The Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens is a 10-acre historical site and botanical garden located in Port Orange, Florida. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport or parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
This guide was updated in April 2026 and confirms that while the concrete T-Rex dinosaur from the Bongoland era was lost in 2019, the remaining 1940s dinosaur statues have been preserved and remain on display.
Quick facts
| Fact | Details |
| Opening hours | Daily 8:00 am to 5:00 pm |
| Ticket prices | Free admission (donations appreciated) |
| Address | 950 Old Sugar Mill Road, Port Orange, FL 32127 |
| Nearest public transport or parking | Free on-site parking lot on Old Sugar Mill Road |
| Typical time needed | 1 to 2 hours |
Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens opening hours
The Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens is open daily from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm throughout the year.
Opening hours remain consistent across the seasons, but the attraction is completely closed to the public on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Volunteer Master Gardeners are typically on-site during the morning hours on the second Wednesday of each month to answer questions.
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Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens ticket prices
There is no admission fee to enter the gardens. Because the site is maintained entirely by the non-profit Botanical Gardens of Volusia organisation, visitors are encouraged to leave a monetary donation in the red boxes located near the main gate or the office.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in April 2026.
How to get to the Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens
The gardens are located in Port Orange, a short drive south of Daytona Beach. The most direct route by car involves taking Dunlawton Avenue, turning south onto Nova Road, and then navigating the local residential streets to Old Sugar Mill Road.
There is no direct public transport route to the attraction. The local Votran bus network services the wider Port Orange commercial areas, but visitors using public transit will need to use a taxi or rideshare service for the final leg of the journey.
Parking at the Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens
Visitors can park in the dedicated, unpaved parking area located directly across the street from the main entrance gates on Old Sugar Mill Road.
Parking is free for all guests. The lot provides limited spaces, but it rarely reaches capacity due to the steady, low volume of visitors throughout the day.
How long to spend at the Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens
A standard visit to the Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens requires one to two hours. This timeframe provides sufficient opportunity to walk the crushed shell pathways, read the historical markers, and view the botanical collections.
Visitors planning to attend a Wednesday morning plant sale or consult with the volunteer gardening staff should allocate an additional 30 minutes to their itinerary.
Accessibility at the Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens
The site features flat pathways composed of crushed shell and compacted dirt. These paths are generally navigable for rugged pushchairs and motorised mobility scooters.
However, visitors using standard manual wheelchairs may find the loose shell substrate challenging to cross without assistance. A raised wooden boardwalk with ramps provides accessible viewing of the primary sugar mill machinery ruins.
Inside / what to see at the Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens
The 10-acre site blends 19th-century history with diverse botanical collections. The focal point is the preserved ruins of the Dunlawton Sugar Mill, featuring the original boiling kettles and crushing gears used before the mill was burned down during the Seminole Wars.
The gardens are divided into several distinct collections, including azaleas, camellias, succulents, ferns, and an Asian garden. A notable botanical feature is a large herb garden shaped to resemble the state map of Florida.
Hidden among the tropical foliage are several large, concrete dinosaur statues. These were built in the late 1940s and early 1950s for a short-lived amusement park on the site known as “Bongoland.”
Other focal points include a human sundial, where visitors stand on specific stones to cast a shadow indicating the time of day, and a dedicated children’s garden located near the dinosaur statues.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip Category | Advice |
| Timing | Visit during the spring months to see the azalea and camellia collections in full bloom. |
| Crowds | The gardens rarely experience large tourist crowds, offering a quiet environment even on weekends. |
| Layout | Pick up a free paper map from the green mailbox next to the entrance kiosk to locate the specific plant collections. |
| Entry process | Walk through the main gates and leave a cash donation in the red box to support the volunteer maintenance staff. |
| On-site logistics | Stay on the designated paths at all times, as the surrounding brush contains poison ivy and sharp natural debris. |
Frequently asked questions about the Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens
| Question | Answer |
| Is the Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens suitable for children? | Yes, children can view the concrete dinosaurs and the human sundial, though climbing on the ruins and statues is strictly prohibited. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for the Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens? | No advance booking or ticketing is required as the site is free to enter. |
| Is the Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens open on Sundays? | Yes, the gardens are open every Sunday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. |
| Are bags allowed at the Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens? | Day bags and rucksacks are permitted, but visitors are prohibited from bringing in food, drinks, or picnic supplies. |
Things to do near the Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens
- Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse: A historic, 175-foot-tall brick lighthouse that visitors can climb for panoramic coastal views.
- Marine Science Center: A marine rehabilitation facility in Ponce Inlet featuring recovering sea turtles and interactive aquatic exhibits.
- Daytona Beach Boardwalk: A historic seaside promenade featuring amusement rides, arcade games, and oceanfront dining.
- Museum of Arts & Sciences: A large museum complex in Daytona Beach featuring regional art, a planetarium, and historical exhibits.
- Daytona International Speedway: The iconic 500-acre motorsport stadium that hosts the Daytona 500, offering guided facility tours.
More Florida travel
Other Florida travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- First time visitor’s guides to the Castillo de San Marcos, Fort Matanzas and Mission Nombre de Dios in St Augustine.
- What to expect at the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park in St Augustine.
- The highlights of Anastasia State Park in St Augustine.
- Visitor guides to the Lightner Museum, Old Jail, St Augustine History Museum, St Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum and Oldest Store Museum Experience in St Augustine.
- What you need to know before visiting the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens in Ormond Beach.
