A Floridian’s Guide to the Best Day Trips from Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach is a great area to base yourself if you want to explore east central Florida! There are plenty of day trips from Daytona Beach to choose from and add to your Daytona Beach itinerary. I’ll share various types of destinations and ideas from different driving ranges !
I’ve grown up in east central Florida and enjoyed my share of paddle boarding, Florida springs which stay around 72 degrees year round, nature walks, and small town adventures! Whether you’re looking for a beautiful Florida spring or the oldest city, there is a lot available to you from Daytona Beach!
How to Get Around
Is a Car Needed for the Best Day Trips from Daytona Beach?
Yes! In Florida a car is needed unless you plan to stay close to one area. Around Disney or cities, you can get away with Uber, but for these day trips from Daytona Beach I’d recommend having a car! There are some you can Uber, but for ultimate freedom, driving is the best.
Day Trips From Daytona Beach
Day trips include options that are within ninety minutes by car from Daytona Beach (assuming normal traffic) and include activities that could take up a whole day.
St. Augustine | Oldest City
Let’s start with St. Augustine, the oldest (continuously inhabited European-established) city in the continental United States. Wander around the old, charming streets, visit the fort and spend time at The Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park and that will be a big day! Book the St. Augustine: Hop-on Hop-off Trolley Tour with Museum Entry to easily see all the main sights!
I was just there for the Christmas Lights earlier this year and really enjoyed my meal at Ice Plant Bar. Next door you can do a free tasting at Saint Augustine Distillery before or after your meal. Of course, St. Augustine is full of restaurants to choose from so you may want to book a food tour like Corks and Forks Tour – St. Augustine.
Kennedy Space Center
I have not been to the Kennedy Space Center since I was a kid, but I’m actually wanting to go again soon! A friend of mine went recently and said her and her family loved it! While it was fun when I was a kid, I think I’ll appreciate it in a new way as an adult.
My sister and her family also went in recent years when visiting from Australia and loved it! It’s an epic day trip for science lovers, families, and space nerds alike.
Tip: Check for rocket launches to see if you can add that to your day! Or simply head outside when it launches because you can see them in the sky from Daytona Beach.
Silver Springs
Silver Springs State Park is beautiful and perfect for those who want to be up close to nature and for those who like to keep a safe distance. They offer glass bottom boat tours, which is great if you don’t want to be in a kayak or paddle board with gators and monkeys around.
I’ve paddled the circle trail and the 5 miles downstream and I enjoyed both, but the downstream paddle was one of my favorite paddles! Included in the price is the pickup at the end, and there were times I could relax and let the stream take me.
We saw plenty of gators, but they kept their distance and so did we. I still haven’t seen the monkeys but I found out they are mean because people feed them. Please don’t feed the wild animals! However, if navigating on your own doesn’t sound appealing, try a paddle boarding tour or clear kayak tour.
Silver Springs is not the state park you visit to swim, but the good news is there are springs on the way or a short detour where you can swim like Deleon Springs, Juniper Springs, or Silver Glen Springs.
King’s Landing
King’s Landing is privately owned, but is on the same spring river as Rock Springs. I recommend booking online on their site and avoiding weekends which get very busy. It’s become social media famous, but it is actually beautiful!
Rock Springs at Kelly Park
Next to King’s Landing is Kelly Park – Rock Springs. What is fun about this park is the natural lazy river! You can rent a tube and walk to the start then jump in and relax. It’s a long enough lazy river that you can enjoy but not so long that it takes hours. It’s definitely one of the more fun springs in the area!
Disney World
You might have come to Florida for Disney World and just added some time at the beach after. However, if you didn’t do Disney already, you can make it a day trip! Of course, you will want to narrow down which park you are visiting!
If you don’t want to pay for a park, you can head to downtown Disney and resort hop. If you want to see the fireworks they are beautiful from the beach of the Polynesian! Make a reservation for dinner at one of the Polynesian restaurants and you can park at the hotel. However, Disney will limit reservations if they are full, so keep that in mind. It’s not a fool proof plan like it used to be.
Theme Parks
Besides Disney World, there’s also Sea World or Universal Studios in Orlando. There are also water parks too, if you fancy a day enjoying water slides and lazy rivers. I haven’t been to Universal in years, but I’ve always loved Sea World.
It was at Sea World that the killer whale became my favorite animal. I get the arguments against it, but I never would have been exposed to—or admired—that magnificent creature if not for the Shamu show. Now, I want to see the preservation of orcas for years to come.
Discovery Cove
I visited Discovery Cove years ago with my friend as we share a birthday the same week. If you or some in your group aren’t interested in swimming with dolphins, the day pass is still a relaxing experience. You get breakfast, lunch and snacks included. There is a “grand reef” pool which is very cool to explore!
The dolphin swim is a small part of your day. When I went, each one in the group gets to pet the dolphin, take a photo and get towed by the dolphin for a few feet. I’ve been blessed to see dolphins up close in the wild (though I never touched them), so I’m neutral about this experience. However, combined with everything, it’s a great day!
Mount Dora
Mount Dora is a cute, small town in the middle of the state. It’s been a while since I last visited as Deland and Sanford are closer to me and have the same cute, old town vibes.
Of course, Mount Dora does have a beautiful lake and one adventure I’d like to do at some point is the CatBoat Adventures. If operating a small, two person boat isn’t up your alley, there are tours on pontoon boats that are more affordable and you’ll get the same lake and canals.
Wekiwa Springs State Park
Wekiwa Springs State Park is another great springs to visit. There’s a large swimming area and for those who would rather kayak, there are rentals and plenty of areas to explore!
Silver Glen | Juniper | Salt | Alexander
So many springs to consider! I haven’t been to Salt or Juniper, but I did visit Silver Glen Springs as a child. Silver Glen is super popular on the weekends as boaters will make their way here as it’s connected to the St. John’s River.
I visited Alexander once and it’s beautifully set in nature, which I liked. The swimming area doesn’t have man-made walls around it, but it was a little crowded on the weekend day my friends and I visited.
These springs are relatively close to each other if you wanted to hit one or two in the same day. Or add Silver Springs glass bottom boat first then head to one of these to swim as the day heats up which will make a great day trip from Daytona Beach.
The Canyons Zip Line and Adventure Park
When it comes to day trips from Daytona Beach, this is the only Zip Line I’m mentioning. I did it a couple years ago and loved it! There’s a longer zip line over a lake that was both fun and beautiful. Seeing the alligators from the perch gave it an extra sense of adventure.
It’s set well in nature and overall a fun way to spend a couple hours. I don’t struggle with heights, and overall really enjoyed it. My friend was a little nervous but also had a great time!
Winter Park
While there are plenty of old towns to enjoy, Winter Park is the most posh. There’s also a great restaurant scene here as well! You can do a boat or kayak tour of the chain of lakes in Winter Park. I’ve done both over the years with the most recent time being on my paddle board and it’s fun to see the beautiful lake homes and navigate the connecting canals.
If you don’t want to drive there on a weekday, you can pick up the Sunrail from DeLand or Debary and when you step off the train in Winter Park you’ll be in the middle of Park Avenue. If you do drive, be sure to plan around peak morning and evening traffic times.
Half Day Trips from Daytona
The below are close enough that they could be half day trips from Daytona Beach. All are less than an hour away and you can combine a couple to create a full day outing!
West of Daytona Beach
DeLand
DeLand is a cute, historical small town just west of Daytona. It’s the home to Stetson University, which is a beautiful campus you can walk around in addition to downtown DeLand. Oh and if you want to go skydiving, DeLand is the place to go!
For DeLand recs checkout my Benable List.
Blue Springs State Park
Blue Springs is one of the most visited state parks! During the winter they close the swimming option to protect the manatees, which come in by the hundreds during a cold front.
In the summer, you can swim, but this springs has more tree canopies so it’s more shaded overall. Year round you can walk on the trails or rent kayaks or canoes to explore the St. John’s River. The springs are surrounded by woods and the setting is well preserved, which add to the experience!
The park usually closes early on the weekends once it reaches capacity. I recommend going early if you head there on a Saturday or Sunday. During the week you should be good, unless it’s a cold day because the manatees are a big draw.
DeLeon Springs
A very different springs experience to Blue Springs is DeLeon Springs. It looks like a giant public pool as the springs are surrounded by a man-made structure. The water then flows into the river.
You can swim here year round as well as rent kayaks for the river. There is also a pancake restaurant that is fun and delicious though it’s not air conditioned. You buy the pancake batter and toppings and make it yourself on the griddle. The restaurant also get busy on the weekends so get there early or you’ll be waiting over an hour.
Hontoon Island State Park
Hontoon Island isn’t a highly visited park, but it is beautiful. Once you reach the parking lot, you will hop on the ferry to cross the St. John’s River (check to ensure the ferry is running). When I was younger there was a tower you could climb to take in the views, but I don’t think they’ve replaced it yet.
There are beautiful nature trails you can walk to explore the area a bit or rent a kayak to experience the river! It’s a beautiful park to come for a picnic, but there’s no swimming so it’s a better park to visit during the cooler months.
Rent a Pontoon Boat and Enjoy St. John’s River
There are plenty of places around east central Florida to rent a pontoon boat. For the St. John’s River you can rent at Holly Bluff Marina as an example. The St. John’s River goes all the way to Jacksonville, so you could actually spend days on this river.
If you rent at Holly Bluff, there are restaurants on the river you can stop at for a meal, Blue Springs to the south, or for a very full day on the water head north to Silver Glen Springs. I remember going to Silver Glen as a kid and it was a long day on the boat but pulling up and seeing the clear spring water is still a vivid memory!
Be sure to check their site for the most updated information and rules.
Lake Woodruff
Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge is one of the best places for a nature walk! It’s absolutely beautiful and makes a perfect day trip from Daytona Beach especially if you include DeLeon Springs or lunch in downtown DeLand! I’ve done most of the walks offered at this park and they have all been beautiful!
There are gators and there’s a chance you’d have to walk by them at a relatively close distance. NEVER FEED GATORS. The times I’ve encountered them sunning on the side, was on the longer loop. I’ve also seen rabbits and otters along the way as well.
I recommend parking at the furthest point, so keep driving until you dead end into the parking lot. There is also no shade, so I really don’t recommend this during the summer months, but it’s such a peaceful place to walk during the cooler months.
South of Daytona Beach
Canaveral National Seashore
The Everglades is probably the most famous National Park in Florida and Dry Tortugas has to be the coolest! However, one of the most protected and quiet parks in Florida is the Canaveral National Seashore.
I’ve taken my paddleboard to explore the intracoastal here when I’ve had yearly passes after spending 2 days in the Grand Canyon and 3 days in Yosemite. There are a few trails to explore as well, but the mosquitos can be brutal!
The New Smyrna side is much quieter overall, but the Titusville side is bigger with more intracoastal area (Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge). It’s worth noting in case you want to visit or avoid, but both sides have clothing optional beaches where the park dead ends on each side.
Bioluminescence Paddle
In this general area (Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge), you’ll find some of the best bioluminescence, though I’ll admit last year it came up short! However, if you’re visiting in July and August it’s worth seeing if the bioluminescence is good! Here’s a couple tours to consider: Clear Kayak Florida Bioluminescence Tour | Beacon 42 (Titusville) or Florida Bioluminescence Kayaking Tour | Haulover canal (Titusville)
New Smyrna Beach
New Smyrna Beach is just south so it can be a meal or a half day trip from Daytona Beach. The restaurant scene in New Smyrna is better in my opinion as it’s mostly locally owned restaurants. Head to Flagler Avenue (not to be confused with Flagler Beach) to enjoy some shops and grab a meal.
Flagler Beach
Heading north you’ll find Flagler Beach. A once sleepy beach town that is certainly seeing growth right now! There aren’t many shops, which I hadn’t realized when my sisters and I went there recently, but there are some good restaurants to check out.
I recommend Yes Coffee for a cute coffee shop with good coffee, Next Door Beach Bistro and FARO Beachside Eatery for a meal in a nicer environment, or A1A Burrito Works TACO SHOP for a casual meal.
Ponce Inlet
Just south of Daytona Beach is Ponce Inlet. While this won’t likely be one of the full day trips from Daytona Beach, it’s a worthwhile trip. The Ponce Inlet Lighthouse is the highest in Florida, so climb and enjoy the views!
You can also enjoy a stroll along the Ponce Inlet Jetty to watch the surfers and fishermen alike. Of course, you can be in your swimsuit to enjoy a swim whether in the ocean or the intracoastal side.
Long Day Trips from Daytona Beach
The below are over two hours of driving one way, so I’m classifying them as very long day trips from Daytona Beach. While they aren’t as ideal as day trips from Daytona Beach, they are doable. Add some stops on the way and the return, and it can be a fun filled day!
Manatees at Crystal River
If we’re in a cold spell, that is prime time to swim with manatees in Florida! Though the only place in Florida you can legally swim with manatees is Citrus Country and the number one place there is Crystal River.
Crystal River is on the gulf side so you will have to literally drive across the state. My friend and I did The ‘OG’ Manatee Snorkel Tour and loved it! We stopped for coffee and lunch on the way in Leesburg. Then on the return we enjoyed dinner on Lake Weir at Eaton’s Beach Sandbar & Grill.
One nice thing about this drive, is you can avoid the major highways for the most part. It’s mainly country roads which can be a nice change of pace. Watch the sunrise and sunset in the same day if you don’t mind driving back in the dark. However, we enjoyed the sunset from Eaton’s Beach Sandbar & Grill and it was beautiful on the lake!
Devil’s Den Prehistoric Spring
I admit this has been on my list for a while and I still have yet to do this! One reason is the water temperature. While the Florida springs are beautiful, they are way too cold for me! However, Devil’s Den looks so cool and my friends who have been have loved it!
Devil’s Den is primarily for divers, but they do allow people to snorkel. This is not a relaxing and do nothing experience. You book your time slot and must have mask, snorkel and fins on at all times, and be a strong swimmer. They don’t allow floats and you will have a 90 minute time slot.
If you don’t have the gear, they offer rentals. There is a swimming pass, but it doesn’t include the den, which is the reason to go. If you have any more questions, check their site or give them a call.
Make it a more eventful day trip by adding a stop at Silver Springs, which is on the way or a slight detour to the Canyons Zip Line! Have lunch in the historic downtown of Ocala, which is 40 minutes from Devil’s Den. The last two times I’ve been in Ocala after visiting Silver Springs we ended up Say Taco Tequila Bar & Grill and always enjoyed it, but there are plenty of other options as well.
Sunrise & Sunset
I did this with some friends years ago and it was fun! We woke up early for the sunrise and made our way to the gulf side throughout the day to enjoy the sunset. Unless you stay overnight on the gulf side, you will have to drive the two to three hours back, which isn’t that bad but worth mentioning.
You can do the drive on I-4 which goes from Daytona Beach through Orlando to Tampa and make stops along the way. For country roads, head toward Crystal River.
Day Trips from Daytona Beach
I hope this post was helpful in choosing the right day trips from Daytona Beach that will fit your preferences and itinerary! There is plenty to choose from especially if you don’t mind a drive! There are tons of Florida Springs around as well, which will certainly cool you off on a hot day with the year round cool water temperatures!
Whatever your decide for your Daytona Beach itinerary, I hope you have an amazing time!
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