You might not know that one of the most popular things to do in New Smyrna Beach and through Volusia County is to drive on the beach. This long beloved tradition dates back to the earliest days of the invention of the automobile and has been a routine here ever since.

Experience a local tradition

However, there are a few things you should know before you just start driving on the beach during your next family vacation. Volusia Countyâs beaches have been intensely affected by the past hurricane seasons. The tides and geography of the beach have made it so cars canât drive nearly as far as they once were able to.

Another important thing to know is that Volusia Countyâs beaches are separated into 3 different âœExperience Zonesâ� â" Transitional, Natural, and Urban. The Natural Zones, as you might expect are natural protected areas, meaning urban development is prohibited. These beaches have the highest number of turtle nests, so parking and public driving is not allowed.

The Transitional zones house a mix of urban-developed seawalls and natural sand dunes. Public driving and parking are allowed in Transitional zones 30 feet seaward (toward the sea) of the dunes and there are moderate sea turtle nests. And the Urban zones are the zones with hotels, condominiums, and high-traffic areas with many people throughout the year with minimal sea turtle nests. Public parking and driving is allowed in the Urban zones 15 feet seaward of the seawall or dunes.