Lakeland travel guide
Lakeland Tourism | Lakeland Guide
You're Going to Love Lakeland
With a population of 97,422, Lakeland is a must-see destination in Florida, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. We recommend you stay at least 4 days in order to fully appreciate everything Lakeland has to offer.
Where to Eat in Lakeland
If you’re looking for affordable options, Nineteen61 (1212 South Florida Avenue) and Texas Cattle Company-Lakeland, FL (735 E Main St) are great picks.
When to visit Lakeland
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Lakeland in July, when the average temperature is 82.4 °F, and the highest can go up to 89.6 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 50 °F, with an average temperature of 60.8 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in August, when precipitation is around 8.5″. In contrast, November is usually the driest month of the year in Lakeland, with an average rainfall of 2.3″.
How to Get to Lakeland
Plane
Although Lakeland doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Tampa Airport (TPA), which is located 36 miles from Lakeland. Sarasota Bradenton Intl is the most popular, with regular flights from Air Canada, United Airlines, Frontier and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Lakeland departs from Philadelphia and takes around 2h 31m.
Train
Brightline is the most popular train carrier serving Lakeland, followed by Amtrak. The train journey from Lakeland to Tampa takes 1h 49m and costs around $12 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Jacksonville, expect to pay about $25 for a 2h 39m trip. The train station in Lakeland is called Lakeland, and is located 0.4 miles from the city center.
Car
Another option to get to Lakeland is to pick up a car rental from Orlando, which is about 49 miles from Lakeland. You’ll find branches of Hertz and Budget, among others, in Orlando.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Lakeland, including RedCoach, Jet Set Express and FlixBus. From Gainesville, the bus ride to Lakeland takes 120 miles and will cost you around $50. From Fort Lauderdale, the ticket costs about $50 for a journey of 200 miles. Lakeland’s bus station is located 3 miles from the city center.
Airlines serving Lakeland
Where to stay in Lakeland
Average rates range from around $174 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $101 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Hampton Inn Lakeland and Clarion Pointe Lakeland I-4.
Where to stay in popular areas of Lakeland
Most booked hotels in Lakeland
Renting a car in Lakeland
Renting a car in Lakeland costs $46 per day, on average, or $184 if you want to rent if for 4 days. Budget, Avis and Hertz are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Lakeland is the Hertz branch at 117 E Memorial Blvd, which is 1 mile from the city center.
You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 20% more expensive than at Orlando.
Expect to pay $3.90 per gallon in Lakeland (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $46.79 and $62.38. The most frequently booked car type in Lakeland is Intermediate (Chevrolet Captiva or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Chevrolet Sonic Sedan or similar) are, on average, 68% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.