Top 5 Florida Beaches You Can Drive On — Kicking Beach Day Into High Gear!
Have you ever wanted to get in the car and drive until you meet the ocean? (We’ve definitely been there.) Fortunately for you (and us!), Florida has a great selection of spots where you can do just that!
(Photo: Florida Memory)
The Sunshine State has a long history of cruising along the beach. In fact, the practice has been in place almost as long as automobiles have been on the market! As early as 1903, the practice of racing horseless carriages began—can you guess where?—on the hard-packed sands of Daytona Beach!
With this storied history, it’s no surprise that Southerners want to keep the tradition alive. After all, what’s better than taking your car right down to the shoreline and unpacking some cold beverages to go with the sun and surf?
Today, you’ll find a limited number of locations that allow driving on the beach, as these beautiful destinations weigh the benefits of the practice against the impact on the environment and local ecosystems. However, you can still find a few beaches where you can take your vehicle right to the edge of the ocean and enjoy an afternoon of tailgating bliss. Without further ado, here’s our list of the best Florida beaches you can drive on!
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1. Daytona Beach
Long before the Daytona 500 or NASCAR, Daytona Beach was home to the original races along the sands. The “birthplace of speed” owes its name to a friendly wager between two men looking to test the abilities of their brand-new horseless carriages. So, perhaps it’s really no surprise Daytona still indulges driving on the beach!
Throughout most of the year, you can get a permit giving your vehicle access to the beach during daylight hours for $20 a day. There are 16 access points on the beach, giving you plenty of options for where to go. The hardpacked sand is almost as stable as an asphalt road in these areas, so it’s easy to navigate.
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Here, tailgating is still a beloved local pastime. Bring your car, coolers, and plenty of lawn chairs for your day at the beach! Just be sure to double-check where you’re parking, as the car-friendly stretches are also interspersed with no-drive sections!
2. New Smyrna Beach
Located in the same county as Daytona, New Smyrna Beach is a smaller but no less popular location for driving on the beach—especially in the summer months! Car culture is a big part of New Smyrna, as they host a monthly local vintage car show. Surfing is another popular New Smyrna activity, probably in part because taking your gear right down to the shore is so wonderfully convenient!
Daily beach permits are available for $20 each. This allows your vehicle access to the beach during daylight hours. It has five access points from the main road and is incredibly accessible. Since these passes are issued by Volusia County, you can also get a beach pass for Daytona at the same time!
3. St. Augustine Beach
Famous for being the oldest continuously occupied European city in the continental U.S., St. Augustine is rich in history and a popular tourist destination. The beautiful beaches along the Atlantic coast also make it a must-visit area.
While St. Augustine Beach is the most well-known of the St. John County Beaches, it isn’t the only one in the area that allows beach driving. Currently, the county allows vehicles on St. Augustine Beach, Vilano Beach, and Crescent Beach.
From May 1st to September 30th, beach passes are required for vehicle access to these locations. Daily passes are available for $10. Access may also be limited due to weather, tides, or sand conditions. According to the locals, the sea turtle mating season also plays a role in pass availability.
4. Grayton Beach
Grayton Beach is a small village located in Grayton Beach State Park along Highway 30A. With beautiful white sands and a gorgeous view of the Gulf of Mexico, Grayton Beach is a great spot for fishing, boating, and swimming off the coast.
While Grayton does allow beach driving on those beautiful white sands, there is a very big catch. To bring your vehicle onto the beach, you must meet specific qualifications outlined by their local ordinances, including being a full-time resident of the county. Most importantly, you must apply for a permit with the county.
Walton County holds a yearly lottery for the 150 available permits. Applicants must apply yearly. Only a few residents have been grandfathered into the program. With these permits, you have limited access by vehicle to nearby Inlet Beach and Seagrove Beach as well.
5. Amelia Island
For this Nassau County gem, you’ll also need a permit to drive on the beach if you aren’t a local. Fortunately, Amelia Island beach permits are easier to acquire than nearby Grayton. You can snag one for only $5 per day (unless you’re a Nassau County resident which makes them free). These permits let you drive at three spots on the beach: Burney Beach Park, Scott Road, and Peter’s Point.
Amelia Island has a handful of beautiful beach spots that are great for swimming, snorkeling, fishing, surfing, and beachcombing for shells and other ocean treasures. Most of the vehicle access areas have picnic shelters and outdoor playgrounds. In fact, you can even ditch your wheels and go horseback riding on Amelia Island beaches!
Tips for Beach Driving
Follow the Local Ordinances
Before you start driving on the beach, it’s important to know what to expect there. Most local governments will have their rules and regulations posted online, including any fees associated with gaining access to the beach. Make sure you know what you can and can’t do. Most of the time, this may include things like not texting while driving and maintaining certain speeds. You’ll need to know the areas you’re allowed to drive and which parts are off-limits to you. Some locations allow alcohol, while others prohibit it entirely. Even those that allow drinking may prohibit glass bottles or other items.
Four-Wheel Drive is Not a Suggestion
The last thing you want to do is get stuck on the beach with your tires half-buried in the sand. You should always bring a four-wheel-drive vehicle on these kinds of excursions! It’s going to make your life much easier, even when conditions are optimal for spending a day on the sand. It’s probably tempting to take your car to less populated areas. However, there’s probably a reason other people aren’t parking there—sand can be deceptively soft! Even the best vehicle won’t get you out of a dune if you drive in too deeply. We recommend always bringing a shovel just in case!
Watch the Tide
The worst possible end to a beach day is watching your car slowly sliding out to sea. Be aware of your surroundings, especially when it comes to the changes in the tide. You may find that your perfect parking spot in the morning isn’t so great later in the afternoon when high tide rolls in. (Eek!)
Don’t Leave a Mess
It’s just good manners to clean up after yourself when you leave any location. Pick up your gear and make sure you’ve collected all your trash before you hop back in the car. It’s important to keep our oceans clean so that others can enjoy them in the future!
There’s a handful of great Florida beaches you can drive on, but which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below! And don’t forget that four-wheel drive!
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