North America > United States > Daytona Beach (DAB)
The Car or no Car advice for Daytona Beach can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Daytona Beach ; is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Daytona Beach ?
These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.
💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Daytona Beach?
These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.
🚗 Renting a car — almost always useful
Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB) has several rental car companies on site. Prices are usually reasonable, especially outside major NASCAR events like the Daytona 500 or the Coke Zero Sugar 400. Roads are wide, parking is easy and navigation is simple, since most destinations sit along the coastal corridor.
A rental car becomes especially helpful if you want to explore neighbouring areas such as Ormond Beach, New Smyrna Beach, or Flagler Beach. It also makes day trips to the Kennedy Space Center or St. Augustine much easier.
🚕 Taxis, ride-hailing and limited buses
Taxis and ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Lyft work reliably across the Daytona area. However, costs add up quickly because attractions are spread out. For example, going from the airport to beachside hotels is fine, but bouncing between restaurants, malls and scenic stops becomes expensive.
Public transport exists, but services are slow and mainly aimed at local commuters. Buses can help for short hops within Daytona Beach, yet they are not ideal for sightseeing.
🏖️ Enjoying Daytona Beach without a car
If you stay in a beachfront hotel, you may not need a car every day. You can walk to:
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The Boardwalk and Pier
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Ocean Center
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Main Street shops
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Beachfront restaurants
You can also use ride-hailing for occasional trips, which works well for shorter stays.
🏎️ Motorsport and the Daytona International Speedway
The Speedway is one of the city’s top attractions. It sits a few miles inland, so many visitors either rent a car or use ride-hailing to get there. On major race weekends, shuttle buses sometimes operate from selected hotels. For quieter days, a car or taxi is still the easiest choice.
🌴 Day trips — when a car becomes essential
A car transforms Daytona Beach into a superb coastal road trip base:
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Kennedy Space Center — about one hour away.
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St. Augustine — America’s oldest city, full of history.
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Blue Spring State Park — excellent for manatee viewing.
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DeLand — charming small-town America.
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Orlando attractions — reachable for day excursions.
These routes rely heavily on highways and are not practical on public transport.
🧳 Conclusion — Should you rent a car in Daytona Beach?
Yes, in most situations. The region is built around driving, and many attractions sit far apart. You can get by without a car if you stay near the beach and rely on ride-hailing. Yet for exploring the coast, chasing sunsets or accessing the Speedway and nearby towns, a rental car makes your trip far easier and far more enjoyable.