Discover DeBary, Florida: Best Things To Do, Guide Housing, Dining and 9 Tips Before You Go in 2025

You know that feeling when you find a place that’s not too big, not too small, but just right? That’s DeBary for you. This little Florida town sits quietly between Orlando and Daytona Beach, and honestly, it’s been flying under the radar for years. But not anymore.
DeBary used to be what locals call a “sleepy town” – the kind of place where everyone knows everyone, and nothing much changes. Well, things are changing pretty fast now. The town’s growing like crazy, with new neighborhoods popping up everywhere and a whole downtown area being built from scratch. Some people love it, others miss the old quiet days. But one thing’s for sure – if you’re thinking about moving to Central Florida, you should probably know about DeBary before everyone else catches on.

TL;DR

Location: About 35-40 minutes north of Orlando, halfway to Daytona Beach
Population: Around 22,000 people (and growing fast)
Housing: Way more affordable than Lake Mary or Sanford – median home value around $283,000
Transportation: Has its own SunRail station for easy commuting to Orlando
Vibe: Small town feel that’s rapidly changing due to growth
New Development: $100 million downtown project underway, similar to Winter Park Village
Outdoor Life: Tons of trails, parks, springs, and river access
Best For: Families wanting affordable housing with good location and outdoor activities
Watch Out For: Traffic is getting worse, and some locals aren’t happy about all the changes

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about DeBary, FL

Depends what you want. If you like small-town vibes with easy access to Orlando, plus affordable housing and outdoor activities, yeah it’s pretty good. But if you hate traffic and construction, you might want to wait a few years.

About 35-40 minutes by car, or you can take the SunRail train which is way less stressful than driving I-4.

Not really. The median home value is around $283,000, which is “a lot more affordable for the age of the home” compared to places like Sanford and Lake Mary just south of there.

DeBary is building a $100 million downtown center that’s supposed to be like Winter Park Village. It’ll have apartments, townhomes, shops, restaurants, and a community plaza. Pretty exciting for a small town.

Actually yes! Good Fellas is a local favorite for Italian food, The Salted Goat focuses on farm-fresh ingredients, and Nona Maria serves decent Italian in a grocery plaza (don’t let that fool you).

It feels pretty safe, though one realtor mentioned that crime rates are “slightly higher than the average US city,” which was surprising to him. Could just be a few incidents skewing the data in a small town.

Tons. You’ve got Gemini Springs State Park, Alexander Island Nature Park (being developed), the St. Johns River, bike trails that go for miles, and you’re about 45 minutes from Daytona Beach.

Mixed bag. Good if you want more amenities and your property value to go up. Bad if you loved the quiet small-town feel. One local realtor said many sellers are “voicing their displeasure with all this growth.”

If you want to get in before prices jump, probably now. Once that downtown opens and all the new amenities are running, property values are expected to rise pretty significantly.

If you work in Orlando, the SunRail makes it easy. If you work in Lake Mary or Sanford (where lots of DeBary residents work), it’s about 15-20 minutes by car.

Where Exactly Is DeBary?

DeBary sits in a pretty sweet spot in Central Florida. It’s right along the St. Johns River in Volusia County, about halfway between Orlando and Daytona Beach. The town is “just north of Orlando in what many consider a sleepy town,” though locals will tell you it’s grown tremendously.

Orlando: 35-40 minutes south
Lake Mary: 15-20 minutes south (where many residents work)
Sanford: Just across the river to the south
Daytona Beach: About 45 minutes northeast
New Smyrna Beach: About 40 minutes east
Disney World: About 40 miles away
Orlando International Airport: About 40 minutes

What To Do – Attractions

Gemini Springs State Park This is the crown jewel for outdoor lovers. Crystal clear spring water, shaded trails, and great views. “Easy connected, a lot of shade there, great views,” as one local put it. You might even spot some manatees if you’re lucky.
Alexander Island Nature Park This is brand new – the city just acquired 170 acres along the St. Johns River to create “one of its kind” nature park. They’re building boardwalks and trails, and it’s going to be amazing for outdoor activities. The cool part? DeBary saved this land from developers who wanted to build houses on it.
St. Johns River Activities The river is huge here. You can rent boats, go fishing, or just enjoy the water. The Swamp House restaurant even lets you “rent a boat and take a ride up the river” after dinner. People regularly see manatees and alligators (the good kind of wildlife watching).
Bike Trails Everywhere DeBary is officially a “trail town” – the 12th one in Florida. The River to Sea Loop connects through here and “runs many, many miles all the way out to the beach.” These aren’t just tiny paths either – they’re “wide paved multi-use trails” that connect to other cities.
DeBary Hall Historic Site This is where the town’s name comes from. Samuel Frederick DeBary built this 8,000-square-foot Italian mansion back in 1871. Presidents like Ulysses S. Grant and Grover Cleveland used to hang out here. Now it’s a restored museum that’s pretty cool to check out.
Gateway Center for the Arts “The only visual and performing arts center in West Volusia combined.” They do plays, art exhibits, and even murder mystery dinners. It’s a nice touch for a small town.
Spring Trails and Nature Besides Gemini Springs, you’ve got access to DeLeon Springs and tons of other natural areas. The spring water stays a constant temperature year-round, which feels amazing during Florida’s hot summers.

Dining – Best Places To Eat

Good Fellas (The Local Favorite) This Italian place on Enterprise Road is the clear winner among locals. “I’ve been going there for years and I’ve never had a bad experience.” They’ve got great pizzas, good atmosphere, and excellent value – “that chicken Antonio was like 11 bucks or something.” Just be ready to wait sometimes because it gets busy.
The Salted Goat (Farm-to-Table) The newer upscale option that focuses on “locally sourced high-quality farm fresh ingredients.” They actually list the farms they work with on the menu, which is pretty cool. The caramelized scallops are apparently amazing – one woman brought friends back specifically to try them. Expect to spend $20-35 for dinner.
Nona Maria (Casual Italian) Don’t let the grocery plaza location fool you – this place has heart. “It’s all about the atmosphere and the service is always great here.” They play Italian music and somehow make a strip mall feel cozy. Their New York style pizza is surprisingly good, and you can get “quite a bit of a meal for 20 bucks.”
La Reggia Bistro (Special Occasions) This is the fancy spot – “the nicest food you’re going to find in all of DeBary.” Pasta runs $15-20, entrees $25-40. It’s got a wood-fire oven and wine room, and apparently the chef comes out to talk to guests. Perfect for anniversaries, but maybe not for a quick bite.
Pepe’s Cantina (Mexican) Good margaritas, decent Mexican food with “trendy little Mexican flare.” The tableside guac and tacos are solid. Ask for the house hot sauce if you want to sweat. They also have that Hawaiian thing “served in a pineapple which is pretty cool.”
Swamp House Riverfront Grill More about the atmosphere than the food, but both are decent. Right on the St. Johns River with a great view. “It’s a great place to meet up with friends and maybe have a drink.” Good variety from burgers to gator bites, and you might see some wildlife from the deck.
Divine Poke This little surf-shop-themed place serves poke bowls (basically sushi in a bowl). “Fresh meal that makes me feel like I’m eating healthy and I can get out the door for like 15 bucks.” Good for takeout.

Housing and Real Estate

The Price Reality Housing in DeBary is definitely the main draw. With a median home value around $283,000, it’s “a lot more affordable for the age of the home” compared to neighboring areas. You can get “a bigger, newer home over here just on the other side of the bridge” for less money than you’d spend in Seminole County.

New Construction Communities The big names right now are Rivington (by Lennar and Ryan Homes) and Springwalk at the Junction (by Lanc Homes). Rivington is the largest new community with about 300 acres. These are “largely going to be the last major communities being built because there’s no more land to build here in DeBary.”

What You’ll Find

Townhomes: Starting in the mid-upper 300s, typically 2-3 bedrooms, 1,200-1,700 square feet
Single Family: $400,000 to almost $700,000, 3-5 bedrooms, average over 2,400 square feet
Lots: Here’s the thing – they’re tiny. “Built on tiny little lots” is how one person described it, which seems to be the biggest complaint about new construction

Housing Options You’ve got variety: “Whether you need a townhome condo with easy maintenance, whether you’re looking for a country club option like DeBary Golf and Country Club, there’s riverfront homes along the St. Johns, lakefront homes.” Plus options with HOAs, country clubs, and “many no HOA options.”

The Timing Factor Here’s the thing – land is running out fast. Once current projects are done, “the growth as far as the big growth is largely done.” That could be good (no more construction chaos) or bad (prices might jump significantly).

Costs Beyond Purchase HOA fees are pretty reasonable in places like Rivington – “just 12 bucks a month.” But watch out for CDD (Community Development District) fees that “could run you another couple hundred bucks a month.”

Pros of DeBary

Location is Everything You’re close to everything but not in the middle of the chaos. “40 minutes to Orlando, 40 minutes to New Smyrna Beach, about an hour to Disney and the attractions.” Plus the SunRail station means you can avoid I-4 traffic completely.
Small Town Feel Even with all the growth, DeBary still has that “tight-knit community where they kind of just look out for each other” vibe. It’s not like living in a big anonymous suburb.
Still Affordable (For Now) Compared to other Central Florida locations, DeBary gives you more bang for your buck. “Affordability, the proximity in comparison what you can get price point-wise” is a major advantage.
Great Weather Florida weather is Florida weather – “the summers are hot and humid but the fall, the spring and the winters are fantastic.”
Family Friendly “Extremely family-friendly community” with good schools planned and lots of activities for kids. The new downtown will have playgrounds and family-oriented spaces.
Outdoor Paradise If you like being outside, DeBary is hard to beat. Springs, river access, miles of bike trails, parks everywhere. The city “made a huge push to keep lands protected from being overdeveloped.” You can actually enjoy nature without driving hours.
Investment Potential Property values are expected to rise once the downtown development is complete. Getting in now could be smart financially.

Cons of DeBary

Traffic is Getting Bad This is the big one. “All this growth has created traffic congestion like we’ve never seen before here in sleepy little DeBary.” They’ve had to add new traffic lights, and locals are not happy about it.
Losing the Small Town Vibe Many longtime residents feel like the character is changing. “It just seems different these days” and “buyers moving here are usually moving here for their needs not that small town feel anymore.”
Construction Everywhere New neighborhoods “popping up all over the place kind of just squeezing homes into every piece of vacant land.” Plus the downtown construction. It’s messy right now.
Tiny Lots New homes are “built on tiny little lots” which is a major complaint. You’re getting a nice house but not much yard space.
Limited Dining/Entertainment While the restaurants mentioned are decent, options are still pretty limited compared to bigger cities. You’ll probably end up driving to Orlando or Sanford for more variety.
Crime Concerns One local realtor was surprised to find that “DeBary’s crime rate is slightly higher than the average US city.” Could be statistical noise in a small town, but worth noting.
Growing Pains With rapid growth comes problems. Infrastructure is struggling to keep up, and “the city of DeBary has spent like a bajillion dollars on infrastructure just to keep up with all this growth.”
No More Land This is good and bad. Good because growth will eventually slow down. Bad because if you don’t buy now, you might miss out on the last chances for new construction.
Flooding Issues “With popularity does come some of the problems and one of the biggest problems facing New Smyrna Beach here of recent years is going to be the flooding and insurance premium spikes.”

9 Tips Before You Go In 2025

Visit During Different Times Come on a weekday to see the real traffic situation, especially during rush hours. The SunRail only runs on weekdays, so weekend commuting is all by car.

Check Out Multiple Neighborhoods Don’t just look at the shiny new developments. Drive around older parts of DeBary to get a feel for the established community. Some areas still have that original small-town charm.
Time Your House Hunt If you want new construction, act fast. “Once these projects are complete and the boom happens” prices are expected to jump. But if you can wait, buying after the downtown opens might give you better amenities.
Test the Commute If you’ll be working in Orlando, try the SunRail during your actual commute times. If you’re working in Lake Mary or Sanford, drive the route during rush hour to see what you’re dealing with.
Explore the Outdoor Stuff First Visit Gemini Springs, walk some trails, check out the river access. If outdoor activities aren’t your thing, DeBary might not be the best fit since that’s a huge part of the appeal.
Talk to Local Realtors Several are mentioned in the research who really know the area. They can give you the real scoop on traffic patterns, which neighborhoods are holding value best, and what’s actually coming in the development pipeline.
Consider the Timeline The downtown project is “expected to be partly up and running by 2025.” Buying before it opens could mean dealing with construction but getting in at lower prices. Buying after could mean higher prices but finished amenities.
Look at Total Housing Costs Factor in HOA fees, CDD fees, and potential special assessments for new communities. That $12/month HOA fee might seem great, but find out what else you’ll be paying.
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Why DeBary Might Be Your Next Home

So here’s the deal with DeBary – it’s a town caught between what it was and what it’s becoming. The small-town charm that made it special is still there, but it’s changing fast. Whether that’s good or bad depends on what you’re looking for.

If you want affordable housing with easy access to Orlando, tons of outdoor activities, and the chance to get in before everyone else discovers the place, DeBary makes a lot of sense. The location really is hard to beat – you’re close to everything but not stuck in the middle of urban chaos.

But if you hate construction, traffic, and rapid change, maybe wait a few years until things settle down. The growing pains are real, and some longtime residents are genuinely concerned about losing what made DeBary special in the first place.

The smart money seems to be on getting in now before the downtown opens and property values jump. Just know what you’re signing up for – a small town that won’t be small much longer, but might end up being something pretty great once all the dust settles.

Either way, DeBary is definitely worth a look if you’re considering Central Florida. Just don’t wait too long to decide – this secret is getting out fast.

Thanks For Reading, hope you you found it useful – ShinyandSpotless Team

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