A Snowbird’s Guide to Wintering in Volusia County
Last checked: October 25, 2026. Rules, fees and dates change, so confirm on the official sites linked below before you go.
The short answer: Volusia County, which includes Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Ormond Beach, Port Orange, Ponce Inlet and DeLand, has mild winters, wide beaches you can drive on, manatee season inland, and big events in February and March. To make the season easy: forward your mail, line up your beach passes, know the winter calendar, and close up your Florida home properly before hurricane season starts June 1.
What winter weather is like
These are the Florida Climate Center’s 1991–2020 normals for Daytona Beach:
| Month | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|
| November | 76°F | 58°F |
| December | 71.5°F | 52°F |
| January | 69°F | 48.5°F |
| February | 71.7°F | 51°F |
| March | 75.5°F | 55°F |
| April | 80°F | 60°F |
Most winter days are mild, but cold fronts bring chilly mornings, so bring a jacket and long pants. Winter is also one of the drier parts of the year. December and February each average about 2.3 inches of rain.
Before you head south
- Forward your mail. USPS temporary forwarding can cover up to 364 days, so set your start and end dates before you go.
- Line up your health care. Transfer prescriptions to a Florida pharmacy, and find out how your plan works out of state. Free, unbiased Medicare counseling is available through SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders). The Elder Helpline is 1-800-963-5337.
- Check your northern home. Ask your insurer about vacancy rules, and set up someone to check on the house.
Beach access for the season
Volusia County allows beach driving in designated areas. For non-residents, ParkVolusia sells annual passes: $150 for beach driving and $100 for off-beach county parking lots. They’re separate passes, and each covers one vehicle. Daily passes are $30 for on-beach driving and $20 for off-beach lots. Annual passes are sold online at parkvolusia.org or at ParkVolusia offices, not at the ramp booths. If you become a Volusia County resident, you can register for free access. ParkVolusia’s 24/7 line (386-260-1482) can tell you what documentation you’ll need.
From November 1 to April 30, beach driving hours are sunrise to sunset, depending on the tide. Full beach driving guide →
The winter calendar
- November 15–March 31: manatee season at Blue Spring State Park in Orange City. Day-use reservations are now required, and you can book up to 60 days ahead.
- Late November: the Daytona Turkey Run car show at Daytona International Speedway (Nov 25–29, 2026).
- February 13–21, 2027: race week, ending with the DAYTONA 500 on Sunday, February 21.
- March 5–14, 2027: Bike Week. Expect heavy traffic and busy restaurants.
- Year-round: Ponce Inlet Lighthouse (open daily 10 a.m.–6 p.m. through May 30, 2027), the Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet (closed Mondays), Smyrna Dunes Park’s boardwalk, and the free Sugar Mill Ruins in New Smyrna Beach.
Local resources worth knowing: – Volusia County Public Library has 14 branches across the county. – Votran, the county bus system, and VoAccess, its door-to-door service for eligible riders: 386-761-7700.
Closing up your Florida home for summer
Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, and summer humidity is hard on a closed-up house. Before you leave:
- AC and humidity: University of Florida IFAS guidance for closing a seasonal home is to keep the thermostat no higher than 85°F and the indoor relative humidity below 65% to help prevent mold. Ask your AC company what’s right for your system.
- Hurricane prep: bring in outdoor furniture and anything that could blow away. Arrange shutters or a plan to install them, and give a trusted neighbor or home-watch service a key and your contact information.
- Water and power: decide what to shut off, such as the water main or water heater, and what to leave on, like the AC and fridge if they’re running.
- Documents and insurance: know your hurricane deductible and whether you have flood coverage. NFIP flood policies generally have a 30-day waiting period.
- Alerts from afar: sign up for AlertVolusia so you hear about storms affecting your Florida address.
Our full Volusia hurricane prep checklist →
Plan both ends of your season
Our Snowbird Season Planner ($8.99, 26-page printable PDF) covers arriving and leaving. It includes opening-up and close-up checklists, mail and utilities logs, November 2026 to April 2027 calendars with the big events marked, AC and humidity settings based on UF/IFAS guidance, and a home-watch checklist. For storm season, see the Hurricane & Home Binder. For local numbers, see the Volusia County Senior Resource Guide.
FAQ
What’s the weather like in Daytona Beach in winter? Mild. Normal highs are about 69–72°F from December through February, with lows around 48–52°F (1991–2020 normals).
Can snowbirds get a beach driving pass in Volusia County? Yes. Non-residents can buy an annual beach driving pass for $150 and an off-beach parking pass for $100 through ParkVolusia. Volusia County residents register for free.
How long can USPS forward my mail? Temporary forwarding can last up to 364 days.
When should snowbirds close up their Florida home? Many leave in spring, before hurricane season starts June 1. Before you go, set the AC to no higher than 85°F and keep humidity below 65%, per UF/IFAS guidance.
When is manatee season near Daytona Beach? November 15 to March 31 at Blue Spring State Park. Reservations are required.
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Sources: Florida Climate Center (FSU) · USPS · Florida Department of Elder Affairs · Florida SHINE · Volusia County / ParkVolusia · Florida State Parks · turkeyrun.com · Daytona International Speedway · Daytona Beach Area CVB · Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse & Museum · Marine Science Center · Volusia County Public Library · Votran · UF/IFAS · FloodSmart.gov · NOAA. Full links on our Sources page.
