Daytona Beach worth drive from Orlando?

[orlandonewstarts]

We have 4 days in FL and are staying at Universal. We have a rental car and I would love to make a trip to the ocean. Looks like the suggestion is to drive from Universal to Daytona Beach as it looks like a direct route and about an hour away.

Would it be possible to leave the hotel around 7am drive to Daytona Beach and spend a few hours and be back at the parks around noon? He has never seen the ocean and thought it might be fun since we are close.

Anyone have any other suggestions on where to go?

 

[kam1011]

We go to my grandma's house 10 miles from Daytona and it takes us almost two hours with the incredible traffic on I-4. We usually go for a whole day and even then I always whine that it wasn't worth the drive in and out of my happy place, even though I love seeing my grandma. No, I wouldn't go for an hour or two.

ETA: from Universal, shave 20 minutes off of the above ^

 

[orlandonewstarts]

I was afraid of that. I liked the idea of a main route but wondered about traffic even during the week.

Hmm back to looking for another place.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

What about Cocoa Beach? The drive is easy and traffic free (or it was for us in August), and only takes about an hour each way. You can check out my trip report (see the link in my signature) for pics of our experience there. The Cocoa Beach portion of the report starts on page 8.

 

[DOOM1001]

Yeah I agree that taking the 528 Beachline to Cocoa Beach will have less traffic.From the Universal area to it shouldn't be more than an hour,if that.

 

[RabFlmom]

Yeah I agree that taking the 528 Beachline to Cocoa Beach will have less traffic.From the Universal area to it shouldn't be more than an hour,if that.

An hour if you drive faster than speed limit and have a Sunpass, maybe.

You will have at least 2 hours at the beach. Have a choice either to hit the park at the end of 520 near Ron Jons or head North on A1A about a mile to the pier or South to Lori Wilson. All have parking, restrooms.

If you take I-4 to Daytona Beach, they still allow you to drive right on the sand so might want to head that way. Haven't been to beaches up that way in aswhile but they have the boardwalk area and pier.

Personally, if you don't have reservations somewhere I would allow a little more time to be a tourist on the beach, eat lunch, check out some of the beach/surf shops.

It is definitely worth a drive over to the East Coast.

 

[mbf]

We will be going direct to MCO from Daytona on the last Sunday of our trip. It will be morning but also will be MLK weekend. How long do you guess it might take?

 

[RabFlmom]

We will be going direct to MCO from Daytona on the last Sunday of our trip. It will be morning but also will be MLK weekend. How long do you guess it might take?

Definitely better idea to just go to Cocoa Beach then. It will be quicker/easier to get back to airport than Daytona would. But if your flight out is at noon, I think I would just do something over there and wait for another trip.
What time is your flight ?

On a MLK Sunday-528 probably no busier than on a regular Sunday. People from the coast don't really flock to the parks every 3 day weekend.

From Cocoa Beach plan an hour to get to the airport since you are basically right on 528 and the airport is a straight shoot . That will give you a little leeway just in case there is a back up . Buy a Sun pass in advance of the trip so you don't have to get stuck in a toll line. Check to see how rental company handles tolls to be sure.

 

[mbf]

Definitely better idea to just go to Cocoa Beach then. It will be quicker/easier to get back to airport than Daytona would. But if your flight out is at noon, I think I would just do something over there and wait for another trip.
What time is your flight ?

On a MLK Sunday-528 probably no busier than on a regular Sunday. People from the coast don't really flock to the parks every 3 day weekend.

From Cocoa Beach plan an hour to get to the airport since you are basically right on 528 and the airport is a straight shoot . That will give you a little leeway just in case there is a back up . Buy a Sun pass in advance of the trip so you don't have to get stuck in a toll line. Check to see how rental company handles tolls to be sure.

We definitely cannot cancel Daytona. We booked the whole trip (including our Daytona hotel) with Capital One miles so it is prepaid, no cancellations. It is not so much the beach as it is my DH's desire to visit the track and museum. I will definitely check with the rental agency (Budget) on the tolls though.

 

[RabFlmom]

We definitely cannot cancel Daytona. We booked the whole trip (including our Daytona hotel) with Capital One miles so it is prepaid, no cancellations. It is not so much the beach as it is my DH's desire to visit the track and museum. I will definitely check with the rental agency (Budget) on the tolls though.

Oops thought you were original poster . Was referring to OP who was doing a quick 1/2 day trip to the beach.

Amazingly-even though I am not a Nascar fan and don't watch races, I enjoyed the track tour and plan to take other family to do it, too.

Also head south on A1A to the Ponce Inlet Light House.

If you have enough time also head down to New Smyrna Beach for lunch at the Breakers. The North part of the National Seashore Park is there which is pretty cool, too.

 

[Orlando Vic]

I have lived here 27 years and probably haven't been to Daytona Beach in 20+ years. Cocoa Beach is much nicer, particularly Lori Wilson Park. http://www.beachhunter.net/cocoa-beach/lori-wilson-park.htm

 

[Mousemom234]

The one and only time we've been to Daytona was............
Well, let's just say we cut a 3 days visit back to 1 night, and payed top dollar for a room further south.

The tide was so high we couldn't drive on the beach, which we'd both been looking forward to. That just added to the malfunctions.
Cocoa Beach, yes, gladly - Daytona ? Never again for just the beach.

 

[Tinkerboy00]

I have lived here 27 years and probably haven't been to Daytona Beach in 20+ years. Cocoa Beach is much nicer, particularly Lori Wilson Park. http://www.beachhunter.net/cocoa-beach/lori-wilson-park.htm

I agree. Cocoa Beach is much nicer.
Daytona can be a little scary at times. Its not my favorite beach in FL for sure. We never went there.