Staying in Daytona Beach area and want somewhere to take your dog? Or perhaps looking for a day-trip option for the entire family. Check out the Lighthouse Point Park, located at the southern tip of Ponce Inlet on the Atlantic coast. This dog-friendly park is located about 7-10 miles south of Daytona and offers plenty of beach, dunes and picnic areas.
We only had a short-time to spend at the park but enjoyed every minute. It was a Friday morning, and even though there was quite a few cars parked in the main parking lot, the park was no where near crowded. There are walkways along the waters edge, as well as picnic tables and boardwalks through the dunes. Restroom facilities are available making it easy to change into your swimming gear or get washed off after spending the day in the sand.
The park is located across the inlet from New Smyrna Beach, which can be seen across the water. There's a lot of wildlife in the park including many varieties of birds. Fisherman and waders were also catching crabs which seem to be quite common in the waterway.
Our dog enjoyed walking in the waves and along the sandy shoreline. There was a few other dogs at the park enjoying the cooler weather (but still very sunny), and it would make an excellent location for a family picnic.
Dogs on leashes are welcome - they even get a treat at the ticket booth! Dog poop bags are available along the main trail making it easy to pick-up after your pet. The famous Ponce Inlet Lighthouse is next to the park and visitors can ascend to the top to see amazing views (pets not allowed, however). We could definitely see the lighthouse from the park (it is the 2nd tallest in the U.S.) but we didn't go inside it this time.
For more info:
Lighthouse Point Park
5000 S. Atlantic Ave
Ponce Inlet
386-756-7488
Open Daily Sunrise to Sunset
$5 per vehicle
Directions: From Daytona Beach, take I-95 south toward Miami. Take SR-421, Exit 256, toward Port Orange. Take the Taylor Road ramp toward Port Orange/Daytona Beach Shores. Merge onto FL-421 East. FL-421 east becomes FL-A1A North/Dunlawton Avenue. Turn right on South Atlantic Avenue (4075) and drive straight to the park.
Ponce de Leon Inlet Light Station - second tallest lighthouse in the U.S.
Need a pet-friendly place to stay in Daytona? How about The Shores Resort and Spa - a quieter luxury hotel located in Daytona Beach Shores. Read about them here.
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