Samsula-Tomoka Farms

Understand

Samsula is a rural area on the east side of Tomoka Farms Rd stretching east to Venetian Bay, which is the western end of New Smyrna Beach. Tomoka Farms Rd continues north from Samsula to Daytona Beach where it is close to I-95. The area lacks the lakes found in Lake Ashby, which is the continuation of Tomoka Farms Rd known on the south side of FL-44 as FL-415. In addition to the core area along Tomoka Farms Rd and Samsula Dr, there are low-development areas on the western fringe of the Samsula area, particularly on Pioneer Tr toward FL-44, including a park, which is for practical purposes a part of the Samsula rural area, and some development on the southwest edge of Daytona Beach — but still west of I-95 — that is connected to the Tomoka Farms region.

While this area is rural, city and suburban life is not far away. Rural Volusia County transfers into suburbs that follow the course of Williamson Blvd and Airport Rd to the east of Samsula-Spruce Creek. The primary neighborhoods west of I-95, and almost within earshot of Samsula, are Venetian Bay in New Smyrna, and Water's Edge and the Spruce Creek Fly-In in Port Orange. Therefore, stores and services are close to Tomoka Farms and as development moves west, Tomoka Farms is beginning a transfer from rural to suburban. Formerly the Airport Rd corridor was an entirely rural road, but Port Orange and New Smyrna have expanded west. However, a rural corridor along Pioneer Tr remains continuing east across I-95 toward the Turnbull Bay area.

The climate is best outside of peak summer months, particularly for outdoor activities.

Get in

By bus

The Votran bus network's Mason Ave route leads to Tomoka Farms Rd and does a short distance along the route west of Daytona Beach.

By car

There are a number of points of entry to this rural area. North- or eastbound turns from FL-44 into the area include Pioneer Tr, Tomoka Farms Rd, and Samsula Dr, while from the east are Pioneer Tr, Taylor Rd, and US-92.

Get around

The main road is Tomoka Farms Rd, the northern continuation of FL-415. Tomoka Farms Rd is designed as a two-lane highway with a speed limit of 40-50 miles per hour. This does present obstacles to some intersections as there are typically no turning lanes. The intersection with Pioneer Tr is a four-way stop, and traffic going south on Tomoka Farms Rd can become a traffic jam here during rush hour. Pioneer Tr enters from the east, marking the border between New Smyrna and Port Orange, before going southwest toward FL-44 and merging in an on-ramp. Traffic turning left from FL-44 to Pioneer has no traffic signal and must yield to, and cross the path of westbound traffic when that respective road is clear. FL-44 is a four-line highway with a speed limit in most parts of 65 miles per hour.

A bridge takes Tomoka Farms Rd over I-4, and likewise a bridge takes Pioneer Tr over I-95, so be careful regarding the assumption of on and off-ramps between local roads and the interstates.

Go next

• Immediately to the south of FL-44, FL-415 goes toward and passes Lake Ashby. The area surrounding Lake Ashby is a continuation of the parks, though is less impacted by Bike Week. There is a campsite and boardwalk at Lake Ashby Park on the shore of the lake.
• To the east of Tomoka Farms are three cities with sprawl across I-95: New Smyrna Beach, Port Orange, and Daytona Beach. New Smyrna Beach and Daytona Beach have beautiful beaches, Daytona Beach is the location of the LPGA Golf Course and Daytona Speedway (both of which are only a few minutes' drive from northern Tomoka Farms), and Port Orange is a suburb nestled between the two cities.
• To the west, following Pioneer Trail and FL-44, is DeLand, a college town home to Stetson University.