Get to Know the Real Daytona Beach

July 14, 2023

QUICK VIEW:
An overview of the Daytona Beach area, including:
Interesting Facts
Key background Information
Car Culture

Beach Culture
how to get there
and a great photo gallery!

At Hacking the Road, we are dedicated to finding ways to help people live a Better Life ... on the Road! We are full-time travelers and experience seekers, and we want to share our journey with you. We believe that travel opens hearts and minds, and makes the world a better place. Join us as we explore each new destination.

The Daytona Beach area tells a uniquely American story that well deserves its reputation. This blog hopes to introduce you to the real Daytona Beach.

The intensity of motor sports, the unbridled energy of Spring Break, and the richness of Florida history all join to create a delicious mix of experiences for a wide variety of travelers.

While Daytona Beach may be familiar to many, the Daytona Beach area is actually comprised of six more surrounding municipalities. Each sub-area adds its own magic to the Daytona Beach area narrative: 

  • Daytona Beach Shores
  • Holly Hill
  • Ponce Inlet
  • Port Orange
  • Ormond Beach
  • South Daytona

Let's get to know the Real Daytona Beach area!

A beautiful sunrise over the ocean, witnessed by a tall-legged visitor

Interesting Facts

  • Much of the Daytona Beach area is located on a barrier island, which is separated from the mainland by the Halifax River.
  • Automobile and motorcycle land speed records were repeatedly set on the Daytona beaches between 1902 and 1935. Malcolm Campbell set the last auto world record at Daytona in 1935 (276.82 mph/445.49 km/h).
  • Ormond Beach is known as the "Birthplace of Speed," as many of the early land speed records were set there.
  • In the 1920s and early 30s, bootleggers used the Daytona beaches to test and race their custom-built stock cars--they needed fast cars to evade the police during Prohibition.
  • NASCAR was founded in Daytona Beach in 1947, with the headquarters still located in Daytona Beach.
  • Automobiles are allowed to drive & park on most Daytona Beach area beaches (10 mph/16 km/h speed limit).
  • At 176 ft/53.34 m tall, the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse is the tallest in the state of Florida--and one of the tallest in the USA.
  • The US National LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) is headquartered in Daytona Beach.
  • John D. Rockefeller, the renowned American business magnate and philanthropist, died at his winter home, The Casements, in Ormond Beach.  The Casements now serve as the cultural center for Ormond Beach.
  • The local Root Family Museum has one of the biggest Coca-Cola memorabilia collections in the world. Mr. Chapman Root was one of the designers of the original iconic 1915 Coca-Cola bottle.

The Root Family Museum's coca-cola collection is housed in Daytona's Museum of Arts & Sciences

Key Background Information

Travel accompanied by knowing something about the local historical, cultural, and geographical context adds a sense of magic that can enrich each travel experience.

Knowledge of the ghosts of eras past, the secret ingredients of the national foods, the rhythm of the local music, the wildlife inhabitants, and the historic battles that shaped the area--all can all have profound influences on how you perceive your visit, and what you take away from it.

We learned some key background information that we found helpful in painting a more complete picture of the local Daytona Beach area, and in better appreciating our experience:

Early History

  • The Daytona Beach area was inhabited by the Timucuan Native Americans when the Spanish first arrived--with the Seminoles increasingly present as the Timucuan numbers dwindled by the late 1700s.  
  • In 1804, Samuel Williams (British) received the original land grant from the Spanish Crown for a plantation (sugar cane, cotton, rice) located on the West Bank of the Halifax River, and covering the present-day Daytona Beach area.
  • In 1871, Mathias Day Jr. bought the tract of land and built the first hotel.  Daytona Beach derives its name from Mathias Day, Jr.
  • The separate towns of Daytona, Daytona Beach, Seabreeze, and Kingston merged in 1926 as Daytona Beach, around the time Daytona Beach branded itself as "The World's Most Famous Beach."
Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach is known as the World's Most Famous Beach

Cultural Influences

  • The early European influence was primarily Spanish starting in 1513 through 1821 (La Florida), with a brief period of British control from 1763 to 1783.
  • The United States took over control of present-day Florida from Spain in 1821.
  • Today, slightly over 90% of the Daytona Beach area speak English as their first language; Spanish at 4%; French at close to 1%, and German at 1%.
  • Car culture and beach culture have been dominant cultural influences since 1902, as the arrival of the automobile increased leisure and travel to the southeastern United States. 

Cars meet beach at Daytona since the early 1900s, and have remained a cultural presence to the present day

Geography and Weather

  • The Daytona Beach area is largely divided into two parts: The Halifax River separating the Atlantic Ocean-facing eastern section--from the mainland area to the west.
  • Six bridges and causeways connect the east-facing part of the Daytona Beach area with the mainland: Granada Bridge (Ormond Beach), Seabreeze Bridge (Daytona Beach), Main Street Bridge (Daytona Beach), Broadway Bridge (Daytona Beach), Veterans Memorial Bridge (Daytona Beach), and the Port Orange Causeway (originates in Port Orange).
  • Daytona Beach is approximately 51 miles/82 km from Orlando and about 265 miles/427 km from Miami.
  • Average temperatures in the Daytona Beach area exceed 80 degrees F/26 degrees C between April and the end of October, with average highs over 90 degrees F/32 degrees C in July.
  • Average relative humidity in the Daytona Beach area exceeds 60% between May and the end of October, with relative humidity well over 70% June through September.
  • The most comfortable weather months to visit the Daytona Beach area are March, April, and November.

Granada Bridge in Ormond Beach as seen from John D. Rockefeller's winter home, The Casements

Daytona Car Culture

  • The Daytona Beach area from Ormond Beach to Ponce Inlet was a magnet for motorsport pioneers from all over the world, starting in 1902. The long, straight, hard-packed beaches at low tide provided the perfect course for attempts at land speed records.
  • Ormond Beach earned the title of "Birthplace of Speed" because of the many land speed records set in the area.
  • The original Daytona Beach course ran for some 23 miles/37 km from Ormond Beach to the south--500 ft/150 m wide at low tide.
  • A formal track, the Daytona Beach & Road Course (Ponce Inlet), replaced the original Daytona Beach course in 1936--a 3.2 mile/5.1 km race track designed for stock car racing (expanded to 4.2 miles/6.8 km in the 1940s).
  • The Daytona International Speedway replaced the Daytona Beach & Road Course when it opened in 1959.
  • The Daytona International Speedway is world renowned for the Daytona 500 stock car race (February) and Daytona Bike Week (March).
  • Cars are allowed to drive on some Daytona Beach area beaches--subject to speed & safety restrictions as posted.

Cars are a common sight in designated areas on Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach Culture

  • The Daytona Beach area has over 23 miles/37 km of white sandy beaches.
  • Matthias Day, Jr. built the first hotel in the Daytona area in 1874. Today more than 10 million visitors flock to Daytona-area beaches each year.
  • In the early 1900s, Commodore Charles Burgoyne began promoting concerts on the Halifax riverfront, attracting vacationers from far and wide. 
  • Today, the area of Daytona offers diverse attractions for visitors with varied interests: Daytona Beach Bandshell concerts, the Daytona International Speedway, the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, the Daytona Beach Boardwalk & Pier, the Daytona Flea & Farmer's Market, and the Daytona Lagoon Water Park.
  • Daytona Beach is also well known for hosting the first live MTV Spring Break broadcast in 1986, reinforcing its reputation as a major annual Spring Break destination for college students.

The flat sandy beaches of Daytona are popular with young and old

Getting There

Flying into the Daytona Beach Area
Closest Major Airport: Orlando International (MCO) is served by all major airlines and is only 50 - 60 miles from Daytona Beach.

Closest Local Airport: Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB) is served by Delta and American Airlines, and does have a small international terminal.

Traveling by Bus to the Daytona Beach Area
Checking Wanderu.com, Daytona Beach is accessible by bus from 116 cities across the United States. Greyhound, by far, provides the most itineraries across the country.

Traveling by Train to the Daytona Beach Area
Checking Wanderu.com, Daytona Beach is accessible by train from 121 cities across the United States. Amtrak is the only long-haul provider; the train stops in DeLand (about 24 miles/39 km from Daytona) and Amtrak provides a bus link to Daytona Beach.

Car Rental in the Daytona Beach Area
Use Kayak.com or Priceline.com to find the best deals on car rentals: Dollar Car Rental, Alamo Rent a Car, Thrifty Car Rental, and Budget Car Rental tend to be competitive locally.

Arriving by Cruise Ship
Closest Port: Port Canaveral (about 74 miles/119 km).
Next Closest Port: Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale)(243 miles/391 km).

Daytona Beach Photo Gallery

Wraparound beach views from the dining/living room of The Cove's South Tower in Ormond Beach, near Daytona

Daytona International Speedway

The Daytona International Speedway is a must-see for visitors to the area

The excitement was building as the trolley tour was about to begin

The stadium seating is multicolored for making the stands always look full for TV cameras

The wall along the steep gradient of the track provides safety for high speed crashes

Our first stop was at the iconic Victory Lane for photo opps

The roaring sound of the race cars became thundering as we reached the top of the stadium

Our perfect vantage point of the start/finish line

Michael McDowell's winning race car is on display in the World Center of Racing & Motorsports Hall of Fame 

The Motorsports Hall of Fame exhibits had something for every fan's favorite

The Champion's Walk of Fame, with signatures, handprints, & footprints of past Daytona 500 winners

The Daytona Flea & Farmers Market

With over 3 miles of shops, this was no ordinary flea market

The Daytona Flea & Farmer's Market is a permanent fixture as evidenced by the official sign

Fresh fruit and vegetables are displayed for sale near the entrance of the Farmer's Market

The market's map is helpful in maximizing your shopping experience

The Market has a wide array of products to keep shoppers busy

Coca-Cola Exhibit at the Museum of Arts & Sciences (MOAS)

The Museum of Arts & Sciences is home to the Root Family Museum's Coca-cola exhibit, and more

A painting from the Cuban Gallery in the Museum of Arts & Sciences

The museum chronicles the role of the Root family in the history of Coca-Cola

The Root Glass Company's winning design of the original coke bottle, inspired by the shape of a cocoa bean

The Roots moved their company to Daytona, which linked with their interest in race cars

The extensive collection of bottles from the Root Glass Company on display in the Family Museum

The replica of an old fashioned pharmacy, where patrons could order a coca cola product from the soda fountain

One of a diverse collection of Coca-cola vending machines in the Root Family Museum

One of the full size trains in the station replica in the Root Family Museum

The life-size bear was part of Susan Root's teddy bear collection

The Root family museum has a display of racing cars, evidence of their Daytona passion

Daytona Beach Bandshell, Boardwalk, and Pier

The Bandshell features cover band concerts every Saturday night from the end of May thru Sept

The Bandshell concert venue, with a scenic ocean view backdrop

Seating for the summer bandshell concerts are reasonably priced, but standing is also a free option

The concert & fireworks were free from our vantage point near the bar

The Boardwalk is lined with arcades and restaurants

Screamer's Park is located just off the the Daytona Beach Boardwalk, for those who dare!

Walking the sandy beach and the Main Street Pier is part of the charm to a Daytona stay

A walk along the promenade is a relaxing way to see Daytona Beach

Ponce de leon Inlet Lighthouse & Museum

The Ponce de Leon Lighthouse & Museum are located in the quaint town of Ponce Inlet

The Ponce de Leon Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse in the state of Florida

The lighthouse grounds are well manicured and provide a beautiful setting

The viewing platform is the reward if you make the steep climb to the top

Climbing the lighthouse steps was high enough for Rainman

Rooms in some of the lighthouse keeper's homes can be viewed through the windows

Lenses in the Ayres Davies Lens Exhibit are impressive in scale and level of preservation

This First Order rotating Fresnell lens was removed from the lighthouse at Cape Canaveral for restoration & display here

THE CASEMENTS CULTURAL CENTER IN ORMOND BEACH

The Casements property was the winter home of John D. Rockefeller and his family, and is now open to the public

The historic Casements building and manicured grounds

The property lies on the banks of the Halifax River, with a view of the Granada Bridge

The stunning contrast of wood & glass in the entrance of the Casements building

This Florida Heritage site was put on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1973

A historical exhibit of Boy Scouts memorabilia is housed on The Casement's third floor

The vibrant collection of authentic Hungarian folk art and hand-stitched costumes

The grounds and gardens are a beautiful setting for community functions

BUC-EE'S TRAVEL CENTER

Buc-ee's Travel Center is known by its beaver mascot

The biggest travel center is the Iowa 80 in Walcott, Iowa.

One row of many gas pumps at Buc-ee's Travel Stop

Sensory overload with so many sights and smells!

The snack packages are branded with the Buceee's beaver

The Texas BBQ station is central to the Buc-ee's experience

Barbecue sauce is added to the brisket in preparation for assembling fresh sandwiches

The sandwiches were assembled fresh and piled high

So many festive Buc-ee Beaver gifts to choose from!

The jerky choices were numerous in the butcher case

Satisfy your sweet tooth with a variety box of fudge

Though the gas pumps are plentiful, they do not provide for windshield washing

The restroom was modern, roomy, and well maintained

The Buc-ee's experience was memorable, fun, and delicious!

Reny's Rating

Reny is the official Hacking the Road travel mascot!

At the end of each Destination Blog, Reny rates the overall experience.

Reny's travel experience scale:

  • 4 Renys = Wants to live here!
  • 3 Renys = Doesn't want to live here, but would definitely return
  • 2 Renys = Had a positive experience but may or may not return
  • 1 Reny = Had an overall negative experience and will not return

Reny waves the checkered flag for a strong finish in Daytona Beach!

Reny rates the Daytona Beach area: 

4 RENYS!

The beaches .....  the activities ..... the lifestyle ..... sunshine .....

the Bandshell ..... the Summer Concert series ..... the Boardwalk .....

the Pier ..... the International Speedway ..... 

the Flea and Farmers' Market ..... MOAS Coca-Cola Exhibit .....

the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse & Museum ..... The Casements .....

Buccee's Travel Center ..... 

1 hr to Disney ..... 1 hr to Kennedy Space Center ..... 1 hr to St. Augustine

Reny wanted to list a whole lot more, but we had to reign in his enthusiasm!

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