On Nov. 1, Volusia County moved beach driving to its off-season schedule of sunrise to sunset, tides permitting, through April 30. That replaced the summer window of 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. The El Portal Drive ramp in Daytona Beach Shores closed five weeks before that change. According to a Volusia County release, it closed on Sept. 28 for about five months of construction. So for most of the season with the longest driving days, the Shores' middle ramp is closed, and getting onto the sand starts at the edges of town.
Most of the Long-Hours Season, One Ramp Short
The County gives the El Portal work about five months from a Monday, Sept. 28 start. That puts the reopening around late February 2027, though the County hasn't given a firm date. The off-season driving schedule runs six months. If the work stays on that pace, the closure covers November through February, about four of those six months.
| Period | Vehicle hours on the beach | El Portal ramp |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 28 to Oct. 31 | 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. or sundown, whichever is earlier | Closed |
| Nov. 1 to about late February | Sunrise to sunset, tides permitting | Closed, expected about five months from Sept. 28 |
| Late February to April 30 | Sunrise to sunset, tides permitting | Expected to reopen once construction ends |
| May 1 onward | 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. or sundown, whichever is earlier | Expected open |
The fee doesn't change with the season. ParkVolusia says the on-beach access fee applies year-round for vehicles without a permit. The County's beach driving and parking page lists $30 for a daily on-beach pass and $150 for an annual visitor pass. Volusia County residents who register get a free annual permit that covers both on-beach and off-beach access.
What Is Going Up at El Portal
The County describes the job as replacing and strengthening the El Portal vehicle ramp to current coastal engineering and environmental standards, so it holds up better over the long term. On May 19, 2026, the County Council approved the contract with Gregori Construction, Inc. It caps spending at $743,365, paid from FEMA funds.
The release also says the ramp is closed to pedestrians during construction, not just to cars. At that same May 19 meeting, the Council approved a second Gregori Construction contract, for rebuilding the Florida Shores Boulevard vehicle ramp. The Daytona Beach News-Journal reported the El Portal closure the day the County announced it, Sept. 25.
Driving On From the Ends of Town
The County's Beach Access and Recovery page names two ramps to use while El Portal is closed: the Dunlawton Beach Ramp to the south and the Van Avenue Beach Ramp to the north.
Dunlawton was already busy before El Portal closed. In August, News 6 ClickOrlando called the Dunlawton Avenue entrance one of the busiest beach access points in Volusia County, used by residents and visitors alike. The same report covered the $2.6 million improvement plan county commissioners approved unanimously. Here is what the plan includes:
- A new, reinforced toll booth with stronger physical barriers to protect beach toll attendants
- Permanent, upgraded restrooms at the Dunlawton Avenue ramp, replacing the current temporary or outdated facilities
- Changes to traffic flow and to how the entrance looks
Winter hours still depend on the tide. The County notes that ramps can close for tides, repairs or construction, and it points drivers to its Beach Navigator app for live ramp status. With two of the Shores' drive-on points rebuilt or slated for rebuilding this year, it makes sense to check the app before heading to the beach.
When the Car Stays in the Lot
The off-sand option this winter is a park that was closed a year ago. Frank Rendon Park reopened on March 31, 2026, after reconstruction following Hurricanes Ian and Nicole in 2022. It had reopened briefly after those storms, then closed again in summer 2025 for more repairs, according to WESH. This is the first winter the park has been open since those repairs.
The rebuilt park at 2705 S. Atlantic Ave. includes:
- A rebuilt ADA-accessible dune walkover, now closer to the ocean
- A second set of stairs at the southern access, two rebuilt pavilions and a restored observation area, as described in Hometown News Volusia reopening coverage
- More than 130 parking spaces, plus restrooms, a playground, picnic pavilions, showers and bike racks, according to the County's park page
- Large rocks along the shoreline to protect the coast and nearby structures
The County lists a $20 daily fee for its off-beach parking. Parking at Frank Rendon is free for County residents who register their vehicles, and it isn't allowed between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. The County places the park 2.25 miles north of Dunlawton Boulevard and says it sits on a stretch where beach driving is allowed. So people who park in the lot and people who drive onto the sand will share the same stretch of beach.
If you want a stretch with no cars at all, Toronita Avenue Park has a pedestrian ramp to the beach. The County says it sits in a non-driving area.
Breakfast on the Pier, Without the Fishing Rods
The longer winter hours reach Crabby Joe's Deck & Grill at Sunglow Pier, 3701 S. Atlantic Ave., about a thousand address numbers south of Frank Rendon. The restaurant's site lists hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Breakfast runs 8 to 11 a.m., then lunch and dinner until close, and it doesn't take reservations. The same page says fishing on Sunglow Pier is currently closed, so it's a breakfast stop for now, not a place to fish.
The beach below the pier also has some recent County work. The County's sand placement update says the North Sand Placement Project started at Sunglow Pier and placed sand along more than four miles of beach. It also reports that construction of the North Berm and the dune plantings are finished.
On a winter day in the Shores, that adds up to a few practical stops. Drive on at Dunlawton or Van Avenue once the tide allows, or park at Frank Rendon and walk out over the rebuilt dune walkover. For breakfast, Crabby Joe's serves from 8 a.m., no reservations needed. The County puts the El Portal work at about five months from its Sept. 28 start, which would bring the new ramp back around late February.
Beach access across the Shores will look different this season, and the condominium towers along South Atlantic Avenue sit closer to some of these access points than to others. If your plans in the Shores depend on where you can get onto the sand, The Cook Group can walk you through how each building relates to the ramps and parks as they stand this winter. Schedule a Private Consultation.
