North Peninsula State Park
Ormond Beach, FL
North Peninsula State Park protects almost three miles of undeveloped coquina sand dunes south of Flagler Beach, with just one beach access point breaking up an otherwise wild shoreline along A1A. Orange tinted sand and saw palmetto covered dunes make it a noticeably different stretch than the developed beach towns on either side.
Nearly three miles of genuinely wild beach this close to Ormond Beach's development is rare, though the limited parking and permit requirement mean it takes more planning than a typical beach day.
How we score beachesVolusia County residents can get a free annual beach parking permit, worth applying for if this is a regular stop. Everyone else needs a daily pass through the Park Volusia system before parking, so plan that step in ahead of arriving.
Two small parking areas serve the park, one off High Bridge Road and one off A1A, both requiring a Volusia County beach parking pass, daily or annual, purchased online or through the county's app.
The single beach access point is a short walk over sand from the nearest lot, no boardwalk. The Coastal Strand Trail further inland is a packed two mile loop, easier walking than the beach crossing itself.
Leashed dogs are welcome on the park's trails and bike path, but pets aren't allowed on the beach.
Spring and fall bring the mildest weather for the trail and the emptiest beach, while summer's heat and hurricane season, June through November, are the main things to plan around. Atlantic water here runs a touch cooler than Florida's Gulf beaches most of the year.
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