Jeep Beach 2024 Event Recap
Jeep-centric events generally fall into one of two categories. The first of which is off-road events such as the Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah. At that event, you will test your vehicle and nerves as you traverse some of the most scenic and challenging trails in the nation. The second type of event is more show oriented. These types of events are designed to allow you to showcase your vehicle and connect with other like-minded enthusiasts on a larger scale.
Jeep Beach falls somewhere in the middle, with a greater emphasis on the show aspect. Now in its 21st year, the annual Jeep Beach event in Daytona Beach, Florida, has become a staple vacation destination for Jeepers across the country. For us, the event is an excellent opportunity to connect with some of the industry’s top parts manufacturers as well as immerse ourselves in Jeep culture.
Location, Location, Location
Held in April, the temperature is about as good as it gets for Florida in this section of the state. Even if you don’t want to participate in the daily events, you can lock yourself into some R & R on the famous Daytona Beach shorefront and let the Jeep show essentially come to you.
Ducks, Lots of Ducks
If you long for a duck collection, you will quickly cash-in at Jeep Beach. We’re not ones to put ducks on our dash, but the kids do enjoy seeing the wild variety of them out there. A great place to cash in if you are looking for swag and ducks is at the vendor party held on the beach during the week. This year that was held in front of the Hard Rock, but you’ll need to check with the official Jeep Beach schedule for the time and locations as they are subject to change.
Jeep Parking
Parking on your fellow Jeepers tire is somewhat of a rite of passage. This JL on 40-inch Trail Grapplers took this to another level with the matching RC (fit of course with scale Nitto tires as well).
Apocalypse 6x6
You can’t talk about Florida Jeeps without mentioning Apocalypse 6x6. This company creates these insane six-wheel-drive conversions all in house and had a host of them on display. This particular one was optioned with a diesel engine, six-inch lift, and 40-inch Nitto Trail Grapplers on 22-inch wheels.
Demon 170
What you are looking at is one of the most unique Jeep Gladiators in the world. It was built by America’s Most Wanted 4x4 and features (what we are told) the only Demon 170 engine conversion. It’s making 1,025 horsepower and just sold at the Barrett-Jackson auction for $300,000!
Night Life
Jeep Beach is as family friendly as you want it to be. What we mean by that is there are plenty of optional evening events for adults looking to unwind and families that want to check out Jeeps. Just hanging out on the main strip, you’ll be treated to a constant flow of Jeeps. Some albeit much louder than others.
Speedway
Without a doubt, what makes Jeep Beach truly unique from other “Jeep” Beach style events is that you get to go inside of the Daytona International Speedway on Friday and Saturday. This is where you can get face to face with some of the industry’s leaders, such as one of the most well-known Jeep families, the Curries.
Swag For Days
Pro tip, get to the Speedway early to get the good swag before it’s all gone. At the Nitto Tire setup, they were handing out backpacks, sunglasses, and magnetic can coolers. Not all companies will have free goodies, but many will.
Savvy Bumper
One of our favorite new bumpers we got to check out at the show was this high-clearance setup from Savvy Offroad. Yes, there will be trimming necessary for this. However, if you want an extremely high-clearance (and very tastefully executed) rear bumper for your Jeep Gladiator, this is a fantastic option.
Battery Swap
A common failure on Jeep Gladiator and JL Wrangler platforms is the small auto-stop start battery. Not only is it an issue when it dies, but it’s located in a terribly inconvenient spot to access. We stopped by the Genesis Offroad booth and found they now have three options for the JL/JT market to address this factory battery issue. Their latest one allows you to keep the stop/start battery but relocate it for when/if there is an issue.
Jeep Is There
Jeep at a corporate level supports the Jeep Beach event. At the Speedway, Jeep was offering rides in multiple Wrangler and Gladiator trim levels on its custom obstacle course. There was also a place for future Jeepers to get behind the wheel and have fun.
Obstacle Course
Speaking of obstacle courses, if you want to showcase your Jeep's off-road chops, you can do so in the infield on either day of the show. There are multiple lines of varying difficulty and spotters on hand to ensure you make it through without issue.
Worth It?
We’ve been attending Jeep Beach on and off again since 2015. We often get asked do we think it’s worth the drive. Here’s our take. If you are looking for a fun vacation destination, Daytona Beach, Florida, is a great place to visit. There are plenty of places to stay and things to keep you entertained. If you love all things Jeep, you will absolutely enjoy yourself. The show at the Speedway is fantastic. Being able to drive and set up for the day on the historic shoreline is also a great bucket list item. We say, all Jeepers should go at least once.
More From Driving Line
- Looking for more Jeep Beach coverage? Head over to our YouTube channel to watch our latest video coverage of the event.
