Is Daytona Beach Safe? | A Local’s Perspective
As someone who has grown up near Daytona Beach and traveled around, I can offer some insight into the question, is Daytona Beach safe? Overall, the answer is yes, but as with anywhere you should exercise precautions. However, let’s break it down and discuss various aspects of this question including if it’s safe to swim in Daytona Beach.
I’m happy to share by advice and experience, but just know it’s my experience. When I travel, I rarely go out at night, especially when traveling solo and I don’t drink. Even when I’m home, I’m not a partier so I can’t really speak to that scene in Daytona Beach. However, I’m happy to share my perspective as a local to east central Florida.
Before you dive in, I want to be transparent: this article includes affiliate links. This simply means that if you click on the link and make a purchase, I may earn a commission. Rest assured, the article includes my genuine advice and it won’t cost you anything extra. Your support is greatly appreciated. Happy reading!
Is Daytona Beach Safe?
If you’re visiting Daytona, you may be wondering about the safety of the city versus the beach. I’ll go into detail on both to help you navigate or decide where to stay in Daytona Beach! Let’s start with the city and break it down into various areas!
Daytona the City
Even if you were to spend four days in Miami, there are places you should avoid. The same is true for your Daytona Beach itinerary! Overall, I feel safer in Daytona than Miami, but I’ve also grown up close to this coastal city. You will definitely pass some characters even on the main streets like International Speedway Boulevard and as with a lot of places, homelessness is an issue.
Generally speaking though, anywhere you are likely to go will be safe. The main coastal road, A1A, or the speedway areas like ONE DAYTONA are safe! The downtown area on Beach Street is cute and I’ve gone plenty of times in recent weeks and felt safe as a woman there alone during the day.
International Speedway Boulevard
The main road in Daytona is International Speedway Boulevard. I usually refer to it as 92 or ISB. This road goes from DeLand and dead ends into the beach! As you may have already guessed, Daytona’s International Speedway is located on this road. Additionally, the mall, Bethune-Cookman University, downtown Daytona, ONEDAYTONA and the airport are all on this main road!
Most of what you will do in Daytona will be along this road! As I stated earlier, you will see plenty of characters along this stretch, especially after you pass the mall heading toward the beach. Parts of this road are nicer than others, but since it is such a main road, it’s generally safe.
Areas to Avoid
There are pockets throughout Daytona that aren’t great, and I checked on google to confirm if what I was thinking is true and google agreed. If you were to head north of ISB on Ridgewood up to Mason Avenue, this isn’t a great area. Continuing north is Holly Hill which is another area to avoid. I’ve barely if ever driven by these areas, and since there isn’t much to do, there isn’t really a reason to visit this part of Daytona or Holly Hill.
North and South of International Speedway Boulevard
North on Clyde Morris or Williamson are generally okay. There’s a ton of construction on Williamson which I became well acquainted with recently when visiting a hospital. The area by the outlets is newer in general and growing.
South of ISB heading toward Port Orange is generally okay. There are areas that are nicer than others, but overall it doesn’t feel as shady!
Beachside is generally safe, but any crime is likelier at night as with most places. However, since it’s more touristy, it’s generally looked after. I don’t tend to venture out at night much when traveling and with any destination, it’s good to be cautious if you do.
Homelessness
As a single female, homelessness not only gets my attention from an empathy standpoint, but also from a safety perspective. In recent years, I’ve seen more and more homelessness around. While it’s not to the extent I’ve seen in New York City, Seattle or Los Angeles, it’s surprised me as I didn’t grow up seeing much in east central Florida!
In Daytona Beach, the main place I’ve noticed homelessness is downtown and it’s minimal. This area has had a facelift and the park along the river is a beautiful walk! I was there recently and decided to get in some steps in this park and enjoyed the water features and river. I felt safe even though it wasn’t crowded.
There may be more homeless people in other parts of Daytona Beach that I frequent less, but out of the main areas, I’ve seen the most downtown on Beach Street.
Crime Rate
Daytona Beach is said to have a high crime rate for its population size, but crime has been dropping even though population has been increasing. If you’re looking for specific stats, I recommend asking google, but they aren’t great when I checked.
As someone who has grown up near Daytona, I haven’t had an issue. However, I stick to the main areas and they are the same you’d likely visit as a tourist. As with anywhere, be smart, stay sober, and stick to the main touristy areas, especially at night.
Conclusion: Is Daytona Beach Safe?
There are parts of Daytona that aren’t great, but I’ve driven through many areas over the years and never had issues. If you plan to visit an area that is off the beaten path, ask a local at your hotel or a restaurant for advice.
Where to Stay Near Daytona Beach That is Safer
The areas surrounding Daytona Beach are generally quieter and safer! Ormond Beach sits just north of Daytona and it’s a nice and quiet beach town. Just know that Holly Hill is between Daytona and Ormond (inland side) and that’s not considered a safe area.
Alternatively, you can head south to Daytona Beach Shores or Ponce Inlet on the beachside. Port Orange is the city inland that is south of Daytona Beach, which is overall nicer. It was more of a retirees area, but it’s definitely seen growth in recent years.
If you stay in the main areas of Daytona Beach, you’ll be fine, but I’d recommend these options as they are close enough to drive to Daytona without having to stay there.
You may like: Where to Stay in Daytona Beach | A Local’s Advice
Is it Safe to Swim in Daytona Beach?
Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach are notorious and not for a great reason. This county in Florida (Volusia County) that includes both of these beach towns is known for shark bites. With that being said, I’ve gone to the beach weekly in the warm months from childhood to now and never had an issue! However, I don’t think my birthplace of Barbados has ever had an issue, so it’s certainly normal to wonder how safe it is to swim in Daytona Beach!
I’ll share my experiences in this part of the Atlantic Ocean and offer some safety tips and considerations! If you’ve already decided that this is the best of the Florida beaches for your trip, here are some things to keep in mind.
Daytona Beach’s Atlantic Ocean
During the summer months in east central Florida, the ocean tends to be calm and we are having more beautiful, clear ocean days than ever! Of course, the conditions on the Atlantic side are much more volatile. The ocean can be calm one day and have strong currents and waves the next. It can be beautifully clear one day and dark and murky the next. You really can’t predict the conditions.
It’s the murky water that ultimately causes the most issues when it comes to sharks. However, you also need to be aware of the conditions and be sure to leave the beach when lightning is around! Safety considerations for swimming in Daytona Beach are worth reviewing.
Sharks
As you may have realized with last year’s shark attacks, there are sharks in the ocean, whether you are considering the gulf or the Atlantic. It seemed like such a strange occurrence as the water was so clear on the gulf, which proves that unfortunately accidents happen!
Even though accidents can happen in the clear gulf waters, it is when the waters are dark and murky in Daytona Beach and New Smyrna that shark bites are more likely. The sharks don’t see very well and their bite is more of a curiosity grab or a case of mistaken identity, rather than malicious. Of course, no one wants a shark bite regardless of the reason!
Have I seen a shark? Yes, but I can count the times I’ve seen them on one hand! I paddle board past the break and maybe once in over ten years did I think I saw a shark in my peripheral. More commonly I see dolphins and one time I even saw a manatee and her baby! However, there were a couple times in recent years when I, without a doubt, saw a shark.
When a Shark Approached Me..
It was a beautiful day! There was not a cloud in the sky and the waves were big! I made my way to the Ponce Inlet Pier, which I rarely visit. A lot of sharks will congregate by the Ponce Inlet and New Smyrna Piers, where the surfers go and people fish. As someone who grew up in Florida, I can count on one hand the times I’ve seen a shark and most have been near the piers.
This day was perfection! The water clarity was amazing! You wouldn’t even think it was east central Florida! It was GORGEOUS! I attempted to surf, but the waves were too advanced for me so I went back to shore and dropped by board off. Then I headed back to the water because it was just WAY too beautiful not to enjoy!
I was neck high in the water and could see my feet clearly. I’m 5’9 for reference. Yes, the water was THAT clear. The only negative to this moment was the school of fish hanging around me. I finally decided to back up a bit. After all, I knew better than to hang around a school of fish.
Now chest high, I was enjoying the water. I began scanning the view from right to left and as I turned to the left I was startled to see a shark heading toward the school of fish that was right in front of me! As I jumped back, my left foot kicked forward to keep my balance and it actually startled the shark! We both headed our separate ways and while I knew the shark was going for the fish and not me, I took a break from being in the ocean.
Thankfully the water was clear enough that we saw each other perfectly!
New Smyrna Shark Sighting
Another instance of seeing a shark was in New Smyrna. The water that day was super dark and murky, but I only saw a fin quite a ways off. However, the murky water freaks me out more, so I took a break before heading back in to try and catch some waves.
Since New Smyrna has the more consistent waves in Florida, I mainly head there with my longboard surfboard. I wasn’t all the way by the pier, because I’m not a great surfer and I feel too intimidated to attempt surfing there. So this sighting wasn’t at the pier, even though they tend to congregate there more.
Rip Currents
As I mentioned, this coast is more volatile. The ocean can be calm or there can be dangerous currents! If the ocean is too dangerous, don’t swim. It’s always better to respect the ocean and conditions!
It’s also important to understand rip currents and how to swim out of them if you ever find yourself in one. The Volusia County Beach Safety page offers a good diagram. If you ever get sucked out by the rip current, swim parallel to shore to get out of it, and then head into shore.
Lightning
While sharks get the most attention, lightning should not be ignored! You’re more likely to get struck by lightning than bitten by a shark.
Thunderstorms are typically a daily occurrence in the summer, so I definitely recommend checking the weather to see when the thunderstorms are likely to roll in. Plan your day accordingly and don’t stay on the beach if there’s lightning. Yes, the lifeguards will tell you to leave if it’s bad, but most locals are usually gone before they make their rounds.
Safety
There are lifeguards along the coast, and it’s always a good idea to be within a guarded area.
In Daytona Beach, you want to consider the water clarity, avoid wearing shiny jewelry that would mimic a fish, and stay clear of any schools of fish. Most shark attacks on our coast are simply mistaken identity.
Consider that sharks don’t see that well, so when the water is murky they can see you even less! Additionally, if you wear shiny things, it will attract their attention, which you don’t want to do! Stay clear of fish because that is the food they are ultimately after! Lastly, consider that dawn and dusk is a likelier time for them to be feeding and swimming at night is better avoided as well!
If you see a storm approaching, leave the beach. Don’t treat lightning lightly! Also respect the ocean and avoid rip currents.
- Don’t wear jewelry or shiny things
- Avoid schools of fish
- Don’t swim in the dark, or at dawn or dusk
- Swim near lifeguards
- Be aware of rip currents and how to swim out of them if needed
- Lightning can strike miles from the storm, so leave the beach before a storm gets too close
Sharkbanz
Even though I’ve grown up swimming in the ocean, I don’t want to be a shark’s mistake bite. After the shark attacks on the gulf last year, I purchased a sharkbanz. I cannot vouch for if it really works, but I got it for some peace of mind.
If I ever have a story of its performance, I’ll be sure to report back!
Conclusion: Is it Safe to Swim in Daytona Beach?
Considering I’ve swam in these waters since I was a child, I would say yes. However, the yes should be qualified. The conditions on this coast are volatile and the ocean should always be respected! Additionally, there are sharks in the ocean in general, so it’s always a good idea to use appropriate safety precautions.
Is Daytona Beach Safe?
Well I hope this post helped! Overall I think Daytona Beach is safe, but as with any destination you should exercise precautions! There are plenty of cute beach towns near Daytona Beach that are also worth considering for your beach vacation.
Perhaps it’s because I grew up near Daytona, but I feel safer than I did spending 4 days in Miami. I hope you have a wonderful trip and feel more prepared!
