Ponce Inlet Dog Beach is the dog-friendly inlet shoreline inside Lighthouse Point Park. This is a natural, leashed beach rather than a fenced off-leash dog park. Dogs may use the inlet shore, but they are never allowed on the park’s Atlantic Ocean beach. The setting combines white sand, calmer inlet-side water and views toward the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse.
Plan your visit
- Address: 5000 S Atlantic Avenue, Ponce Inlet, FL 32127.
- Leash rule: Dogs must remain on a leash no longer than 6 feet. Clean up waste and keep dogs away from designated wildlife areas.
- Dog-friendly boundary: Use only the inlet shore beach. Dogs are prohibited on the Atlantic Ocean beach.
- Boardwalk restriction: Pets are not allowed on elevated park boardwalks after 10 a.m.
- Admission: Volusia County lists a $10 per-vehicle daily fee and a $20 Inlet Park annual pass, with qualifying vehicle discounts. Annual passes are sold online or at Park Volusia offices, not at the entrance.
- Seasonal hours: The park opens at 6 a.m. daily. Closing time changes during the year: 6 p.m., 7:30 p.m. or 9 p.m. Check the official schedule before leaving.
Find the dog beach entrance
Enter Lighthouse Point Park at 5000 S Atlantic Avenue and follow park signs toward the inlet shoreline. The dog-friendly beach is on the Ponce de Leon Inlet side of the park, not the Atlantic-facing ocean beach. Keep your dog leashed through the parking area and on every path, and check posted signs before stepping onto the sand.
Get directions to Lighthouse Point Park.
Sand, water and park facilities
The dog area is a natural inlet beach where leashed dogs can walk along the sand and enter the water. It is not a fenced enclosure, and the County does not describe separate small- and large-dog sections. Bring a secure 6-foot leash, fresh drinking water, a bowl, waste bags and shade for hot days.
Even when the inlet looks calmer than the ocean, tides, currents, boats, fishing activity and changing water conditions can create hazards. Stay close to your dog, avoid the jetty and fishing lines, and do not treat the shoreline like a maintained dog pool. Check weather and local water advisories before allowing a dog to wade or swim.
Lighthouse Point Park also has paved parking, restrooms, picnic pavilions, nature trails and an observation tower. The County lists the park as accessible and open 365 days a year. Some amenities and routes have separate pet restrictions, including the after-10 a.m. elevated-boardwalk rule.
Rules that matter at this beach
Keep the leash at 6 feet or shorter, maintain control at all times and remove all waste. Do not let a dog enter a wildlife area, chase shorebirds or disturb other animals. Alcohol is prohibited in the park. Buses require prior written approval on weekdays and are not permitted on weekends or holidays; trailers are also prohibited on weekends and holidays.
The lighthouse museum is outside Lighthouse Point Park and has its own admission and pet rules. A park pass does not cover lighthouse admission.
What park goers say
Visitors often praise the lighthouse views, white sand, scenic inlet setting and the chance to bring a dog to one of Volusia County’s limited dog-friendly beach areas. Park goers commonly describe the inlet side as calmer than the ocean side and appreciate the nearby parking and restrooms.
Common cautions focus on the vehicle entry fee, the limited dog-friendly boundary, fishing activity, rocks and the need to keep dogs leashed. Conditions can also change with crowds, tides, jellyfish and other marine life. Arriving early may provide cooler sand and more space, but always follow the current gate hours and shoreline signs. Read current visitor reports.
Check official updates
Before leaving, review Volusia County’s official Lighthouse Point Park page for seasonal hours, admission and access notices. The County’s Dogs on the Beach page lists the current leash, cleanup and wildlife-area rules.