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Daytona Beach is a city in Volusia County, East Central Florida.

The Greater Daytona Beach Area also includes Daytona Beach Shores, Holly Hill, Port Orange, Ponce Inlet, South Daytona, Ormond Beach and unincorporated areas of East Volusia County. Some of the surrounding cities use Daytona Beach as a mailing address. If you cannot find what you are looking for here, try checking the surrounding cities.

Understand

A Welcome greeting to visitors as they enter Daytona Beach and drive past Daytona International Speedway.

Daytona Beach, famous as the "World Center of Racing" and home of NASCAR, is part of the East Central Florida greater metropolitan area. Daytona Beach is the best known of the seven area communities. Although the wide 23-mile (37 km) stretch of white sandy beach is still the biggest attraction here, with over 8 million visitors flocking to the area every year, the metro area is rapidly changing from event Mecca to family oriented resort destination. Historical sites like the Main Street Pier, the Oceanfront Boardwalk and the Clocktower in Oceanfront Park add to the appeal of this exciting city.

History

Daytona was founded in 1870 by Matthias Day, from whom it takes its name. It was incorporated as a city in 1876. The separate towns of Daytona, Daytona Beach and Seabreeze merged to form Daytona Beach in 1926. In the 1920s, the city became known as The World's Most Famous Beach.

Daytona's wide beach of smooth, compacted sand attracted automobile and motorcycle enthusiasts beginning in 1902, when pioneers in the industry tested their inventions. On 8 March 1936, the first stock car race was held on the Daytona Beach Course. In 1959, William France created Daytona International Speedway to replace the beach course.

Automobiles are still permitted on the beach — at much slower speeds! Daytona is one of the few places in the world where a family car can be driven on an ocean beach.

Climate

The city of Daytona Beach sits on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean and is split in two by the Halifax River. It is bordered on the north by Holly Hill and Ormond Beach and on the south by Daytona Beach Shores, South Daytona, and Port Orange.

Daytona Beach has a very humid subtropical climate typical for a city in the southeastern United States. Summers are hot and humid with highs usually in the 90s (32+°C)and a heat index often exceeding 100°F (38°C). Thunderstorms are frequent in summer afternoons and the hot, humid weather can last through the fall months. Winters are dry and mild, marked by a constant series of cold fronts followed by warmer air. In wintertime, temperatures dip into the low 40s and upper 30s (5°C) on occasion, although freezes are rare. Frost occurs a few times a year mainly in the inland areas. Snowfall is extremely rare: the last time snow flurries fell on Daytona Beach was in January 2003. Temperatures in spring are famously pleasant with warm afternoons, cool evenings, and far less humidity. This beautiful weather usually attracts tourists back to the beaches by early March.

Monthly Normal and Record High and Low Temperatures
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Rec High °F 87 89 92 96 100 102 102 100 99 95 89 88
Norm High °F 69.7 71.1 75.6 79.8 85 88.8 91 90.1 87.9 82.6 76.9 71.4
Norm Low °F 47.1 48.8 53.7 58 64.5 70.6 72.4 72.8 71.9 65.3 57 50.1
Rec Low °F 15 24 26 35 44 52 60 65 52 41 27 19
Precip (in) 3.13 2.74 3.84 2.54 3.26 5.69 5.17 6.09 6.61 4.48 3.03 2.71
Source: USTravelWeather.com [1]

Get in

The Daytona Beach Clocktower, an unusual landmark near the beach, dedicated to Sir Malcolm Campbell.

By plane

You can fly into Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB IATA), which is located adjacent to the Daytona Speedway and is served by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and JetBlue. Other airports nearby are Orlando International Airport (MCO IATA) or Jacksonville International (JAX IATA), both of which are approximately an hour away.

Orlando-Sanford International Airport (SFB IATA) is about 30 miles (48 km) west of the city in Sanford. Several flights from the United Kingdom, including those from Belfast, land here. If you are flying Allegiant Air from within the U.S. or Icelandair from Iceland, you will land at Sanford Airport.

By car

Daytona Beach is easily accessible by interstate I-95 which runs north and south and I-4 (east-west) which connects Daytona Beach with Orlando and Tampa. U.S. Highway 1 (north-south) (Ridgewood Avenue) also passes through Daytona Beach. A1A (north-south) is a scenic route along the beach.

By bus

Daytona Beach is served by Greyhound Bus Lines, which has a terminal at 138 South Ridgewood Avenue (U.S.-1). The Greyhound routes from Daytona Beach connect with hubs in Jacksonville and Orlando.

By train

Amtrak offers the Amtrak Auto Train service with its southern Terminus in Sanford. The Amtrak Auto Train carries passengers and automobiles between Sanford and Lorton, Virginia, effectively serving as a car-rail link from Florida to the Washington, D.C. Metro Area. You can easily drive your car into Daytona after departing from the Auto Train.

Amtrak offers regular passenger service with the closest stop being near the city of DeLand. This stop is rather remote and is not recommended as an option.

By boat

Daytona Beach is not a major port, however, it is accessible by private boats via the Intracoastal Waterway, from both the Halifax River and the Atlantic Ocean. Refueling services are available at the Daytona Marina.

By shuttle

Get around

By car

Getting around by car is very easy and convenient in Daytona Beach. The major roads are all wide and easy to drive on with all the major areas signposted, but traffic jams around major intersections are common in the afternoons and around the tourist areas on Saturday nights.

The main tourism area is A1A, also known as Atlantic Avenue, a strip of road that runs parallel to the beach for 23 miles (37 km). During major NASCAR races, International Speedway Boulevard gets congested near the racetrack and traffic patterns on other surrounding roads are altered to accommodate the extra traffic. During major motorcycle events, Main Street and Beach Street as well as most of A1A and U.S. Highway 1 experience heavy traffic or are closed. I-95 around exit 273 is also extremely busy during motorcycle rallies.

All major car rental companies are located in or near the Daytona Beach International Airport.

Ryan Newman & Matt Kenseth compete at the 2008 Daytona 500 Race

By motorcycle

If you are coming to Daytona Beach for a motorcycle rally, you will probably want to rent a motorcycle instead of a car. If you don't have one already, you should reserve one well in advance of the major biker rallies.

By bus

  • VOTRAN, +1 386 761-7700. VOTRAN is the name of the Volusia County bus service, which connects to Daytona Beach International Airport. It is a cheap way to get around and is handicap accessible. The website provides maps and timetables. Buses travel to most sites and places of interest. A one-day VOTRAN bus pass costs $3. $3.00.

Transfer stations

  • Transfer Plaza, Bethune Blvd and N Palmetto Ave.
  • Intermodal Transit Facility (inside Volusia County Parking Garage), 701 Earl St at N Atlantic Ave.

By taxi and limousine

Taxi Service

If you need a taxi cab, you need to use the telephone to call for one. Cabs in the Daytona Beach area will not stop if you only wave at them.

Taxi companies include:

See

Arts

  • Peabody Auditorium, 600 Auditorium Blvd, +1 386 671-3461. Home of the London Symphony Orchestra on tour; the Daytona Beach Symphony Society; and the Daytona Beach Civic Ballet.

Museums

  • Museum of Arts and Sciences, 352 S Nova Rd, +1 386 255-0285. The museum hosts traveling exhibitions and has galleries in its permanent collection featuring Chinese, African and Cuban art, and the most complete fossil record discovered in Florida, highlighted by a 13-foot skeleton of a Giant Ground Sloth. A planetarium is also on-site featuring laser concerts and educational shows. The museum also hosts a very active line-up of programs and events for every interest and age group.
  • Halifax Historical Museum, 252 S Beach St, +1 386 255-6976. Located downtown in the former Merchants Bank building, the museum highlights the history of the Daytona Beach area with exhibits on local lifestyle and influential people. Some exhibits include a portrait of Mary McLeod Bethune, founder of Bethune-Cookman University, and a look at the resort hotels that once graced the beachfront.
  • Southeast Museum of Photography, 1200 W International Speedway Blvd, +1 386 506-4475. Located at Daytona State College in the new state of the art Mori Hosseini Hospitality Center, the Southeast Museum of Photography features collections from various local and world-renowned artists.

Parks

  • Sun Splash County Park, 611 S Atlantic Ave. Sunrise-Sunset. Sun Splash Park features an interactive water fountain, decorative walkways, a shaded playground, volleyball courts, picnic areas, restrooms, outdoor showers, two beach access ramps and a Coca-Cola-sponsored "cool zone." The four-acre facility also provides 95 off-beach parking spaces. Free.
  • Robert Strickland Shooting Range (County), 1180 Indian Lake Rd, +1 386 226-0477. Tu-Su 9AM-5PM. The Robert Strickland Shooting Range is built to National Rifle Association standards. It includes a state-of-the-art baffling and berm system to ensure shooter safety and avoid stray bullets. $5/day, $50/semi-annual, $80/annual.
  • Bethune Point Park, 11 Bellevue Ave
  • City Island Park
  • Colins Park
  • Daisy Stocking Park (The Bandshell)
  • Derbyshire Park
  • Jackie Robinson Ballpark
  • Tuscawilla Park
  • J. Saxton LLoyd Riverfront Park
  • Shangri-La Mini Park
  • Samuel Butts Youth Archaeological Park & Recreational Trail
Jackie Robinson Stadium in Daytona Beach, FL.

Sports Teams

  • Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats - The Wildcats play baseball at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
  • Daytona State College Falcons - The Falcons compete in five Division I NJCAA sports including Men's and Women's Basketball, Baseball, Fast Pitch Softball and Women's Golf.
  • Daytona Tortugas, E Orange Ave, +1 386 257-3172. The Cincinnati Reds' affiliate in the Florida State League plays at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
  • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Eagles - The Eagles baseball team plays on campus at Silwa Stadium. The Eagles basketball and volleyball play on campus at the ICI Center. There is also the Eagles Soccer team and Eagles Tennis team.

Statues and Monuments

  • Dale Earnhardt Sr. Statue, 1801 W International Speedway Blvd. (In front of Daytona International Speedway). Sunrise to Sunset. Daytona Beach's version of the "Rocky" statue, representing the late NASCAR driver who won the 1998 Daytona 500 Race. Earnhardt died while racing here in 2001. Free.
  • Daytona 200 Motorcycle Race Memorial, 65 Boardwalk (approximate) (Daisy Stocking Park). Sunrise to Sunset. Memorial to the Daytona 200 Motorcycle Race, which started on the beach in 1937. A large black marker in the center is surrounded by a plaza with smaller markers and paver bricks. Free.
  • Daytona Beach Clocktower, 60 Boardwalk (approximate) (Daisy Stocking Park). Sunrise to Sunset. A memorial to Sir Malcolm Campbell and the Racing Time Trials that were held on the beach, near this location. A plaque dedicated to Campbell is at the base of the Clocktower. Free.
  • Veterans Memorial at Riverfront Park, 155 North Beach Street (Riverfront Park). Sunrise to Sunset. Daytona Beach's Memorial to veterans of all wars. Small plaza in Riverfront Park with various markers and plaques. Free.
  • Wright Flyer Sculpture, 600 S Clyde Morris Blvd. (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Jack Hunt Library). Sunrise to Sunset. A life-size sculpture of the Wright Brothers plane that was made by artist Larry Godwin. It sits parked in front of the Jack Hunt Memorial Library at the Embry-Riddle University Campus. Free.

Do

Major Attractions

Daytona International Speedway

2009 Event Schedule:

  • Pre-season Thunder - 16-17 Jan 2009
  • Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona - 22-24 Jan 2009
  • Speedweek - 9-17 Feb 2009
  • 51st Annual Daytona 500 - 17 Feb 2009
  • Kickstand City/Bike Week - 27 Feb-8 Mar 2009
  • Spring Car Swap - 30 Mar-2 Apr 2009
  • Coke Zero 400 - 4 Jul 2009
  • Fall Cycle Scene/Biketoberfest - 15-18 Oct 2009
  • Turkey Run Car Show & Swap Meet - 25-28 Nov 2009

Daytona Beach is dominated by motorsports and Daytona International Speedway. The main artery that passes by the racetrack was even renamed from "Volusia Avenue" to "International Speedway Boulevard."

  • Daytona International Speedway, 1801 W International Speedway Blvd, toll-free: +1-800-PIT-SHOP (748-7467). This NASCAR superspeedway has a seating capacity for 168,000 spectators. It hosts motor vehicle races of various kinds, including stock cars, sports cars, modified pickup trucks, motorcycles (on and off road), and go-karts. The facility also includes a road course and an infield, including Lake Lloyd, which has hosted powerboat racing. The track is also used for an annual spring car show and swap meet, and a Thanksgiving street rod meet, some of the largest of their kind; as well as various races around the track, as there have been three different layouts.
Daytona Speedweeks - The group of races held at Daytona International Speedway the first two weeks of February are known as Daytona Speedweeks.
  • Rolex 24 Hour Race (24 Hours of Daytona) - An annual endurance race for sports cars, sanctioned by the Grand American Sports Car organization. The race is held on the road course track configuration. The race is usually held late in January or the first weekend of February as the first race of Daytona Speedweeks. The race date is adjusted year-to-year to not conflict with the date of the NFL Superbowl.
  • Daytona ARCA 200 - 200-mile stock car race, sponsored by the Automobile Racing Club of America. Usually held on the second weekend of Daytona Speedweeks, and a week before the Daytona 500 race.
  • Budweiser Shootout - A NASCAR preseason 75-lap race held the weekend before the Daytona 500. The race offers no points to the drivers but a large purse is offered for the winner. Usually a narrow selection of drivers is invited to compete in the Bud Shootout.
  • Gatorade Duel 125s - Twin qualifying races, usually held on Thursday before the Daytona 500 Race. Half the qualifying cars compete in each 125 race to determine field position in the big race.
  • Chevy Silverado 250 - The first race of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (formerly the Craftsman Truck Series) is held Friday night prior to the Daytona 500.
  • Camping World 300 - The first race of the NASCAR Nationwide Series (formerly the Busch Series) is held Saturday afternoon or night, before the day of the Daytona 500.
  • Daytona 500 Race - Heralded as The Great American Race, this is usually the final race of Daytona Speedweeks and is the first points race of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series; usually held on the Sunday prior to President's Day every year. President's Day is the rain date.
Caution Note: VOTRAN, the Volusia County bus service, arranges shuttle buses for fan transportation to the track for the Daytona 500 race in February and the Coke Zero 400 race in July. The cost is usually $10 per trip. Do not be misled into taking a commercial bus or shuttle to the track that usually costs considerably more.
Other Events:
  • Daytona 200 - A series of motorcycle races (AMA Superbike and AMA Formula Xtreme), sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association. Race dates usually coincide with Daytona Beach Bike Week.
  • Brumos Porsche 250 (formerly the Paul Revere 250) - A 250-mile sports car race, sanctioned by the Grand American Sports Car series. The date of running this race has varied in the past, but it is usually held late at night the Thursday before the NASCAR Coke Zero 400 race.
  • Winn-Dixie 250 - A NASCAR Nationwide Series (formerly the Busch Series) race, usually held the Friday night before the Coke Zero 400 race.
  • Coke Zero 400 (formerly the Pepsi 400 and the Firecracker 400) - NASCAR Sprint Cup race held the first Saturday night of July.
  • Fall Cycle Scene - A series of Motorcycle races, sponsored by the Championship Cup Series, the American Sportbike Racing Association, and the Suntrust MOTO-ST series. Dates coincide with the Daytona Beach Biketoberfest event.
  • Turkey Run - A classic car show usually held over a period of four days during Thanksgiving weekend.

Other Attractions

  • Daytona 500 Experience, 1801 W International Speedway Blvd, +1 386 947-6530. Interactive motorsports attraction located at Daytona International Speedway. Offers speedway tours, a historical museum, racing simulators, pit stop demonstrations and more.
  • Daytona Beach Kennel Club, 960 S Williamson Blvd, +1 386 252-6484. Offers live Greyhound racing along with simulcast Greyhound, Thoroughbred, Harness, and Jai-Alai wagering from premier tracks around the country. Poker Room features 7-Card Stud, Hold Em, 5-Card Stud. Also features Cabaret Deli and Pavilion Clubhouse Restaurant.
  • Daytona Lagoon, 601 Earl St, +1 386 254-5020. Daytona Lagoon Water Park and Family Entertainment Center offers hours of splash-filled fun and games for the entire company, youth group or party, offering miniature golf, go-karts, lazer tag, and more.
  • The Boardwalk
  • Main Street Pier
  • Air Florida Helicopter Rides

Events

Bikers gather on Main Street
  • Bike Week. Annual Motorcycle Rally, usually held around the first ten days of March, sponsored by the Daytona Beach-Halifax Area Chamber of Commerce. Traffic during this event tends to be horrible, particularly in the areas of Main Street and Beach Street. The Daytona 200 Motorcycle race is held at Daytona International Speedway during Bike Week as well.
  • Biketoberfest. Annual Motorcycle Rally, usually held the week immediately following Columbus Day in October, sponsored by The Daytona Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. Usually on a smaller scale than the March Bike Week, however the event appears to draw more participants every year.
  • WinterJam. Annual 4-day Vdubs, Sports & Musis Fest. Usually held the 3rd week in February, the week immediately following Race Week & the weekend before Daytona Bike Week. The festival has 14 events at 7 unique venues including 3 VW shows, 3 action sport events, 3 parties, nav rallies, vendors & more!

Cinema

  • Ocean Walk Movies 10, 250 N Atlantic Ave (Ocean Walk Shoppes), +1 386 238-5252.

Cruises

The Halifax Harbor Marina is on Beach Street, and is the departure point for several boat cruises along the Halifax River.

  • A Tiny Cruise Line, 401 S Beach St, +1 386 226-2343. Take a tour down the Halifax River discovering the history of the river and the sites on each shore. A lovely way to see some places not visible from the road.

Fishing

Fishing boat charters usually originate from nearby Ponce Inlet or New Smyrna Beach.

  • Volusia County Fishing and Hunting License Division, 250 N Beach St, +1 386 254-4610. Fishing licenses can be purchased at Volusia County tag and tax office or at area fish camps, Walmart, K-Mart, hardware and sporting goods stores. Florida residents do not need a fishing license to fish from the beach as long they are in no more than three feet of water. Anglers may purchase licenses on the phone by calling 1-888-FISH-FLORIDA.

Golf

There are many golf courses in Daytona Beach and the surrounding area. Among them:

  • Daytona Beach City Golf Course, 600 Wilder Blvd, +1 386 258-3119. Two 18-hole courses (North and South), Pro Shop, restaurant.
  • Indigo Lakes Golf Club, 312 Indigo Dr, +1 386 254-3607. Offers an 18-hole championship golf course, Pro Shop, Clubhouse.
  • LPGA International Golf Course, 1030 Champions Dr, +1 386 274-5742. Offers two 18-hole championship golf courses (named Champions and Legends), Pro Shop, Clubhouse

Tennis

  • City Island Tennis Complex, 115 E Orange Ave (City Island Park), +1 386 257-0755. Features six hard tennis courts with lighting. Call to reserve. Free
  • USTA Florida Tennis Center, 1 Deuce Ct (LPGA Boulevard), +1 386 671-8900. Premier Tennis Center for the USTA in Florida. The USTA and Greater Volusia Tennis League hold matches at this center. Open to the public when not used for matches. Features 24 clay courts. Call for times and fees.

Venues

  • Ocean Center, 101 N Atlantic Ave, +1 386 254-4500. The largest (225,000 sq ft) event and convention arena in the Greater Daytona Beach area. Hosts the area's major conventions, trade shows, concerts, and indoor sports events. Located across the street from the Daytona Hilton and Ocean Walk resort hotels.
  • Daytona International Speedway, 1801 W International Speedway Blvd, +1 386 947-6530. In addition to hosting major sporting events throughout the year, Daytona International Speedway hosts many corporate parties, conventions and meetings.
The life-size Wright Flyer statue at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's campus.

Buy

When the weather pushes you off the beach or you simply need to find a cool space for the few hottest hours, Daytona offers shops to satisfy a wide range of tastes. Here are some suggestions:

Antique shops

  • Arlequin Antiques & Art, 122 South Beach St., +1 386 252-5498. Antique shop with art work, collectibles, jewelry, furniture, clothing, and gift items.
  • Carousel Antiques & Art, 110 North Beach St., +1 386 255-1132. Antique shop with art work, collectibles, jewelry, furniture, clothing, and gift items.
  • Nicole's Beach Street Mall, 140 North Beach St., +1 386 252-3033. 10AM-5PM. Antiques Mall with 50 dealers and 14,000 square feet.

Shopping Malls

When the weather pushes you off the beach or you simply need to find a cool space for the few hottest hours, Daytona offers shops to satisfy a wide range of tastes. Here are some suggestions:

Ocean Walk Shoppes
  • Bellair Plaza, 2501 North Atlantic Ave (Beachside). Bellair Plaza is a 350,000 sq. ft. open air shopping center, anchored by Bealls, Dollar Tree, GNC Nutrition, Publix, Ruby Tuesday, and Walgreens.
  • Daytona Beach Flea Market, 2987 Bellevue Ave (Mainland). Each weekend (F-Su) the flea market opens its stalls to sell anything and everything including jewelry, produce, clothing, sports equipment and toys. Free parking and admission. This is a must-see: one of the largest and most highly rated flea markets in the country!
  • Daytona Promenade, 1441 S. Nova Road (Mainland). Daytona Promenade is a 156,745 sq. ft. open air shopping center with a mix of national, regional, and local retailers, including Bright House Networks, Family Dollar Store, Jackson Hewitt Tax Service, Jo-Ann Fabrics, Planet Fitness, Wells Fargo Bank.
  • Downtown Daytona at Riverfront Marketplace, Beach Street (Mainland). A lovely group of shops, restaurants and museums that line Beach Street and the surrounding streets in downtown Daytona Beach. Some places to visit include Angell & Phelps Chocolate Factory, Mandala Books, Davidson Brothers Indian River Fruit and Daytona Harley Davidson.
  • Daytona Shopping Center (formerly Daytona Mall), 108 North Nova Road (Mainland). 224,000 sq. ft. shopping center, anchored by Aarons, Appliance Direct, Family Dollar, Jackson Hewitt, Save-a-Lot, and several local stores.
  • Holly Hill Shopping Center, 1523-1595 North Nova Road (Mainland). Holly Hill Shopping Center is a 116,096 sq. ft. shopping center, anchored by Family Dollar Store, Jackson Hewitt Tax Services, Papa Johns Pizza, Rent A Center, Winn Dixie Supermarket, and several local merchants.
  • Holly Hill Plaza, 852 North Nova Road (Mainland). Holly Hill Plaza is a 252,345 sq. ft. shopping center, anchored by Big Lots, CVS pharmacy, Dollar General, and several local merchants.
  • Masonova Commerce Park, 1023-1067 Mason Ave (Mainland). Masonova Commerce Park is a 158,667 sq. ft. shopping center, anchored by Haines & Smith Furniture and several local merchants.
  • Ocean Walk Shoppes, 250 N. Atlantic Ave (Beachside). Open-air shopping center, with 109,110 sq. ft. of retail space on three floors. Located in the heart of the beach area, offering a mix of national, regional, and local merchants.
  • The Shoppes at Beville, 1500 Beville Road (Mainland). The Shoppes at Beville, is a 100,000 sq. ft. shopping center with a strong mix of national, regional, and local merchants, anchored by Bank of America, Publix, Walgreens, Powerhouse Gym, and Tarafuku Restaurant.
  • Volusia Mall, 1700 W. International Speedway Blvd (Mainland). You simply can't miss this major regional mall with over 1 sq. mi. of retail space, anchored by Sears, JC Penny, Macy's, Dillards and over 160 other stores and a dozen of Food Court restaurants.
  • Volusia Point, 1808 W. International Speedway Blvd (Mainland). Volusia Point is a 75,386 sq. ft. shopping center with a mix of national, regional, and local retailers, including Cartridge World, Cycle Gear, H&R Block, Jersey Mike's Subs, Marshalls, Oreck Vacuums, Plato's Closet, Play It Again Sports, Ruby Tuesday, Smoothie King.
  • Volusia Square, 2455 W. International Speedway Blvd (Mainland). Volusia Square is a 228,139-square-foot shopping center consisting of a mix of national, regional and local tenants, including Hobby Lobby, HH Gregg, TJ Maxx, Dollar Tree, Bealls Outlet and Pier 1 Imports.

Gift shops

There are countless gift shops along the beach drive, Florida Route A1A (Atlantic Avenue) where you can buy souvenir shirts, beach wear, surfing gear, tacky gifts, etc.

Eat

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

  • Caribbean Jack's, 721 Ballough Rd. (Mainland), +1 386 523-3000. 11AM-10PM Daily. American, Caribbean, and Seafood Cuisine; Casual attire. Scenic dining on the Halifax River.
  • Chart House, 1100 Marina Point Drive (Mainland), +1 386 255-9022. 4:30PM-9:30PM. Steak and Seafood Cuisine; Scenic dining overlooking the Halifax River and Marina. Reservations accepted. Smart casual.
  • Chez Paul, 940 N Beach St. (Mainland; Riverfront Marketplace), +1 386 679-4040. Wed.-Sat., Dinner Only.. French & Italian Cuisine; Reservations accepted. Smart casual.
  • Gene's Steak House, 3674 W International Speedway Blvd. (Mainland; West of I-95), +1 386 255-2059. 5PM-10PM, Tu-Sa. Closed Su-Mo. American, Steakhouse Cuisine; Reservations accepted. Smart casual.
  • Teak Restaurant & Bar, 1010 Main St. (Beachside), +1 386 252-5502. Lunch & Dinner Daily. Italian Cuisine; Casual attire.
  • The Cellar Restaurant, 220 Magnolia Ave. (Mainland; Burgoyne Shopping Center), +1 386 258-0011. 5PM-10PM, Tu-Su; Closed Mondays. Italian Cuisine; Reservations recommended. Smart casual.
  • Vince Carter's, 2150 LPGA Boulevard (Mainland), +1 386 274-0015. 11AM-11PM Daily. American, Steakhouse Cuisine; Reservations accepted. Smart casual.

Drink

Pubs and Lounges

  • Oasis Tiki Bar & Grill, 313 South Atlantic Ave. (Inside Fountain Beach Resort), +1 386 255-1001. Offers food and drinks; smoking permitted at outside tiki bar.

Night Clubs

Sleep

Lodging around Daytona Beach generally is divided into three areas, Speedway, Beachside, and US-1. Hotels located on "International Speedway Boulevard" are close to the racetrack. Hotels located on "Atlantic Avenue" will be close to the beach. Hotels located on "Ridgewood Avenue" are on Route U.S.-1.

High Season in Daytona Beach runs generally from February through August. Low Season is from September through January. The best rates are usually found in December and January.

For additional lodging, see also: Daytona Beach Shores, Ormond Beach.

Budget

  • Bermuda House (formerly Howard Johnson), 2560 N. Atlantic Ave, +1 386 672-1440. Economy hotel on the beach, offering 143 rooms for lodging accommodations.

Mid-range

  • Americano Beach Resort, 1260 N Atlantic Ave, +1 386 255-7431. Spa, fitness center, sauna and game room. Offering Family, Corporate, Teacher, Medical, Hospitality and Group discount rates.
  • Harbour Beach Resort, 701 S Atlantic Ave. Is an oceanfront hotel. Accommodations offer kitchen and a private balcony. Most of the 159 units are rented out by their individual owners [2], while timeshare operator Westgate rents out the remaining 24.
  • Ocean Jewels Resort, 935 S Atlantic Ave, +1 386 252-2581, fax: +1 386 257-3608.

Splurge

  • 2 Courtyard Daytona Beach Speedway/Airport, 1605 Richard Petty Blvd, +1 386 255-3388, fax: +1 386 255-3391. Check-in: 3:00 PM, check-out: 12:00 PM. Offers free Wi-Fi throughout, multifunctional common areas, and complimentary airport shuttle service upon request. From $99.

Stay safe

Florida has a high occurrence of hurricanes. You might want to check the Hurricane safety page if you are visiting Florida. Beware of lightning in the central part of the state. New Smyrna Beach, located 20 minutes south of Daytona Beach is known for a high number of shark bites, so be careful when surfing and swimming. Always swim next to a lifeguard tower. Also, there is a high occurrence of tornadoes in Florida, so check the Tornado safety page.

Daytona Beach has varying crime intensity by neighborhood. In certain parts of the city it may not be safe to walk alone or even in small groups at night. Tourist areas rarely have violent crimes, but theft is an occasional occurrence. The 911 number for fire and police emergencies is in effect in Daytona Beach.

Connect

Seven digit dialing is in effect for local calls in the Daytona Beach area. The local area code is 386. For calls within the U.S. or Canada, dial "1+area code+number". There are some public pay phones scattered around the city, but they are becoming increasingly rare with the predominance of cell phones. It is not safe to assume you will be able to find a pay phone at any given time.

All ZIP codes in the city of Daytona Beach begin with 321.

Internet

It is common for many of the larger hotels and lodgings in the area to offer some sort of internet access for their guests.

Internet Cafes

  • Barnes & Noble Bookstore, 1900 W International Speedway Blvd, +1 386 238-1118. Charge for internet access.
  • Starbucks Coffee, 2429 N Atlantic Ave (Bellair Plaza), +1 386 672-1203. Free internet access for customers.

Public Libraries

Public libraries in the area offer free computer internet access to Volusia County residents. There is a small charge for non-residents.

  • City Island Library Center, cnr of International Speedway Blvd and Beach St, +1 386 257-6036 [3].

Cope

Newspapers

  • Daytona Beach News-Journal - Online edition of daily newspaper covering the Greater Daytona Beach Area. Publishes a GoDo section on Fridays, outlining cultural and social activities for the coming weekend.
  • Avion Online Newspaper - Student college publication of Embry-Riddle University in Daytona Beach.
  • Daytona Beach Pennysaver - Weekly publication with coupons and classified ads.

Radio Stations

There are about 20 radio stations located in Volusia County.

AM

  • WNDB, 1150 AM, Daytona Beach, News/Talk/Sports. Broadcasts live coverage of NASCAR races and other local sporting events.
  • WROD, 1340 AM, Daytona Beach, Standards
  • WMFJ, 1450 AM, Daytona Beach, Religious

FM

  • WCFB, 94.5 FM, Daytona Beach, Urban Adult Contemporary, "Star 94.5"
  • WJHM, 101.9 FM, Daytona Beach, Mainstream Urban, "102 Jamz"
  • WVYB, 103.3 FM, Daytona Beach, Top 40, "103.3 The Vyb"

Religious Services

  • Central Baptist Church, 142 Fairview Ave, Phone: +1 386 255-2588.
  • Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 201 University Blvd, Phone: +1 386 255-0433.
  • St. George Coptic Orthodox Church, 300 N Halifax Ave, Phone: +1 386 253-8180.
  • St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 129 N Halifax Ave, Phone: +1 386 252-6012.
  • St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 216 Orange Ave, Phone: +1 386 255-3669.
  • First Presbyterian Church, 620 S Grandview Ave, Phone: +1 386 253-4581.

Go next

  • Daytona Beach Shores - A quieter, small city located just South of Daytona Beach along the beach peninsula.
  • New Smyrna Beach - New Smyrna Beach lays claim to the best Florida offers - excellent backwater and offshore fishing, golf, historical sites, cultural events and eclectic shopping and dining experiences along historical Flagler Avenue and Canal Street.
  • Ormond Beach - Located at the North end of the Greater Daytona Beach area. Ormond Beach was once home to the Rockefellers and the Flaglers. Ormond Beach features attractions like the Casements and Tomoka State Park. Visitors seeking a quieter part of the beach can find it here. Beach driving is not allowed at the northern end of Ormond Beach.
  • Ponce Inlet - A scenic fishing village located the southern tip of the beach peninsula. Here you will find the historic Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, Marine Science Center, local charter fishing boats, along with several of the area's best seafood restaurants.
  • Port Orange - A quiet, but rapidly growing city just South of Daytona Beach on the mainland, where you can enjoy Golf and Tennis.
Routes through Daytona Beach
OrlandoDeLand  W  E  END
JacksonvilleOrmond Beach  N  S  Port OrangeWest Palm Beach
JacksonvilleOrmond Beach  N  S  Port OrangeWest Palm Beach
OrlandoDeLand  W  E  END
JacksonvilleOrmond Beach  N  S  Daytona Beach ShoresWest Palm Beach



This city travel guide to Daytona Beach is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.