Parks Manager

National parks near DeBary, Florida

DeBary sits inside the Deltona area and reaches the same parks. See national parks near Deltona for the full write-up.

Biscayne National Park is the closest national park to DeBary, Florida — 236 mi (379 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 6 hr 2 min behind the wheel.

Nothing near DeBary gates the entrance itself, but Everglades National Park puts a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.

DeBary has a population of about 19,998.

National parks near DeBary

Parks ranked by distance from DeBary
ParkStraight-line distanceEstimated driveRealistic trip
Biscayne National Park236 mi (379 km)6 hr 2 minWorth a longer road trip
Everglades National Park247 mi (398 km)6 hr 18 minWorth a longer road trip
Dry Tortugas National Park309 mi (498 km)7 hr 46 minWorth a longer road trip
Congaree National Park340 mi (547 km)8 hr 30 minWorth a longer road trip
Great Smoky Mountains National Park483 mi (777 km)11 hr 53 minWorth a longer road trip
Isla Contoy National Park614 mi (989 km)14 hr 59 minWorth a longer road trip
Costa Occidental de Isla Mujeres National Park632 mi (1017 km)15 hr 25 minWorth a longer road trip
New River Gorge National Park635 mi (1022 km)15 hr 29 minWorth a longer road trip
Mammoth Cave National Park637 mi (1026 km)15 hr 32 minWorth a longer road trip
Arrecife de Puerto Morelos National Park655 mi (1055 km)15 hr 58 minWorth a longer road trip

What to book before you leave DeBary

Reservations needed at parks near DeBary
ParkWhat needs bookingCoversHow
Great Smoky MountainsGreat Smoky Mountains National Park Parking TagParking, not an entrance feeTimed reservation
EvergladesEverglades National Park Wilderness PermitsOne hike or backcountry tripPermit or lottery

Camping near DeBary

Within reach of DeBary, 46 campgrounds across 6 parks appear on Recreation.gov: 30 at Great Smoky Mountains, 5 at New River Gorge, 5 at Mammoth Cave, and 3 at Congaree, plus 2 more parks with fewer sites.

Recreation.gov releases most national park campsites six months before the arrival date, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. Windows are set per campground, so confirm yours on the Seasons and Fees tab on that campground page.

Once a date is gone, cancellations are the real supply, and they get taken within minutes of appearing.

When to make this trip

Biscayne National Park is generally best March through May, then September through November, with February and December as the quieter shoulder either side.

Midsummer is hot, humid, and buggy; winter is mild and one of the better times to visit.

Biting insects and afternoon storms dominate summer. Repellent and a rain shell matter more than warm layers.

Month-by-month detail for Biscayne National Park

Seeing more than one

Several parks near DeBary are close enough to each other to combine on one trip, so the drive from home only has to happen once.

Distances between parks near DeBary
PairApartEstimated drive
Biscayne → Everglades57.7 mi (92.9 km)1 hr 49 min
Everglades → Dry Tortugas131 mi (210 km)3 hr 32 min
Biscayne → Dry Tortugas188 mi (303 km)4 hr 54 min
Congaree → Great Smoky Mountains202 mi (325 km)5 hr 14 min

Planning a trip from DeBary

Distances here are straight-line and the drive estimate adds a road factor on top, but mountain passes and seasonal closures can change it a lot — a route that looks like three hours in June can be shut entirely in February. Confirm road status with the park before you commit to a date.

Read the Biscayne National Park guide

Other towns in Volusia County

Common questions

What is the closest national park to DeBary?

Biscayne National Park. It is about 236 mi (379 km) from DeBary, roughly 6 hr 2 min of driving.

Can I do a national park day trip from DeBary?

Not comfortably. The nearest parks are far enough that you will want at least one night away.

How many national parks are near DeBary?

10 parks are within reach of DeBary, 0 of them close enough for a day trip.

Do you need a reservation for the national parks near DeBary?

None of them gate the entrance itself. 1 put a specific road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket — Everglades National Park Wilderness Permits. These requirements are usually seasonal, so check the date you plan to arrive.

Where can you camp near DeBary?

Recreation.gov lists 46 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of DeBary. They are spread across 6 of those parks.

When is the best time to visit the parks near DeBary?

For Biscayne National Park, the closest one, generally March through May, then September through November. Either side of that, February and December stays quieter.