shoreline is near the city pier and is closed to vehicles. It is the most “happening” beach with many hotels, restaurants, and shops nearby.
- Daytona Beach Shores – you can drive on this beach, not as touristy
- Ormond Beach – the majority of this beach is drivable; quieter beach with a small-town vibe
- Wilbur Beach – vehicle-free, quieter & less busy
- Ponce Inlet – drivable, laid-back atmosphere, less busy, lighthouse nearby
Click here for a great map of the Volusia County Beaches
2. Daytona Beach Boardwalk & Pier
Loaded with shops, snack bars, & restaurants, the Daytona Boardwalk will keep you busy.
Shop for souvenirs, get a bite to eat, check out the famous arcade, get your sand volleyball on, or let the kids play fountains at Breakers Oceanfront Park.
If you’re up for a thrill, check out the electrifying sky-high rides at Screamer’s Park – eeeek!
There are often street performers & other events and activities going on in the boardwalk area as well.
3. Daytona International Speedway
Home of the Daytona 500, the most prestigious race in NASCAR, the Daytona International Speedway is neat to see, even if you aren’t a big NASCAR fan.
Check the event schedule on the Daytona Speedway website. If there is not an event going on during your stay, there are tours of the Speedway that are offered daily.
4. Pool Time
There are many hotels and vacation rentals with excellent pools in the Daytona Beach area. Spending time at the pool is one of the best things to do in Daytona Beach with kids.
We stayed in a vacation rental north of Daytona Beach that did not have a pool, so we decided to do a pool day pass through Resort Pass.
The Hilton and the Hard Rock are the two options currently offered through Resort Pass in Daytona Beach.
We chose the Hilton because of its location, but the Hard Rock looks nicer and has better reviews.
The Hilton pool wasn’t overly impressive, but we still had a really fun day and were happy to have access to a resort-style pool during our vacation.
5. Sun Splash Park
A great place for the kids to have fun & cool off! Sun Splash Park is a big splash pad with 42 different water jets.
While the kids play, you can enjoy the views overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
Sun Splash Park also has a shaded playground, picnic areas, restrooms, outdoor showers, & beach access.
Open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset from March 1-November 30.
6. Daytona Lagoon
Daytona Lagoon is an epic waterpark & fun park with both indoor and outdoor entertainment for the whole family.
Waterpark attractions include many different slides (some thrilling, some chill), a lazy river, multiple pools, a wave pool, & a children’s play area
Fun Park attractions include bumper cars, a mega arcade, laser tag, go-karts, a sky maze ropes course, mini golf, & a rock climbing wall.
Click here for hours & admission information
7. Miniature Golf
Daytona Beach has multiple options for a mini-golf outing!
- Congo River Adventure Golf – golf in an African jungle safari + feed alligators & dig for “fossils” after your game
- Pirate’s Island Adventure Golf – scenic streams, waterfalls, ocean views, & pirate fun + a special treasure awaits for those who get a hole-in-one!
- D&D Blacklight Mini Golf – fun indoor option
- Daytona Lagoon Mini Golf – a great option if you already have plans to visit Daytona Lagoon
8. Pure Life Surf School
We enjoyed watching surfers hit the Atlantic Ocean waves when we visited Daytona Beach.
If your kids are interested in learning to surf, Pure Life Surf School offers lessons & camps for all surfing levels.
- Surf Lessons – private, semi-private, & group lessons available for kids ages 7+
- Surf Camp – offered in the summer months – kids will learn surfing fundamentals, etiquette, safety, education & more!
9. Rent Stand-Up Paddleboards
Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) is a popular Daytona Beach activity. If your kids are old enough, it would a fun activity for the whole family.
You can choose to paddle board in the ocean, intercoastal waterways, or area rivers.
There are multiple companies in the area offering paddleboard rentals – Three Brothers Boards is the most well-known. Three Brothers Boards offers self-guided rentals or SUP dolphin & manatee adventure tours.
10. Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth
Angel & Phelps has been the go-to place to get chocolates and candies in Daytona Beach since 1925. Stop by to satisfy your sweet tooth, see chocolates being made the old-fashioned way, and enjoy free samples!
Another delicious Daytona Beach staple is Zeno’s Boardwalk Sweet Shop. Zeno’s has been family owned since 1948 and is best knowns for its “World’s Most Famous Taffy”.
11. Equestrian Adventures of Florida
If your family likes horses and is looking for a unique experience, check out Equestrian Adventures of Florida. They offer horseback riding tours along the beach, area trails, or through one of the area state parks.
The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable, and the tours are great for riders of all experience levels!
12. Daytona Beach Zipline Adventures
Looking for a fun & thrilling adventure? Daytona Beach Zipline Adventures will give you just that as you climb, swing, and zip from tree to tree in their outdoor adventure park, which features 10 zip lines & dozens of other aerial games.
All participants must be at least 8 years old and 54 inches tall, so it’s not a good option for families with young children.
13. Jackie Robinson Ball Park/Daytona Tortugas
If you are visiting Daytona Beach between April and September, consider catching a baseball game at the historic Jackie Robinson Ballpark, home of the Daytona Tortugas.
The Daytona Tortugas are a Single-A Minor League Baseball team affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds.
Click here for the season schedule.
14. Ponce Inlet Lighthouse & Museum
Step back in time and climb up the bright red 175-foot lighthouse located 10 miles south of Daytona’s World’s Most Famous Beach.
The Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse was constructed in 1887 and was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1998.
Click here for hours & admission information.
15. The Manatee Scenic Boat Tours
Book a 90-minute scenic tour aboard The Manatee. The tour is narrated, so you will learn about the area are you cruise along and take in the views.
The boat tour takes you through the Indian River past protected wetlands, scenic mangroves, waterfront homes, and the Ponce De Leon Lighthouse!
You will likely see many different birds, dolphins, and manatees as well!
Click here for hours, prices, and reservation information.
16. Rent Bikes
Riding bikes is one of the best ways to explore Daytona Beach. There are many different bike rental options in the area. A few of the most popular include Daytona Outdoors Bikes & Boards, Daytona Electric Bikes, Avacado Bike Rentals & Tours, and e-Cycle Daytona.
Daytona Beach has more than 70 miles of trails, many of which wind through preserves and past beautiful scenery. Also, because the area beaches have hard-packed sand, you can easily ride bikes on many of the beaches as well.
Download the Volusia County Parks & Trails App here.
17. Daytona Beach Bandshell
The Daytona Beach Bandshell is a historic amphitheater just off the Daytona Beach Boardwalk. It is a pretty epic place to listen to live music or go to a concert, as the Atlantic Ocean is just steps away.
The concert season at the Oceanfront Bandshell runs from May through September. There are some big names that perform here which require admission tickets. But there are many free events as well.
Thanks to Friends of the Bandshell (a not-for-profit organization), there are tons of free concerts, musical acts, and cultural events throughout the year.
The next four activities are great options if you are looking for indoor things to do in Daytona Beach with kids.
18. Back Alley Lanes VR Cade
Back Alley Lanes is a family-owned business whose co-founder/co-owner is a young entrepreneur whose vision was to provide a multi-generational space where kids & parents could both have fun!
Grab a drink or a bite to eat, play darts & billiards, go bowling, play arcade games (including retro games), or check out the plethora of virtual reality games!
19. Museum of Arts & Sciences
If you are looking for a great indoor activity, check out the Daytona Beach Museum of Arts & Sciences. In addition to the main museum, there is a separate art museum and an interactive children’s museum.
Click here for hours and admission information.
20. Sky Zone Trampoline Park
Sky Zone is another great option if you are looking for indoor things to do in Daytona Beach with kids.
The kids will be worn out after spending time jumping, bouncing, hanging, and climbing at this trampoline park!
Click here for hours and admission information.
21. Speedway Indoor Karting
Get in the racing spirit at Speedway Indoor Karting (SIK).
They offer an adult kart for ages 14+ with a top speed of 70km/h. The junior mode kart is for ages 8-14 and has a top speed of 30 km/h.
And there is more to do than just kart racing. Once you are done hitting the tracks, try out the SIK arcade or axe throwing!
Click here for hours and admission information.
I hope you enjoyed this list of things to do in Daytona Beach with kids! Happy travels!
