Daytona Beach after dark is a different beast entirely. While the day crowd packs up their umbrellas and heads home, they’re missing the real show. The rumble of engines from the Speedway mingles with live music spilling out of beach bars, and the Atlantic becomes a sheet of silver under the moon.
Want to know the best things to do in Daytona Beach at night? From bonfires with s’mores on the world’s most famous beach to catching races under the floodlights at the Speedway, this isn’t your typical toes-in-the-sand Florida scene. The day trippers don’t know what they’re missing!
- 👉 Pro Tip: I HIGHLY recommend doing this dive bar crawl through Daytona Beach! They take you to the city’s most legendary hole-in-the-wall spots and a local craft distillery, plus BOGO drinks at every bar you hit. You also get a designated driver and charging stations while you explore Daytona’s grittiest hidden gems. This bar crawl is a must-do on a Daytona Beach itinerary in my opinion.
Best Things to Do in Daytona Beach at Night (Updated 2025)
Are you ready to explore the most unique things to do in Daytona Beach at nighttime? As mentioned earlier, there’s a wide range of exciting activities in Daytona Beach after dark. Keep reading to find where to go in Daytona Beach at night!
1. Party at Ocean Deck Beach Club
Ocean Deck Beach Club just got named America’s #1 beach bar by USA Today for 2025, and honestly, it’s pretty obvious why. This place has been packing the sand since 1940, and they’ve got the beach party thing down to a science. I’ve been coming here for years, and the energy never gets old.
The downstairs bar is where things get wild. You can literally walk up from the beach in your swimsuit, grab a drink, and be dancing on the sand within minutes. They’ve got live music seven nights a week, including their house band C*Posse playing Wednesday through Saturday at 9 PM. The famous Rasta wings are actually incredible – they’re crispy, saucy, and way better than they have any right to be.
Ocean Deck stays open until 2 AM every night, and the kitchen doesn’t close until 1 AM, which is clutch when you need those late-night munchies. Fair warning though – after 8:30 PM, the downstairs becomes 21+ only. Parking is free in their lot, or you can pay $1.25 per hour in the metered spots. The drinks aren’t cheap, but you’re paying for one of the most iconic beach experiences in Florida.
- Read next: Best Places to Live in Central Florida
2. Watch indie films at Cinematique Theater
Cinematique Theater is Volusia County’s only full-time art house cinema, and it’s exactly what downtown Daytona Beach needed. This nonprofit theater shows all the movies you won’t find at the big chains – indie films, foreign flicks, and documentaries that actually make you think.
What’s cool about this place is the setup. You’re not stuck in cramped movie theater seats; they’ve got bistro seating, couches, and you can order food and drinks that get delivered right to your table. I went to see a French film here last month, and the whole experience felt way more civilized than your typical movie night.
They do Tuesday night improv comedy shows too, which are honestly hit or miss, but always entertaining. Tickets are super reasonable – way cheaper than the big theaters – and they often have post-screening discussions that are actually worth sticking around for. The theater is small and intimate, so even if you’re not a huge film buff, you’ll appreciate the personal vibe. It’s at 242 S Beach Street, and shows typically start around 7 PM on weeknights. Check their website for what’s playing since their schedule changes weekly.
3. Eat your way through Daytona’s food truck rally
The Downtown Daytona Beach Food Truck Rally happens the first Friday of every month on Magnolia Avenue between Beach Street and Palmetto Avenue, and it’s become one of the city’s best-kept secrets. About 15 food trucks show up, serving everything from Hawaiian-style poke bowls to gourmet grilled cheese.
Big Kahuna’s brings legit Hawaiian flavors with fresh poke and teriyaki that’ll transport you straight to the islands. The Good Food Truck does creative comfort food that’s way better than it sounds – their inventive sliders are actually awesome. You’ll also find Vietnamese food from Saigon Sizzle, barbecue from Firehouse BBQ, and usually a dessert truck or two for good measure.
The whole thing runs from 5 PM to 9 PM, and it’s completely free to attend. There’s live music, some arts and crafts vendors, and a really chill family vibe. I always end up spending way more than I planned because everything looks good, but that’s half the fun. Parking is free on the street, and you can easily walk between trucks to sample different stuff. It’s perfect for groups since everyone can get what they want, then meet up at the picnic tables they set up.
4. Stroll the Daytona Beach Boardwalk and Pier
The Daytona Beach Boardwalk and Pier is old-school seaside fun that’s been around since the 1950s, and yeah, it shows its age a bit, but that’s part of the charm. The historic Main Street Pier stretches 1,000 feet into the Atlantic, and fishing is completely free with no license required from dawn to dusk.
The boardwalk itself has seen better days – Hurricane Ian damaged a lot of it a few years back – but they’re slowly rebuilding. Joyland Amusement Center and Mardi Gras Fun Center still have classic arcade games like skee-ball and air hockey that’ll eat up your quarters fast. There’s also a Ferris wheel and some carnival rides, though honestly, half of them look like they’re held together with duct tape and prayers.
Joe’s Crab Shack sits right on the pier and serves decent seafood with killer ocean views. The area gets pretty sketchy after dark, so I’d plan to head somewhere else by 9 PM. But during the day and early evening, it’s perfect for that nostalgic boardwalk experience. Parking is $1.25 per hour in the metered lot, or $10 for all-day valet. Pro tip: the bathrooms and splash fountain at Breakers Oceanfront Park are open 10:30 AM to 5 PM.
5. Play games and ride go-karts at Daytona Lagoon
Daytona Lagoon transforms into a different animal after dark, especially during their special evening events. The Fun Park section with go-karts, laser tag, and arcade games stays open year-round, while the water park runs extended hours on weekends during summer.
Their Friday Night Luaus are actually pretty spectacular – they bring in hula dancers and fire swallowers, plus the first 100 people get leis. Wednesday is Family Night with waterpark admission for just $22.99 and a DJ keeping things lively. Saturday Night Slides runs until 10 PM with live music from 6-9 PM, which creates a totally different vibe than your typical water park experience.
The Twilight Pass is where the real value is – for $23.99, you get unlimited access to go-karts, laser tag, rock climbing, mini golf, and the Sky Maze ropes course after 6 PM. I tried the go-karts last weekend and they’re legitimately fast, not those kiddie carts you might expect. The laser tag arena is multi-level and pretty intense. Fair warning about parking though – it’s $15 during events and the automated systems are constantly broken, creating huge lines. But once you’re inside, the night activities are solid fun for groups or date nights.
6. Climb Ponce Inlet Lighthouse after dark
Ponce Inlet Lighthouse offers something most lighthouses don’t – night climbs with absolutely incredible views. At 175 feet tall, it’s the tallest lighthouse in Florida, and climbing those 203 steps after sunset gives you panoramic views of the moonlit coastline and Daytona Beach’s twinkling lights.
The lighthouse museum stays open for special evening events throughout the year, usually running until 9 PM during peak season. I climbed it during a full moon last fall, and the view from the top was honestly breathtaking – you can see for miles in every direction. The beam still operates every night, rotating every 10 seconds, which adds to the whole historic atmosphere.
Admission is around $7 for adults, and they often do special night photography workshops where you can learn to capture long exposures of the rotating beam. The grounds are beautifully lit at night, and there are several historic keeper’s houses you can explore. It’s about a 15-minute drive south of main Daytona Beach, but totally worth it for the views and the history. The visitor center has some fascinating exhibits about shipwrecks and maritime history that hit different when you’re there at night with the lighthouse beam sweeping overhead.
7. Drink wine at 95 and Vine or The Elusive Grape
Daytona Beach’s wine scene is way better than you’d expect, and both 95 and Vine and The Elusive Grape prove it. These aren’t stuffy wine bars – they’re relaxed spots where you can actually enjoy good wine without the pretension.
95 and Vine has this chic but comfortable vibe with a solid selection of wines by the glass or bottle. Their wine flights are perfect if you want to try several different varieties, and the bartenders actually know their stuff instead of just pouring whatever’s expensive. I usually end up staying longer than planned because the atmosphere is just so chill.
The Elusive Grape takes a slightly different approach with live music events mixed in with their wine service. They’ll have acoustic sets or jazz trios playing while you sip, which creates this really nice ambiance. Their wine selection leans toward smaller vineyards and unique bottles you won’t find everywhere else.
Both places serve food too – nothing fancy, but good cheese boards and light bites that pair well with wine. Prices are reasonable for the quality, and they’re both perfect for date nights or catching up with friends. The crowd tends to be locals in their 30s and 40s who know good wine when they taste it.
8. Watch night races at Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway at night is pure electricity, especially during the Coke Zero Sugar 400 in August when NASCAR runs under the lights. There’s something about 200 mph pack racing with the floodlights blazing that gets your adrenaline pumping even from the stands.
Even when there’s no race, the speedway offers behind-the-scenes tours that are way cooler at night. You get access to the pits, the infield, and parts of the track you’d never see otherwise. The Motorsports Hall of Fame stays open late during race weekends, and walking through racing history while you can hear engines in the distance is pretty surreal.
The Daytona 500 Experience runs special evening programs where you can actually drive the track in a stock car or ride along with a professional driver. It’s expensive – around $400 for the drive experience – but if you’re into racing at all, it’s bucket list stuff. I did the ride-along last year and hitting 160 mph on the banking at night was absolutely insane.
Tickets for night races start around $40 for upper deck seats, but splurge for infield access if you can. The atmosphere is completely different from daytime races, and the crowd gets way more energetic as the night goes on.
9. See live comedy at Bonkerz Comedy Club
Bonkerz Comedy Club brings in touring comedians from all over the country, and the intimate venue means every joke feels personal. The club books both established headliners and up-and-coming acts, so you never know if you’re going to discover the next big thing or see someone you recognize from TV.
The setup is classic comedy club – small tables, two-drink minimum, and that slightly cramped feeling that somehow makes everything funnier. I’ve been to shows here that had me laughing so hard my sides hurt, and others that were just okay, but that’s part of the comedy club experience. The crowds are usually pretty good sports, and the comedians often work the room between sets.
Shows typically run Thursday through Saturday nights, with two shows on weekends – usually 8 PM and 10:30 PM. Tickets are reasonable, usually around $15-25 depending on the act, plus drinks and food if you want it. The menu is standard bar food, nothing special but it does the job.
I’d recommend going with a group if possible since comedy is always better when you’re laughing with friends. Just don’t sit in the front row unless you want to become part of the show – these touring comedians love picking on front-row folks, and it’s not always friendly. Check their website for lineups since the quality varies pretty dramatically depending on who’s performing.
10. Catch a show at Peabody Auditorium
Peabody Auditorium is Daytona Beach’s cultural heart, hosting everything from Broadway touring shows to classical concerts and dance performances. The acoustics in this place are legitimately impressive – you can hear every note clearly from any seat in the house.
The venue itself has that classic theater elegance with updated sound and lighting systems that make every show feel polished and professional. I saw a touring production of Hamilton here last year, and the production quality was just as good as what you’d see in a major city. They also bring in symphony orchestras, jazz ensembles, and contemporary artists that you wouldn’t expect to see in a town this size.
Ticket prices vary wildly depending on the show – you might pay $25 for a local theater production or $150 for a major touring Broadway show. But even the expensive shows are usually worth it because the experience is so much better than larger venues where you feel like you’re watching ants on stage.
The lobby area is perfect for intermission drinks, and there’s usually a good mix of locals and tourists in the audience. Parking is free in the adjacent lots, which is a nice touch. Check their season schedule online because they book some really impressive acts that sell out fast, especially the Broadway shows.
11. Listen to live music at Main Street Station
Main Street Station is pure Daytona Beach – part biker bar, part music venue, all local character. This place has been around forever and still rocks with live bands covering everything from classic rock to country to blues. The motorcycle memorabilia covering every surface tells you exactly what kind of crowd you’re walking into.
The music is consistently solid, mostly cover bands that know how to work a crowd. Friday and Saturday nights get packed, especially during Bike Week and Biketoberfest when the place becomes motorcycle central. But even on regular weekends, there’s usually something happening, and the energy is always high.
The drink specials are aggressive – we’re talking $2 beers during happy hour and bucket deals that’ll get you way too drunk if you’re not careful. The bar food is greasy and perfect for soaking up alcohol, with wings and burgers that hit the spot after a few beers. I always end up staying later than planned because the crowd is surprisingly friendly and welcoming.
The bike nights and classic car shows they host are worth checking out even if you’re not into motorcycles. Seeing hundreds of custom Harleys lined up outside is pretty impressive, and the owners are usually happy to talk about their rides. Just don’t expect craft cocktails or wine lists – this is a beer and whiskey kind of place.
- Read next: Beautiful Florida Spots to Visit
12. Build a bonfire at Sun Splash Park
Sun Splash Park lets you end your night with the timeless tradition of a beachside bonfire, and it’s exactly as perfect as it sounds. There’s something magical about sitting around a crackling fire with the Atlantic waves rolling in just a few feet away.
The park allows bonfires in designated areas, and you can usually find pre-built fire rings or bring your own setup. I always pack marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers for s’mores because what’s a beach bonfire without them? The whole experience feels like summer camp but for adults, especially when someone brings a guitar and starts playing.
The best time to go is just after sunset when you can watch the sky change colors before the fire becomes the main source of light. On clear nights, the stars are incredible once your eyes adjust to the darkness. The sound of the waves mixing with crackling wood and conversation creates this incredibly peaceful atmosphere that’s hard to find anywhere else.
You’ll need to bring your own firewood and supplies – there’s nothing available for purchase at the park. Also, check the local fire restrictions before you go, especially during dry seasons. The park has restrooms and parking, and it’s free to use. Just clean up after yourself and make sure the fire is completely out before you leave. It’s the perfect way to cap off a night of Daytona Beach adventures.
