Family vacations in Orlando during Speed Week

February 7, 8:05 PMOrlando Family Travel ExaminerKen Black

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flickr/Raptor Alpha:  The Daytona 500

For those of you who don’t know, it is an annual rite of passage every year in Central Florida to have what is known as Speed Week. This culminates in the running of what has been coined, by some, as the Great American Race, the Daytona 500. For those families who have the misfortune of visiting the area during this time unaware of the NASCAR schedule, there are some things to keep in mind.

The Daytona 500 is absolutely the most well attended, single-day sporting event in the state the entire year. The Super Bowl drew 80,000 to Tampa this year. But that’s cozy compared to the Daytona International Speedway’s crowds. As many as 250,000 can be at the Daytona International Speedway on race day. Further, there are events at the track nearly non-stop in the days leading up to the big race, hence the name Speed Week.

For those who do not wish to visit the Daytona Beach area, but relegate their activities simply to Orlando and its surrounding attractions, there will likely be little impact. Daytona Beach, 70 minutes northeast of Orlando, is far enough away that it truly does not impact much in Orlando. The traffic in Orlando is just as bad with or without the traffic.

However, for families who are planning to couple a trip to Orlando with a few days in Daytona Beach, there is some bad news. A quick survey of hotel rates during Speed Week show the rates at some hotels are double what those same hotels are charging for the same room just a week later. In other words, supply and demand works against the family vacationer this time of the year. Yes, rooms are available. It’s up to parents to determine how much that beach portion of the vacation is worth.

For those who still want the beach, without the traffic, crowds and costs associated with the Daytona 500, there are other options. The Gulf Coast, especially Clearwater, is just as close as Daytona Beach, albeit in the opposite direction. Melbourne and Cocoa are also close by on the Atlantic Coast. These alternatives may offer a better family atmosphere during Speed Week.

However, the closer you get to Daytona during Speed Week, the more hotels tend to cost. Even in Orlando, this is the case. While there are some hotels charging the same rates both during and after Speed Week, many are charging a 10 to 20 percent premium for rooms during the weekend of the Daytona 500. That’s still much better than the 100 percent upcharge in Daytona Beach.

To avoid some of these prices, which are likely meant to catch stragglers commuting to the races from Orlando, this may be a good time to book a package trip, especially if staying in one of the resort hotels. This will let them know you plan to stay on site and that your trip to Orlando during Speed Week was more coincidence than anything else.