Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse is an active historic landmark and museum in Ponce Inlet, Florida, less than 10 miles south of Daytona Beach. You can explore the historic station and, when the tower is open, climb to its upper levels.
- The lighthouse museum is at 4931 South Peninsula Drive.
- Museums open daily at 10:00 a.m.; closing time varies seasonally.
- Lighthouse admission includes tower access when the tower is open.
- Free visitor parking is available at the lighthouse.
The lighthouse and its historic site
Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse first lit on November 1, 1887, and still serves as a navigational aid. The Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse Preservation Association maintains the light.
The tower stands 176 feet 6½ inches tall from the ground to the tip of its lightning rod and contains 1.25 million bricks. The station also includes historic keeper dwellings and museum buildings. You can explore the museums with a self-guided map during operating hours.
The Constance D. Hunter Historic Pacetti Hotel Museum is across the street at 4928 South Peninsula Drive. It is a separate museum from the lighthouse.
Hours, admission, and tower access
Both museums open daily at 10:00 a.m., except on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day; closing hours vary by season. The lighthouse tower may close during thunderstorms, lightning, other significant weather, medical emergencies, maintenance or special programs.
Opening hours
- Monday to Sunday: 10 AM–6 PM
Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.
General lighthouse admission is $6.95 for adults age 12 and older, $1.95 for children ages 3–11, and free for infants ages 0–2. Pacetti Hotel Museum admission is $5.00 for adults, $1.00 for children ages 3–11, and free for infants. Combination admission to both museums costs $11.95 for adults and $2.95 for children; infants enter free.
Buy tickets at the lighthouse gift shop or at the Pacetti Hotel Museum. You do not need an advance reservation, but admission sales end one hour before closing. Check the official site before you go for current hours, prices and tower access.
When the tower is open, lighthouse admission includes access to the climb: 203 steps up a spiral staircase with handrails and landings every 21 steps. The lantern room is closed to the public.
The museum recommends that climbers be in good physical condition, wear closed-toe shoes with nonslip soles and low heels, and make sure children can climb on their own. Running and jumping in the tower are prohibited.
The tower is not ADA accessible and has no elevator. The publicly accessible station buildings are wheelchair accessible, with brick walkways connecting them.
ADA-compliant parking spaces are in the lower lot by the main entrance and gift shop, and the gift shop has a wheelchair ramp. A wheelchair lift serves the upper observation area inside the Ayers Davies Lens Exhibit Building; staff can assist on request.
How do you get to Ponce Inlet and park?
From Interstate 95, take Exit 256 at Port Orange and head east on Dunlawton Avenue/Taylor Road. Follow South Atlantic Avenue south, then use the beachside directions to reach South Peninsula Drive.
Free visitor parking is available at the lighthouse. The lower main parking area is reserved for motorcycles and regular-sized vehicles. From a three-star hotel in Daytona Beach, the lighthouse is about 10.9 miles away.
What else to plan around the inlet
For time by the ocean in town, you can also plan around Daytona Beach’s beaches and their access rules.
Lighthouse Point Park is a separate Volusia County park, not part of the lighthouse museum. It opens daily from sunrise to sunset and lists a $10 per-vehicle entrance fee. If you plan to visit both, account for the park’s separate entrance fee.
The Daytona Beach Boardwalk and Pier offers another distinct stop on a Daytona Beach outing.
FAQs
How many steps are in the lighthouse tower?
The climb has 203 steps. The tower has no elevator and is not ADA accessible.
Can you visit the Pacetti Hotel Museum with a lighthouse ticket?
You can buy combination admission for both museums, or separate admission for the Pacetti Hotel Museum.
Is the lighthouse tower always open?
Open daily. No. It may close temporarily for severe weather, medical emergencies, maintenance or special programs.
Do you need to reserve lighthouse tickets?
No advance reservation is required. Tickets are sold at the lighthouse gift shop and the Pacetti Hotel Museum.