Daytona Beach Main Street Pier — Attraction in Daytona Beach

We visited the Main Street Pier on a weekday in January, 2024. It was pretty much what I expected in most regards. I have been to quite a few piers over the years, and they all have the similar qualities being over the water with great views. So this one was pretty much the same. It was a cool and partly cloudy when we visited, with temperatures at the beach in the 70's to 80ish in the afternoon. This pier had a large Joe's Crab Shack restaurant in the middle of the pier. Other piers like the Santa Monica pier in California also have restaurants and such to a larger (and better) extent. In this case, the crab shack is basically the only building on the pier. Where as the Santa Monica pier has many choices. So the Main Street Pier is nice, but not overly large and with limited things to do on the pier itself. The Main Street Pier seemed to be in need of some maintenance, in my opinion. The wood seemed to be aging and looked to be in need of some replacement. I'm not saying that anything looked unsafe. Only that it looked like it could use some work. There were quite a few places where there were what seemed like patches on the decking, made of materials that looked nothing like the wood decking. We were interested in the restaurant, but they didn't have a menu outside available to pre-view. As such, we passed and ate elsewhere. So I cannot say how anything pertaining to the crab shack was, other than the lack of the outside menu. The pier had quite a few folks fishing off the pier on the ocean side, for the obvious reasons. But there was still a fair amount of room to take in the views and snap a few pictures. The fishermen kind of kept to themselves, but didn't prevent other folks seeking views or such. I don't know for sure, but there might be restrooms in the crab shack building. Although they are probably only for the crab shack customers. Like I said, I don't know since we didn't go inside. Although there are public restrooms right at the beach end of the pier at the park. They seemed fairly large and adequately clean when we visited. Although I will point out that the area was quiet that day. It might be different when the crowds increase. So all in all, the Daytona Beach Main Street Pier is a nice place to visit when you're in the Daytona Beach area. No it is not perfect and far from the best pier I have been to. But it is definitely worth a walk on. We also were not asked to pay a charge to visit the pier. Well other than our paying to park our vehicle near by...

The once-vibrant Daytona Beach has undergone a stark transformation in the hurricane's wake, leaving visitors with a markedly different experience than its famous reputation suggests. The devastating impact of the storm is immediately apparent upon arrival, with visible damage that continues to mar this historic coastline. The iconic beach, once known for its hard-packed sand that allowed cars to drive alongside sunbathers, now shows significant erosion. Many sections of the beach have been stripped away, creating uneven terrain that's a far cry from the smooth, wide shoreline of the past. The destruction of sand dunes has left the coastal ecosystem vulnerable, and debris still occasionally washes up despite ongoing cleanup efforts. The beachfront infrastructure bears obvious scars. Several portions of the boardwalk remain in need of repair, while some businesses along A1A continue to show signs of damage. Empty storefronts and construction barriers create an atmosphere of abandonment rather than the lively beach scene visitors expect. The once-pristine resort area appears tired and worn, with many hotels and restaurants still working to fully recover. The storm's impact extends beyond physical damage – it's affected the entire beach experience. Traditional activities like beach driving are now restricted in certain areas due to safety concerns and beach erosion. The familiar sight of cars cruising along the shore has been replaced by warning signs and blocked-off sections. While cleanup and restoration efforts continue, the current state of Daytona Beach serves as a sobering reminder of nature's power. For those who remember its former glory, the present condition is particularly disheartening. Though the spirit of this historic beach town endures, visitors hoping for the classic Daytona Beach experience may need to adjust their expectations until recovery efforts are complete. This destination will likely regain its former appeal with time and continued restoration work, but for now, travelers should be prepared for a beach town still very much in...

The smell of the ocean, drugs and homeless people... yuck.

Now, Daytona Beach, like most beach areas these days is a mixed experience. Let me first start by saying that I am very pro business and I love Florida and the people of Florida.

As with any busy beach you have a lot of good things like the beautiful water, the restaurants, the shoreline and the overall ambience. Along with that is the negatives which are aggressive people, the smell of marijuana (seemingly always present) and the congested areas on the shoreine.

The police presence seemed good as it related to traffic and the moving of people entering and leaving the beach. However, as you get to the actual beach you start to encounter some of these other challenges. Personally, the smell of people smoking drugs just ruins my beach experience and does not promote a comfortable atmosphere for me. It also suggests to me that a place isn't very safe.

On the pier, Joe's crab shack had a 2 1/2 hour wait to get a table and you couldn't make reservations. That's a problem when your parents are in their eighties and you want to have a dining experience there. It's not a problem if you're 21 years old and are there to drink/tan. Walking up-and-down the pier wasn't that enjoyable when you factor the aggressive people and having no place for my elderly parents to sit along the way.

All in all this beach is not really an adult experience for those looking for a wholesome family fun day. It's still a party beach with lots of homeless, the smell of marijuana, overcrowded pier and limited dining with no available reservation options. Not so good, if you're a local looking for a nice afternoon out.

Please note: There are many other great dining options in Daytona as well as beach options which aren't as rough as this area. This is a beach for the tan and party crowd not for family folks to relax and people watch. Who wants to watch people smoking drugs? They need to clean it up...