Ormond Beach

Understand

Ormond Beach is located at the north end of the Daytona Beach area. Ormond Beach was once home to oil industry multi-millionaire, John D. Rockefeller and railroad magnate, Henry Flagler, as well as the early automotive pioneers who tested their inventions on the hard-packed beach.

Today, Ormond Beach is known as the "Birthplace of Speed" and celebrates its racing heritage with annual events that reenact the early days of racing on the beach. Visitors to the area can enjoy a tour through the Casements, the former winter home of John D. Rockefeller, canoeing, fishing and viewing a vast array of wildlife at the Tomoka State Park. The area also boasts several beachfront and riverfront parks. Visitors seeking a quieter part of the beach can find it in the Ormond Beach area. In fact, beach driving is not allowed at the northern end of Ormond Beach.

Climate

Ormond Beach offers a humid, subtropical climate that is typical throughout Florida. Winters are dry and mild, marked by a constant series of cold fronts and warm-ups. Temperatures dip into the low 40s and upper 30s on occasion, although freezes are rare. Snowfall is very rare.

Temperatures in spring are famously pleasant with warm afternoons, cool evenings, and far less humidity. The summers are long, hot and humid, with temperatures frequently in the upper 90's in July. Thunderstorms are frequent in summer afternoons. Dangers include hurricanes from June 1 until November 30, although the area has not been threatened since the storms of 2004.

Get in

By plane

Although Ormond Beach has a Municipal Airport, it primarily serves privately owned aircraft. Nearby airports for commercial flights include:

By train

Amtrak offers the Amtrak Auto Train service with its southern Terminus located in Sanford (Florida), about 35 miles west of Ormond Beach. The Amtrak Auto Train carries passengers and automobiles between Sanford and Lorton, Virginia, effectively serving as a car-rail link from Florida to the Washington, D.C. Metro Area. You can easily drive your car into Ormond Beach after departing from the Auto Train.

Amtrak offers regular passenger service with the closest stop being near the city of DeLand. This stop is rather remote and is not recommended as an option.

By bus

Greyhound Bus Lines offers bus service to nearby Daytona Beach. Upon arrival at the Daytona Beach Greyhound station, you will need to either transfer to a local Volusia County bus or take a taxicab to complete your trip to Ormond Beach.

By car

Ormond Beach is easily accessible by car. Both I-95 and U.S. Highway 1 pass through Ormond Beach. A1A is a scenic North/South route along the beach.

Get around

By car

Getting around by car is very easy and convenient in Ormond Beach. The major roads are all wide and easy to drive on with all the major areas signposted, but traffic jams around major intersections are common in the afternoons, and around the tourist areas on Saturday nights.

The main tourism area is Atlantic Avenue (North and South), a strip of road that runs parallel to the beach.

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. A one-day Votran bus pass costs $3.
• A1A Beachside Trolley operates from January to Labor Day (September) along Atlantic Avenue on the beachside. They are air-conditioned and handicapped accessible.

Stay safe

Florida has a high occurrence of hurricanes. You might want to check the Hurricane safety page if you are visiting Florida. Beware of lightning in the central part of the state. Ormond Beach is known for a high number of shark attacks, so be careful when surfing. Also, there is a high occurrence of tornadoes in Florida, so check the Tornado safety page.

Ormond Beach has varying crime intensity by neighborhood. In certain parts of the city it may not be safe to walk alone or even in small groups at night. Tourist areas rarely have violent crimes, but theft is an occasional occurrence. The 911 number for fire and police emergencies is in effect in Ormond Beach.

Go next

• Daytona Beach
• Flagler Beach
• Ocala National Forest