What are some popular outdoor activities near New Smyrna Beach?

Just south of New Smyrna Beach, more than 24 miles of undeveloped white-sand beaches stretch along the Canaveral National Seashore. Explore the wild sand dunes and lagoons, go fishing and boating around the barrier island, then escape to a kayak-in tent campsite on a natural island. A visit to Florida wouldn’t be complete without a day at one of Orlando’s world-famous theme parks, and The City Beautiful lies just an hour’s drive from New Smyrna Beach. Ringed by lakes and state parks, campers have a surprising number of options, and if you tire of amusement rides and Disney characters, you won’t have to travel far to go paddling, cycling, or ziplining instead. Home to four of Florida’s natural springs (Juniper, Alexander, Silver Glen, and Salt Springs), plus hundreds of lakes, the Ocala National Forest provides endless options for swimming, fishing, paddling, and hiking—all just a 1.5-hour drive from the coast. With 14 campgrounds to choose from, you can camp by the lakeside or in the woods, rent a Civilian Conservation Corps cabin, or venture off-road to enjoy dispersed camping in the wilderness. Miles of Atlantic Coast beaches roll out north of New Smyrna Beach, where the beach towns of Port Orange, Daytona Beach, and Ormond Beach are dotted with campsites, glampsites, and cabins. Further north, there’s great hiking, birding, and RV camping in Bulow Creek State Park, while Palm Coast has beachside camping, ocean-view golf courses, and dolphin and manatee-watching cruises.