Why Volusia?

Daytona Beach

Home to the Daytona Beach Pier, which the city calls one of its defining landmarks.

Ormond Beach

Called the "Birthplace of Speed" because the first U.S. speed tournaments were held on its beach starting in 1902–1903.

Ormond-by-the-Sea

A beachside area with parks and a beach with no cars, plus a stretch where dogs are allowed between Rockefeller Drive and Milsap Road.

Daytona Beach Shores

A barrier-island town with about 5.5 miles of beach.

New Smyrna Beach

An Atlantic coastal city at the south end of the county's beaches.

Lighthouse Point Park (Ponce Inlet)

A 52-acre county park on the north side of Ponce de Leon Inlet, with an 800-foot jetty deck, an observation tower and a beach where dogs are allowed.

Smyrna Dunes Park (New Smyrna Beach)

A 184-acre park on the south side of Ponce de Leon Inlet, with more than 2 miles of raised boardwalk.

Beach driving

Allowed only in marked areas. The 10 mph speed limit is strictly enforced, and cars must stay seaward of the conservation zone markers.

Beach access fees

Residents get a free yearly pass after registering with ParkVolusia. Visitors pay $30 a day or $150 a year for beach driving. Off-beach lots are $20 a day or $100 a year (the county has more than 60 lots).

The county runs 14 beachfront parks and 2 inlet parks.

Blue Spring State Park (Orange City)

A 72-degree spring on the St. Johns River where manatees spend the winter. A record 729 were counted in 2023. Swimming season runs April 1 to November 14.

De Leon Springs State Park

A spring-fed swimming area 18 inches to 30 feet deep, about 6,000 years of human history, and the Old Sugar Mill Pancake House.

Tomoka State Park (Ormond Beach)

River lagoons for paddling and fishing, more than 160 bird species, campsites, and the site of the Timucuan village of Nocoroco.

Hontoon Island State Park (near DeLand)

A 1,650-acre island on the St. Johns River that you reach only by private boat or the park ferry. It has cabins and nature trails.

Canaveral National Seashore, Apollo Beach district (New Smyrna Beach)

The seashore's northern entrance, with the Apollo Visitor Center at 7611 S. Atlantic Ave. The full seashore has 24 miles of beach.

Eldora State House (Canaveral National Seashore)

An early 1900s homestead on Mosquito Lagoon.

Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge (De Leon Springs)

About 21,574 acres of marsh, swamp and hammock, set up in 1964, with about 15 miles of trails.

Gemini Springs Park (DeBary)

A 212-acre county park with two springs, a fishing pier, a dog park, a canoe launch and primitive camping. Swimming is currently not allowed.

Spring-to-Spring Trail

A paved trail planned to run 26 miles from Gemini Springs to De Leon Springs. Nearly 15 miles are finished.

East Central Regional Rail Trail

About 52 miles from Deltona (Green Springs Park) to Edgewater, plus a 10-mile leg toward Titusville.

Lyonia Preserve and Environmental Center (Deltona)

A county nature preserve and education center at 2150 Eustace Ave.

DAYTONA 500 (February)

The 69th running is February 21, 2027, at Daytona International Speedway.

Rolex 24 At DAYTONA (late January)

A 24-hour endurance race, January 28–31, 2027.

Bike Week (March)

The 86th Bike Week runs March 5–14, 2027.

Biketoberfest (October)

Held countywide. The 2026 event starts October 15.

Magic of Lights (November–January)

A holiday light show you drive through at the Speedway.

Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse & Museum

The tallest lighthouse in Florida (175 feet), first lit in 1887. It is a National Historic Landmark you can climb.

Museum of Arts & Sciences (Daytona Beach)

Includes the Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art, the Root Family Museum, a children's museum and a planetarium.

Marine Science Center (Ponce Inlet)

A county center with a sea turtle hospital, a seabird sanctuary, exhibits and a nature trail.

DeBary Hall Historic Site

Built in 1871 as Frederick deBary's winter home on the St. Johns River. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and offers tours.

Downtown DeLand

One of the first five Florida Main Street communities (1985), and the only community in the country to win both national Main Street awards.

Birthplace of Speed Park (Ormond Beach)

Has a replica of the 1904 Ormond Garage. It was dedicated in 2013.

Halifax Art Festival (November)

Held at the Riverfront Arts District in Daytona Beach. The 2026 festival is November 7.

Daytona Beach

On the Halifax River and the ocean. It was founded in 1870, incorporated in 1876 and named for founder Matthias D. Day.

Daytona Beach Shores

A barrier-island town south of Daytona Beach with about 5.5 miles of beach, hotels and restaurants.

Ormond Beach

An oceanfront city known as the "Birthplace of Speed." Its early visitors included Henry Flagler and John D. Rockefeller.

Holly Hill

A city on the Halifax River with riverfront parks, boat ramps and fishing piers along Riverside Drive, plus the Pictona pickleball complex.

South Daytona

On the mainland just south of Daytona Beach, between U.S. 1 and the Intracoastal Waterway. It has nine parks and an ice skating arena.

Port Orange

On the Halifax River, linked to the beach by the Dunlawton Bridge. It is home to Sugar Mill Botanical Gardens.

Ponce Inlet

A town at the inlet with waterfront restaurants, charter fishing, the Marine Science Center and Florida's tallest lighthouse.

New Smyrna Beach

Settled in 1768 by Dr. Andrew Turnbull's colony. Its Turnbull Canal System is on the National Register of Historic Places, and Canal Street is the historic business district.

Edgewater

On the Indian River, next to Mosquito Lagoon. It is the east end of the East Central Regional Rail Trail.

Oak Hill

Volusia's southernmost city, bordering Canaveral National Seashore and Mosquito Lagoon.

DeLand

The county seat, home of Stetson University and an award-winning historic downtown.

Orange City

A shopping and business center in southwest Volusia, and home to Blue Spring State Park and AdventHealth Fish Memorial.

DeBary

Has 12 parks, access to regional trails, the DeBary Hall Historic Site and a SunRail station.

Deltona

The largest city in Volusia County. It is a Florida Greenways & Trails "Trail Town," with a trail hub along Lake Monroe.

Lake Helen

Founded in 1880, with many Victorian-era homes built before 1900 and six parks.

Pierson

A small rural town in northwest Volusia known as the "Fern Capital of the World."

Latitude Margaritaville Daytona Beach

A 55+ active adult community by Minto Communities near LPGA Boulevard and I-95 in Daytona Beach, with 3,763 homes; the developer reports it is sold out, so homes there now come up as resales.