Things to do in Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach is about an hour to an hour and 15 minutes northeast of Orlando on the I-4, a long stretch of hard-packed sand where cars can still drive on certain sections for a seasonal access fee, at a posted limit of 10 mph.

The center is the boardwalk and pier; Ormond Beach sits north, Ponce Inlet and its lighthouse south, and the Daytona International Speedway sits west near the airport, home of the Daytona 500 each February. February to May brings the most stable weather; summer turns hot and stormy.

Big race weekends and spring break in March fill hotels fast, so book ahead or expect prices to jump.