Purple and Orange Starfish on the Beach
photo by Mark Walz

Daytona Beach is a city located 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

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 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 March 8, 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 and a heat index often exceeding 100°f. 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 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.

Getting there

By plane

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

Orlando-Sanford International Airport (IATA : SFB) is located about 30 miles west of the city in Sanford. Several flights from the United Kingdom, including those from Belfast in Northern Ireland, land here. If you are flying Allegiant Air from within the US 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 — locals typically refer to this route by saying “on beachside.”

By bus

Daytona Beach is served by Greyhound Bus Lines, which has a terminal located at 138 South Ridgewood Avenue (US-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 located in Sanford (Florida), about 35 miles west of Daytona Beach. 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

  • Daytona-Orlando Airport Shuttle , 1-386-947-9947, 665 Beville Road

  • Daytona-Orlando Transit Service , 1-386-257-5411, 1034 N. Nova Road

Traveling 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. 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. Car Rental Companies include:

  • Alamo Rent A Car , 1-800-462-5266

  • Avis Rent A Car , 1-800-331-1212

  • Budget Rent A Car , 1-800-527-0700

  • Dollar Rent A Car , 1-800-800-3665

  • Enterprise Rent-A-Car , 1-800-261-7331

  • Hertz Car Rental , 1-800-654-3131

  • National Car Rental , 1-888-868-6206

  • Thrifty , 1-800-847-4389

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. You should reserve one well in advance of the major biker rallies.

  • Daytona Harley Davidson, 1-386-253-2453 url=, 290 North Beach Street

By bus

  • VOTRAN is the name of the Volusia County bus service. 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.

  • A1A Beachside Trolley operates from January to Labor Day (September) along Atlantic Avenue on the beachside. They are air-conditioned and handicapped accessible.

Transfer Stations

  • Transfer Plaza, Bethune Boulevard and North Palmetto Avenue.

  • Intermodal Transit Facility (inside Volusia County Parking Garage), 701 Earl Street at North Atlantic Avenue.

Taxi and Limosine

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:

  • Yellow Cab , 1-386-255-5555

  • Southern Komfort Taxi , 1-386-252-2222

  • All Florida Cab , 1-386-254-3400

  • Beach Taxi, 1-386-441-7777

  • Daytona Limos , 1-800-296-1990

See

Arts

  • Seaside Music Theater , 1-386-226-1888, 221 N. Beach Street A great place to catch a play or musical, it has been a part of Daytona Beach for 30 years.

  • Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center and Visual Arts Gallery , 1-386-481-2465, 698 W. International Speedway Boulevard Offers performances of Broadway musicals, operas, and symphonies.

  • News-Journal Center , 1-386-226-1888, 221 N. Beach Street

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

  • Daytona Beach Bandshell , 1-386-671-8250, Earl Street Live performances on a beachside stadium.

Museums

  • Museum of Arts and Sciences , 1-386-255-0285, 352 S. Nova Road 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 , 1-386-255-6976, 252 S. Beach Street 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 , 1-386-506-4475, 1200 W. International Speedway Boulevard 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 Avenue 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. Open sunrise to sunset. No fee.

  • Robert Strickland Shooting Range (County), 1-386-226-0477, 9:00AM to 5:00PM Tuesday-Sunday, 1180 Indian Lake Road 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.

  • Bethune Point Park , 11 Bellevue Avenue

  • 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

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 Cubs , 1-386-257-3172, E. Orange Avenue The Chicago Cubs' affiliate in the Florida State League plays at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

  • Daytona Beach Thunder - Local affiliate team of the World Indoor Football League plays at The Ocean Center .

  • 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.

Things to do

Major Attractions

Daytona International Speedway

2009 Event Schedule:

  • Pre-season Thunder - Jan. 16-17, 2009

  • Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona - Jan. 22-24, 2009

  • Speedweek - Feb. 9-17, 2009

  • 51st Annual Daytona 500 - Feb. 17, 2009

  • Kickstand City/Bike Week - Feb. 27-Mar. 8, 2009

  • Spring Car Swap - Mar. 30-Apr. 2, 2009

  • Coke Zero 400 - Jul. 4, 2009

  • Fall Cycle Scene/Biketoberfest - Oct. 15-18, 2009

  • Turkey Run Car Show & Swap Meet - Nov. 25-28, 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 , 1-800-PIT-SHOP, 1801 W. International Speedway Boulevard 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. A complete fan guide is downloadable. 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.

Other Events:

  • Daytona 200 - A series of motorcycle races (AMA Superbike and AMA Formula Xtreme), sanctioned by the 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 , 1-386-947-6530, 1801 W. International Speedway Boulevard 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 , 1-386-252-6484, 960 S. Williamson Boulevard 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 , 1-386-254-5020, 601 Earl Street 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

  • 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, 1-386-238-5252, 250 N. Atlantic Avenue (Ocean Walk Shoppes)

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, 1-386-226-2343, 401 S. Beach Street 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, 1-386-254-4610, 250 N. Beach Street 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.

  • Daytona Beach City Golf Course, 1-386-258-3119, 600 Wilder Boulevard Two 18-hole courses, North and South.

  • Golf Club At Cypress Head, 1-386-756-5449, 6231 Palm Vista Street

  • Indigo Lakes Golf Club, 1-386-254-3607, 312 Indigo Drive

  • LPGA International Golf Course, 1-386-274-5742, 1030 Champions Drive

  • Pelican Bay Country Club, 1-386-322-7862, 550 Sea Duck Drive

  • Spruce Creek Country Club, 1-386-756-6116, 1900 Country Club Drive

Tennis

  • City Island Tennis Complex, 1-386-257-0755, 115 E. Orange Avenue (City Island Park) Features Six hard tennis courts. Call to reserve.

  • USTA Florida , 1-386-671-8900, 1 Deuce Court Features 24 clay courts. Call for times and fees.

Venues

  • Ocean Center, 1-386-254-4500 url=, 101 N. Atlantic Avenue 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 , 1-386-947-6530, 1801 W. International Speedway Boulevard In addition to hosting major sporting events throughout the year, Daytona International Speedway hosts many corporate parties, conventions and meetings.

Eat

Budget

  • Dancing Avocado Kitchen, 1-386-947-2022, 110 S. Beach Street Mon - Sat, 8AM - 4PM. Vegetarian cuisine.

  • Earl Street Grill, 1-386-239-8781, 715 Earl Street American cuisine.

  • Gateway Restaurant, 1-386-252-1262, Peninsula Drive at ISB Cafe.

Mid-range

  • Angell and Phelps Cafe , 1-386-252-6531, 154 S. Beach Street Cafe. Chocolate Factory tours Monday-Friday.

  • Bubba Gump's , 1-386-947-8433, 250 N. Atlantic Avenue

  • Genes Steak House, 1-386-255-2059, 3674 W. International Speedway Boulevard Steaks.

  • Neelam Indian Cuisine , 1-386-238-1022, 318 S. Atlantic Avenue Indian cuisine.

  • Pasha Middle East Foods, 1-386-257-7753, 919 W. International Speedway Boulevard Middle Eastern cuisine.

  • Sapporo Japanese Steakhouse , 1-386-257-4477, 501 Seabreeze Blvd Japanese cuisine.

Splurge

  • Anna's Italian Restaurant, 1-386-239-9624, 304 Seabreeze Boulevard Italian cuisine.

  • Carrabbas Italian Grill, 1-386-255-334, 2200 W. International Speedway Boulevard Italian cuisine.

  • Chart House, 1-386-255-9022, 1100 Marina Point Drive Overlooking the Marina, this seafood and steak restaurant offers stunning views to match the delicious entrees.

Drink

Pubs and Lounges

  • Daytona Ale House, 1-386-255-2555, 2610 W. International Speedway Boulevard Near the Speedway and the I-95 exit, this Florida chain offers a huge variety of drinks, food and billiard tables in a relaxing environment.

  • Oyster Pub , 1-386-255-6348, 555 Seabreeze Boulevard Popular sports bar.

  • McK's Tavern , 1-386-238-3321, 218 S. Beach Street

  • Tir Na Nog, 1-386-252-8662 url=, 612 E. International Speedway Boulevard Live music and Irish pub atmosphere.

Night Clubs

  • Ocean Deck , 127 S. Ocean Avenue phone= Daytona Beach's only oceanfront, live Reggae night club. Featuring great seafood, live Reggae music and dancing every night of the week.

  • Razzle's Night Club , 1-386-257-6236, 611 Seabreeze Boulevard Dance club popular with college kids and Spring Breakers.

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 US-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

  • Conch House, 700 North Atlantic Ave. Phone: +1 386 255-3411, Toll Free: +1-800 584-3017 . 80 rooms.

  • Lou-Ray Motel , 400 South Atlantic Ave., Phone: (386) 253-7202. Economical, two story property offers 14 rooms for lodging.

  • Royal Beach Motel, 1601 South Atlantic Ave., Phone: +1 386 255-8341 . 46 rooms.

  • Saxony Inn 35 South Ocean Avenue, Phone: +1 386 252-4703, Toll Free: +1 800 584-3017 . 27 rooms.

  • Seaside Inn, 500 N. Atlantic Avenue, Phone: (386) 253-2562 . 97 rooms.

  • Suburban Extended Stay, 220 Bill France Blvd, Phone: (386) 274-4200 . 135 rooms.

Mid-range

  • Americano Beach Resort, 1260 N. Atlantic Ave. Phone: (386) 255-7431, . Spa, fitness center, sauna and game room. Offering Family, Corporate, Teacher, Medical, Hospitality and Group discount rates.

  • Boardwalk Inn & Suites, 301 South Atlantic Ave., +1 386 253-8300, Fax: +1 386 255-8277, . 101 Rooms.

  • Courtyard Daytona Beach, 1605 Richard Petty Blvd., +1 386 255-3388, Fax: +1 386 255-3391, .

  • Daytona Inn Beach Resort, 219 South Atlantic Ave., +1 386 252-3626, Fax: +1 386 255-3680, .

  • Desert Inn, 900 North Atlantic Ave. +1 386 258-6555. Offers pool, restaurant, and lounge.

  • Fountain Beach Resort, 313 South Atlantic Ave., +1 386 255-7491, Fax: +1 386 255-6667, . 129 rooms.

  • Harbour Beach Resort, 701 South 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 , while timeshare operator Westgate rents out the remaining 24.

  • Holiday Inn Express Daytona Speedway, 2620 W. Int'l Speedway Boulevard, +1 386 258-6333, .

  • Ramada Inn Speedway, 1798 W. International Speedway Blvd., +1 800 272-6232, .

  • Ocean Jewels Resort, 935 South Atlantic Avenue, +1 386 252-2581, Fax: +1 386 257-3608, .

Splurge

  • Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort (formerly the Adams Mark), 100 North Atlantic Ave., +1 386 254-8200, . 724 rooms.

  • Plaza Resort and Spa, 600 North Atlantic Ave., +1 386 255-4471, . 313 rooms.

  • Wyndham Ocean Walk Resort, 300 North Atlantic Ave., +1 386 323-4800, .

Buy

ATMs can be found throughout Daytona Beach. Usually larger hotels and convenience stores will have a "generic" ATM machine available; however, be forewarned about hidden service fees.

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:

  • Volusia Mall , 1700 W. International Speedway Boulevard 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. Located on International Speedway Boulevard across from the airport.

  • Bellair Plaza , 2500 N. Atlantic Avenue Bellair Plaza is on the west side of North Atlantic Avenue (A1A). Bellair is anchored by Bealls, Publix, Ruby Tuesday, and Walgreens.

  • Ocean Walk Shoppes , 250 N. Atlantic Avenue Open-air shopping center, located in the heart of the beach area.

  • Daytona Beach Flea Market , 2987 Bellevue Avenue Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the flea market opens its stalls to sell anything and everything including jewelry, produce, clothing, sports equipment and toys. Free parking and free admission. This is a must-see: one of the largest and most highly rated flea markets in the country!

  • Riverfront Marketplace is a lovely group of shops, restaurants and museums that lines Beach Street and the few streets surrounding in downtown Daytona Beach. Across the street is the Saturday Farmer's Market on City Island (next to the public library), the oldest of its kind in Florida. Some places to check out include Angell & Phelps Chocolate Factory, Mandala Books, Davidson Brothers Indian River Fruit and Daytona Harley Davidson.

  • Belnova Plaza

  • Daytona Mall

  • Nova Village Market

  • Pelican Bay Shopping Village

  • Promenade Shopping Center

  • Shops at Beville

  • Volusia Point Center

  • Volusia Square Shopping Center

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.

  • Maui Nix Surf Shop . Multiple locations along Atlantic Avenue (A1A).

  • Salty Dog Surf Shop . Multiple locations in Daytona Beach.

  • Big Shark Gift Shop , 2715 North Atlantic Avenue.

Safety

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.

Learn

Colleges and Universities

  • Bethune-Cookman University

  • Daytona State College

  • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

  • Keiser College

  • University of Central Florida, Daytona Beach Campus

Vocational

  • The Airline Academy - Offers flight training for pilots and other airline professionals.

  • WyoTech (formerly AMI) Offers automotive repair, motorcycle repair, and marine repair training.

  • Phoenix East Aviation - Offers flight training for pilots.

  • Keiser College

Contact

Seven digit dialing is in effect for local calls in the Daytona Beach area. The local area code is 386. For calls within the US 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.

Agencies

  • The Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau , 1-386-255-0415, 126 E. Orange Avenue The official sales and marketing organization for Daytona Beach and surrounding area. The CVB maintains information centers at Daytona International Speedway and Bruce Rossmeyer's Harley Davidson Dealership.

  • Daytona Beach Chamber of Commerce , 1-386-255-0981, 126 E. Orange Avenue Clearinghouse for local information about Daytona Beach.

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 North 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, Corner of International Speedway Blvd. and Beach Street, +1 386 257-6036 .

  • Cornelia Young Library, 302 Vermont Ave. and Peninsula Drive, +1 386 239-6436.

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"

Churches

  • Central Baptist Church, 142 Fairview Avenue. 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 North Halifax Avenue. Phone: +1 386 253-8180.

  • St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 129 North Halifax Avenue. Phone: +1 386 252-6012.

  • St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 216 Orange Avenue. Phone: +1 386 255-3669.

  • First Presbyterian Church, 620 South Grandview Avenue. Phone: +1 386 253-4581.

  • Riverside Presbyterian Church, 801 North Halifax Avenue. Phone: +1 386 253-7884.

  • 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.

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Ryan Holliday, Dom Di Geronimo, Eco84, Dale Arnett, George Miziuk, Peter Fitzgerald, Roxie O., Annie Bond, Stefan Ertmann, Open Hospitality, Nick Roux, David, Michelle Herrin, Jon Zolsky, Stacy Hall, Amy Kammerman, beeracuda@yahoo.com, Andrew Haggard, Colin Jensen, Josh, Paul and Evan Prodromou, Burmesedays, Volksvision, Biggie54, Inas, Tatatabot, AHeneen, Texugo and Episteme

This travel guide also includes text from Wikipedia articles, all available at WikipediaView full credits

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