Things to do with kids in Daytona Beach: playgrounds, splash pads, free library story times, a zipline, an aquarium and rainy-day picks.

Last checked Oct. 8, 2026. Facts on this page come from the City of Daytona Beach parks pages, the Volusia County Public Library calendar and each venue’s own site, linked. Hours change; check before you go.

Daytona Beach has the beach, of course, but also more than 30 city parks, three splash pads, free library story times Monday through Thursday mornings and a handful of indoor places for a rainy afternoon. Here is where to take children, by type, with addresses and hours from each operator.

Good to know

Playgrounds

Park Address What’s there
Cypress Park 981 George W. Engram Blvd. New in 2026: climbing dome, play structure, spinning bowl, swings with infant seats, cushioned surface; walking trail
Bethune Point Park 11 Bellevue Ave. Playground for ages 5 to 12, skate park, fishing pier
Tuscawilla Park 1000 Orange Ave. Renovated playgrounds, zipline park, 18-hole disc golf, fitness trails
Lenox Park 825 S. Grandview Ave. Playground with cushioned surface, basketball, dog park
Derbyshire Sports Complex 849 Derbyshire Road Playground, walking trails, ballfields
Sunnyland Recreation Center 825 Washington St. New playground equipment, basketball

Cypress Park’s new equipment cost $433,745, most of it covered by a grant from the Daytona Beach Racing and Recreational Facilities District, the city says. City parks are generally open sunrise to sunset.

Splash pads and pools

  • Riverfront Esplanade splash pad, 179 S. Beach St.: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., March 16 to Oct. 31; no attendant, so adults supervise (Esplanade).
  • Breakers Oceanfront Park, 13 S. Atlantic Ave.: a splash fountain next to the beach and the pier, plus the free Breakers Environmental Learning Center, open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays, with programs on birds and marine life (city).
  • Cypress Aquatic Center, 981 George W. Engram Blvd.: a zero-depth pool with six water play structures and a slide; open swim 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday this season (city).

Story times

Free programs at the Volusia County Public Library’s Daytona Beach branches, from the library calendar for the week of Oct. 12:

Day Time Program Library
Monday 11 a.m. Baby Tales Daytona Beach Regional, 105 Jackie Robinson Parkway
Monday 11 a.m. Ready to Learn Pre-K Storytime John H. Dickerson Heritage, 411 S. Keech St.
Tuesday 11 a.m. Ready to Learn Pre-K Storytime Daytona Beach Regional
Wednesday 11 a.m. Toddler Time Daytona Beach Regional
Wednesday 3:30 p.m. Engineering with LEGO bricks Daytona Beach Regional
Wednesday 4 p.m. MakerLab: LEGO bricks Hope Place, 1310 Wright St.
Thursday 11 a.m. Family Tales Daytona Beach Regional
Friday 3:30 p.m. Art storytime Daytona Beach Regional

Programs change week to week; the calendar has the current list.

Indoor and rainy-day picks

  • Daytona Aquarium and Rainforest Adventure: an aquarium, a reptile den and a rainforest section; open daily 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., last admission 5:15 p.m. (aquarium).
  • Southeast Museum of Photography, 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd., at Daytona State College: free admission; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m. Saturday (museum).
  • Daytona Lagoon, 601 Earl St.: go-karts, laser tag, bumper cars, mini golf and an arcade alongside the water park; hours vary by season (hours).
  • Halifax Historical Museum, 252 S. Beach St.: local history, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; see our history and landmarks page.

The Cici & Hyatt Brown Museum of Arts, Science & History is closed to daily visitors while it prepares to expand.

Classes and clubs

  • Gymnastics, Alfred V. Garguilo Gymnastics Center in the Schnebly Recreation Center, 1101 N. Atlantic Ave.: year-round classes in 12-week sessions, from tots to competitive teams; 386-671-3561 (city).
  • Inner Acting, free acting classes for ages 8 to 12 and teens at the Dickerson Community Center and the Yvonne Scarlett-Golden Center, through Dec. 18 (city).
  • Youth sports: baseball, T-ball, basketball and flag football by season; see the city’s seasonal youth programs.

Out and about

  • Jackie Robinson Ballpark, 105 E. Orange Ave.: home of the Daytona Tortugas minor league team and an occasional outdoor movie night.
  • Tuscawilla Park zipline: adventure courses woven through the woods of the nearly 30-acre park.

What this means for you

  • Monday through Thursday at 11 a.m., there is a free story time at the regional library.
  • On a hot day, the Esplanade splash pad is free; Cypress has slides for the price of pool admission.
  • On a rainy day, the photography museum is free and the aquarium is open daily.

Related: summer camps and pools, parks and trails and free things to do.

Frequently asked questions

Where is story time in Daytona Beach?

The Daytona Beach Regional Library, 105 Jackie Robinson Parkway on City Island, runs free story times at 11 a.m. Monday through Thursday: Baby Tales, Pre-K Storytime, Toddler Time and Family Tales. The John H. Dickerson Heritage Library has a Pre-K Storytime at 11 a.m. Mondays.

Where are the best playgrounds in Daytona Beach?

City parks with newer playgrounds include Cypress Park in Midtown, with a climbing dome and swings added in 2026; Bethune Point Park, with equipment for ages 5 to 12 next to the skate park; Tuscawilla Park; and Lenox Park on the beachside.

What can kids do in Daytona Beach when it rains?

The Daytona Aquarium and Rainforest Adventure is open daily 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., the Southeast Museum of Photography is free Tuesday through Saturday, and the libraries run free afternoon STEAM and craft programs.

Is there a splash pad in Daytona Beach?

Yes. The Riverfront Esplanade splash pad, 179 S. Beach St., is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. from March 16 to Oct. 31, and Breakers Oceanfront Park by the pier has a splash fountain.