Daytona Beach
Around Daytona Beach
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Metro area · Florida · 739k people
Daytona Beach
Locals say Daytona Beach area · “Fun Coast”, “World Center of Racing”
Deltona · Daytona Beach · Ormond Beach · DeLand
Where the ocean meets the speedway
Sunset OrangeOcean BlueSand Gold
Welcome to Daytona Beach, where the ocean meets the speedway. Whether you're here for the waves, the races, or just the laid-back vibe, you'll find your people. Grab a grouper sandwich and enjoy the salt air.
Clubs for Daytona Beach
No clubs for Daytona Beach yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Daytona Beach. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Daytona Beach. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Daytona International Speedway Home of the Daytona 500 and iconic banked turns.
- Daytona Beach Boardwalk Pier, arcade, and beachfront promenade.
- Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse Tallest lighthouse in Florida, with museum and views.
- Blue Spring State Park Winter home to hundreds of manatees.
- Tomoka State Park Oaks, river trails, and Timucuan history.
- DeLeon Springs State Park Natural spring with a historic sugar mill.
- Outdoors Swim at Daytona Beach
- Outdoors Kayak on the Halifax River
- With kids Swim at Daytona Beach
- With kids Visit the Museum of Arts and Sciences
- Evenings Live music on the Boardwalk
- Evenings Beach Street bars in Daytona
- Locals love Beachfront bars
- Locals love Surf shops
Through the year
- Daytona 500 February NASCAR's biggest race at Daytona International Speedway.
- Bike Week March Massive motorcycle rally with rides, shows, and beach cruising.
- Biketoberfest October Fall motorcycle rally with fewer crowds and cooler weather.
- Halifax Art Festival November Juried fine arts show along the Halifax River.
- DeLand Downtown Art Festival March Art and music in historic DeLand's streets.
Subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild, pleasant winters. Best time to be out is fall and spring. Best: Fall and spring are ideal – warm, less humid, and fewer crowds.
Talk like a local
- “NSB”
- New Smyrna Beach
- “the beachside”
- The barrier island side of the Halifax River, where the beaches are
- “the mainland”
- The western side of the Halifax River, the non-beach part of town
- “Volusia”
- Volusia County, the county that includes Daytona Beach and DeLand
Getaways
- Orlando theme parks Disney, Universal, and more in the theme park capital.
- Ocala's springs and horse farms Crystal-clear springs and rolling horse country.
- Palatka's historic riverfront Quaint downtown along the St. Johns River.
- Gainesville's college vibe UF campus, museums, and nature trails.
Local flavour
Teams
- Bethune-Cookman Wildcats NCAA Division I (FCS)
- Stetson Hatters NCAA Division I (non-football)
- Daytona Tortugas Florida State League (High-A)
Eat and drink
- Grouper sandwich Fresh catch from local waters
- Shrimp Gulf and Atlantic shrimp
- Key lime pie Florida classic
- Florida orange juice Citrus from the Sunshine State
Where people go
- Beaches Wide, hard-packed sand for driving and sunbathing
- Boardwalks Classic seaside amusement piers
- Racing venues Daytona International Speedway, the World Center of Racing
- Lighthouses Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse and others
- Natural springs Freshwater springs in the area
Heritage and traditions
This region is proud of its beach culture, motorsports heritage, and the blend of old Florida charm with modern attractions. It also celebrates the legacy of Mary McLeod Bethune and the African-American community that shaped Daytona Beach.
This time of year in Daytona Beach
- Fall shrimp festival October New Smyrna Beach's celebration of shrimp and seafood
- New Smyrna Beach Shrimp and Seafood Festival October Celebrates the area's seafood with shrimp dishes, live music, and crafts
Say it like a local: “fixin' to” — about to
Festivals
- Daytona Beach Greek Festival Spring Greek food, music, and dancing at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church
- New Smyrna Beach Shrimp and Seafood Festival October Celebrates the area's seafood with shrimp dishes, live music, and crafts
- DeLand Sunflower Festival Spring Features sunflower fields, art vendors, and family activities
- Ormond Beach Celtic Festival March Celtic music, dance, and heritage in Ormond Beach
- New Smyrna Beach Jazz Festival August Weekend of jazz performances at various venues
Landmarks with a story
- Mary McLeod Bethune Home National Historic Landmark, home of the civil rights leader and founder of Bethune-Cookman University.
- The Casements John D. Rockefeller's winter home in Ormond Beach, now a cultural center.
- Bulow Plantation Ruins Remains of a 19th-century sugar plantation in Flagler County.
- Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens Ruins of a sugar mill in a botanical garden in Port Orange.
- Athens Theatre Restored 1920s theatre in DeLand hosting plays and concerts.
- St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church Center of the Greek community and host of the Greek Festival.
Food traditions
- Greek festival food Gyros, baklava, and lamb dishes from the Greek community, especially during the Greek Festival.
- Puerto Rican cuisine Pernil, mofongo, and rice with beans from the large Puerto Rican population in Deltona.
- Fish camp dinners Fried fish, hushpuppies, and coleslaw at local fish camps along the Halifax River.
- Boiled peanuts A Southern snack sold at roadside stands, often seasoned with cajun spices.
- Swamp cabbage Hearts of palm, a historic Florida cracker food, often served sautéed or in salads.
Music and arts
- Bethune-Cookman University Marching Wildcats Renowned marching band known for its energy and precision.
- New Smyrna Beach artists' colony Community of painters and sculptors, with galleries along Canal Street.
- Athens Theatre Historic venue in DeLand for plays, musicals, and concerts.
- Surf music scene Influenced by the beach culture, with local bands playing surf rock.
A little history
- 1870s Founding of Daytona Beach as a resort town
- 1902 First automobile race on the beach, starting the area's racing heritage
- 1904 Mary McLeod Bethune opens a school for African-American girls, which becomes Bethune-Cookman University
- 1946 Jackie Robinson plays spring training at City Island Ballpark, breaking baseball's color barrier
- 1959 Daytona International Speedway opens, hosting the first Daytona 500
Rivalries
- Bethune-Cookman vs Stetson College athletics rivalry between Daytona Beach and DeLand.
- Daytona Beach vs New Smyrna Beach Beach town rivalry over surf spots and local pride.
- Game day Tailgating at Daytona International Speedway
- Game day Rolex 24 endurance race
- Outdoors Paddleboarding on the Halifax River
- Outdoors Fishing from the Sunglow Pier
- With kids Riding the carousel at the boardwalk
- With kids Mini golf
People here speak with a mild Southern accent, but you'll also hear many Northern transplants and a growing Spanish-speaking population. Common phrases include 'y'all,' 'fixin' to,' and 'the beach' meaning Daytona Beach.
Only here
- The World's Most Famous Beach nickname and the ability to drive a car on the sand.
- The manatee migration at Blue Spring is a winter spectacle you can see up close.
- Deltona has one of the largest Puerto Rican communities in Florida, bringing vibrant cultural events.
- The Greek Festival at St. Demetrios is a beloved community tradition with authentic food and dancing.
New here? A few tips
- Prepare for hot, humid summers and mild winters; hurricane season runs June-November.
- Traffic on I-95 can be heavy during races and events, so plan extra time.
- Learn to pronounce DeLand (duh-LAND), Ormond (OR-mund), Ponce de Leon (ponce duh LEE-on), and Halifax (HAL-uh-fax).
- Try the local seafood, especially grouper and shrimp, and visit a fish camp for the authentic experience.
- Visit the natural springs to cool off—they're 72 degrees year-round.
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Part of Orlando area
Nearby
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Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.