Real places, real neighborhoods and current market numbers, verified by broker Ryan C. Winslow.
What Ponce Inlet is known for
Ponce Inlet sits at the southern tip of the Daytona barrier island, where the Halifax River meets the Atlantic at Ponce de Leon Inlet. It is known for the 175-foot Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse, first lit in 1887, and for quiet beaches where most of the sand is closed to cars. Boating, inlet fishing, and waterfront seafood spots on Front Street and Inlet Harbor Road shape daily life.
Antonio Pons farmed the point north of the inlet and received a Spanish land grant there in 1803. Bartola Pacetti sold ten acres for the lighthouse reservation in 1883, the tower went into service on November 1, 1887, and the settlement became known as Ponce Park. Mosquito Inlet was renamed Ponce de Leon Inlet in 1928, and the Town of Ponce Inlet incorporated on August 20, 1963. A small, low-rise coastal town of about 3,400 residents with many retirees, second-home owners, and boaters. Days revolve around the beach, the river, the jetty, and a handful of casual waterfront restaurants.
Where to live
Gated riverfront condominium community on the Halifax River. Two- and three-bedroom condos with a marina, private beach club, pools, tennis, fitness center, walking paths, and a nine-hole golf course. (source)
High-rise and mid-rise condo buildings on a no-drive stretch of beach, including the Towers buildings, Atlantica, Martinique, Antigua, Beacon Point, and East Wind. Towers Eight, built in 1999, has 48 residences of two to three bedrooms with oceanfront pools and a one-month minimum rental. (source)
Small waterfront neighborhood of Key West and contemporary style single-family homes built in the early 1970s, mostly three bedrooms. (source)
Mostly single-family homes of three to four bedrooms near South Peninsula Drive, South Atlantic Avenue, and Oceanview Avenue, with some ocean and river frontage. A separate Lighthouse Shores townhome condo community also exists. (source)
The historic riverfront core near the lighthouse, platted as the Ponce Park subdivision in 1890. Today it mixes older homes with Front Street seafood restaurants, the Pacetti Hotel Museum, and docks on the Halifax River. (source)
Riverfront homes along South Peninsula Drive with private access to the Halifax River for boating. (source)
Local favorites
Riverfront spot open since 1975. Locals go for blackened fish, smoked oysters, prime rib, and key lime pie while watching boats come in. (source)
Next to the lighthouse with an outdoor deck built around an old twisted oak. Known for its grouper sandwich, burgers, and a large rum collection. (source)
Sits right on the sand where Daytona beach racing began. Beachfront deck and nightly live entertainment. (source)
Waterfront deck at Inlet Harbor Marina with oysters, blackened tuna, rock shrimp, and grouper sandwiches. Live music on weekends and boaters can tie up. (source)
Local pizza and Italian spot with an outdoor tiki bar and live entertainment, in business for over 30 years. (source)
Open-air Halifax River spot opened in 1995, known for char-grilled fare and sunset views. (source)
Eat over the ocean at the end of the 400-foot Sunglow Pier. First come, first served. (source)
Family-owned riverfront restaurant known for homemade cinnamon rolls and its fixins bar. (source)
After hours
Volunteer-run nonprofit center at 4670 S. Peninsula Drive with exercise classes, member clubs, a farmers market, a lending library, and community events. (source)
Sandbar inside the inlet between Ponce Inlet and New Smyrna Beach that shows up at low tide. Boaters anchor with chairs, tents, and grills, especially on summer weekends. Boat access only. (source)
Full-service marina at 133 Inlet Harbor Road with wet slips, dry stack storage, ethanol-free fuel, and an on-site waterfront restaurant. (source)
Town park beside the fire department with basketball, tennis, and pickleball courts plus a playground. It also hosts town holiday events. (source)
Self-drive 22-foot pontoons for half-day, full-day, or sunset trips on the Halifax River and the inlet, from 4958 S. Peninsula Drive. (source)
Shopping
Lighthouse and nautical gifts, clothing, books, jewelry, and art. Sales help fund the nonprofit museum. (source)
Bait and tackle shop at 4958 S. Peninsula Drive with rods, reels, lures, and bait, plus an ice cream and sandwich counter. (source)
Closest full grocery store, at 3044 S. Atlantic Avenue in Daytona Beach Shores, with a pharmacy and liquor store. (source)
Open-air shopping center at 5501 S. Williamson Blvd in Port Orange with Ulta Beauty, Marshalls, Petco, restaurants, and a Regal cinema. (source)
Outdoors
52-acre county park on the north shore of the inlet with an 800-foot jetty deck, boardwalks, a nature trail with an observation tower, and a dog-friendly inlet beach. Vehicle entry fee. (source)
Barrier island preserve between the river and the ocean. A boardwalk climbs Green Mound, a 30-foot shell midden and state archaeological site, and another runs about a third of a mile to the Halifax River. (source)
Old Florida nature trails through hardwood hammock, salt marsh, and mangroves, with a shell midden dating to about 800 AD and a memorial garden. Good for birding. (source)
Three-acre town park next to the lighthouse with a playground, picnic tables, a covered gazebo, and a Veterans Memorial. (source)
1,650-acre state park on the Tomoka River with camping, paddling, a boat ramp, a hammock nature trail, and over 160 bird species recorded. Nearest full-service state park. (source)
National seashore of undeveloped barrier island beach, dunes, and Mosquito Lagoon, with Timucua shell mounds and the Eldora State House. The north entrance is south of New Smyrna Beach. (source)
140,000-acre refuge established in 1963 that overlaps Kennedy Space Center. Known for Black Point Wildlife Drive and birding. (source)
Things to do
The 175-foot lighthouse, first lit in 1887, is a National Historic Landmark. Climb the tower and tour the keepers' dwellings and exhibit buildings. Run by a self-funded nonprofit. (source)
The restored Pacetti Hotel, a famous fishing resort run by Bartola and Martha Pacetti. It opened as a museum in summer 2024. (source)
Volusia County center opened in 2002 at 100 Lighthouse Drive with a sea turtle hospital, seabird rehabilitation, exhibits, a touch pool, and a nature trail. (source)
Free botanical garden in Port Orange with sugar mill ruins and vintage dinosaur sculptures. Donations welcome. (source)
Home of the Daytona 500 each February and the Rolex 24. Daily track tours include the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. Located in Daytona Beach. (source)
On the calendar
Town holiday parade, held December 6 in 2025. (source)
Free town party for kids at Kay & Ayres Davies Lighthouse Park. (source)
Town egg hunt for kids each spring. (source)
Town environmental event held in April 2026. (source)
Town-led guided walks on birds and native plants at Ponce Preserve, 4401 S. Peninsula Drive. (source)
Schools
R.J. Longstreet Elementary School
Silver Sands Middle School
Atlantic High School
Listed for reference, not ranked. Confirm school zoning for any address with the district. (source)
Broker notes
South Atlantic Avenue (A1A) and South Peninsula Drive run the length of town. Dunlawton Avenue crosses the Halifax River to Port Orange and I-95. There is no bridge across the inlet, so New Smyrna Beach is reached through Port Orange.
Daytona Beach International (DAB): about 25 to 30 min. Orlando International (MCO): about 1.5 hours.
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.