Daytona Beach, FL Road Trips

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. 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. The city of Daytona Beach sits on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean and is split in two by the Halifax River.

1 Daytona Beach Bandshell, Earl St, ☏ +1 386 671-8250. Live performances on a beachside stadium. 2 Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center and Visual Arts Gallery, 698 W International Speedway Blvd, ☏ +1 386 481-2710. Offers performances of Broadway musicals, operas, and symphonies. 3 DSC’s News-Journal Center, 221 N Beach St, ☏ +1 386 226-1927. Musical and theatrical performances venue. 4 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. 5 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. 6 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. 7 Southeast Museum of Photography, 1200 W International Speedway Blvd, ☏ +1 386 506-4475.

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." 1 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. Lucas Oil 200 - 200-mile stock car race, sponsored by the Automobile Racing Club of America.

Cruisin Cafe Bar & Grill, 2 S Atlantic Ave (Beachside), ☏ +1 386 253-5522. Lunch & dinner daily. American cuisine (burgers). Casual attire. Atmosphere and decor with racing theme. Dancing Avocado Kitchen, 110 S Beach St. (Mainland; Riverfront Marketplace), ☏ +1 386 947-2022. M-Sa 8AM-4PM. Vegetarian cuisine. Casual attire. 1 Health Tree Cafe, 715 Earl St (Beachside), ☏ +1 386 281-3257. Daily 7AM-7PM. Very healthy. Pho Saigon, 312 S Peninsula Dr (Beachside), ☏ +1 386 257-4650. Daily 11AM-9PM. Vietnamese cuisine. Casual attire. 2 Starlite Diner, 401 N Atlantic Ave (Beachside), ☏ +1 386 301-5796. Daily 7AM-10PM. American Cuisine. Casual attire. Angell and Phelps Cafe, 154 S Beach St, ☏ +1 386 252-6531. Cafe. Chocolate factory tours M-F. Pasha Middle East Foods, 919 W International Speedway Blvd, ☏ +1 386 257-7753. Middle Eastern cuisine. Zen Bistro, 112 Bay Street, Daytona Beach, ☏ +1 386 248-3071. 3 LandShark Bar & Grill, 471 S. Atlantic Ave, ☏ +1 386-256-1248. Su - Th 11AM-midnight, F Sa 11AM-2AM. Beachfront restaurant and bar with live music venues $11-30. (updated Feb 2018) 4 Anna's Trattoria Italian, 304 Seabreeze Blvd (Beachside), ☏ +1 386 239-9624. Italian cuisine; reservations accepted. Smart casual. 5 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. 6 Chart House, 1100 Marina Point Drive (Mainland), ☏ +1 386 255-9022. 4:30-9:30PM.

1 Boot Hill Saloon, 310 Main St, ☏ +1 386 258-9506. Biker bar. Crook’s Den, 561 Beville Rd., South Daytona. Neighborhood bar with lovely staff and inexpensive prices year round. Full liquor, cold draft and beer selections and great service. Play pool, darts, ping pong and jukebox. (updated Aug 2020) Dirty Harry's Pub, 705 Main St., ☏ +1 386 252-9877. Biker bar. 2 Froggy's Saloon, 800 Main St, ☏ +1 386 253-0330. Biker bar. 3 Main Street Station, 316 Main St, ☏ +1 386-270-8364. Biker bar. 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. 4 Oyster Pub, 555 Seabreeze Blvd, ☏ +1 386 255-6348. Popular sports bar. 5 McK's Tavern, 218 South Beach St, ☏ +1 386 238-3321. Popular neighborhood tavern. 6 Robbie O'Connell's Pub, 550 Seabreeze Blvd, ☏ +1 386 252-6003. Irish pub with darts, shuffleboard. Smoking permitted. 7 The Lucky Rooster Pub & Eatery, 821 Main Street, ☏ +1 618-644-2769. Pub and restaurant on Main Street. Tir Na Nog, 612 E. International Speedway Blvd., ☏ +1 386 252-8662. Irish pub with live music. 8 Bank & Blues Club, 701 Main St, ☏ +1 386-252-9877. Dance club, featuring Blues and Rock music. Bonkerz Comedy Club, 2500 N Atlantic Ave (Inside Hilton), ☏ +1 407-629-2665. Comedy club for adults. Daytona Diamond Dolls, 301 Madison Ave, ☏ +1 386 255-3655, [email protected]. Noon-2AM. Gentleman's club (updated Nov 2024) Lollipops Lounge, 643 North Grandview Ave., ☏ +1 386 254-7800.

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. Best Western International Speedway Hotel, 2620 W International Speedway Blvd, ☏ +1 386 258-6333. Pool with fountain. $70 (Mar 2022). 1 Fountain Beach Resort, 313 S Atlantic Ave, ☏ +1 386 255-7491, fax: +1 386 255-6667. Art deco design, with an oceanfront pool. $87 (Mar 2022). Quality Inn Daytona Beach Oceanfront, 700 N Atlantic Ave, ☏ +1 386 262-1102, toll-free: +1-800-584-3017. Complimentary breakfast, ocean view. $91. Holiday Inn Express Daytona Beach - Speedway, 90 Professional Blvd, ☏ +1 386 944-1100. Bit underwhelming pool but otherwise pretty functional. $118. Holiday Inn Daytona Beach LPGA Blvd., 137 Automall Circle, ☏ +1 386 944-5988, [email protected]. $121 (Mar 2022). 2 Residence Inn Daytona Beach Speedway/Airport, 1725 Richard Petty Blvd, ☏ +1 386 252-3949, toll-free: +1-800-604-5948, fax: +1 386 252-2725. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. This extended stay hotel offers free Wi-Fi, complimentary breakfast, and free airport shuttle. From $116 (Mar 2022).

1 Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB IATA), 700 Catalina Dr (located adjacent to the Daytona Speedway along US Hwy 92 (W International Speedway Blvd), 4 mi (6.4 km) west of downtown Daytona Beach. It is accessed via US Hwy 92 from I-95 at Exit #260C.). Served by: American Airlines and PSA Airlines dba American Eagle (Charlotte (CLT). Seasonally from Dallas/Fort Worth, Philadelphia, Washington–National) Avelo : (New Haven, CT (HVN); Wilmington, DE (ILG)) Delta (Atlanta (ATL)) The next nearest airport for Allegiant Air, TUI (from the UK) and Sun Country is at Melbourne-Orlando International Airport (MLB IATA) 91 mi (146 km) south, in the city in Melbourne (I-95 to Ellis Rd at exit 182). Allegiant Air services both Melbourne (MLB) and Sanford (SFB). Nearest airport for additional airlines from the U.S., Canada, Caribbean, Europe and Latin America is Orlando International Airport (MCO IATA) (73 mi (117 km) west, along I-4, SR-417 & SR-528) and only from all over the U.S. to Jacksonville International Airport (JAX IATA) (104 mi (167 km) north on I-95 to Airport Rd at Exit 363B). 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. 2 Greyhound, Flixbus, (bus station) 138 S Ridgewood Ave (US-1) (SW of Ridgewood Ave (US-1) and International Speedway (US-92), closer to S Magnolia Ave), ☏ +1 386 255-7076, toll-free: +1 800 231-2222.

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. 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. Indian Motorcycle Daytona Beach, 290 North Beach St, ☏ +1 386 275-1660. 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. $1.75 for One-Way Fare, $3.75 for Day Pass.

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.