Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
376
an uproar from citizens who couldn't imagine it any other way. As it worked out, they
can still drive on the sand, but not everywhere, and especially not in areas where sea
turtles are nesting.
Today, hundreds of thousands of race enthusiasts come to the home of the National
Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) for the Daytona 500, the Pepsi 400,
and other races throughout the year. The speedway is also home to DAYTONA USA, a
motor-sports entertainment attraction worth a visit even by nonracing fans.
Be sure to check when the town belongs to college students on spring break (though
not as many since Panama City took over as Spring Break Central), or thousands of
leather-clad motorcycle buffs during Bike Week (Mar) and Biketoberfest (Oct), or racing
enthusiasts for big competitions. You won't be able to find a hotel room, drive the high-
ways, or enjoy a peaceful vacation when they're in town.
ESSENTIALS
GETTING THERE
Continental
(
&
800/525-0280
) and
Delta
(
&
800/221-1212
)
fly into the small, pleasant, and calm
Daytona Beach International Airport
(
&
386/
248-8030;
www.flydaytonafirst.com), 4 miles inland from the beach on International
Speedway Boulevard (U.S. 92), but you can usually find less expensive fares to
Orlando
International Airport
(p. 23), about an hour's drive away.
Daytona-Orlando Transit
Service
(
DOTS;
&
800/231-1965
or 386/257-5411; www.dots-daytonabeach.com)
provides van transportation to and from Orlando International Airport. One-way fares
are about $35 for adults, $18 for children ages 11 and under. The service takes passengers
to the company's terminal at 1034 N. Nova Rd., between 3rd and 4th streets, or to beach
hotels for an additional fee.
If you fly into the Daytona Airport, rates for the
Daytona Shuttle
(
&
386/255-
2294
) run up to $15 per person, $18 per couple, and $9 per person for parties of three
or more. The ride from the airport to most beach hotels via
Yellow Cab Co.
(
&
386/
255-5555
) is between $10 and $20.
Alamo
(
&
800/327-9622),
Avis
(
&
800/831-2847),
Budget
(
&
800/527-0700),
Dollar
(
&
800/800-4000),
Enterprise
(
&
800/325-8007),
Hertz
(
&
800/654-3131),
and
National
(
&
800/227-7368) have booths at the airport. Or why not rent a Harley?
This is Daytona, after all. Contact
Daytona Harley-Davidson
(
&
800/307-4464 or
386/258-0638; www.daytonahd.com). Rates are $135 to $155 daily, $600 to $640
weekly. A special sunset rate of $75 is available from 4pm to 9am.
Amtrak
(
&
800/872-7245;
www.amtrak.com) trains stop at Deland, about 15 miles
southwest of Daytona Beach, with bus service from Deland to the beach.
VISITOR INFORMATION
The
Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors
Bureau,
126 E. Orange Ave. (P.O. Box 910), Daytona Beach, FL 32115 (
&
800/544-
0415
or 386/255-0415; www.daytonabeach.com), can help you with information on
attractions, accommodations, dining, and events. The office is on the mainland just west
of the Memorial Bridge. The information area of the lobby is open daily from 9am to
5pm. The bureau also maintains a branch at DAYTONA USA, 1801 W. International
Speedway Blvd. (daily 9am-7pm), as well as a kiosk at the airport.
GETTING AROUND
Although Daytona is primarily a driver's town, Volusia County's
public transit system,
VOTRAN
(
&
386/761-7700;
www.votran.org), runs a
free
shuttle
in the Main Street Pier/Ocean Walk Village area and a pay
trolley
along Atlantic
Avenue on the beach, Monday through Saturday from noon to midnight. Fares are $1.25
for adults, 60ยข for seniors and children ages 6 to 17, and free for kids ages 5 and under
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