Major city · United States
DeLeon Springs
Come for one morning at DeLeon Springs State Park, then leave: the spring, the 5-mile trail and the pancake griddle are a half day, not a base.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- Nov–Apr (dry, cooler, manatees and winter waterfowl)
- avoid Jun–Sep (heat, afternoon storms, hurricane season)
- Airports
- DAB · MCO · SFB
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
DeLeon Springs is a small Volusia County community built around one 603-acre state park: a 72°F sulphur spring, a 5-mile birding trail and a cook-your-own-pancake mill. Most travellers see it as a half-day stop from DeLand or Daytona Beach and sleep elsewhere. Two nights only make sense if you want the spring at opening and Lake Woodruff the same day.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about DeLeon Springs, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the US dollar (USD, $).United States-wide
- SIM or eSIMAT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.United States-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.United States-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.United States-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United States-wide
- SafetyLow street crime in a small community; the real risks are water (alligators, deep spring boil), lightning and summer heat.
- RestroomsFree public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations.United States-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance · +1 386 985-4212 DeLeon Springs State Park ranger station · +1 386 985-4673 Lake Woodruff NWR visitor centre
- Sundays & holidaysFederal holidays close offices, banks and post offices; national parks stay open.United States-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportDAB Daytona Beach International (About 30–35 min by car via US-92 and US-17; small airport, few nonstops.).
- Getting aroundYou need a car.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee$3–5
- Sit-down mealSit-down dinner, per personBefore tax and an 18–22% tip.$20–35
- Street or quick mealGriddle-cake breakfast, per personcheck$12–18
- Museum or sight ticketState park vehicle entry$6 per car
- Budget bedBudget motel double (DeLand), a night, per roomUS$75
- Mid-range bedBudget motel double (DeLand), a night, per roomUS$110
- High-end bedBudget motel double (DeLand), a night, per roomUS$160
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$60 · Mid US$120 · High US$220
Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- DAB Daytona Beach International (About 30–35 min by car via US-92 and US-17; small airport, few nonstops.) · MCO Orlando International (About 1 h 15 min–1 h 30 min by car via I-4 and US-17; the main gateway for this area.) · SFB Orlando Sanford International (About 45–55 min by car; mostly Allegiant routes.)
Weather and climate
DeLeon Springs: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
21°C70°F
8°C46°F
7 rd
Feb
22°C72°F
9°C48°F
7 rd
Mar
25°C77°F
12°C54°F
7 rd
Apr
27°C81°F
14°C57°F
6 rd
May
30°C86°F
18°C64°F
8 rd
Jun
32°C90°F
22°C72°F
14 rd
Jul
33°C91°F
23°C73°F
15 rd
Aug
33°C91°F
23°C73°F
15 rd
Sep
31°C88°F
22°C72°F
13 rd
Oct
28°C82°F
18°C64°F
9 rd
Nov
24°C75°F
13°C55°F
7 rd
Dec
22°C72°F
9°C48°F
7 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
You need a car. US-17 runs north from DeLand about 6 miles to the village, then Ponce DeLeon Blvd leads roughly a mile to the park gate. VOTRAN Route 24 follows US-17 about every two hours and stops about a mile short of the park, so a bicycle helps if you go car-free. Inside the park you walk, or launch a canoe or kayak.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 20 min
US-17 south by car, about 10–15 min
Hotels, food and a walkable downtown; the sensible base for this park.
Door to door: About 15 min
US-17 to Grand Ave, then Mud Lake Rd; about 10 min by car
Dike trails for birding and photography; visitor centre hours are limited, so call first.
Door to door: About 50 min
US-17 south to SR-44 east, about 45 min by car
Beach afternoon after a spring morning.
Door to door: About 50 min
US-17 south to I-4 east, about 40–50 min by car
Boardwalk, Speedway and beach driving; a full day on its own.
Ocala National Forest
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h
US-17 north then SR-40, about 1 h by car
Springs and forest trails; go early, it is a big area with little shade.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
DeLand (10–15 min south)
The practical base: hotels, restaurants and a walkable downtown on US-17.
DeLeon Springs village
A few small rentals and B&Bs near Ponce DeLeon Blvd; book early for spring weekends.
Daytona Beach and Daytona Beach Shores (about 35–45 min east)
Beach hotels and more choice; use it if the spring is one stop on a coast trip.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- $60–100 excl. bed
- Mid
- $110–180 excl. bed
- High
- $200+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Mid hotel double (DeLand or Daytona)1 × 1 night × US$170 | US$170 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$120 | US$240 |
| State park vehicle entry (up to 8 people)1 × US$6 | US$6 |
| Canoe or kayak rental in the park2 × US$35 · check | US$70 |
| Griddle-cake breakfast at the Old Spanish Sugar Mill2 × US$15 · check | US$30 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$10 | US$20 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$54 |
| Trip total≈ US$295 per person per day, bed included | US$590 |
2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax is added at checkout. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | $3–5 |
| Griddle-cake breakfast, per personcheck | $12–18 |
| Deli sandwich or fast-food meal | $10–15 |
| Sit-down dinner, per personBefore tax and an 18–22% tip. | $20–35 |
| State park vehicle entry | $6 per car |
| Canoe or kayak rental | $30–45 (check) |
| Rideshare DeLand to the park | $15–25 (check) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Park entry is per vehicle, not per person: one car up to eight people is the cheap way in.
- The spring stays 72°F year-round, but the air does not: winter mornings are cold for swimmers.
- Alligators live in the spring run and in Lake Woodruff. Keep distance, do not feed, and watch small children and dogs.
- Afternoon thunderstorms are routine from June to September; lightning is the real risk in central Florida.
- Hurricane season runs June–November, with the highest risk August–October: check forecasts before a coastal trip.
- The Old Spanish Sugar Mill is inside the park and can have a long wait at weekend brunch; go at opening or after 13:00.The Old Spanish Sugar Mill is inside the park and can have a long wait at weekend brunch; go at opening or after 1:00 PM.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
- DeLeon Springs State Park ranger station
- +1 386 985-4212
- Lake Woodruff NWR visitor centre
- +1 386 985-4673
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
DeLeon SpringsDeLeon Springs
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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—
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To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- State park ranger station+1 386 985-4212
Embassy
No consulates here; nearest are in Orlando and Miami. Check your country's embassy list for Florida.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Park entry, one car up to 8 people: $6
- Park entry, pedestrian or cyclist: $2
- VOTRAN Route 24, DeLand to DeLeon Springs: about every 2 h, stops about 1 mile short of the park
Say or show
- Where is the spring entrance? — Where is the spring entrance?
- One car, please — One car, please
- Is the trail open? — Is the trail open?
- How long is the wait? — How long is the wait?
- Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for DeLeon Springs. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Nov–Apr (dry, cooler, manatees and winter waterfowl) · avoid Jun–Sep (heat, afternoon storms, hurricane season) · month by month →
- 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 6 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for DAB and MCO: last-mile drive times, rideshare fallback, late-arrival rung.
- Park-day fixture: gate opening, vehicle fee, pancake wait and trail loop in one printable card.
- Lake Woodruff visitor-centre hours verified by phone before publication.
- Hurricane and lightning fixtures so the safety block can go green.