Adventurers, nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts are all drawn like magnets to the Daytona Beach area. With innumerable forests, trails, marshes, springs, lakes, rivers, creeks and inlets, the region is brimming with fun-filled water and land activities. 

Here is a snapshot of parks located in the destination where you can soak up some fresh air and get to know Florida’s wild side:

Two manatees are pictured in the clear and pristine water of Blue Spring State Park.

Blue Spring State Park

This Florida State Park features the largest spring on the St. Johns River! The beautiful Blue Spring is crystal clear and a constant 72 degrees — ideal for taking a seasonal swim or paddling through on a kayak or canoe. You can rent your canoe or kayak and launch right on-site, and afterward enjoy snorkeling, scuba diving, walking trails, picnic areas and more. Visitors love walking the boardwalk along the spring run or the 4.5-mile Pine Island Trail. What makes this park a real standout is its designated manatee refuge, which also serves as the winter home to a growing population of West Indian manatees.

In 1970, two years before Blue Spring State Park was established, researchers tracked 14 manatees in the spring run. By 2005, after years of park improvements and manatee protection efforts, wintering manatee numbers exceeded 200, and by 2023 that number skyrocketed to a record 729 and continues to grow. Winter is the time to visit the park to see the manatees from the boardwalk or enjoy the daily boat tour, which is a two-hour narrated nature and ecological cruise on the beautiful and historic St. Johns River.

Paddleboarding along Tomoka State Park is a peaceful pursuit

Tomoka State Park

A local favorite, this state park and former Native American is a popular spot for camping, fishing, boating, bird watching and more. Tomoka State Park protects a variety of wildlife habitats and endangered species, such as the West Indian manatee. You can get a close-up look at it all from your own canoe or kayak or by renting one at the Tomoka Outpost camp store inside the park.

Floating along the Tomoka River, you’ll also have an incredible vantage point to observe the best vistas of “old Florida” and some of the 160 species of birds that have been spotted in the area. A walk on the Tomoka Trail takes you back to what life was like for the generations of people who lived there and traveled the path for thousands of years. The land containing Tomoka State Park was abandoned in 1835 during the Second Seminole War. In 1937, the Florida Board of Forestry acquired the first parcels of land that would become Tomoka State Park. Additionally, the Nocoroco Site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

Making your own pancakes at the Old Spanish Sugar Mill Grill & Griddle House can be a new family tradition

DeLeon Springs State Park

Situated an easy 45-minute drive from the heart of Daytona Beach, DeLeon Springs State Park offers a natural escape from life’s busyness. After exploring the park’s historical ruins and displays, guests can rent paddleboards, kayaks or canoes at the concession area. The park's paddling trail provides access to the 22,000-acre Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge, with an abundance of lakes, creeks and marshes to explore.

Make sure to visit the Old Spanish Sugar Mill Grill and Griddle House where can make-your-own pancakes onsite.

Ponce Preserve | Ponce Inlet, FL

Ponce Preserve

This is Ponce Inlet’s largest park, with approximately 41 acres stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Halifax River. Sitting at the heart of the park is the Green Mound State Archaeological Site, an ancient Indian midden, as well as an ancient live oak tree estimated to be more than 350 years old. While there is plenty to explore in the park, you can venture beyond its boundaries via the kayak and canoe launch. Note that no rentals are available at Ponce Preserve — you must bring our own or rent from a local company.

Hontoon Island State Park near Daytona Beach offers activity-filled escape

Hontoon Island State Park

Experience the more secluded side of wild Florida at Hontoon Island State Park, located six miles west of DeLand off of State Road 44. Soak in peace and solitude on this island situated on the St. Johns River, which is only accessible by private boat or park ferry. Hike through the park, learn about Native American history on the island, observe the abundant wildlife, or rent kayaks or canoes to paddle around the river. The park's ferry operates daily.

Fairchild Oak at Bulow Creek

Bulow Creek State Park

If you’re looking for more outdoor family fun beyond the beach, make the short drive from downtown Daytona Beach to Bulow Creek State Park, home to the Fairchild Oak, one of the largest remaining southern live oaks in the South.

For more than 400 years it has been a silent witness to human activities along Bulow Creek, including the destruction of the neighboring Bulow Plantation during the Second Seminole War in 1836.

Several trails allow hikers to explore the interior of the park, where visitors can see white-tailed deer, barred owls, raccoons and other wildlife. 

In addition to Daytona Beach’s famous 23 miles of white-sand beaches, the city and its surrounding regions are a nature-lover’s paradise. With so many great parks and launch sites, it can be hard to choose just one to explore — the only solution is to stay another day! For a complete list of kayaking and canoeing options in the Daytona Beach area, view the full line-up of launch sites and rental companies here.

 

Start planning your excursion into nature today! Check out all the hotels and specials available for your getaway today! We’ll be looking forward to seeing you soon.