Today Daytona Bike Week spans 10 days in March, with the city of Daytona Beach and its environs hosting up to 500,000 riders every year. The rally now includes bike shows, demo rides, guided tours, vendors, concerts, party spots and, of course, races. Bike Week can be overwhelming for the first timer, so we’ve put together some information that will help you navigate the rally.

 

Daytona Bike Week Street Closures

During the height of Daytona Bike Week, riders on the main thoroughfares of Main Street, North Beach Street, Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard and Daytona International Speedway experience high traffic volumes. It’s a good idea to find alternate routes if possible. For instance, instead of traveling over the Main Street Bridge, use the Seabreeze Bridge to the north or the Orange Avenue Bridge to the south.

Keep in mind that many side streets are closed during Bike Week, while others have restricted traffic flow. Although the street closures have not yet been announced for Bike Week 2013, it’s a safe bet that traffic control will be similar to last year’s rally. Riding east on Main Street, left turns are not permitted onto Atlantic Avenue (Route A1A). While riding north on Atlantic Avenue, no left turns are permitted onto Main Street. Instead, turn left onto International Speedway Boulevard and then right on Peninsula Drive until reaching Main Street. Four residential streets (Hollywood Avenue, Oleander Avenue, Wild Olive Street and Grandview Avenue) between Harvey Avenue and Auditorium Boulevard will most likely be closed.

The first weekend of Bike Week, Main Street is open to motorcycle traffic only. And Wednesday, March 13, during the Harley-Davidson Ride-In Custom Bike Show, several blocks of Beach Street near Bruce Rossmeyer’s original Harley dealership will be open to motorcycles only.

Bruce Rossmeyer's Destination Daytona
Bruce Rossmeyer’s Destination Daytona

The congestion around Destination Daytona in Ormond Beach can wreak havoc on your air-cooled machine. To avoid some of the local traffic, you might want to take I-95 north from International Boulevard, LPGA Boulevard or West Granada Boulevard, exiting at US-1, which is adjacent to the Rossmeyer dealership complex. Expect restrictions on left turns heading both north and south from US-1 into Destination Daytona. You may have to ride a short distance to turn around. You should be able to find free motorcycle parking, as well. Although at least one local merchant on US-1 charges to park your bike, Destination Daytona does not. Just follow the free parking signs once you enter the dealership drive. Other street closures and rerouting of traffic may be in effect depending on traffic conditions and special events scheduled throughout the week.

 

 

Daytona Bike Week Beach Cruising

Driving on the beach has been permitted in Volusia County as far back as the early 1900s, and can be a novel experience for motorcyclists. Before you participate in this time-honored tradition, there are a few things you should know.

The northernmost entrance ramp from the street is at Granada Boulevard, just off Route A1A (Atlantic Avenue) in Ormond Beach. Heading south, additional beach access ramps as you enter Daytona Beach are at Cardinal Drive, Williams Avenue, University Boulevard and Seabreeze Boulevard. The beach is traffic-free until the ramp at International Speedway Boulevard. At the Silver Beach Avenue ramp in Daytona Beach Shores, riding on the beach is again permitted, with ramps at Botefuhr Avenue, Florida Shores Boulevard, Van Avenue Park, El Portal Avenue, Dunlawton Avenue and Emilia Avenue where another traffic-free beach zone begins. New Smyrna Beach also offers about a mile and a half of beach riding, with the northernmost entrance at Beachway Avenue, other ramps at Flagler and Third avenues, with the southernmost ramp at 27th Avenue.

The beach is open to vehicles from one hour after sunrise to an hour before sunset, conditions permitting, and the speed limit is 10 mph. Volusia County Beach Safety specifies a requirement for a $5-per-day pass, which can be purchased at toll booths. (Hint: We’ve never purchased one.) Specific driving “lanes” are designated, and you must ride with your headlight on. There are several one-way zones in Ormond and Daytona Beaches: Granada Boulevard south to Cardinal Drive, International Speedway Boulevard south to Silver Beach Avenue, and Seabreeze Boulevard north to University Boulevard.

For more detailed information, visit www.volusia.org.

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