Smyrna Dunes Park

Amazing park! Stunning vibes, great water in and out of water for shelling. We got some great finds! Clear water, the sand bar was fairly big, great to walk out on. Dog friendly beach. There are bathrooms, small food truck and showers before walking on path.

Found this place while driving around new Smyrna Beach while family was in town We explored the whole boardwalk from start to finish taking time to walk on the beach and go seashell hunting I will say that this boardwalk or path was extremely well thought out you can see the wildlife in their natural habitat on our most recent visit, we saw several different types of birds, but also a few different turtles. It’s cool to see their home and how they naturally act in their own environment. Also, really great place to take photos

Smyrna Dunes Park aka "the dog beach" is the perfect place to take your pups to the beach. They have water in a few locations should you run out as well as bags to scoop up anything your pups leave behind...or anything that leaves your pups behind? In any case, what a great view of the Inlet and you can't get any closer to the lighthouse on our shoreline than at Smyrna Dunes!

Totally worth paying the higher parking fee to park right on the sand- super convenient for unloading all your beach gear. You’ll have easy access and an incredible view of the ocean from the soft white sand. Beautiful beach, but be cautious if you swim out too far- this is shark territory. That said, it’s a heavily patrolled area with beach rescue trucks constantly making rounds. We felt safe overall, just keep a close eye on the little ones, especially when crossing.

UPDATE: We visited this place again and loved it just as much as we did the first time. I've added new photos. PREVIOUS REVIEW: We loved it here! It’s so nice that there’s a boardwalk through the protected habitat to be able to view it all from a safe distance. We even spotted 3 tortoises on our walk. I highly recommend visiting here if you’re in the area!

Hidden gem. Sprawling, elevated boardwalk, views for miles. Gopher tortoises and bird galore. Human and pet friendly. Pop out on white sandy beach with numerous shells. Mom is elderly and we learned handicap sticker holders are free. Highly recommend for a morning stroll

Amazing place for everyone including dogs (except on the beach, no dogs allowed onthe beach). Gorgeous boardwalk that winds through natuve Florida flora like prickly pear cactus. Lots of birds and gopher tortoises.

Great boardwalk around the dunes, provides beach access at many points, jetti access and docks for fishing. A views of the light house point, and a gorgeous all access view of the dunes.

Pup-Approved Paradise at Smyrna Dunes Park If you're looking for a dog-friendly beach day, Smyrna Dunes Park is a total win. While pups aren't allowed on the ocean side, don't let that stop you--the bay side beach more than makes up for it! Calm waters, soft sand, and plenty of space for your furry friend to splash and explore. What really impressed me were the attentive park staff who drove around offering water for the dogs--such a thoughtful touch on a warm day. They clearly care about the animals and the visitors alike. A heads-up for fellow dog owners: dogs aren't allowed on the boardwalk past a certain time in the morning (usually when the sun starts heating it up). It's for a good reason--the wood gets scorching hot and can burn their paws. Thankfully, there's a sand trail alternative that's much cooler and paw-safe. The views are beautiful, the space is clean and well-maintained, and it's a great way to let your dog enjoy a real beach experience. Pro Tips: * Bring poop bags (though they do have stations) * Early morning or late afternoon is ideal for cooler temps * Don't miss the sand trail--it's scenic and safe for pups Whether you're local or just visiting, this place is a must-visit for dog lovers. Your dog will thank you--and you'll probably want to come back too!

I took my dogs here for a sunrise stroll on their birthday, and it was perfect! The park is really well-kept with a great setup, and the walk to the beach access was just the right distance. The beach itself was calm, peaceful, and such a beautiful spot to enjoy the morning. Plus, they had doggy showers which made the clean up process so much easier!

If you drive to the furthest north point of NSB you'll end up at this little slice of heaven - the ponce inlet beach aka the Smryna dog beach at Ponce inlet. It's directly across from the ponce inlet light house. You can't continue to drive on this part but a short walk/wagon ride will get you there. At low tide, tide pools pop up leaving a world of adventures to explore. We saw dolphins, manatees, string rays, turtles, fish, crabs and shells of all kinds. We loved spending the day exploring the beach and allowing the kids and dogs to run endlessly. We came on a Friday and were one of maybe 10 people on the entire beach. You can watch boats come in and out of the inlet while splashing in the waves. I'll never get over how incredible this spot is.

Very clean area! We were able to drive on the beach from one of the entry points and were able to park close enough to walk to the on leash dog beach area. Nice area to walk by the ocean on boardwalks.

Great park for a walk around their 1.25 mi walkway. All trex decking so easy to walk. Beautiful views and plenty of turtles

By far my favorite beach within driving distance to Orlando. It's an easy 1hr drive from o-town, has a ton of amenities, is less ratchet than its cousins Daytona and Cocoa, and to top it all off dog friendly. Daily parking is $10 but I shell out for the annual parking pass that is just $20. This will work for both this park and its sister park Ponce Inlet across the waterway. I prefer this one since the sand area is much larger. When you drive up, you'll be right next to all the amenities, paved parking, showers, bathrooms, and pavilions. To get to the beach you have to walk the boardwalk for about 1/2 a mile. The whole loop is 1.5 miles and amenities are only at the parking lot, so plan accordingly if you bring a lot of stuff, but it's very scenic. Dogs are allowed on leash, I recommend huffing it out to the northern most section. Most people stop at the first beach access on the west side. But that section of beach is very skinny, walk a little further to the north and you'll be rewarded with a ton of sand and less people. Plus they have a hose near the showers to make it easier to wash the doggos.

Being tourists and from out of state, I thought this would be a good way to access a less crowded public beach. Admission/Parking was $10 for the day which includes a one trip out and re-entry. There are not a lot of parking spaces here but we got one by arriving early. This park is primarily used by dog owners since it has a dog beach on the inlet side of the peninsula. We walked ¾ of a mile to Walkway #4 (#3 was closed) and got down to the beach only to discover you can drive on the beach for a $20 access fee off Beachway Ave. In all my travels visiting beaches on both coasts, I had not seen that before. All in all the park is well maintained. Very nice boardwalks that let you observe Gopher Turtles. These turtles are just like prairie dogs and make caves/holes in the sand to go into.

While we initially came here because technically a dog beach, I also really like this place because season pass fairly cheap and the water is usually fairly calm. It's a great place to take kids as it stays shallow for quite a while. Oh my there is also even the occasional dolphin that pops up.

Great spot to bring the dogs. Cost to get in is $10. Best to get there early by 9:00 a.m. parking fills up fast and you will have to wait in line. The walk down to the beach is about 10 minutes depending on which side you go on if you go a little further you have more beach to walk on and can go all the way to the jetties. So that is the second entrance. I would suggest bringing a cart with wheels to put all your stuff in. They have a wooden walkway to take you down to the beach which is great but dogs are not allowed on it after 10:00 a.m. So the walk back will be on a long stretch of hot sand. All dogs must stay on a leash. Bring plenty of water for dog. The park also has bathrooms, pavilion and showers, and a area to wash your dog.

Absolutely love this beach. Dog friendly and always very clean. Water is always very calm and nice to wade in. You have to pay for parking. It's only $10 and $20 for an annual pass. Parking does fill up fast when the weather is nice.

Came here with the pup for the day! Not too many dogs out which was nice but be on the lookout for jellyfish! They were everywhere the day we went.

This is a great dog Park. $10 for the entrance or $20 for the year. The year pass will also gain access to the Ponce Inlet Park that also allows dogs . The boardwalks are very wide and easy to walk on. The dog paths are all compressed sand but some paths may flood with heavy rain. There are wash areas for the dogs so you can rinse them off before getting back in the car. There is a beautiful beach as well. Enjoy the day or the evening.

We got a puppy since last year, but CoViD-19 has kept us taking him to the beach. Today's my birthday, so we decided ... let's do it. We searched and Smyrna Dunes Park topped the list of dog friendly beaches. We were told that we should be there early. The folks at the gate were so sweet. They explained to us. Keep left. They have dog wash station. They provide dog bags. The fee was only $10, which is fairly reasonable. Apollo had a great time. So did we.

First you need to know that parking is $10 unless you have a handicap sticker, which we currently have a temporary one. It's a nice long boardwalk let meanders around the dunes With several overlooks and four accesses to the beach. There is still cars parked on the beach on the sand There is no shade for most of the boardwalk, so it's a good walk on a cooler day. Since we didn't have a dog we didn't explore the dog beach but there were a lot of folks who did.

Great beach spot to enjoy with your pups. Apparently a ton of beaches are no dogs allowed (why would anyone not want them?) but this is the exception. We got to wander around this huge area with Stella. We found a private beach so she could get used to the water and play fetch. We always have her on her electric collar that's even water proof so this was such a win for us. She did so well! Now she's a pro swimming like a champ. Tons of trails, nice parking, there is a fee but you can use it at another park as well if I'm correct. This helps keep it in great shape. Your pups will thank you for taking them!

We were staying in Orlando and wanted to take a beach trip but really had no ideas as to what was good, what was open, how far to go and we got this recommendation from a waitress at Bahama Breeze, super random, and it was a great venture out for us. The drive was pretty easy and to find this place at the end was a little tricky, but we found it, easy parking, there was bathrooms and a map to show us how to get to the beach and it was beautiful. The sun was out, the pathway was pretty cool, I had never seen a set up like this for the land to be protected for the wildlife and turtles, and the beaches were beautiful. It was really relaxing, you had so much space, the views were great, there were limited people so it wasn't trashed or very touristy, and we just got to lay out and talk for hours just us two. I would totally come back if I lived closer, it was perfect to have privacy. The water was fairly shallow for a ways as well, so we had our drinks and just laid in the water with the waves and talked and suntanned. I had a great afternoon here.

Beautiful park in NSB. This park is analogous to the one across the inlet but on the southern end of it. The park has very well maintained facilities and a nice fishing pier too. There's a great boardwalk and a dog beach available for visitors. Entry is $10 per day.

A must see if you are in the area, nice hiking trails to the beach, nude beach if that's your thing, dog beach if that's your thing, lots of protected turtles wandering about. Beautiful walk and views and very friendly staff.

Accessible by foot or car, this park is the northernmost ridge of the beach that you can drive your car on in New Smyrna Beach. Separating New Smyrna from the Ponce Inlet is this scenic beach park with sand dunes adorning the open space boasting one of Florida's best surfing beaches. Plenty of people bring their dogs to this boardwalk and spend the day in a beautifully maintained park overlooking the beach. Plenty of fishing is available here which makes for the perfect day of escaping our hectic routines. Open from dawn to dusk, the time of your arrival is key if you expect to find parking during busier months as availability is limited. It's a perfect spot to explore just how gorgeous Florida can be in its natural state. Perfectly maintained and clean all throughout which is always great.

A great way to walk on a wooden walkway over the dunes. It circles around for 1 and 3/4 miles with exits to the beach. The entire walkway has a nice breeze except for the last half mile. There are covered areas along the way with picnic tables. No drinking water on the walkway but you can bring your own and I suggest you do on a hot day. Restrooms and water fountain at the pavilion where you start. $10 to access unless you have a handicap sticker or license plate.

What a beautiful park, and such a great place to take your dog. It's a doggie beach heaven. Get their early as parking lot gets full fast. Their is a dog wash area so after your dog plays he can get cleaned up. Their is a shower for people too and restrooms too. The boardwalk is nice it wraps around the area. You can see all sorts of critters. Tip: no dogs on boardwalk after 10am. Tip.: get here early

This is the New Smyrna dog beach area at Dunes Park. It's $10 to get in and you park close to the restrooms and boardwalk areas, but the walk to the beach is going to be a hike. To walk to the beach from the parking area takes about 20-30 minutes depending on your walking speed. Also there is sandy ground to walk on, so it's makes you walk a bit slower. Since this is a dog beach there are some cleanup stations with baggies and trash cans visible a couple of times during the walk. Most people seem to clean up after their dogs, but still be careful walking that you don't step into anything. The walk is very pleasant and lots of nature to observe. Once you reach the beach area it's a crescent shaped waterfront area that may have more dogs there. All dogs are required to stay on leash. The beach is very isolated and there are no vendors or accommodations there, so pack your own drinks and snacks. There are often boaters and jet skis that will go by on the water here. Also a cool part, pretty much every time I have visited I have seen a pod of Dolphins swim by, so fun to watch from the shore! This is a really natural area for sure. The walk back to the car is always a long one and my dog is always so sandy. There is an outdoor shower area and dog wash area close to the parking lot if you want to hose off or wash up yourself and your pet. Like this area a lot, but there is a rule about no dogs on the boardwalk after 10am. So be prepared to walk in the sand to and from the beach.

If you have a dog, this is the only beach where you can bring you fido to have some fun in the water. The beach is nice on the Atlantic side, not so quite on the casway side (brown and yucky). The have a boardwalk but be aware that after 10AM you are not allow to walk with your dog, you have to take the long pathways to reach the shore. Get there early, we waited about 20 mins to get in as parking capacity was reached.

NO Entry allowed for RV's over 23ft, they wont let you in the park. Made the trip all the way out there with our 29ft Thor based on all the great reviews but was turned around at the park entrance, NOT COOL having to make a 27 point turn at the kiosk just to get out. Bottom line if you own more than the smallest of RV's, a camper truck or camper Van dont take your dog here, they wont let you in...

I really like this beach because I'm able to bring my dog for some fun in the sun on the beach and surf. She's not quite convinced as of yet but she'll get there. The beach is nice, although a little small for this wanderer that could walk for miles w her feet in the sand. There are lots of other dogs and everyone is generally friendly and well behaved. And I mean how can people not be all smiles with so many four legged furbabies around?!? It is a little pricey $10 for parking. Which is fine if your staying all day but I only wanted to give her a quick exposure to the beach before heading home (it was semi on my way home from my trip to Savannah). The sign originally said the park was full so I was glad that I drove all the way up cause he then told me that they did have some spaces yay (I was totally just going to turn around and leave) Bonus points for having a dog washing station. I haven't been able to convince my recent rescue to let me give her a bath yet so this bought me a little more time (she was a little mad at the impromptu shower but mom was quite pleased with herself). If your a dog parent or enjoy the company of a variety of puppies def give this place a try.

Nice little parks to take the dogs. The water is a little nasty on the dog beach side but everything else is great. Everyone seemed to follow the rules (dogs on leash and pick up poop)...so that was a plus. Really enjoyed the place.

Went several times in our 2 weeks in NSB...a beautiful place full of wonder. Since my wife is in a wheel chair some of the time, this place is amazaing. Views of turtles, butterflies, lizards, ocean, tons of dogs, and ocean. It is so beautiful and easy and full of wonder. Free for those with disabilities too.

We loved our experience here. The inlet proved to be enough wave action to have the feel of the ocean. The walk to the beach was pretty short. Met some nice doggies and their parents. Our puppy had a blast. Suggestion: bring some cash with you to the beach area, as there was a boat that came by selling hotdogs!

Very nice! Went here with my sister and parents during a visit to FL and it was beautiful! Saw a bald eagle sitting on top of a pole as soon as we parked. Saw a bunch of gopher tortoises, birds, etc. Nice walk along the boardwalks. Very dog friendly. Would visit again!

Pretty lame place considering you have to pay to get in. It's a lagoon not a beach. About roughly 50 feet of beech to walk on so if you are trying to walk the dog it's not the place to go.

$5 entrance fee but this place is worth every penny. You are in a treat for a very stunning coastline fully populated by different kinds of birds. Some are rare endangered breeds not easily found elsewhere. A lot of the birds don't even seem to mind the humans. Nature photographers will love this place. I heard tortoises are sighted very often at the sand dunes. Unfortunately I didn't see any when I was there. Perhaps it was the weather. I bet the tortoises were not too fond of rainy weather. There are so many ways to enjoy this hidden gem. You can fish, boat or swim in the water, enjoy a picnic at many of the tables at the covered decks. The 2 miles boardwalk is a good jogging trail too.

I have been here a few times but I have to admit that I have not explored the park in its entirety. However, the park is really nice, easy to find and situated in a peninsula of one of the barrier islands of New Smyrna. This is a good fishing spot. It has been for years. However, the hurricane did take a little toll on the beach since I last came. It's not that bad, just a little thin in spots. A lot of people take their dogs here and most owners (or park rangers) seem to do a good job keeping the trails clean. There are boardwalks to get you around various spots of the park. You can also choose to walk through a few trails, but depending on nature itself, some of these may be flooded or grown in a bit. Use those at your own risk. The entry per vehicle is $10 and parking is limited from what I can see. I have usually gotten here before 9 a.m. and have always had parking, but beware if you come in a little later. The bathrooms are kept clean and stocked. Nothing fancy as this park has been here forever. Everything is thankfully functional.

One of my favorite Sunday mornings places to go. Beautiful beach filled only with dogs and fisherman. Highly recommend, very clean and lots of parking if you get there early

Bring your pup!!! Yes, for $5 you can hand out on the inlet and bring your puppy on the beach. Just keep them leashed and there are walking areas plus they can go in the water. Not a huge amount of area to lay out of course, but it was a nice area that was well taken care of and if you have a pup to tag along, this is your spot. There are a ton of boats, jet skis etc so it's not the best place to swim but great for a quick dip or laying right on the edge of the water.

Two words. Rattle snakes. Without even considering all the negative aspects of this "beach" what all of the employees fail to tell you about are the rattle snakes living on the lot. How this beach is a "dog beach" is beyond me. Your dog needs to be leashed at all times... our five month old puppy whose excited to explore and swim for the first time. The only reason we found out was because we had our (well trained) dog off the leash secluded from everyone else when barely five minutes in an employee came up to us. I didn't argue with her and understood it was required. However, she did let it slip the reason for the rule is in fact the rattle snakes that live on the lot. Again, how is this beach dog friendly??? It's honestly barely a beach. The view is nice but the water is murky, the beach is fifteen feet wide until you hit shrubbery and if more than 20 people are there the beach would be considered crowded. We barely stayed 20 minutes and asked for a refund due to the lack of information which they refused. Why on earth would we stay somewhere rattle snakes are living near with our puppy? Honestly, this place is just open for profit and should be open to the public for free since there are no actual benefits of going there.

We really enjoyed Smyrna Dunes Park, especially with our dog. It seems to be the only sizable beach area that is dog friendly; hence we saw plenty of dogs and their owners. While we were not allowed on the boardwalk with the dog, walking on the trail was just as nice. Views of the water were great and if you walk the whole path you can see where the Indian Riverand the ocean meet, along with interesting boat traffic. Birds are plentiful. Swimming was allowed and dogs could swim in the beach if on a leash. Next time I will bring a long leash since they are not allowed off-leash.

This is a beach you're allowed to take your dog to. Mind you, it is nothing like a dog park. Our 63 lb pup loves to run free and play in the water at the Baldwin Park dog beach. The "on leash" rule is not loosely applied here as it is at most dog parks, they mean business. This makes it pretty impractical if you want to take your pup for exercise and socializing. In our experience the "regulars" act like they own it and having to keep an excited large breed dog who's ready to run on a leash is rough in this atmosphere. Yeah let me swim with my dog on her leash in the Atlantic Ocean. The beach itself is nice and well kept but marketing it as a dog beach is silly. They should not allow dogs over 20 lbs to keep people like us from driving over an hour and wasting time.

I love how the new walk around looks and that there are periodical areas where you can sit for a moment. Will probably be making this a bi-monthly visit!!

What a fun and nice dog park! For the most part everyone's dog is on a leash... And seem pretty nice! Parking takes a little while because the lot is small and you literally wait for a car to come out for a car to go in. It's $5 per car. Once parked just follow the signs towards animal access. There is one beach that is really close- but it's more so on the inlet and not the ocean. To get to the ocean it's about a mile walk further. Both are nice though!

5 stars for a beautiful beach spot Dunes Park is a little gem in New Smyrna Beach and it's also dog friendly! We usually bring our bikes and ride them up and down the beach and into Dunes Park. This side of the beach is pretty empty for the most part, as cars cannot drive on this side. You can also enter through the park entrance and it's $10 to park your vehicle. There is bathrooms, vending machines, picnic tables and even a dog bathing area for your pup. There is also boardwalks you can walk on in more of the vegetative area. The view is unmatched though, you can see Ponce Inlet Lighthouse from across the inlet, its beautiful! Florida at its finest!

I am giving Smryna Dunes Park two stars because the overall experience of being here was terrible for me. It costs $10 to get in to the park, and the attendant told us that the boardwalk was under construction but there is a path through the sand to get to the beach. I didnt think twice of it, and didnt mind that the board walk was under construction. However, want they dont tell you (and also, I take responsibility because I walked past the map and didnt check it before making my way to the beach) was that its about half a mile walk, maybe a quater mile walk to get to the beach! In the heat, while dragging a tent, a cooler, beach chairs, this felt like a mile. It was never ending! I felt like i was in a Spartan Race! When I got to the actual beach it was underwhelming. Mind you, this is an inlet, so water wont be crystal blue. I wanted to settle by he other boardwalk entrance to avoid that hike back, so had to walk about a quarter mile to the other side, pretty much to next to where they allow cars to park on the beach. I settled my stuff, and then of course...it starts to rain. Hard. By that point, I had dragged my tent, cooler, chair, beach bag almost a mile in and was OVER IT. So I just called it and packed up my stuff and walked back to my car via the other board walk. I thought this way would be better... But no... it was almost a mile on that boardwalk going all the way back around to the car. I couldnt believe I paid $10 for this. If i ever return, it will be when the board walk is open again, or better yet, Ill just drive farther down and park on the beach.

A good little place to take your pups if you have any :) It's pretty hard to find a dog beach in FL and I never had to experience this before until I got a lab who loves to swim! However, there is hardly any beach area. It's VERY small patches of land and can get a bit crowded. I do appreciate that they have dog bowls at the showers and that the beach isn't on a "rough" portion of water and the dogs can play without getting too much water in their system. Admission is $10... something we didn't know ahead of time but they take plastic.

Such a wonderful beach and so relaxing. The beach was very pet friendly and my dog just loved it. The water was clear and cool. The beach wasn't packed at all it actually felt like we were there all alone. This beach makes me just want want to officially move to Florida I am so in love with this State.

This is the "other" dog beach talk about when they say to visit Lighthouse Park from the the Smyrna side. Lighthouse Point Park is only accesible via the bridge in Port Orange (road 421), whereas Smyrna Dunes Park is only accesible via the bridges from the New Smyrna Beach bridges. So double check which one you're aiming for as both are in Volusia county, have dog beaches but are 30 min apart. This is a state park, so there's a $5 charge to enter... but you can reuse that ticket to enter other Volusia County Parks. The dog beach area is just a nice perk, but your money is helping fund and maintain the park as a whole. So ignore the reviews that were all up in a tizzy over paying $5 to enter a dog beach. This is a state park, you pay to enter. Suck it up buttercups and help our state out with these amazing parks. Theres a small parking lot, but the layout of the dunes is that of a spoke wheel - parking/restroom is at the 6-o-clock region, the dog beach is the 7 to 11-o-clock region and the rest is human beach. Dogs enter through the left of the parking lot, where there is a dog wash/rinse area and water bowls. Dogs must walk on the sand path just beside the pedestrian boardwalk... which means humans sans canine can take the elevated boardwalk to their beach destination. I chose the first off-shoot since my dog is small and long walks piss him off quick when sand is involved. There was a walk, I'd say about half mile or so from my car to the water. The beach was small since the tide was high and we were essentially 10 ft from the dunes. Setting up my chair seemed so silly. I decided to "try" to go further north to where I heard the beaches were wider, but my dog gave up and carrying the 15 lb dead weight dog whilst getting bitten by mosquitos sucked. So I turned around and enjoyed the first beach a bit more. We saw turtles as well, but it's egg laying season (June). There were a mix of responsible and irresponsible dog owners. There was a duo of dogs not on a leash that came running full force at my dog... who dislikes big dogs running at him -- Awesome. The owners tried to apologize, but I had serious stink eye action as the park states dogs must be on leashes. Other times there were tons of dogs on leashes and one dog off but she was all about her owner and no one but her owner. Positive things to note, the beach and water is sandy in that unlike Lighthouse Point Park, your footsies are competing with rocks. Maintenance was always there and always cleaning the trash out. There's a dog rinse off station - seriously, this is amazing! Negatives though is that this would not be an ideal repeat beach with my current duo of dogs as the long walk would not suit my dogs right now. The secluded sensation also opens the door to unleashed dogs, but could have you being alone enjoying some bonding time with the pooch. The narrow beach is also a downfall since I'm driving and hour from Orlando to amuse my dog, so I hope I could also relax after the hours of play with the dog (ya know, to rest up before I drive his sleepy self home). I say check out both parks, see which one fits your style. Me? I'm a Lighthouse Point Park fan, but this park had more perks (larger dog area, dog rinse, and lack of rocks) that really make it a contender :)

I found the perfect spot to relax! To get away from the beach crowds take your first left on the boardwalk and follow that walkway down to the beach! It will say walkway 1. Its perfect! Be sure to bring water with you as there is no where to buy any along the boardwalk. There is a cold drink machine at the restroom pavilion before you start. It was not taking dollars today but if you used your card to purchase the machine discounts your drink. The whole boardwalk is a beautiful walk especially early in the morning. This place is very dog friendly which I think is awesome! Not many beaches around the US are anymore.

I really love the concept of a dog beach, and they're kind of hard to come by, but this one left me wanting more. The real issue I took was that though the parkland itself occupies the entire peninsula, the dog beach is on the inlet side, so that all you see is the land on the opposite side. I demand that my dog looks upon the majesty of the Atlantic Ocean!! Also at issue is the beach itself, which is short, narrow, and gets deep really quick, and plops you into a swift current moving out to the ocean.

This is a hidden gem in New Smyrna Beach near the Ponce inlet. Awesome place where you can actually bring your dog and let them run around.The water is not deep at all until you get further out but be careful this area is known for having shark bites. I would of gave it five stars but the walking from the car to the beach is very long at least a mile I would say and in a hot sunny Florida weather it feels longer and is tiring. There is two way to make that long walk to the main beach here thru some grass were you are support to take your dog or a wooden walk way,Once you make it to the beach it is bread taking looking at the ocean and in the far right is another land were there is a light tower and more people swimming and is only a few laps away from each other. There is NO life guards so swim at your own risk. Amazing place discovered by someone I know and I like it more then the regular beach with not so crowded here and amazing view.

Checked this park out today and as it did leave me wanting more we did enjoy it. Yes the beach is narrow yes it has a swift current it's an inlet! The cool part for us today was the swarm of jellyfish! They are cannonball jellyfish and not harmful to us or your furry friends! Pack very smart as it is a long long walk!

This park has a boardwalk, dog trail, picnic pavilions, guided nature tours, bird-watching areas, and plenty of dog-friendly beach. The first beach entrance leads to a rather dingy section, so I recommend taking the trail or boardwalk to the entrance near the observation deck for soft white sand and beautiful views. It costs $5 per car to enter the park, but they also have an annual pass for $30 if you plan on frequenting the park. The beach is part of the inlet, so it does not have the rough waves that other local beaches have.