College Visit Guides

Drive guide · 2 days, 3 campuses

UCF, Stetson and Bethune-Cookman in 2 Days: A Central Florida College Trip

A parent-first plan for seeing the University of Central Florida, Stetson University and Bethune-Cookman University in two days from one hotel in historic downtown DeLand: UCF on day 1, then Stetson and Bethune-Cookman on day 2. Official tour sign-ups, parking at all three schools, manatees at Blue Spring State Park for siblings, and Central Florida weather by season.

UCF's lit fountain in the Reflecting Pond at night, with Millican Hall behind it
Reflecting Pond and Millican Hall, University of Central Florida (Dec 2006). Photo: Kelly Daacon from Orlando, FL · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Last checked Oct 27, 2026. Every fact comes from the pages listed in Sources at the bottom. Some hotel and tour links are affiliate links (disclosure).

The short version

Trip at a glance

Schools
University of Central Florida (Orlando) · Stetson University (DeLand) · Bethune-Cookman University (Daytona Beach)
Days
2: UCF on day 1, then Stetson and Bethune-Cookman on day 2. Arrive the evening before.
Fly into
Daytona Beach International (DAB), about 30 minutes from downtown DeLand with no traffic, or Orlando International (MCO), about 1 hour 16 minutes.
Best base
Courtyard by Marriott DeLand Historic Downtown, about a 7-minute walk from Stetson's Rinker Welcome Center.
Car or transit
You'll need a car. DeLand to UCF is about 58 minutes and Stetson to Bethune-Cookman about 32 minutes, both with no traffic.
Registration
All three schools take visit sign-ups online. UCF requires registration, and Bethune-Cookman runs tours on weekdays only.

1. Who this guide is for

This plan is for parents with a high schooler, and maybe younger siblings, who want to compare three very different Central Florida schools: UCF in Orlando, Stetson University in DeLand and Bethune-Cookman University, a historically Black university in Daytona Beach.

Stetson says its DeLand campus is about 45 minutes from Orlando and 30 minutes from Daytona, so one hotel in DeLand covers both days.

Why this order

  • Day 1: UCF's Campus Visit Experience is a 15-minute information session followed by a 90-minute walking tour led by a student ambassador.
  • Day 2: Stetson's Daily Campus Visit pairs an information session with a student-led tour, and Bethune-Cookman's walking tour lasts about 90 minutes.
  • Bethune-Cookman is about 12 minutes from Daytona Beach airport with no traffic, so day 2 ends close to a flight home.
Each campus parks you differently
  • UCF: every car on campus needs a permit. Buy an $8 daily permit, or pay by space or by plate with the ParkMobile app. Lots B-4, B-5 and B-6 are closest to the Duke Energy UCF Welcome Center.
  • Stetson: admissions visitors park in the Admissions visitor spaces outside the Welcome Center, reached from the main entrance at Woodland Boulevard and Minnesota Avenue. Don't park in residential areas.
  • Bethune-Cookman: visitors need a temporary pass from the Office of Parking Services. Cars without a decal or pass may be ticketed or towed.
Tour availability varies by season.
  • Summers are hot and wet: July averages about 90°F highs at Daytona Beach airport, and June through September each bring 6 to 7 inches of rain.
  • Both UCF and Bethune-Cookman say weather can change tour plans. In bad weather UCF may switch to a virtual tour and Q&A panel with its student ambassadors.
  • UCF is closed for extended holiday breaks November 23–27 and December 21–January 1, and Bethune-Cookman has no tours during university holidays, breaks or exam periods.
  • Winters are mild: January averages about 69°F highs and 49°F lows. From mid-November to March, hundreds of manatees shelter in Blue Spring's spring run.

2. The suggested 2-day plan

  • Drive and walk times are no-traffic estimates from OpenStreetMap routing, using addresses geocoded with OpenStreetMap Nominatim. I-4 between DeLand and Orlando backs up at rush hour, so leave extra time for UCF.

Arrival evening: fly into Daytona Beach or Orlando and drive to downtown DeLand

  1. Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB) → Courtyard DeLand Historic Downtown (308 N. Woodland Blvd.)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~30 min, 19.5 mi (no-traffic estimate)
    Driving
    Drive

  2. Orlando International Airport (MCO) → Courtyard DeLand Historic Downtown

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~1 hr 16 min, 52.6 mi (no-traffic estimate)
    Driving
    Drive
  • Stetson lists Daytona Beach (20 miles), Orlando Sanford (28 miles) and Orlando International (57 miles) as its nearest airports.

Day 1: UCF in Orlando

  1. Courtyard DeLand → UCF main campus (4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~58 min, 41.8 mi (no-traffic estimate)
    Driving
    Drive

  2. UCF → Courtyard DeLand

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~56 min, 39.1 mi (no-traffic estimate)
    Driving
    Drive
  • Register for a weekday Campus Visit Experience on UCF's sign-up page and check in at the Duke Energy UCF Welcome Center. Parents register as guests under the student's name.
  • After the tour, use UCF's self-guided tour map to revisit the 10 stops at your own pace, starting at Millican Hall's Reflecting Pond.
  • UCF can't store luggage during tours, so leave your bags at the hotel.

Day 2: Stetson in the morning, Bethune-Cookman in the afternoon

  1. Courtyard DeLand → Stetson's Rinker Welcome Center (421 N. Woodland Blvd.)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~1 min, 0.3 mi
    Driving
    ~7 min walk, 0.3 mi

  2. Stetson → Bethune-Cookman campus, Daytona Beach (Office of Admissions, 618 W. International Speedway Blvd.)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~32 min, 21.6 mi (no-traffic estimate)
    Driving
    Drive

  3. Bethune-Cookman → Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~12 min, 4.7 mi (no-traffic estimate)
    Driving
    Drive

  4. Bethune-Cookman → Orlando International Airport (MCO)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~1 hr 34 min, 69.0 mi (no-traffic estimate)
    Driving
    Drive
  • Book a morning Daily Campus Visit at Stetson. An official on-campus visit qualifies your student for Stetson's Visit Stetson Grant of $2,000 a year, up to $8,000.
  • Reserve an afternoon Wildcat 360 Campus Tour at Bethune-Cookman. Register with the student's name and email; parents can add a cell number.
  • If no Bethune-Cookman slot fits, the university invites you to visit for a self-guided tour instead.

3. Campus by campus

UCF's lit fountain in the Reflecting Pond at night, with Millican Hall behind it
Reflecting Pond and Millican Hall, University of Central Florida (Dec 2006). Photo: Kelly Daacon from Orlando, FL · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Campus

University of Central Florida (UCF)

Where visits start
  • Weekday tours begin at the Duke Energy UCF Welcome Center with a 15-minute information session, then a 90-minute walking tour with 10 stops led by a student ambassador.
  • Registration is required. UCF also runs Knight for a Day open houses, which include a limited number of campus tours.
  • Pets aren't allowed on campus unless authorized by the university or for a service or support animal.
Visitor parking
  • All vehicles need a permit, including those in spaces for guests with disabilities. Choose an $8 daily permit, Pay by Space (with the ParkMobile app) or Pay by Plate.
  • Lots B-4, B-5 and B-6 are closest to the Welcome Center and the Visitor and Parking Information Center, which has maps, permits and directions.
Getting there
  • About 58 minutes from downtown DeLand and 36 minutes from Orlando International airport with no traffic.
What to know
  • UCF's campus includes an 80-acre nature preserve alongside its classrooms, recreation facilities and sports venues.
Contact
UCF Undergraduate Admissions, Duke Energy UCF Welcome Center, Orlando, FL; 844-376-9160, admission@ucf.edu.

Last checked Oct 27, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: UCF: Visit · UCF: Campus visits and tours FAQ · UCF: Self-guided tour map (PDF)

The patterned red-brick tower of Elizabeth Hall at Stetson University, framed by tree branches
Elizabeth Hall, Stetson University (Apr 2009). Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Campus

Stetson University (DeLand)

Where visits start
  • The Daily Campus Visit, offered year round, includes an information session with an admissions recruiter and a student-led campus tour.
  • Other options include open houses, Junior Preview Day, Hatter for a Day (attend a class and have lunch with a student) and Hi-Notes Day for music students.
  • An official on-campus visit qualifies your student for the Visit Stetson Grant: $2,000 a year, up to $8,000, one per applicant.
Visitor parking
  • Admissions visitors park in the Admissions visitor spaces outside the Welcome Center, entering at Woodland Boulevard and Minnesota Avenue. Other visitors get a Visitor's Pass from Public Safety.
Getting there
  • A 7-minute walk from the Courtyard DeLand. Stetson is within 10 to 15 minutes of I-4 and I-95, and Amtrak and SunRail share a DeLand station.
What to know
  • Admissions is in the Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Welcome Center. A self-guided tour is online if you want to explore before or after your visit.
Contact
Stetson University Admissions, 421 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand, FL 32723; 386-822-7100, admissions@stetson.edu.

Last checked Oct 27, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: Stetson: Visit the DeLand campus · Stetson: Self-guided tour · Stetson: Campus map (PDF)

White Hall, a two-story red-brick building with white trim, on the Bethune-Cookman campus under a blue sky
White Hall, Bethune-Cookman University (Apr 2009). Photo: Ebyabe · CC BY 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Campus

Bethune-Cookman University (Daytona Beach)

Where visits start
  • Tours start at the Office of Admissions, 618 W. International Speedway Blvd., where Brand Ambassadors greet you. The walking tour lasts about 90 minutes across a campus of roughly 67 acres, so wear comfortable shoes.
  • No tours on weekends, university holidays, breaks or exam periods, and tours depend on the weather.
  • Want lunch on campus? Book it through Sodexo at least two weeks before your visit.
Visitor parking
  • Get a temporary visitor pass from the Office of Parking Services; cars without a decal or pass may be ticketed or towed.
Getting there
  • About 32 minutes from Stetson and 12 minutes from Daytona Beach airport with no traffic.
What to know
  • The Museum of Arts & Sciences is about 5 minutes from campus by car.
Contact
Bethune-Cookman campus tours, 386-481-2521, bcucampustours@cookman.edu; Admissions, 386-481-2600, admissions@cookman.edu.

Last checked Oct 27, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: Bethune-Cookman: Visit · Bethune-Cookman: Campus safety resources

4. Where to stay: two nights in DeLand

Price tiers (Budget, Mid-range, Upscale) follow each hotel's star class on Expedia. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.

Hotel · Our pickMid-range

Courtyard by Marriott DeLand Historic Downtown

308 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand, FL

Why here

  • It's about a 7-minute walk from Stetson's Welcome Center and a 5-minute walk from downtown restaurants on Indiana Avenue.
  • Stetson's area lodging page notes that many local hotels offer Stetson visitors a discount, so ask when you book.
  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 3-star property, so we place it in the Mid-range tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.

Good to know

  • Parking and amenities change, so confirm them on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hotel · AlternateBudget

Comfort Inn & Suites DeLand - near University

400 E. International Speedway Blvd., DeLand, FL

Why here

  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 2.5-star property, so we place it in the Budget tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
  • It's about 5 minutes from Stetson, 61 minutes from UCF and 28 minutes from Bethune-Cookman with no traffic.

Good to know

  • Amenities and room types change, so confirm them on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hotel · AlternateUpscale

Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort

100 N. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach, FL

Why here

  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 4-star property, so we place it in the Upscale tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
  • It's about 7 minutes from Bethune-Cookman and 37 minutes from Stetson, but about 1 hour 20 minutes from UCF with no traffic, so it suits families who want a beach night.

Good to know

  • Confirm parking and amenities on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Two nights in DeLand put Stetson within walking distance, UCF just under an hour away and Bethune-Cookman about half an hour away, so you never switch hotels.

5. Meals between tours

Hours change, so check before you go.

Downtown DeLand (Stetson)

Eat

Cress Restaurant

103 W. Indiana Ave., DeLand, FL

Listed in MainStreet DeLand's dining directory, about a 5-minute walk from the Courtyard.

Details →

Eat

Boston Coffeehouse

109 E. New York Ave., DeLand, FL

A downtown coffee stop on MainStreet DeLand's dining list, handy before a morning Stetson visit.

Details →

Eat

Berryville Frozen Yogurt

131 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand, FL

Frozen yogurt on Woodland Boulevard, also on MainStreet DeLand's list, for a treat with younger siblings.

Details →

UCF campus (Orlando)

Eat

UCF campus dining

UCF main campus, Orlando, FL

UCF suggests grabbing lunch at Chick-fil-A or Halal Shack, all-you-can-eat dining at Knightro's or '63 South, or BurgerU and Huey Magoo's.

Details →

6. Things for siblings along the route

With siblings

Blue Spring State Park

2100 W. French Ave., Orange City, FL

From mid-November to March, hundreds of manatees gather in the spring run; a record 729 wintered there in 2023. Swimming season runs April 1 to November 14, and the park often fills and may close temporarily. About 17 minutes from the Courtyard.

Official page →

With siblings

Museum of Arts & Sciences

352 S. Nova Rd., Daytona Beach, FL

Home to the Charles and Linda Williams Children's Museum and a family planetarium, about 5 minutes from Bethune-Cookman. Check the site for hours and planetarium shows.

Official page →

7. Practical tips

Driving and parking

  • At UCF, buy a daily permit or use ParkMobile, and aim for lots B-4, B-5 or B-6 near the Welcome Center.
  • At Stetson, use the Admissions visitor spaces outside the Welcome Center. At Bethune-Cookman, get a temporary pass from Parking Services.

Flying in and out

  • Daytona Beach International (DAB) is about 30 minutes from downtown DeLand and 12 minutes from Bethune-Cookman with no traffic.
  • Orlando International (MCO) is about 1 hour 16 minutes from DeLand but 36 minutes from UCF. Stetson also lists Orlando Sanford (SFB), 28 miles away.

Weather by season (1991–2020 NOAA normals: Daytona Beach airport)

  • Spring: April averages about 80°F highs and 60°F lows, with about 2.2 inches of rain.
  • Summer: July averages about 90°F highs and 74°F lows, with about 6.0 inches of rain.
  • Fall: October averages about 82°F highs and 67°F lows, with about 4.9 inches of rain.
  • Winter: January averages about 69°F highs and 49°F lows, with about 2.7 inches of rain.

Parent checklist

  • Register for all three visits online: UCF on day 1, then Stetson in the morning and Bethune-Cookman in the afternoon on day 2.
  • Pick weekdays outside university holidays and breaks; Bethune-Cookman doesn't tour on weekends.
  • Book two nights in DeLand and plan to fly into and out of Daytona Beach or Orlando.
  • Want lunch at Bethune-Cookman? Arrange it through Sodexo at least two weeks ahead.
  • After each visit, take five minutes to jot down what stood out to your student.

8. Student-athlete recruiting visits

For families whose student hopes to play a college sport. Rules below are the NCAA's; each school's links were checked Oct 26, 2026.

Coaches arrange the recruiting part of a visit, not the admissions office. The tour sign-ups in this guide are for the regular family visit. An official (school-paid) visit is offered by the school, and contact with coaches follows NCAA rules that vary by division, sport and grade level.

Start with your sport's questionnaire, then email the coaches. The NCAA suggests emailing coaches with your achievements, highlight videos and interest in their program, including your name, position, NCAA ID and graduation year.

3 Division I

NCAA basics for parents

  • Unofficial visit: any campus visit you or your family pay for. You can take as many as you like; in Divisions I and II each one has to come after the first permissible date for your sport.
  • Official visit: a visit paid for by the school. Each school can offer your student only one. Before a Division I official visit, your student must be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center, be on the school's institutional request list, and the school must have their high school transcripts.
  • Division I (University of Central Florida, Stetson University and Bethune-Cookman University): on an official visit the school can pay for travel for the student and up to two family members, lodging, up to three meals a day for the student and up to four family members, and up to $60 a person in entertainment, including five home-game tickets. On an unofficial visit there are no free meals, but the school can give up to three home-game tickets. Division I uses recruiting calendars with contact, evaluation, quiet and dead periods; in a dead period, no in-person contact and no visits.
  • Rules change. Confirm with the coach, or check the NCAA's recruiting page and recruiting calendars, before you plan dates.

Planning around the season

  • Check each school's athletics schedule (linked above) before you pick dates, so a coach meeting doesn't land on a road trip or game day for your sport.
  • Our recommendation, not a school rule: ask the coach whether they can line up an admissions session or tour around your meeting. If not, book the regular family tour yourself through the official sign-up links in this guide, and leave time between the two.

Student-athlete sources

All checked Oct 26, 2026.

  1. NCAA, 2026-27 Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete (pp. 3, 21–25)
  2. NCAA.org: NCAA Recruiting
  3. NCAA: Division I and II Recruiting Calendars and Guides
  4. NCAA Directory: University of Central Florida
  5. University of Central Florida Athletics (official site)
  6. University of Central Florida Athletics: Compliance
  7. University of Central Florida Athletics: Staff Directory
  8. University of Central Florida Athletics: schedule of events
  9. NCAA Directory: Stetson University
  10. Stetson University Athletics (official site)
  11. Stetson University Athletics: Compliance
  12. Stetson University Athletics: Staff Directory
  13. Stetson University Athletics: schedule of events
  14. NCAA Directory: Bethune-Cookman University
  15. Bethune-Cookman University Athletics (official site)
  16. Bethune-Cookman University Athletics: Prospective Student-Athlete Form
  17. Bethune-Cookman University Athletics: Staff Directory
  18. Bethune-Cookman University Athletics: schedule of events

Trip planner

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Sources

All checked Oct 27, 2026. Tour schedules change constantly, so always confirm on each school's official sign-up page. Photo credits are under each photo and on our About page.

  1. UCF Undergraduate Admissions: Visit
  2. UCF: Campus visit registration (official sign-up)
  3. UCF Admissions: Campus visits and tours FAQ
  4. UCF Admissions: Self-guided campus tour map (PDF)
  5. Stetson University: Visit the DeLand campus
  6. Stetson University: Campus visit (official sign-up)
  7. Stetson University Public Safety: Parking regulation guide (PDF)
  8. Stetson University: Transportation
  9. Stetson University: Area lodging
  10. Bethune-Cookman University: Visit
  11. Bethune-Cookman University: Wildcat 360 Campus Tour: Families (official sign-up)
  12. Bethune-Cookman University Campus Safety: Resources
  13. Florida State Parks: Blue Spring State Park
  14. Museum of Arts & Sciences, Daytona Beach
  15. MainStreet DeLand: Dine
  16. OSRM routing (OpenStreetMap), driving profile
  17. OSRM routing (OpenStreetMap), foot profile
  18. OpenStreetMap Nominatim geocoder
  19. NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Monthly Normals, Daytona Beach International Airport, FL (USW00012834)
  20. Expedia listing: Courtyard by Marriott DeLand Historic Downtown (star class, checked 2026-10-27) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/DeLand-Hotels-Courtyard-By-Marriott-DeLand-Historic-Downtown.h27042181.Hotel-Information)
  21. Expedia listing: Comfort Inn & Suites DeLand - near University (star class, checked 2026-10-27) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/DeLand-Hotels-Comfort-Inn-Suites-DeLand-Near-University.h295852.Hotel-Information)
  22. Expedia listing: Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort (star class, checked 2026-10-27) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Daytona-Beach-Hotels-Hilton-Daytona-Beach-Oceanfront-Resort.h5244.Hotel-Information)
  23. Stetson University: DeLand campus map (PDF)
  24. Stetson University: Self-guided campus tour