As I rock up to this roadside campground destination, I’ve got Don Henley’s ‘Boys of Summer’ playing on the old Spotify, which is just the perfect soundtrack to this multi-faceted campground refuge. Here in (slightly) northern Florida, where the beaches never stop luring locals and tourists alike to its white-capped shores and summer really does seem like it never ends, you’ll discover Daytona’s Endless Summer Campground. From the very moment you drive onto this property, you’ll feel somehow transported to something between Margaritaville and Yogi Bear’s Yellowstone Camping Outpost (in the make believe illustrated world).
While there’s no cartoon characters per se, you will immediately be greeted by a large oversized log cabin structure that is the main office. Here, you’ll come into contact with some of the nicest and most accommodating staff I have ever met operating a campground (and I’ve met a few). Just to the side of this campground HQ lies the community pool, which faces towards the main road that you would have taken to arrive here. Kind of an odd place to put a pool if you ask me, but hey, it works. Surrounding this splash pool are no shortage of lawn games (think: horse shoes, planko, life-size jenga, etc.), fire pits and children’s playground. And while they showcase a number of tents erected on the place (there is in fact, a small area for tent campers), this is basically a campground for the RVing crowd. But don’t worry, if you don’t have a tent or camper, Endless Summer has you covered, as they rent a dozen or so log cabins.
As for the amenities, this pet-friendly place packs a lot in, from its recreational room(just behind the main office entrance) where there are DVD’s, books, board games and a full-service kitchen, mail room along with a fairly decent meeting space chalk full of fold-up tables and chairs (think VFW hall). Up at the front office, there’s also a mini-mart / store that has just about everything you could imagine (and likely have forgotten) – I love that they have S’mores kits, BTW! But don’t worry, if you’re not in any immediate rush, there’s a Publix and Walgreen’s just down the street. All of the basic hook-ups are here (electric, water and sewage), as well as scattered BBQ grills, picnic tables, fire pits, soda machines, plenty of community patio chairs and tables, coin-operated Laundr-O-Mat, a fairly excellent bathhouse and restroom facilities.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) As you’re a stone’s throw away (just a 10 minute drive) from Daytona Beach, arguably, one of the best beaches in the state, if not the country, you’ll want to hit one of these ‘drive-on’ white sand beach destinations – but get there early!; (2) If you find yourself getting tired of franks & beans on the grill and want someone else to do the cooking for you, check out Giuseppe’s Steel City Pizza, family-owned since 1982 and located just down the road from Endless Summer; and (3) If you come bringing a kayak or canoe, head on over to the causeway and cross A1A where you can drop your watercraft just about anywhere to explore Halifax River or Wilbur Bay (which has some amazing local wildlife, so bring a camera!).
Happy Camping!
