If you're trying to figure out when to go to Daytona Beach, it really depends on what you have in mind. The peak Daytona Beach tourist season is from May to September, as the weather is at its warmest and the beaches in big demand. According to many, this is the best time to go to Daytona Beach. Since Daytona Beach is located in north-central Florida, the winter months see their fair share of cooler days, though frost or snow are rare. It rains less in winter here than it does in summer, however, and the mosquito count is also down during the cooler months. This helps to make them ideal for camping. The winter months also feature some of the city's top racing events, in which case wintertime is considered by some to be the best time to go to Daytona Beach.

Starting in late January, the Daytona Beach Speedweeks festivities begin, and they don't stop until mid February, which is when the famous Daytona 500 takes place. The biggest race of the year on the NASCAR circuit, the Daytona 500 brings in thousands of yearly visitors. It is held at the Daytona International Speedway, which is one of the city's top attractions. If you can't make it to Daytona Beach for the Daytona 500, the Coke Zero 400 takes place in early July. This race, which is followed by a thunderous fireworks display, is one of the biggest races of the year, and it falls during the peak Daytona Beach tourist season. As such, booking your stay at a hotel or vacation rental in advance is imperative if you hope to experience it.

For those who are more into motorcycles than cars, March and October are arguably the most interesting months in Daytona Beach. March is when Bike Week is going on, and in October, Biketoberfest is in full swing. Bike Week is one of the largest motorcycle events in the world, and some 500,000 visitors flood into the city to experience it. Biketoberfest is a little more subdued, but that doesn't mean that it isn't relatively raucous itself. If you're not into motorcycles or if you just want to enjoy a relaxed Daytona Beach vacation, then visiting during a car race or a motorcycle event is not recommended. Getting around town is often difficult when main events are going on, and the beaches and hotels fill up fast.

Daytona Beach Map

While the summertime is the best time to go to Daytona Beach if you are planning on enjoying lots of beach time, you can save some money on hotel rates and such by visiting in April, May, September, or November. These "mid-periods" can see you enjoying everything that Daytona Beach is known for, including the beaches. They can also be ideal months for a Daytona Beach golfing vacation, as the weather is usually warm, but not as warm as the hot summer months. If you just can't decide when to go to Daytona Beach, the mid-periods can be ideal for various reasons.

Thanks to the fact that there is really never a bad time to visit north-central Florida, trying to decide when to go to Daytona Beach is easy. The temperate-hot climate encourages plenty of time outdoors regardless of the month, and while things do slow down come wintertime, you won't have to battle as many crowds as you otherwise would in the summer season. One could argue that the Daytona Beach tourist season lasts the whole year round, and you might plan a few visits for different times of the year if you want to experience everything that there is to do here.