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New Smyrna Beach via Emeralda Marsh
(Approximately 150 miles roundtrip starting and ending in Leesburg)
Riding
through Emeralda Marsh, an area of wetlands adjacent to Lake
Griffin, the Oklawaha River, and Emeralda Island, is a relaxing,
scenic way to start your ride. New Smyrna
Beach is located just south of Daytona Beach on the Atlantic Coast.
It features the same drive-on beaches that helped make Daytona Beach
such a popular tourist destination, but is not as large or crowded
as its northern neighbor. (Key: US—Federal Highway; SR—State Road;
CR—County Road)
- Depart Gator HD
south on US441 (get in far-left lane).
- At 1st
traffic light (less than 1 mile from Gator HD) turn left on to
SR44.
- Travel east on
SR44. Several miles up the road you will go through a traffic
light.
- Just past the
traffic light, turn left off SR44 on to Emeralda Avenue (there is
a BP Service station at the corner of Emeralda Avenue and SR44).
- Go to the stop
sign and turn left on to Emeralda Island Road.
- Continue on
Emeralda Island Road through the marsh and lakes (it winds around
and includes several hairpin curves).
- At intersection of
Emeralda Island Road and CR452, continue straight across CR452.
Emeralda Island Road is now called Em-En-El Grove Road.
- At stop sign
(intersection of Em-En-El Grove Road and Thomas Boat Landing Road)
turn left on to Thomas Boat Landing Road.
- At the ‘Y’
intersection on Thomas Boat Landing Road, stay to the right.
- At the stop sign
turn right on to CR450 and travel east to Umatilla.
- Turn left on to
SR19 at the traffic light and travel north on SR19 about ¼ mile
where CR450 again intersects with SR19.
- At intersection of
SR19 and CR450 turn right to continue traveling on CR450.
- Turn right at stop
sign (intersection of CR450 and CR42) on to CR42.
- Travel east on
CR42 until it dead ends at SR44.
- Turn left on to
SR44 and head east through Deland to New Smyrna Beach.
- Stay on SR44,
crossing over the inland waterway (Indian River) on to the
causeway (where highway becomes A1A and Atlantic Avenue) to reach
the beach.
As you come into New
Smyrna Beach on SR44, you’ll see Pub 44 on the left just past the
Harley-Davidson Shop. There are also other numerous restaurants
along A1A/Atlantic Avenue on the beach. These include Clancy’s
Mexican Cantina and Spanish River Grill in the Publix Shopping
Center on the right as you approach the beach. Ride a mile or two
south down the beach and you’ll see Chase’s On The Beach on the
left, and if you continue several miles further south you’ll find
JB’s Fish Camp on the right (if you reach the State Park Entrance
you passed JB’s). All these restaurants supported our past charity
fundraiser. If none of these tickle your fancy, there are many other
eating establishments from which to choose.
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