Bethune Beach

About Bethune Beach

Bethune Beach sits south of the main New Smyrna Beach beachside, where the island narrows to a few streets between the ocean and the Indian River Lagoon. South Atlantic Avenue and Turtlemound Road run the length of it, with short side streets in between. The beach here is closed to cars, and walkways lead from the street to the sand.

There is no gated entry and no mandatory HOA. Homes sit on their own lots on county roads.

Amenities and community

Bethune Beach has no clubhouse or community pool. The draw is the water on both sides. The ocean side has the car-free beach, and the river side has docks, boat lifts and seawalls on many lots, with access to the Intracoastal Waterway for boating, fishing and paddling. Canaveral National Seashore starts just to the south, with miles of undeveloped shoreline.

Bethune Beach Park and Manatee Park have picnic areas, courts, a fishing pier and a kayak launch on the lagoon, a lifeguard tower watches over the beach, and JB's Fish Camp serves waterfront food and drinks nearby.

Location and getting around

Flagler Avenue, Canal Street and the rest of New Smyrna Beach are a short drive north. The bridges to the mainland and I-95 are farther, since the neighborhood is at the south end of the island. Many homes here are oceanfront or riverfront, so check the flood zone on each listing.

Homes in Bethune Beach

Most homes here are single-family houses, many of them raised two- and three-story houses built to take in the views of the ocean and the river. They range from older beach houses from the 1970s and 1980s to new custom builds. A few vacant oceanfront and ocean-view lots also come up for sale. Right now 13 homes are for sale, asking from $1 million to $5.7 million, with a median of $1.9 million.