This post may contain affiliate links. We may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase. Read Disclosure.
If you’re craving a beach town escape that feels like a true hidden gem—one with charm, a chilled vibe, miles of white sandy beaches, and well, a little bit of everything—New Smyrna Beach might just become your new favorite Florida coastal town. It certainly became ours.
We visited as part of a long weekend trip to the Daytona Beach area, and we liked it so much, we decided to share a vacation guide on it so our readers can discover it too.
Love New Smyrna Beach
While Daytona brought the buzz, New Smyrna Beach brought the balance – laid-back, artsy, effortlessly cool. It had that “I could live here” feel.
While many Florida beach towns can feel over-commercialized or cookie-cutter, New Smyrna Beach has a vibe all its own. It’s part surf town, part historic village, part foodie haven, with a strong local arts scene and a vibrant main street that’s just the right size.
Here’s why we fell in love with New Smyrna Beach, what we did, where we ate, and tips to help you plan your own visit to this East Coast Florida treasure.
Where is New Smyrna Beach and how to get there
New Smyrna Beach is a barrier island located on Florida’s east coast, just a 20-minute drive south of Daytona Beach and about an hour’s drive northeast of Orlando. It’s part of Volusia County and sits along the Atlantic Ocean, with 17 miles of beautiful sandy shoreline.
Getting there is easy, whether you’re driving or flying. If you’re coming from out of state, the closest airport is Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB)—just 25 minutes away—with convenient direct flights from select cities like Raleigh via Breeze Airways.
You can also fly into Orlando International Airport (MCO), which is about 75 minutes drive away, or Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB), roughly an hour’s drive.
Once you arrive, the town is compact and easy to explore by car, bike, or even on foot, especially around the Flagler Avenue and beachside areas.
Things to see and do in New Smyrna Beach
Surf or Swim New Smyrna Beach (or park your car)
Of course, New Smyrna Beach is the star attraction here. Like Daytona, you can drive right onto the sand with your four or two wheels. We biked along the beach in Daytona, but did not have time for it in New Smyrna Beach. Just time your ride for low tide so you get the hardest-packed sand.
Unlike busier beaches, New Smyrna Beach was peaceful, clean, and great for swimming, long walks, building sandcastles, or just sitting and soaking up the sea breeze. We also noticed lots of surfers, not surprising since this area is known for having some of the finest wave action in Florida. Professional and amateur surfers come here from all over the world as it has consistent wave breaks.
It’s also known as the Shark Bite Capital of the World … no joke. Not fatalities, though, just a chomp on the arm or leg here and there. Since the 1880s, there have been over 300 reported incidents, but in recent years, between 5-10 incidents annually.
The New Smyrna Beach area is known for its high concentration of bull, blacktip, and spinner sharks, which swim near the Indian River Lagoon because it’s full of batfish. They occasionally mistake people for fish, hence the chomp, but they aren’t known to be aggressive. Their most active in the summer months (July and August).
As an Aussie, sharks kinda spook me, so I was very hesitant to go swimming. I’d almost decided I’d breathe deep and dive in the following day, until our waiter told us his best mate had bitten his arm a few days before, but not to worry, he was recovering well.
It’s like a rite of passage and a badge of honor for the surfers. You do your comfort level. I’m sure the odds are still low, and we saw plenty of people out swimming and surfing with limbs intact.
If you’re into wildlife or water activities, there’s more to explore.
Kayak the Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon
The nearby Indian River Lagoon is the most biologically diverse estuary in North America, with dolphins, manatees, and hundreds of birds.
We rented kayaks from River Witch and paddled for an hour through quiet jungle-like waterways and mangrove-lined canals of the Mosquito Lagoon and the Canaveral National Seashore. These pristine waterways teeming with wildlife and natural beauty are tucked away from the crowds.
The owners of River Witch pointed us toward a cove often visited by manatees and dolphins. We didn’t see dolphins, but we did spot several manatees surfacing and waving their tails hello.
Single kayaks are $20 for an hour. They have different types of kayaks to rent and offer guided tours.
Check out this amazing kayak tour we did down the Wacissa River on the Gulf Coast of Florida (one of my US favorite adventures)
Explore Smyrna Dunes Park
A last-minute decision to visit the Smyrna Dunes Park, located on the northern end of the New Smyrna Beach Island, turned into a hidden gem ($11 entrance fee).
It’s a protected nature reserve with 1.5 miles of wide boardwalks and nature trails that loop through dunes with amazing views of Ponce Inlet, the lighthouse, and dog-friendly beaches.
It’s a haven for nature lovers due to its five ecosystems: ocean, river, dunes, scrub, and saltwater marsh.
Keep a lookout for gopher tortoises sunning themselves amongst the dunes – we saw one perfectly camouflaged in the sand. We loved the views of Ponce Inlet Lighthouse across the channel from here.
Inside the park is a small red Espresso Me truck selling decent coffee, smoothies, and light bites.
Explore Canal Street Historic District
Canal Street Historic District is the town’s charming historic district, known for its artsy energy, colorful murals, and a mix of galleries, boutique shops, and breweries. It’s a great place to slow down, sip a local craft beer at New Smyrna Beach Brewing Company, and soak up the creative spirit of the town.
It has a strong artistic vibe thanks to the Hub on Canal. It was one of the most creative art studio spaces we’ve visited – with footprints on the floor weaving around alleyways and up mural-covered stairs to peruse the different studio spaces and see artists at work.
Outside is a bright mural covering the pedestrian crossing to remind you that “art is life is art!”
Flagler Avenue
Flagler Ave Mural
If we hadn’t decided to take the alternative Google Maps route to our accommodation down Flagler Ave, we may have missed the heart of New Smyrna’s beach scene. We immediately decided to explore it either before or after our dinner – time constraints pushed it back to after.
While Canal St is a little inland, Flagler Ave leads right to the shore, bringing a beach town buzz — think surf shops, boutique stores, seafood shacks, live music bars, and the kind of laid-back nightlife that pulls you in and keeps you out longer than you planned.
Here’s what we enjoyed on Flagler Ave…
The Banyan Tree
Plan for a couple of minutes to admire the ginormous Banyan tree on the side of Flagler Ave, opposite our breakfast spot, Third Wave Coffee.
These trees are a favorite of ours from Southeast Asia (even back home in Oz).
This is the first one we’ve seen in the USA.
Live music and bar hopping on Flagler Ave
Flagler Tavern
It’s also the nightlife street of New Smyrna Beach. In comparison to Daytona, I liked how this was in one central place. I’m not sure I could even tell you where the nightlife parts of Daytona are because it’s so spread out.
On Flagler Ave, you can bar hop from one to the next, which is what we attempted to do, but we got stuck in Flagler Tavern dancing to the eclectic rock band, Stereo FM.
They bought the unpretentious, fun party!
Thankfully, we walked home at a respectful hour when they finished. You could bar hop and stay out later if you wanted.
Coffee at Luma Cafe
Designed for your Instagram feed, Luma Café awaits with swinging chairs, comfy couches, giant Jenga games, and decent coffee.
Relax and watch the Flagler Ave world go by, or take it to go for a beach walk.
This could be a great spot for a more casual breakfast than where we went (see below).
Blue Spring State Park
Blue Springs is so beautiful
It may be an hour drive inland from New Smyrna Beach, but you won’t regret a half-day excursion to the Blue Spring State Park. It’s about an hour drive inland from Daytona Beach, but it’s so worth it.
The Blue Spring, located along the St John’s River, is a crisp 72 degrees, which matches the 90-degree air temp just heavenly.
We tubed the spring run (about 1/8 of a mile) a few times, but I ditched the tube for a swim and was rewarded with the most magical moment: a manatee popped up right beside me.
I floated hands-up, legs-kicking to stay clear, and she brushed past my belly before lifting her nose next to mine. It was wild.
DCIM100GOPROGOPR1345.JPG 
The spring and run are closed during the winter to provide a safe refuge for the manatees. We also saw river otters, turtles, and lots of birds.
Tips:
- Arrive early — they cap entry, and weekends get busy. It opens at 8am, and people start lining up at dawn. If you can, visit mid-week or early Sun (afternoons are busier then)
- You can bring your own tubes or rent them on site – they have ample. Rent them from the Gift Locker from Blue Spring Adventures. There are also lockers for rent – we recommend the key lockers near the tube rental instead of the code lockers at the beginning of the spring run. Bring food or a picnic lunch as there are several picnic and grill areas.
- $6 fee per vehicle. Tubing costs $7+. Locker $5+
Reminder: Do NOT touch the manatees. I had to yell at a few people who were. There are hefty fines and bans, and more importantly, it’s their home — we’re just visitors.
Ponce Inlet Lighthouse
Ponce Lighthouse
You saw it from Sand Dunes Park, now drive 30 minutes from New Smyrna Beach to Ponce Inlet Lighthouse.
It’s Florida’s tallest lighthouse, and you can climb to the top for sweeping 360-degree views over the inlet, waterways, and barrier islands. The snowy white sandbar island felt straight out of the Whitsundays.
Amazing views!
The old buildings on the lighthouse grounds house small museums that share the Lighthouse’s 135-year history. My favorites were the lens exhibit building and the kerosene storage building.
Don’t miss the Constance D Hunter Historic Pacetti Hotel, which recently reopened after a four-year restoration into a public museum. They had a fascinating shark exhibit when we visited in partnership with the nearby Marine Science Center.
New Smyrna is only 30 minutes south of Daytona Beach, where you’ll find plenty of beach activities and places to eat. It’s a lot more touristy, but we liked it. You can read our guide to our Daytona Beach weekend getaway for more ideas.
Where to eat at New Smyrna Beach
We always say food is one of the best ways to understand a destination—and New Smyrna Beach delivered. It’s a surprisingly great town for food lovers, with everything from beachy seafood shacks to elevated dining.
Here’s what we loved:
The Garlic
The Garlic in New Smyrna Beach was one of the most memorable meals of our trip, possibly in the USA. The ambiance alone is worth the visit—twinkling lights, rustic decor, and a lush, open-air garden vibe that feels like Italy meets Florida.
It’s the first time in my life I was thankful for an hour’s wait for our table (super popular, does not take reservations, and ponder. It seats over four hundred people at a time!!).
It gave us time to explore all the nooks and crannies of the restaurants, all centralized around trees with trunks in the middle of sections, two separate live music areas, quirky decorations from spectacles hanging down, to paper mâché figurines, and of course, garlic; and an outside area, with a small bar to grab a waiting drink from.
Sadly, it was pouring outside, so we couldn’t utilize the outside space, but we enjoyed a good aperol spritz crowded around the bar while we waited.
We ended up with a romantic table in the corner, an attentive server with great recommendations, a perfect bottle of Super Tuscan red to match our divine dishes of lamb cutlets with the best mint jelly I’ve ever had, mussels with a broth so good you could drink it, and Ravioli Bolognaise, wood-fired salmon for mains.
As if I needed another reason to return to New Smyrna Beach.
You may want to add the Norwood’s Treehouse Bar as a place for a pre-dinner drink. We had planned to have our dinner at the Garlic (they’re next to each other), but had to cancel thanks to the torrential rain and thunderstorms. Sitting in a treehouse drinking cocktails when it’s thundering and lightning is not a smart idea! It looked super cool, and we will do it on our next visit to New Syrma Beach. You can also eat here, and they have live music.
Third Wave Café & Wine Bar
Tucked just off Flagler Ave, Third Wave Cafe is a cozy spot that offers a shady patio, an excellent wine list, and creative small plates. Perfect for a more relaxed, romantic night. Or, for us, we ate here for breakfast, enjoying a hearty hash to soak up the fun times from the night before.
I had a delicious wood-fired brisket breakfast bowl with roasted potatoes, roasted red pepper, corn mozzarella blend, over easy eggs, and red pepper coulis. Craig went with the southwestern hash version.
Prices are higher here, but the quality of the innovative global flavors fused with Southern coastal traditions and the bamboo forest surroundings may make it worth it.
Lunch at Outriggers
Slightly outside of the main beach area overlooking the marina is Outriggers, a perfect spot for lunch on a warm day.
Here at Outriggers, you can enjoy shrimp tacos, fish sandwiches, and views of fishermen scaling their catches of snapper.
It’s a lively spot with great service. And keeping me connected to my homeland, I had a Kylie Minogue non-alcoholic sparkling rose. I should be so lucky!
Where to stay at New Smyrna Beach
There’s no shortage of wonderful places to stay in New Smyrna Beach, whether you’re looking for oceanfront hotels or cozy vacation rentals.
For a short weekend trip like ours, we recommend staying close to the beach and Flagler Avenue so you can walk everywhere and fully enjoy the town’s vibe.
A few standouts to consider:
- SpringHill Suites by Marriott – A newer property just off Flagler Ave with great amenities, modern rooms, and a short walk to everything.
- Hampton Inn New Smyrna Beach – Located 7 minutes’ walk from the beach, this Florida hotel offers an outdoor pool, daily continental breakfast, and free WiFi
- Best Western New Smyrna Beach Hotel & Suites – Located right on the beach with an outdoor pool and the Seascape Dining Room on site.
- Inn on the Avenue – On Flagler Ave cute boutique style with character comes with American breakfast including champagne!
- Vacation Rentals – If you’re traveling with family or staying longer, New Smyrna Beach has tons of charming beach cottages and condos available on VRBO or Booking.com.
- Black Dolphin Inn: We wanted to stay at this award-winning, boutique property outside of the beach area near the waterways, but it was a two-night minimum, and we stayed in New Smyrna Beach for one night. If you like a little seclusion, this would be the perfect property – if you want proximity to restaurants and nightlife, a hotel near the beach and Flagler Ave would be more suitable.
Why we’ll be back to New Smyrna Beach
New Smyrna Beach took us by surprise in the best way. It’s a place that manages to feel relaxed and exciting all at once, too crowded, but never boring either.
It’s a town with stories, surfing, style, and substance. The kind of place where the salt air soothes you, the locals smile at you, and you go to bed already planning your return trip.
If you’re road-tripping in Florida, or flying into Daytona Beach like we did, be sure to carve out time for New Smyrna Beach. It might just become your favorite Florida beach town, too.
Other Florida destinations to love
Please visit:
Our Sponsor