Real places, real neighborhoods and current market numbers, verified by broker Ryan C. Winslow.
What Daytona Beach Shores is known for
Daytona Beach Shores is a small oceanfront city on a barrier island between Daytona Beach and Wilbur-by-the-Sea. It is known for its line of high-rise condominiums along South Atlantic Avenue, wide Atlantic beach, and Sunglow Pier. The city calls itself a resort and retirement community with no schools or manufacturing.
Local business leaders organized the city in 1960, and it was incorporated on April 22, 1960, to provide residents with more local services. A massive condominium building program followed in the 1970s and 1980s, with another building boom in the early 2000s. Today about 90 percent of residents live in high-rise condos along the ocean. A quiet, condo-centered beach town of about 5,100 residents, many of them retirees and seasonal owners, with a steady flow of vacation visitors. Daily life revolves around the beach, the Shores Community Center clubs and classes, clay tennis courts and pickleball.
Where to live
The heart of the city. High-rise condominium towers and resort hotels line the ocean side of A1A, where about 90 percent of residents live. Most homes here are condos with direct beach access and ocean views. (source)
The city's west side faces the Halifax River lagoon, part of the Intracoastal Waterway. The Shores Community Center, Veterans Park and the city clay tennis courts sit on Bellemead Drive, with sunset views over the river. (source)
An unincorporated coastal community just south of the city. Unlike the Shores, it is made up of beachfront single-family homes rather than condo towers or hotels. Several oceanfront homes collapsed after Hurricanes Ian and Nicole eroded the dunes in 2022. (source)
A small town at the southern tip of the barrier island, a few minutes south of the Shores. It is home to the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse, Lighthouse Point Park and riverfront restaurants and marinas on the inlet. The town runs its own floodplain management and resilience programs. (source)
A private, gated residential airpark on the mainland in Port Orange, built on a former WWII navy airfield. About 1,300 homes and 700 hangars share a 4,000-foot lighted runway, taxiways to the homes and the Spruce Creek Country Club golf course. Homes range from condos to large hangar homes. (source)
Local favorites
You eat over the ocean at the end of a 400-foot walk out on Sunglow Pier. Serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily; no reservations. (source)
Oceanfront dining room with large windows and outdoor seating, plus cocktails, wine and craft beer inside The Shores Resort & Spa. (source)
Locals go for the cinnamon rolls, baked fresh all day for more than 45 years, plus fried catfish, fish stew and a sides bar with cheesy grits. (source)
A riverfront spot serving fresh seafood and aged steaks since 1975. Known for prime rib, smoked Parmesan oysters and key lime pie. (source)
Sits on the sand where Daytona beach racing began, with a beachfront deck, racing exhibits and nightly live entertainment. (source)
Fresh local catch like mahi mahi and wahoo, daily live music and happy hour 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the Halifax River. (source)
A beachside bar and grill known for its award-winning clam chowder, crab legs and burgers, with live music and an in-house band Wednesday through Saturday nights. (source)
Dinner in a 1907 mansion once used by President Warren G. Harding as a winter residence. Chef Sam Moggio has run it since 2003. (source)
After hours
A casual beachside bar at The Shores Resort & Spa, with a relaxed tropical setting right on the sand. (source)
The city's social hub on Bellemead Drive. Residents drop in for bridge, mah-jongg, Mexican Train dominoes, Zumba Gold, yoga and a free Thursday evening acoustic music jam. Outside are six free clay tennis courts, bocce and shuffleboard. (source)
Ten dedicated lighted pickleball courts with open play daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. The city offers free Intro to Pickleball classes and loans equipment from the Community Center. (source)
A city-run dog park with live cameras residents can check before heading over. (source)
A waterpark and fun park with a wave pool, lazy river, go-karts, laser tag, mini golf, a ropes course and an arcade. (source)
Shopping
An open-air shopping and dining center at 5501 South Williamson Blvd on the mainland in Port Orange. (source)
A shopping, dining and entertainment district at 1 Daytona Blvd, across from Daytona International Speedway, with a movie theater, live music and free parking. (source)
Tanger's outlet center serving the Daytona Beach area, with brand-name outlet stores. (source)
Gift shop plus bait and tackle at the Inlet Harbor marina, where you can also book fishing charters, boat tours and a water taxi to New Smyrna Beach. (source)
Outdoors
County beachfront park at 2705 S Atlantic Ave with more than 130 parking spaces, a playground, picnic pavilions, showers and elevated ocean views. Fully accessible. Volusia County residents can register vehicles for free parking; non-residents pay a daily fee. (source)
A 52-acre park on the north shore of Ponce de Leon Inlet with boardwalks, a nature trail and observation tower, an 800-foot jetty deck and a dog-friendly swimming beach. (source)
Free botanical gardens around the ruins of a 19th-century sugar factory from the Dunlawton Plantation, with native plant trails, butterfly areas and dinosaur statues from an early theme park. Open daily 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (source)
A 23-acre nature park with a 536-foot boardwalk, more than three miles of trails, a 15-foot observation tower over the marsh and a canoe launch. Free, sunrise to sunset. (source)
The nearest state park, on the site of the Timucuan village of Nocoroco. Paddle the Tomoka River lagoons, fish, camp and watch for more than 160 bird species during migrations. (source)
A protected barrier island seashore with undeveloped beach, dunes, coastal hammocks, Mosquito Lagoon and ancient Timucua shell mounds. The Apollo Beach Visitor Center is the north entrance. (source)
A 140,000-acre refuge that overlays Kennedy Space Center, home to more than 1,500 plant and animal species. Black Point Wildlife Drive is the main way to see birds and wildlife. (source)
Things to do
The city's landmark pier. Walk 400 feet out over the waves to Crabby Joe's for a meal above the ocean. Fishing is currently not allowed on the pier. (source)
A 175-foot lighthouse first lit in 1887. Climb the tower and tour the museum buildings, including the historic Pacetti Hotel museum. (source)
A county center with a sea turtle hospital and seabird rehabilitation, a ray touch pool, a seabird sanctuary and nature trails. Closed Mondays; U.S. military veterans get free individual admission. (source)
Home of the Daytona 500. Daily guided tours visit the 31-degree high banks and the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. (source)
Art, science and history museum on S Nova Road with the Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art, the Root Family Museum, a planetarium, a children's museum and the Tuscawilla Preserve. (source)
On the calendar
NASCAR's Great American Race and the Speedweeks racing that leads up to it at Daytona International Speedway. (source)
Billed as the world's largest motorcycle event, held since 1941, with vendors, rides and events throughout the Daytona Beach area. (source)
The summer NASCAR Cup Series night race at Daytona International Speedway. (source)
The fall motorcycle rally with racing at the Speedway, scenic rides along the coast and the Scenic Loop, bike shows, live music and vendors. (source)
A nonprofit car show held since 1974 with thousands of collector cars, a swap meet and a car corral. Proceeds go to charity. (source)
Schools
Sugar Mill Elementary School (Port Orange), Cypress Creek Elementary School (Port Orange), Sweetwater Elementary School (Port Orange), Port Orange Elementary School (Port Orange)
Silver Sands Middle School (Port Orange), Creekside Middle School (Port Orange)
Spruce Creek High School (Port Orange), Atlantic High School (Port Orange)
Father Lopez Catholic High School (Daytona Beach), Warner Christian Academy (South Daytona)
Listed for reference, not ranked. Confirm school zoning for any address with the district. (source)
Broker notes
State Road A1A (South Atlantic Avenue) runs the length of the city. The Dunlawton Avenue bridge crosses the Halifax River to Port Orange, US 1 and I-95.
Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB), about 15 minutes. Orlando Sanford International (SFB), about 50 minutes. Orlando International (MCO), about 1 hour 15 minutes.
Ryan C. Winslow, broker/owner of Winslow Homes. REALTOR® since 2009, 3,000+ homes sold, broker in FL, MA, CT and RI, U.S. Army Retired.
Researched and verified 2026-09-28. Businesses change; call ahead.