A Cyclist's Guide to the Most Popular Bike Trails at the Beach

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New Smyrna Beach is a favorite destination for cyclists who want to bike along the beach, pedal through nature parks, and see the area’s many sights and sounds. It’s perfect for beach biking with hard-packed sand on several beaches and access to multiple trails.

Below is a guide to the network of the top 6 bike trails near several New Smyrna Beach oceanfront vacation rentals, including their amenities, riding surfaces, course conditions, and more.

1. Saxon Trail in New Smyrna Beach

The 4-mile Saxon Trail runs primarily between Beach Road A1A and 3rd Street (SR-44) along Saxon Drive. Though the bulk of this quiet trail is along Saxon Drive, riders can take many of the offshoot trails to the nearby Indian River. Along one side of the trail is a scenic tidal marsh.

2. Riverside Drive Trail

There is a cycling path on Riverside Drive along the Indian River that leads to Edgewater from New Smyrna Beach. The trail can be accessed from Riverside Park at 105 South Riverside Drive.

3. New Smyrna Beach Multi-Use Trail

This short trail runs from Sugar Mill Dr. to West Pine St. along the edge of the downtown New Smyrna Beach area. It will eventually be linked to the Cross Volusia Trail and it is about 2 miles in length.

4. Beach Cycling

You can also make your own beach trail along New Smyrna Beach where there is hard-packed sand. While all areas around Flagler Avenue are bike-able, beach riding and vehicle access is closed south of 27th Street, largely due to the softening of the sand.

Low tide bike riding is extremely popular here – wherever you see cars driving you can probably bike, but exercise caution. Some cyclists will rent for a just a few hours in the afternoon run during low tide. The sand is tight and compact during this time and the open beach is at its most spacious.

5. East Central Regional Rail Trail

As one of the area’s top upcoming trails, the currently under construction East Central Regional Rail Trail captures some of the area’s finest sights. This upcoming 50-mile trail will wind through the wetlands in the area and take you through a variety of habitats. One small segment of the trail can currently be biked in nearby Edgewater, with a trailhead directly north of the corner of Dale Ave & Park Ave.

6. Ponce Inlet Trail

About 10 miles north of New Smyrna Beach, the scenic Ponce Inlet Trail takes riders along a pristine stretch of Florida’s east coast, beginning at the very southern edge of Wilbur-By-The-Sea and heading into the coastal town of Ponce Inlet.

The official start of the trail is at the corner of Major St. & S. Atlantic Ave in Wilbur-By-The-Sea. Riders will travel south along Atlantic Ave. through neighborhoods filled with palm trees.

Toward the end, the foliage of Lighthouse Point Park starts to line the trail at around Lighthouse Drive.

The first major point of interest is Ponce Preserve, a protected area. You can take a break here to observe the habitats such as wetlands and ocean dunes, or continue south to Lighthouse Point Park and the Marine Science Center, both family-friendly destinations.

The Ponce Inlet Trail technically ends by the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse and Museum at the corner of S. Peninsula Dr. & Lighthouse Dr. Complete your trail journey with a visit to Florida’s tallest lighthouse at 175 feet, one of the area’s top attractions.

Vehicle parking is available at Ponce Preserve (4400 S. Atlantic Dr.), and at Lighthouse Point Park (5000 S. Atlantic Ave.)

Bike Rentals in New Smyrna Beach

Cyclists often go to East Coast Bike and Beach Rentals (386-478-6338) for affordable hourly and daily rentals in New Smyrna Beach. The company is an excellent resource for renting biking equipment in a pinch. Beach Bicycle and Kayak (386-423-8123) has land and water sport experts among their staff and provide rentals and information about local bike trails.

Explore the vibrant outdoors and historical attractions of New Smyrna Beach on two wheels this vacation with the many bike trails in the area. Those staying at New Smyrna Beach oceanfront vacation rentals can get great exercise while weaving in and out of the scenic trails near our coastal city, or cruising on the coast along beautiful beaches.