Florida East Coast Road Trip: A 4–6 Day Itinerary

Florida's East Coast corridor between DeLand and Daytona Beach packs an extraordinary amount of variety into a small geography. You've got a first-magnitude spring, 57,000 acres of undeveloped federal beach, one of the best small food towns in the state, the most popular surf destination on the East Coast, and a world-class motorsports venue — all within 60 miles of each other. Here's how to see it all in 4 to 6 days.

• Dinner at The Garlic on Flagler Avenue — no reservations, arrive before 5 PM to avoid a long wait. Order the Seafood Cannelloni.
• Walk the beach at sunset. The stretch north of Flagler toward the inlet is quiet and consistently beautiful.
• Pick up provisions at the Publix on Dunlawton if you're self-catering — it's the best grocery option close to the island.
• Our NSB homes — including oceanside and canal properties — put you within walking distance of everything on this first day.

• Morning: Smyrna Dunes Park at the north tip of the island. Walk the boardwalk loop, watch for dolphins at the jetty. Arrive before 9 AM and parking is easy.
• Mid-morning: If you surf (or want to learn), this is the day. East Coast Surf School runs morning lessons at Flagler. Experienced surfers should check Surfline and head to the inlet.
• Lunch: Big Mike's Burgers on Flagler. Walk-up window, smash burgers, waffle fries. Go before the lunch rush.
• Afternoon: Canal Street Arts District on the mainland. Atlantic Center for the Arts gallery, Corks Wine & Craft Beer, the Rustic Pelican.
• Dinner: Third Wave Café & Wine Bar. Book a week ahead or walk over at 5 PM and hope for early availability. Happy hour is 3–5 PM.

• Blue Spring State Park opens at 8 AM. Arrive early. In winter (November–March), come for the manatees. In summer, come for the swimming.
• Rent a kayak at the park concession and paddle the spring run to the St. Johns River.
• Drive into DeLand for lunch on Woodland Boulevard. Persimmon Hollow Brewing has excellent food and their own craft beer.
• Walk the historic downtown — the Stetson University campus borders the commercial district and the tree canopy is extraordinary.
• If you're staying near DeLand, the DeLand Spring House is our property in this corridor — a proper home base for the spring and river areas.
• Return to NSB for dinner or spend the night in DeLand if the itinerary allows.

• Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse — the tallest lighthouse in Florida. Climb it. The view from the top takes in both NSB and Daytona Beach.
• Ponce Inlet waterfront — small marina community with a few excellent seafood spots. Inlet Harbor Restaurant has a consistent dock-side lunch.
• Port Orange Farmers Market (Saturday mornings) — one of the better local markets in Volusia County.
• Cracker Barrel on Dunlawton is a joke. Go to Aunt Catfish's on the River instead — classic Florida, good fish, on the water.

• Daytona International Speedway tours run daily. Even if you're not a racing fan, the facility's scale is impressive.
• Museum of Arts and Sciences in Daytona is legitimately excellent — the Cuban art collection and the Florida history wing are both worth time.
• Ormond Beach (just north of Daytona) is quieter and more livable than the main strip. The Casements — John D. Rockefeller's winter estate — is free to visit.
• For a Daytona-area stay, our properties including Coral Way, Honu Hideaway, and Sunshine on Paloma give you a proper home rather than a motel room on the strip.
• Drive A1A along the coast from Daytona to Flagler Beach for the scenic finale. The road hugs the dunes for 20 miles and ends in one of the most charming small beach towns in Florida.