DeLand - county seat of Volusia County, Florida, United States

DeLand is the county seat of Volusia County, Florida. It has a population of about 33,000 people (2018).

Understand

History

The city is named for Henry A. DeLand. It was founded in 1876, and incorporated in 1882. In 1883, Henry A. DeLand established DeLand Academy. Later, DeLand entrusted the academy to his friend John B. Stetson, a wealthy hat manufacturer from Philadelphia and a founding trustee. In 1889, it was renamed John B. Stetson University after its new patron. The name was later shortened to Stetson University, and in 1900 it became the first law school in Florida. The university's sports teams are called the Hatters.

DeLand grew during the 1920s Florida Land Boom.

Climate

DeLand has a warm and humid subtropical climate, and there are two major seasons each year. One of those seasons is hot and rainy, lasting from May until October (roughly coinciding with the Atlantic hurricane season). The other is a cooler season (November through March) that brings more moderate temperatures and less frequent rainfall. The area's warm and humid climate is caused primarily by its low elevation and its position relatively close to the Tropic of Cancer, and much of its weather is affected by the movement of the Gulf Stream.

Get in

By plane

Nearby international airports include:

• Daytona Beach International Airport (IATA: DAB)
• Sanford Orlando International Airport (IATA: SFB)
• Orlando International Airport (IATA: MCO)

By train

DeLand has an Amtrak station that provides service to other destinations such as Miami, but also connects to other points as far north as New York City via the Silver Star and Silver Meteor lines. Journey times are about 23 hours from New York and five hours from Miami. While trains are comfortable and includes both seating and sleeper options, delays are quite common.

Also, nearby Sanford is the southern terminus of the Auto Train which carries passengers and automobiles between Sanford and Lorton, Virginia, effectively serving as a car-rail link from Orlando to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The train runs daily with no intermediate stops and takes 17½ hours one way.

Finally, while SunRail is mainly a commuter rail system in the greater Orlando area, it can be used to travel from Kissimmee to DeBary/Deltona through Orlando.

• DeLand Railway Station (Amtrak Silver Silvar & Silver Meteor), 2491 Old New York Ave. No SunRail connections. Cross platform transfers with SunRail are only in Winter Park, Orlando Health and Kissimmee. Onward Amtrak Thruway connections to Daytona Beach is operated by Tri-Star Taxi. 2020-12-07
• Sanford Auto Train Station (Amtrak Auto Train), 600 S Persimmon, Sanford FL, 28.8088°, -81.2914°. Separate station for the Auto Train to load and unload vehicles and passengers. 2021-01-03
• DeBary SunRail Station (SunRail), Charles Richard Beall Blvd and Ft Florida Rd, Deltona Fl, 28.8556°, -81.3234°. Northernmost SunRail Station and nearest to DeLand and Deltona. It's connected to DeLand by Voltrans #31 bus. NO cross platform connections to Amtrak trains at this station. Same station/cross platform transfers with Amtrak are only in Winter Park, Orlando Health and Kissimmee. 2021-01-03

By bus

• VOTRAN (Volusia County Transit), (bus stop) Amelia Super Stop (Along Amelia Ave between International Speedway Blvd (US Hwy 92) and Old Daytona Rd, next to Publix Food & Pharmacy.), 29.0564°, -81.3002°, +1 386 761-7700. VOTRAN is the name of the Volusia County bus service, which connects DeLand to Daytona Beach, Debary SunRail Station (to Orlando) and Seville (to north). It is a cheap way to get around and is handicap accessible. The website provides maps and timetables. Buses travel to most sites and places of interest. Nearest connections to Greyhound and other intercity buses are in Orlando and Daytona Beach: $1.75 for One-Way Fare, $3.75 for Day Pass 2017-06-04
  • Rt 20 DeLand - Deltona on US Hwy 17/92
  • Rt 24 DeLand - Seville via Spring Garden & DeLeon Springs on US Hwy 17
  • Rt 31 to Debary SunRail Station where passengers continue to Orlando by train.
  • Rt 60 DeLand - Daytona Beach via US Hwy 92 All buses make additional local stops in town. The DeLand Intermodal Transit Facility 📍 (bus station) on Woodland Blvd & Euclid, south of downtown, is served only by Rt 20 & 31.

By car

Highway travel is the most common method of arriving in DeLand. Interstate 4 (I-4) begins about 20 miles away in nearby Daytona Beach, and passes near DeLand. U.S. Highway 92 also begins near Daytona Beach and is known in both places as "International Speedway Boulevard" because it passes in front of that raceway. U.S. 92 meets U.S. 17 coming in from Jacksonville 90 miles to the north, and the two highways become one, and is known as "17/92" as it travels through Orlando 40 miles south, to Haines City, where they again split into two highways. Florida Highway 44 crosses I-4 five miles east of DeLand, and crosses 17/92 in the center of historic downtown DeLand. To further confuse travelers, 17/92 is known as Woodland Boulevard (or simply "The Boulevard," being the only boulevard in DeLand), and Florida Highway 44 is known as "New York Avenue," as the streets were known well before the advent of the U.S. and Florida Highway systems.

Get around

By bus

• VOTRAN is the name of the local Volusia County bus service. It is a cheap way to get around and is handicap accessible. The website provides maps and timetables. Buses travel to most sites and places of interest. Service is offered in DeLand roughly M-Sa, 7AM-7PM. A one-day Votran bus pass costs $3.75.

By car

See

Downtown DeLand includes some restaurants, cafes, and shops south of Stetson University.

• DeLand House Museum, 137 West Michigan Ave. 2020-12-07
• Stetson University, 29.034972°, -81.30264°. This was Florida's first private university and was founded in 1883. It has a beautiful campus with historic buildings. 2018-06-06

Do

Fishing

• Bob Stonewater Bass Fishing Guide Service, +1 386-736-7120. Captain Bob Stonewater offers fishing guide service on the St. Johns River in the DeLand area.
• Captain Smith's Black Bass Guide Service, +1 386 738-1836. Captain Mark Smith offers fishing guide services on the St. Johns River in the DeLand area.
• Captain Steve's Central Florida Guide Service, +1 386 846-2861. Captain Steve Niemoeller offers fishing guide services on the St. Johns River in the DeLand area.

Golf

• Victoria Hills Golf Club, 300 Spalding Way, 28.9769°, -81.2696°. 18 holes, over 6,989 yards with a par of 72 (Public).

Skydiving

• Skydive DeLand, DeLand Airport, 1600 Flightline Blvd, +1 386 738-3539. Tandem 14,000 ft/$179

Buy

• Volusia Flea Market, 3150 E New York Ave (at Volusia County Fairgrounds).
• West Volusia Regional Shopping Center, 2601 S Woodland Blvd. TJMaxx, Ross, etc - nothing special.

Eat

• Belly Busters Restaurant, 930 N Woodland Boulevard, +1 386 734-1611. Greek cuisine and sandwiches.
• Cress Restaurant, 103 W. Indiana Ave., +1 386-734-3740. Daily noon-2PM, 5-10PM. Indian cuisine. From $30
• Santorini Restaurant, 136 N Woodland Blvd, 29.0295°, -81.3036°, +1 386 736-7726. Tu–F 3–9PM, Sa 11AM–9PM. Greek cuisine.
• Urban Brick, 112 N Woodland Blvd, 29.0286°, -81.3036°, +1 386 337-7040, info@urbanbrick.com. Italian cuisine. 2021-10-10

Drink

Sleep

• Artisan Downtown Hotel, 215 S Woodland Blvd (at Howry Ave), 29.0258°, -81.3033°, +1 386 873-4675, artisandowntown@gmail.com. Includes a Cuban restaurant and a bar. 2021-10-10
• Comfort Inn De Land, 400 E International Speedway Blvd, 29.0543°, -81.2969°, +1 386-736-3100. Offering 24-hour front desk, breakfast, disabled access, non-smoking rooms, a pool, refrigerator, and cable TV. $85+ per night (2021)
• Courtyard by Marriott DeLand Historic Downtown, 308 N Woodland Blvd, 29.0318°, -81.3038°, +1 386 943-9500. 2021-10-05
• Holiday Inn Express, 180 Fenway Dr, +1 386 507-2500, fd@hiexpressdeland.com. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. $109+ per night (2021) 2021-10-10
• The DeLand Hotel, 442 E New York Ave, 29.0279°, -81.2953°, +1 386 624-6710. Includes Hemingway's Lounge & Bar, a guest lounge, and salon. 2021-10-10

Go next

The city is midway between two largest springs in state park settings, part of the Florida Aquifer.

• Immediately west of DeLand is Lake Beresford, and the surrounding area, including Hontoon Island State Park.
• Seven miles to the north, DeLeon Springs is set in a pool environment, leading to Lake Woodruff Wildlife Preserve
• Seven miles south, Blue Spring State Park is probably the best place to see manatees in all of Florida, during cold weather.
• Seven miles to the west, a state park which is an island accessible only by passenger ferry, Hontoon Island.
• Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge

Related: Tornado safety

Related: Hurricane safety