Ormond by the Sea Surf Report: Live Cam, Conditions & Forecast

Ormond-by-the-Sea is a quiet residential stretch of Volusia County coast just north of Ormond Beach and the Daytona area. It fronts an exposed, sand-bottom beach break that gives up lefts and rights and works on all tides. Mellower and less built-up than the beaches to the south, it has a laid-back feel, with a handful of off-beach county parks providing easy access and a more natural, traffic-free shoreline in spots.

Best Swell Direction: Northeast swells work best, with a mix of groundswell and windswell, plus tropical and hurricane swells adding size in season.

Best Winds: West to southwest winds are offshore here and hold the faces clean.

Best Size: Works from waist-high on up, running small much of the year, with the better days on solid northeast swells and winter fronts.

Best Tide: Often best around high tide.

Break: Exposed sand-bottom beach break with shifting sandbars, offering both lefts and rights.

Crowds: An easygoing, local-flavored spot. It can pick up when the surf is good, but it rarely feels as busy as the Daytona-area beaches.

Beach Access and Driving: Volusia County is one of the few places that still allows driving on the beach, at designated ramps in the Ormond Beach and Daytona area, during posted daytime hours. Much of the Ormond-by-the-Sea stretch, though, is traffic-free and reached on foot through the off-beach parks. The main accesses here are Tom Renick Park (1565 Ocean Shore Boulevard) and Al Weeks Sr. North Shore Park, with the natural, undeveloped North Peninsula State Park just to the north.

Facilities: Tom Renick Park and the other county parks offer restrooms, showers, picnic pavilions, playgrounds, and bike racks. North Peninsula State Park to the north is largely undeveloped and natural.

Operating Hours (Subject to change): The beach and parks are generally open during daylight hours, and off-beach park parking is not available overnight. Beach driving runs roughly 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM from May through October and sunrise to sunset from November through April. Confirm current hours and rules with Volusia County at https://www.parkvolusia.org

Fees: Surfing and beach access are free. For non-residents, driving on the beach runs about $30 per day or $150 for an annual pass, and off-beach parking is about $20 per day or $100 annually. Volusia County residents can register for free. Confirm current pricing at the Park Volusia site above.