Overview
Lake Beresford is a lake on the western boundary of DeLand and Orange City. The lake's surroundings are a sparsely-populated area with the entrance to the Hontoon Island State Park and access to the St. Johns River.
1 sights · 3 things to do · 1 places to eat · 3 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Lake Beresford
Sandra Stetson Aquatic Center
Stetson University, based in DeLand, constructed the building and the surrounding preserve using $6 million donated by Sandra Stetson, John Stetson's great-granddaughter. The Batram Garden is named after the Bartram expl…
Hontoon Island State Park
Hontoon Island is surrounded by the Saint John's River west of DeLand. There is a ferry that goes from the parking lot on the mainland across the St. Johns River to Hontoon Island. On this side is a forest, visitor cente…
Spring-to-Spring Trail
Connects Lake Beresford to Blue Spring State Park on a bicycle and walking path. Accessible from one of the two parking lots at Lake Beresford Park. Follow the path by the parking lot under the railroad tracks to access …
Lake Beresford Park
Approximately 200 acres of park on the eastern shore of the lake.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Oct–May. Summer highs reach about 92°F; winter lows dip to about 47°F. Very hot (Jun, Jul, Aug) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Aug and Jul. (climate data from nearby Deltona)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- SFB Orlando Sanford International Airport, Orlando — 16 mi away (major hub). Directions
- DAB Daytona Beach International Airport, Daytona Beach — 22 mi away. Directions
There are multiple sides of Lake Beresford that are reached differently if traveling by car. The main road in the area is New York Ave (FL-44), which west-east to the north of Lake Beresford. South of New York Ave is Old New York Ave, an approximately parallel route south of New York Ave. Old New York Ave goes much closer to the lake and intersects New York Ave on its west side near the St. Johns River and on its eastern side at the junction with Hazen Rd. Take either of these, and then go south on Hontoon Rd west of the railroad to enter the peninsula between Lake Beresford and the St. Johns River, not far from the lake's western shore.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $30–$35 a night (typical $35), from 3 listed prices.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$70, mid-range ~$110, comfortable ~$200.
Options are grouped as Lodging, Camping in the Sleep guide ↓.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Sandra Stetson Aquatic Center, Spring-to-Spring Trail
- Lunch Dockside Deli at Hontoon Landing
- Afternoon Lake Beresford Park, Hontoon Island State Park
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By car
There are multiple sides of Lake Beresford that are reached differently if traveling by car. The main road in the area is New York Ave (FL-44), which west-east to the north of Lake Beresford. South of New York Ave is Old New York Ave, an approximately parallel route south of New York Ave. Old New York Ave goes much closer to the lake and intersects New York Ave on its west side near the St. Johns River and on its eastern side at the junction with Hazen Rd. Take either of these, and then go south on Hontoon Rd west of the railroad to enter the peninsula between Lake Beresford and the St. Johns River, not far from the lake's western shore.
W Beresford Rd leads to Lake Beresford's east side and Fatio Rd leads south from this one to Lake Beresford Park. Confusingly, W Beresford Ave does not go to the lake.
By boat
The St. Johns River is commonly used for boating, and there are marinas along various points of the river.
By train
Get around
By car
The Hontoon Landing area is reached via Hontoon Rd, but then turning east on River Ridge Rd a few hundred yards before the end of Hontoon Rd. This is easy to miss on online maps.
By boat
There is a ferry between the mainland and Hontoon Island. Many people use boats or travel in boat tours along the St. John's River, which flows through Lake Beresford and throughout the area. The river splits around, and therefore creates, the island.
See
See Sandra Stetson Aquatic Center (Bartram Garden & Trails)
Stetson University, based in DeLand, constructed the building and the surrounding preserve using $6 million donated by Sandra Stetson, John Stetson's great-granddaughter. The Batram Garden is named after the Bartram explorers of the 18th century. Many universities use the site.
Do
Do Spring-to-Spring Trail
Connects Lake Beresford to Blue Spring State Park on a bicycle and walking path. Accessible from one of the two parking lots at Lake Beresford Park. Follow the path by the parking lot under the railroad tracks to access the trail from this park.
Eat
Eat Dockside Deli at Hontoon Landing
American (breakfast and lunch) cuisine.
Sleep
Lodging
Camping
Stay Hontoon Island Getaway (Camping at Hontoon)
Some small cabins on Hontoon Island are available for rent. There is also a traditional (tent) camping site. You can reserve a cabin or tent by going to the Florida State Parks reservations webpage and typing "Hontoon Island State Park" into the search engine in the top-left corner. Click on the link and, if necessary, "search," and the options should appear under "Hontoon Island State Park" > "AREA HONTOON ISLAND SP" on the right side of your desktop screen. On mobile, the steps may require separate screens.
Go next
- DeLand with Stetson University is a couple miles east of Lake Beresford.
- Ocala National Forest is to the northwest.
- Mount Dora is the next town to the west along FL-44, about half an hour's drive away.
Nearby
Blue Spring State Park
Park · 1 listings · 3 mi away
DeLand
City / town · 25 listings · 4 mi away
Orange City
City / town · 20 listings · 5 mi away
Cassadaga
City / town · 5 listings · 7 mi away
DeLeon Springs
City / town · 3 listings · 9 mi away
Deltona
City / town · 11 listings · 10 mi away
Sanford
City / town · 36 listings · 14 mi away
Lake Ashby
Rural area · 6 listings · 15 mi away
My experience
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