Lake Ashby

Between New Smyrna Beach and Deltona is a mixed-use area of jungle, meadows, and low-density housing. Almost all of the region is flat, and the dominant geographical feature is Lake Ashby, which is west of the main road, FL-415. Just north of the lake is one of the more developed areas, but no part of the rural area is densely populated enough to constitute a town.

The main attractions for the traveler are Lake Ashby and a couple additional protected areas west and east of FL-415. These provide a few, though not particularly well-marked, hiking trails. The foliage includes oak and palm forests due to the region's subtropical climate.

There are a number of mailboxes along the route as several roads, many unpaved, go to houses scattered through the forest on each side of the road, and breaks in the forest where homeowners have maintained large clearings. There are numerous parcels of land for sale along the main road.

As this is a campsite destination, visit during the winter or early spring. Temperatures are cooler, insects rarer, and thunderstorms much less likely. In summer the factors of high temperatures, insects, and thunderstorms combine and forested areas can become an area to avoid. If visiting in winter, bring both warm-weather and cold-weather clothing, as nights can get cold, on rare occasions around freezing temperature with cold chill factor. However, summer or marginally summer weather is also possible, interspersed with milder days, particularly as conditions stabilize in spring. In a normal year there is precipitation year-round, but the peak rain is during the mid to late summer. Frost occurs once or twice a year in winter.

FL-44 forms the area's northern boundary, as it links I-4 and New Smyrna and provides a barrier between the Daytona metro area and southeastern Volusia, which includes Edgewater and Oak Hill. The two settlements are on the western bank of the Intracoastal Waterway, placing them east of the Lake Ashby region. To the west is the I-4 corridor and to the south is Deltona.

The points of entry to Lake Ashby are on FL-415 from the north and south: from the north as a continuation of the two-lane Tomoka Farms Road from Samsula, west of new Smyrna, and from the eastern boundary of Deltona from the south. As a four-lane road FL-415 turns north at the Sanford-Orlando International Airport in southeast Sanford, crosses the river plain, passes through exurban outpost Osteen, and bypasses Deltona before it narrows to a two-lane road in the Lake Ashby forest.

The main road is FL-415, which passes through the region from north to south. The speed limit is 55 mph and although a two-lane road, there are places where passing is allowed, and practical on a quiet day, as there are few curves. However, traffic, while not dense, is steady enough that passing is rare.

Lake Ashby Rd is a semi-circle intersecting FL-415 from the east twice. A sign just south of the entrance indicates the "Great Florida Birding Trail," with a brown background to the sign. Lake Ashby is a slower road, and you may need to move to the side if a car is coming the other way. On the road's southeast corner, it intersects the road to the boat launch; Lake Ashby Rd turns from south to west (from northern angle) on an extended curve while a pair of off-ramps take the tributary route straight to the shoreline.

East of FL-415, not far south of the junction with FL-44, is a landfill, and you'll want to turn off your air conditioning here.

Unfortunately there is no public transit network in this area.

Lake Ashby's shores constitute the main viewing point. There are no vistas, as the terrain shows little variation apart from a landfill about a mile south of FL-44. There are a number of palm tree groves alongside FL-415 that are a novelty view. The boat ramp at Lake Ashby and Lake Ashby Park both provide good views of the lake, with the former's view not requiring a walk.

There's some good wildlife spotting, as of course forest can be found almost everywhere. Avoid the summer months (June-September or October) if you're leaving your vehicle to sightsee as the heat makes traveling on foot unpleasant.

Heavy rains, particularly in summer, are common in the region, and usually coincide with thunderstorms. Consequently you will want to be careful regarding dirt roads that could become muddy, full of puddles, and therefore nearly impassable following the monsoon.

• 🌍 Boat Ramp, 1151 Commercial Ave (end of Commercial Ave). At the point where Commercial Ave meets the northern shore of the lake, there is a small boat launch. There is not a parking lot but there is room for a few vehicles along the shoulders of the end of the road. There is private property on the shore adjacent to the boat launch, so don't stray from the few feet of "beach" along the shore. The boat ramp at Lake Ashby Park is open 22 hours a day, seven days a week. It is a beautiful setting for recreational activities, though the water is dark-colored. Forests surround the lake. (updated Sep 2021)
• 🌍 Deep Creek Preserve, 964 S FL-415. A park with some hiking trails southwest of New Smyrna Beach. The park includes some spaced-out pine woodlands, along with an appropriately-named creek, around which is some relatively lush flora. Benches are spread out along the route. The park has a couple of trails, some of which are not too clearly marked, but colored signs are used to mark the trails, along with arrows and symbols (horses and people) to represent trails specifically intended for a certain type of use. There is a wide dirt road that divides the forests and crosses the park, but it's best to avoid hiking on this road when possible as its surface is thick, making hiking difficult. (updated Apr 2020)
• 🌍 Lake Ashby Park, 4150 Boy Scout Camp Rd (Follow Boy Scout Camp Road until you reach two road options, one going slightly to the right and one going more sharply to the right. Take the latter, and after about a quarter to half a mile on that road, you should enter a parking area and playground. Not all of the road is paved). open sunrise to sunset. A 124-acre park that includes primitive tent camping, playground, volleyball court, nature/horse trails, boardwalks, fishing pier, pavilions with picnic tables and grills. It also offers a free public boat ramp nearby. The park offers a 3,500 ft² (330 m²) play area for children that includes a variety of climbers, swings and ladders. The boardwalk goes a few hundred feet over the lake, and includes a couple of benches along the way. It enters the forest for a short distance, demonstrating some of Florida's most scenic forest including ferns, palms, and pine trees. The parking area is large but confusing, as it's a dirt surface. 
• 🌍 Palm Bluff Conservation Area (entrance to park is on the east side of FL-415). Hiking trail staging area with a rough (unpaved) parking option, surrounded by grass and woodland. The road from FL-415 to Palm Bluff is a sand/dirt surface and curves through the forest, so drive slowly in case there are approaching cars. (updated Sep 2021)

There are a couple Dollar General stores in the area, along with niche markets, but there are no stores selling souvenirs and related goods.

• 🌍 Greiber Farms, 1670 FL-415, ☏ +1 386 409-8664, greiberfarm@yahoo.com. Providing lessons on horse riding at Greiber, and breeding and selling puppies at Palm Creek Kennels. (updated Sep 2021)

There are no restaurants in Lake Ashby. Until 2020 or 2021 there was a market selling farm produce, but it has closed. Samsula to the north has some places to eat, as does Deltona to the south. These include the Cabbage Patch (corner of Pioneer and Tomoka) and Mike's (north side of FL-44) in nearby Samsula, north of FL-44. There are picnic tables and grills for cooking in Lake Ashby Park.

There are additional options for camping to the north in the Samsula/Tomoka Farms area, and hotels in New Smyrna Beach and on the I-4 corridor.

• 🌍 Lake Ashby Park Campsite, ☏ +1 386 736-5953. Primitive camping is available at Lake Ashby Park. As of 2021, the rates are $15 per night, plus tax, with a maximum consecutive stay of one week. (updated Sep 2021)

Be careful for alligators; don't go too close to waterways or bodies of water unless you're in trustworthy watercraft. Likewise be careful in forests, as Central Florida's forests are inhabited by alligators, snakes, and bears.

• New Smyrna Beach, to the northeast, is a tourist destination easily accessible from Lake Ashby, known for its beach.
• Deltona, to the south, is a more recent and primarily residential community.
• South of Deltona and west of FL-415 is Sanford, one of the primary cities of Greater Orlando's north side; it's on the south shore of Lake Monroe.