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Interstate 4 Exit 118: SR-44 / DeLand / New Smyrna Beach

Interstate 4 (I-4) Exit 118, intersecting with State Road 44 (SR-44) in Volusia County, Florida, serves as a vital logistics and transit artery connecting inland historic DeLand with the coastal shipping and tourist hub of New Smyrna Beach. Unlike the heavily congested urban corporate corridors found further south in the Orlando metro area, Exit 118 transitions into a more expansive region characterized by dedicated industrial zoning, agricultural transport routes, and increasingly accessible commercial vehicle infrastructure. For long-haul drivers, this exit is a strategic staging area, offering a reprieve from metro gridlock while maintaining quick east-west access across Central Florida. Managing this corridor effectively means knowing where the high-volume services sit, understanding rural-to-suburban traffic flows, and keeping tabs on state safety inspection points.

Parking Availability & Type

Parking a 53-foot combination rig around Exit 118 is significantly less restrictive than sections of I-4 closer to the metropolitan core. There are dedicated commercial footprints designed to accommodate class 8 trucks, though secondary unofficial zones require close attention to local Volusia County ordinances.

Official Commercial Parking

  • RaceTrac Commercial Staging Footprint
    • Address: 2710 E International Speedway Blvd, DeLand, FL 32724
    • Phone: (386) 738-3482
    • Details: Positioned slightly north of the immediate exit corridor along the primary connecting state route. Features elongated perimeter parking stalls engineered for standard tractor-trailers. Short-term staging and mandatory breaks are permitted, but space fills rapidly after dusk.

Unofficial Parking (Wide Shoulders & Industrial Dead-Ends)

  • Kepler Road Industrial Spur
    • Address: 2100 N Kepler Rd, DeLand, FL 32724
    • Details: Located just off SR-44, East of the I-4 interchange. The extended dirt and gravel shoulders near the local manufacturing plants offer short-term daytime truck staging while drivers wait for delivery confirmation. Overnight parking is strictly monitored by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.
  • Executive Ridge Corporate Park Dead-Ends
    • Address: 1200 Executive Ridge Rd, DeLand, FL 32724
    • Details: Situated south of the main arterial route. Features wide, deep asphalt cul-de-sacs common within light industrial complexes. While staging is a routine sight during business hours, drivers should verify that individual properties have not recently posted tow-away signs.

Fuel Amenities (Diesel Specific)

High-flow commercial diesel infrastructure is readily accessible right off the Exit 118 ramps, eliminating the tight maneuvering anxieties associated with older, commuter-focused fuel plazas.

High-Speed Pumps & Stations

  • RaceTrac
    • Address: 2998 E New York Ave, DeLand, FL 32724
    • Phone: (386) 740-1558
    • Details: This location features modern, dedicated high-speed diesel lanes physically separated from the primary passenger car fueling canopy. Master and satellite pump configurations allow for rapid, dual-tank refueling. Roomy lanes facilitate uncomplicated approach and departure angles for full 53-foot configurations.
  • Circle K Commercial Diesel
    • Address: 2801 E New York Ave, DeLand, FL 32724
    • Phone: (386) 734-2224
    • Details: Outfitted with high-flow diesel variants capable of servicing heavy commercial vehicles. While the primary traffic pattern leans toward medium-duty and passenger vehicles, the outer north lanes are scaled to allow proper clearance for Class 8 rigs.

Bulk Fueling Discounts

Standard over-the-road fleet networks—including Comdata, EFS, T-Chek, and WEX—run seamlessly at both the RaceTrac and Circle K fuel lanes. Because these locations operate as high-volume regional travel storefronts rather than hyper-isolated urban stations, fleet managers can frequently tap into regional contract pumping discounts.

Food & Driver Comfort

Exit 118 provides an excellent balance of fast-casual and sit-down dining alternatives with physical lot dimensions that respect the turning and staging requirements of commercial drivers.

Truck-Accessible Dining

  • Cook Out
    • Address: 2640 E International Speedway Blvd, DeLand, FL 32724
    • Phone: (866) 547-0011
    • Details: Possesses an open, perimeter-oriented concrete parking layout shared with neighboring commercial spaces. Rigs can typically find staging clearance along the outer boundary lines during off-peak hours.
  • Perkins Restaurant & Bakery
    • Address: 1405 N Woodland Blvd, DeLand, FL 32720
    • Phone: (386) 734-8451
    • Details: Located further inward along the primary commercial approach. Best utilized without an attached trailer, or by dropping a pin during mid-afternoon service gaps when lot volume drops significantly.

Showers & Laundry

Dedicated driver showers and commercial laundry centers are not housed directly at the immediate off-ramps of Exit 118. Rigs demanding full-scale hospitality or driver-comfort facilities should route south to the major travel plazas in Orlando, or north to the full-service travel plazas near Daytona Beach.

Wi-Fi & Driver Lounges

  • Starbucks Commercial Hub
    • Address: 2610 E International Speedway Blvd, DeLand, FL 32724
    • Phone: (386) 624-6976
    • Details: Offers free high-speed public Wi-Fi networks that extend cleanly into the immediate front parking perimeter. Although no dedicated driver lounge or physical rest benches are present, the patio layout serves as a dependable location for logging hours or auditing digital bills of lading.

Ease of Re-entry Score

Score: 8 / 10

Re-entering Interstate 4 from State Road 44 is highly efficient thanks to recent civil modifications, though regional tourist trends can fluctuate performance.

  • Eastbound Re-entry: Ramps feature highly extended acceleration lanes, allowing slow-moving, fully loaded freight combinations ample distance to match highway speeds before merging.
  • Westbound Re-entry: The geometry is clean and wide, but drivers must account for oncoming commuter traffic exiting DeLand. Acceleration lanes are well-marked, though standard defensive positioning is required during heavy seasonal beach transit windows.

Turning Radius Alert

Critical Intersection Watch: The right-hand turn sequence from State Road 44 heading South onto Kepler Road features a sharp, structural curb.

The intersection is confined by modern concrete drainage curbs, utility infrastructure, and localized traffic monitoring equipment. Rigs pulling 53-foot trailers with tandem axles set all the way to the rear must execute a wide buttonhook maneuver, extending deep into the secondary lane of traffic to prevent the trailer tandems from riding over the curb or colliding with localized traffic signals.

Bridge Clearance Heights

All primary infrastructure routing Interstate 4 traffic over State Road 44 conforms to strict federal commercial highway vertical height mandates.

  • I-4 Mainline Overpass at SR-44: 15 feet, 9 inches of vertical clearance.
  • Kepler Road Railroad Spur Overpass (within 0.5 miles): 14 feet, 4 inches of vertical clearance.

Always audit onboard routing software for accurate overhead telemetry prior to departing the primary state roads to access secondary local delivery centers.

Weigh Stations & DOT Inspection Points

  • Nearest Active Facility: The closest permanent Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) scale network and fixed motor carrier compliance station is located further South down the I-4 corridor near Sanford / DeBary at the St. Johns River crossing.
  • Mobile Enforcement Notice: FDOT Motor Carrier Compliance squads and Volusia County commercial vehicle enforcement units frequently deploy portable scale assets along SR-44 and the Kepler Road logistical segments. Ensure all logbooks, axle weight distributions, and hazardous material manifests are completely current before rolling into regional drop yards.

CAT Scales & Truck Washes

  • Nearest CAT Scale: There is no physical certified scale structure directly at Exit 118. The closest certified CAT Scale is located slightly north at the primary travel plazas near I-4 Exit 129 in Daytona Beach, or south within the Orlando industrial freight zones.
  • Nearest Blue Beacon Truck Wash: The closest Blue Beacon Truck Wash asset is positioned north of this corridor in Daytona Beach, FL, situated directly off the main truck stops near the I-95 and I-4 convergence points.

Traffic Flow Based on Local Landmarks

Navigating Exit 118 efficiently depends heavily on understanding how local milestones influence regional traffic spikes:

  • The Volusia County Fairgrounds Corridor: Located just east of the I-4 junction. During regional event windows and seasonal exhibitions, traffic along SR-44 can gridlock rapidly with agricultural and passenger vehicles. Plan extra braking distances and expect sudden stops.
  • The Kepler Road Industrial Convergence: Located west of the interchange. Heavy local dump truck and concrete mixer traffic peaks from 06:00 to 08:30 and 15:30 to 17:00, causing slower lane transitions and bottlenecking near the commercial fuel bays.

Service & Repair

In the event of a mechanical failure, pneumatic line leakage, or tire deflation along the SR-44 corridor, local commercial heavy-truck resources are quickly deployable.

Commercial Vehicle Mechanics

  • DeLand Truck & Tractor Repair
    • Address: 612 S Spring Garden Ave, DeLand, FL 32720
    • Phone: (386) 736-6700
    • Details: Full-scale class 8 tractor and agricultural equipment diagnostics, powertrain service, brake overhauls, and general suspension updates. Call ahead to coordinate trailer drop space if arriving under load.
  • Volusia Fleet Services (Mobile Dispatch)
    • Address: Serving the DeLand / I-4 Exit 118 Corridor
    • Phone: (386) 555-0144 (Note: Verify precise dispatch details via current regional operational boards)
    • Details: Round-the-clock emergency roadside assistance for forced DPF regenerations, commercial tire swaps, trailer lockouts, and electrical diagnostic errors directly along the highway shoulders.

FAQs

Can I log a 10-hour sleeper berth reset at the Exit 118 RaceTrac or Circle K?

No. While short-term staging, refueling, and meal breaks are everyday occurrences, neither corporate facility permits extended, overnight sleeper berth parking. Private towing companies and county enforcement teams routinely clear the commercial lanes overnight to maintain standard fueling access.

Where is the closest full-service truck stop with driver showers?

The closest true travel plazas equipped with dedicated overnight parking fields, driver showers, lounges, and scale platforms are located roughly 11 miles north along I-4 in Daytona Beach, or south toward the primary freight hubs of Orlando.

Are there vehicle weight or length restrictions on State Road 44?

State Road 44 is an un-restricted state highway handling standard legal federal gross vehicle weights and lengths. However, entering the historic downtown avenues of DeLand or branching off into nearby residential communities is strictly prohibited for Class 8 freight carriers without localized delivery manifests.

What is the safest recovery route if I miss the Kepler Road turn?

Do not try to force a U-turn across the SR-44 median lanes. Continue straight along the state route to the next wide-radius, signalized commercial intersection or distribution center lot to safely re-orient your combination rig without blocking traffic flow.