Is De Leon Springs safe?
Daytona Beach, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates De Leon Springs as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on De Leon Springs
“Go. De Leon Springs is a peaceful, rural community centered around its famous state park and natural springs. While economically modest and largely spread out, violent crime is low and visitor risk is minimal beyond standard rural property awareness and dark rural roads at night.”
About the area
De Leon Springs is an unincorporated, semi-rural community located in northwest Volusia County, best known for its pristine freshwater spring and historical sugar mill. The landscape is defined by sprawling oak trees, agricultural parcels, older single-family homes, and nature preserves.
- Rural Charm
- Nature & Outdoors
- Car-Dependent
- Quiet & Spread Out
Walking and biking in De Leon Springs
Walk score: 18/100 · Bike score: 32/100
There is no municipal bike-share system, but the area features off-road singletrack trails at Chuck Lennon Park and nearby connections to the Spring-to-Spring Trail corridor.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent crime rates are low, with most incidents handled smoothly by the Volusia County Sheriff's Office
- High rate of single-family homeownership creating a quiet, established residential atmosphere
- Family-oriented state park infrastructure provides a secure and well-maintained visitor environment
Cons
- Lower-than-average median household income with higher poverty rates compared to state averages
- Sparse rural street lighting and lack of sidewalks along major thoroughfares like US-17
- Isolated residential pockets with higher rates of property theft and vehicle break-ins
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal due to the area's rural layout, with unhoused populations and social services centered further south in neighboring DeLand.
What De Leon Springs is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and serene as nature enthusiasts and breakfast crowds head into the state park with no safety issues.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Quiet and sunlit with light traffic along Highway 17 and relaxed community park activity.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Rural and slow-paced; standard road safety precautions apply along unlit secondary streets.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very dark and largely deserted with minimal commercial activity, making driving necessary and walking impractical.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is operated by Votran with limited service via Route 24 connecting De Leon Springs to DeLand; there is no passenger rail or BRT within the community.
Parking is abundant and free throughout commercial lots and residential areas, with dedicated paid vehicle admission parking inside De Leon Springs State Park.
Things to do in De Leon Springs
- Make your own pancakes at the historic Sugar Mill Restaurant inside De Leon Springs State Park
- Swim or snorkel in the constant 72-degree freshwater spring pool
- Ride the trails at Chuck Lennon Mountain Bike Park
Local favorites
- Old Spanish Sugar Mill · Breakfast & Brunch Restaurant · 4.6★ (3450)Iconic park-based eatery where guests pour and flip their own pancakes on built-in griddles.
- De Leon Springs State Park · State Park & Recreation · 4.7★ (4200)Popular natural spring area offering swimming, kayak rentals, and shaded picnic grounds.
- Taqueria La Mexicana · Mexican Restaurant · 4.5★ (310)Local roadside favorite serving authentic street tacos, tamales, and cold beverages.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.