Beach driving is allowed in four Florida counties. Here's how much it costs

Lianna Norman, USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida
·4 min read

Summer vacation time is almost here. From around June through August, Florida’s beaches fill with college students and stay-at-home moms looking to get their kids out of the house during summer days off.

On summer weekends, the beaches are packed with families and groups of friends enjoying the sun and surf.

If you’re planning to fill a four-wheel-drive with coolers and beach chairs and drive onto a Florida beach to set up camp for a day in the sun, you should know there are only a few beaches you can actually drive on in the Sunshine State.

Here are the Florida beaches where you can drive right on the sand this summer.

Can cars drive on the beach in Florida?

There aren’t many beaches you can drive on in Florida, but there are a few. And for all of them, you have to pay for a pass to drive on the sand.

According to the FWC, “Operating vehicles, including ATVs, on the beach can destroy wildlife habitat and be harmful or fatal to wildlife. This is one reason that, in many areas, beach-driving is strictly prohibited year-round to all but authorized personnel.”

Driving on the beach can put sea turtle and sea bird nests in danger, so it’s important to only drive on beaches where and when it’s allowed.

Driving on the beach is more common in Volusia and St. Johns counties. There are also a couple of places where you can drive on the beach in Duval and Nassau counties.

Volusia beaches where you can drive on the sand

  • Harvard Drive – Ormond Beach

  • University Boulevard – Daytona Beach

  • Seabreeze Boulevard – Daytona Beach

  • International Speedway Boulevard – Daytona Beach

  • Silver Beach Avenue – Daytona Beach

  • Van Avenue – Daytona Beach Shores

  • Dunlawton Boulevard – Daytona Beach Shores

  • Beach Street – Ponce Inlet

  • Beachway Avenue – New Smyrna Beach

  • Crawford Road – New Smyrna Beach

  • Flagler Avenue – New Smyrna Beach

  • Third Avenue – New Smyrna Beach

  • 27th Avenue – New Smyrna Beach

Beach driving made a return to Volusia County last year following two tropical storms that disrupted the Volusia shoreline in 2022.

St. John’s County and Jacksonville areas where you can drive on the beach

  • Vilano (temporarily closed)

  • Porpoise Point

  • A Street

  • Ocean Trace Road

  • Dondanville Road

  • Matanzas Avenue

  • Mary Street

  • Crescent Beach (Cubbedge Road)

According to St. Johns County’s website, “Vehicular access is dependent on beach conditions — weather, sand, or tides may cause ramps to temporarily close or limit access to 4 Wheel Drive vehicles. Daily driving conditions are posted to our Facebook and X accounts (follow SJC Beaches) and in the Reach the Beach Mobile App.”

In Duval County, you can drive on the beach only at Huguenot Memorial Park.

“You can drive and park directly on the beach but please be mindful of the tide and sections that are closed for shorebird nesting,” Timucuan Parks'website says.

There are also places to drive on the beach in Nassau County, but they're not open for the general public to drive on.

According to Amelia Island’s website, “Vehicles are permitted and driving on the beach is allowed with a permit at Burney Beach Park, Scott Road and Peter's Point.”

Nassau County only allows county residents, those with a valid U.S. Military ID and Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles personnel to drive on the beach.

How much does it cost to drive on the beach in Florida?

It depends on where you'd like to drive on the beach and if you're a resident of the same county.

"From March 1 through September 30, vehicles are required to pay a vehicle access toll and obtain a beach pass. Daily and annual beach passes may be purchased at access ramps," the St. Johns County website says.

In St. Johns County, passes to drive on the beach cost $50 and non-resident passes are double that at $100. St. Johns County also offers an ADA-accessible pass for $40.

In Duval County, driving on the beach at Huguenot Memorial Park is only $5 for a car of up to six people and one additional dollar for each person after that.

According to Jacksonville's Parks and Recreation website, "Access to the Atlantic Ocean (at Huguenot) requires driving through extremely soft sand. Four-wheel drive vehicles are highly recommended. 2-wheel and All-wheel drive vehicles should consider parking on Family Beach or in the designated parking areas. Driving on the beach is at your own risk and subject to towing at the owners expense. There are no refunds."

In Daytona Beach, there's only a $20 fee for a daily pass to drive on the beach. For Volusia County residents, annual passes to drive on the beach are $25. For non-residents, annual passes cost $100.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Beach driving is allowed on some beaches in these four Florida counties