Located halfway down the Atlantic side of the Florida coast, not far from Orlando, Daytona Beach is best known for its contribution to motor racing, through the Daytona International Speedway, and for its drivable Daytona Beach.
Daytona Beach is the most famous beach in the US, a 38-kilometre stretch of white sand which can be driven on in places during low tide. It is still the main attraction here, despite the ever present appeal of the downtown area and obvious attraction of the motor racing circuit. New Smyrna Beach is also very popular and the swimming, bathing and activities available on both are excellent.
The other major attraction is the Daytona International Speedway, which features the world-famous Daytona 500 (500-mile [800-kilometre], 200-lap race) and NASCAR racing. The allure of this massive oval circuit is quite overwhelming, even for those who do not care much for racing, while the neighbouring Daytona USA tells the story of racing here with its fancy IMAX theatre.
Other racing-oriented attractions in town include the Klassix Auto Museum and the Halifax Historical Museum, featuring interesting racing memorabilia and race cars. Another popular museum in Daytona perfect for kids is the Museum of Art and Science, while Sun Splash Park and the Oceanfront Park are also sure to keep the little ones happy.
The metro area of Daytona Beach is also coming of age. There are all sorts of activities and wonderful places to have a walk, with the bustling Main Pier on Main street, the Oceanfront Boardwalk, and South Atlantic Avenue all popular thoroughfares. In addition, shopping, eating and drinking opportunities in Daytona abound, while water sports, golfing and fishing are equally popular.
Those who visit Daytona Beach usually end up seeing other places in Florida, and with Orlando close by, the likes of Walt Disneyworld, Universal Studios, the Epcot Centre, Wet 'n’ Wild, Sea World, and MGM Studios are well within reach. In addition Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach are just south of town and ideal for a visit for those with wheels.
The downtown area of Daytona Beach (Central) has the pick of the hotels , from the star-rated chain hotels like the Hilton, Best Western, and Marriott to cheaper, independently run motels. For a quieter time head for the Northern District of town which also has a good selection of hotels.
If you are heading to Daytona for one of the big races or festivals, be sure to book any hotels way ahead of time as the town fills up fast, as it does when it is sunny over the kids’ holidays. Booking Daytona Beach hotels online is a great way to save money.
Daytona Beach has its own international airport, which is well connected to the city, although flight options to Orlando International Airport are much better. Miami and Jacksonville are also alternatives, while Amtrak trains serve daily from around the nation as do Greyhound buses. The north-south I-95 runs right through Daytona and I-4 comes up from Orlando.
With its subtropical climate, Daytona Beach sees hot and humid summers, frequent thunderstorms and mild winters. With summer temperatures in the mid-30s (◦C) Daytona is best visited in the springtime, where days are pleasant enough to still enjoy the beach by as early as March and nights are cool. The autumn time isn’t as pleasant as spring and actually remains quite humid.
Daytona Beach winters are generally dry and mild, though on rare occasion it gets cold enough for frost to hit the area.
