The Condo
Our family's place on the fourth floor of The Shores Club — Unit 402, a direct beachfront 2-bedroom, 2-bath condo in Daytona Beach Shores with sunrise views over the Atlantic and sunset views over the Halifax River. Bring the whole crew, including the dogs.
"Direct oceanfront" gets used loosely around here, so to be clear about what it means at 402: there's no road to cross and no long walk. You step out of the elevator, follow a short path, and you're on the sand. The balcony looks straight out over the water, which means coffee at sunrise without leaving the condo — and on clear mornings you can watch rocket launches from Kennedy Space Center about an hour south.
One detail that matters more than people expect: our stretch of beach is a no-driving section. Volusia County allows cars on the sand in designated areas, but not here — so the beach in front of the building stays quiet, and kids can run without anyone watching for traffic.
The unit sleeps six across two bedrooms and two full baths, with a full kitchen, in-building laundry, and smart TVs throughout. We keep it stocked with the things that make a beach day easy — chairs, towels, a cooler, sand toys, and a wagon to haul it all down.
Direct Oceanfront
No roads to cross — the beach is right below the balcony.
Traffic-Free Sand
A no-driving stretch of beach — no cars where the kids play.
Sleeps 6
2 bedrooms, 2 full baths, and a full kitchen.
Pet Friendly
Two small dogs up to 20 lbs are welcome.
Heated Pool
Plus fitness room, sauna, tennis, pickleball & shuffleboard.
Beach Gear Included
Chairs, towels, cooler, toys, and a wagon to haul it all.
Sunrise & Sunset
Ocean sunrise from the balcony, river sunsets out front.
Where You'll Be
Daytona Beach Shores is the quieter stretch just south of Daytona Beach proper — the same wide, hard-packed sand, without the boardwalk crowds. It's a residential strip of oceanfront buildings, easy restaurants, and beach access, and it makes a good base for the whole northeast Florida coast.
Close by
Ponce Inlet Lighthouse and the Marine Science Center are about 5 miles south. Millie's, Crabby Joe's on the pier, and Cow Lick's ice cream are all within a couple of miles. The Speedway and downtown Beach Street are about 9 miles north.
Easy day trips
New Smyrna Beach is 25 minutes south. Kennedy Space Center is about an hour. St. Augustine — the oldest city in the country — is an hour north, and Orlando's theme parks are about 75 minutes west down I-4.
When to Come
There's no bad season here, but they're genuinely different. Summer is warm water, long evenings, and free concerts at the oceanfront Bandshell on weekends. Fall is our favorite — the water's still warm, the crowds thin out, and rates come down, though race weekends and Biketoberfest in October book the whole coast solid.
Winter brings manatee season at Blue Spring, Nights of Lights in St. Augustine, and quiet beaches. Spring means Bike Week in March and some of the best weather of the year. We keep a running calendar of what's happening across all four cities.
Plan Your Days
We've spent years exploring this stretch of coast — here's where we send our own friends and family.
Things to Do
Our picks for Daytona Beach, New Smyrna, St. Augustine, and Orlando — manatee cruises, ghost tours, space launches, and more.
Beach Essentials
Our favorite beach gear, picked from the best reviews — handy if you need something or forgot to pack it.
What's Happening on the Coast
A seasonal guide to the best events and things to do from Daytona to St. Augustine to Orlando — straight to your inbox.
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