Orlando's second airport is about 33 miles north of Lake Nona. It is the right call for a short list of trips, and the wrong one for most.
Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) is in Sanford, Seminole County, roughly 33 miles by road north of Lake Nona via SR 417. Orlando International Airport (MCO) is about 9 miles from Lake Nona. Allegiant Air operates nearly all SFB flights, nonstop only, to about 70 mostly small and midsize U.S. cities. Arajet flies from SFB to Punta Cana, and BermudAir begins Bermuda service on October 31, 2026. SFB parking runs $13 a day in the economy lot and $17 in the garage, against $14 and $24 at MCO.
Most people who move to Lake Nona learn the airport question fast: Orlando International is next door, so why would anyone drive to Sanford? Then a relative in Knoxville or Grand Rapids books a cheap fare, and the confirmation says SFB.
That is the real reason Lake Nona households end up at Sanford. It is not a cheaper or easier version of MCO. It is a different airport with a different airline serving different cities, and from Lake Nona it is the far one. This guide covers what flies from there, what it costs to use compared with MCO, and the handful of situations where the drive pays off.
Where is Orlando Sanford International Airport, and how far is it from Lake Nona?
SFB is in Sanford, in Seminole County, roughly 33 miles by road north of Lake Nona, and nearly the whole trip is SR 417.
From Lake Nona you pick up SR 417 northbound and stay on it past the UCF area and Oviedo into Seminole County. The airport sits just off SR 417 near its northern end, where the road meets I-4 in Sanford. Orlando International, by contrast, is about 9 miles from Lake Nona. For a Lake Nona household, SFB is roughly three and a half times farther away.
Two practical points. First, SR 417 is a toll road for its full length, so a Sanford round trip means paying tolls both ways; an E-PASS or SunPass transponder is cheaper than toll-by-plate billing. Second, there is no practical transit link. SunRail does not serve Lake Nona or the airport, so the choices are your own car, a ride from someone else, or a long rideshare fare. For how SR 417 fits into the rest of the Lake Nona road network, see our guide to SR 417 and SR 528.
Which airlines fly from Sanford airport?
Allegiant Air runs nearly all of SFB's flights; Arajet and BermudAir add a few international routes.
Allegiant has carried most of Sanford's passengers since 1998 and uses the airport as an operating base, flying nonstop to roughly 65 to 70 cities depending on the season. The list leans heavily toward the Northeast, Midwest and Southeast: Allentown, Knoxville, Asheville, Grand Rapids, Flint, Cincinnati, Harrisburg, Appleton, Bangor and South Bend were the ten busiest routes in the year to March 2026. Several routes, including Las Vegas, Nashville and Fargo, run only seasonally. Trenton starts October 2, 2026, and Boston and Providence are scheduled from February 13, 2027.
International service is small but growing. Arajet launched three weekly flights to Punta Cana in October 2025, at launch the only international route at the airport. BermudAir is moving its Central Florida service from MCO to Sanford, with Bermuda flights beginning October 31, 2026 and seasonal Belize City flights from December 21, 2026. The terminal has its own U.S. Customs area for arriving international passengers.
One change to watch: Allegiant completed its purchase of Sun Country Airlines on May 13, 2026. The two airlines keep selling tickets and running loyalty programs separately for now, with full integration under the Allegiant name targeted for around May 2028. Nothing about SFB service has changed because of the merger yet.
Does Allegiant also fly from Orlando International Airport?
Yes, on a handful of routes, which is the first thing a Lake Nona resident should check before booking Sanford.
Allegiant added Orlando International to its network in 2024. It is a small operation next to Sanford, but it overlaps with some of the busiest SFB routes. In September 2026, Allegiant's own Orlando (MCO) route pages list flights to Allentown, Appleton, Asheville, Knoxville, Cincinnati and Flint. Those routes do not necessarily run on the same days or at the same fares as their Sanford counterparts.
The habit worth building: when you search Allegiant, search both SFB and MCO for the same dates. A fare that is a few dollars higher at MCO can still come out ahead once you count roughly 48 fewer miles of round-trip driving and no SR 417 tolls. Allegiant's search results use airport codes, so read them carefully; Orlando (MCO) and Orlando/Sanford (SFB) sit next to each other in the list.
Is parking cheaper at Sanford airport than at MCO?
Slightly, and for a Lake Nona household the difference rarely pays for the extra drive.
The common assumption is that the smaller airport is the cheap place to park. The posted rates tell a narrower story. Here is what each airport charges on its own lots, as posted in September 2026:
| Parking | Sanford (SFB) | Orlando International (MCO) |
|---|---|---|
| Economy lot, per day | $13 | $14 |
| Garage, per day | $17 | $24 |
| Economy lot, 7 days | $91 | $98 |
| Garage, 7 days | $119 | $168 |
| Maximum stay | 60 days, all lots | 90 days economy, 45 days garages |
| Cell phone lot | Free, no overnight | Free, no overnight |
On a week-long trip, Sanford's economy lot saves $7. Getting there from Lake Nona adds roughly 48 miles of round-trip driving over flying from MCO, plus SR 417 tolls in both directions. Those two costs alone typically exceed $7, so on the economy lot the saving disappears. The garage is a different story: a week in Sanford's garage costs $49 less than a week in an MCO terminal garage, which can cover the extra fuel and tolls with room left over.
The honest conclusion: parking is almost never a reason by itself to choose SFB from Lake Nona. The fare and the nonstop are. Parking only tips the decision when you would otherwise use an MCO garage for a long trip.
When does flying from Sanford make sense for a Lake Nona household?
Sanford makes sense when it has the only nonstop you need, or a fare low enough to cover the extra drive for everyone flying.
In practice that comes down to four situations:
- A small or midsize city MCO does not serve nonstop. Many of Allegiant's Sanford cities, such as Bangor, Plattsburgh or Rapid City, are places a trip from MCO may require a connection through a hub. Check MCO first; if it has no nonstop, one flight from Sanford often beats two from MCO.
- A family-sized fare gap. Allegiant's base fares are low, and the gap multiplies by the number of travelers. Price the whole trip, including bags and seat selection, since Allegiant charges separately for both.
- Punta Cana, Bermuda or Belize. These are the international routes SFB offers. Compare against MCO's options before booking; Sanford is a nonstop on these routes, not necessarily the cheapest one.
- Visitors from Allegiant cities. For many new Lake Nona residents this is the most common use of SFB: picking up parents, grandparents or friends. Build the drive into the plan and use the free cell phone lot rather than circling the terminal.
When none of those apply, MCO wins on distance, frequency and choice of airline. For the full picture of Lake Nona's home airport, see our Orlando International Airport guide.
What should you know before flying Allegiant out of SFB?
Allegiant flies nonstop only, many routes run a few days a week, and the base fare covers less than most airlines' fares do.
Allegiant does not sell connecting itineraries. If your trip needs a second flight, you book it separately and carry the risk of a missed connection yourself. Many routes also operate only on certain days of the week or in certain seasons, so a cancellation can mean waiting days for the next flight on that route rather than hours. The base fare includes one personal item; a carry-on, checked bags and assigned seats cost extra.
The airport itself is simple to use. Sanford now runs as a single terminal, with the former Terminals A and B joined under one roof, gates 1 through 16 on the second level, and U.S. Customs and a Global Entry office on site. The economy and long-term lots have free shuttles, which start two hours before the first scheduled departure and run until 45 minutes after the last arrival, so very early flights are covered. The garage and hourly lot are a short walk from the terminal.
The airfield is also getting work. A $13 million loan secured in 2024 funds a runway extension and a rebuild of the terminal ramp, both planned for completion in late 2026, along with roughly 1,000 more parking spaces.
Is Sanford airport worth it for Lake Nona residents?
Sometimes. Sanford is a specialist airport for Lake Nona, useful for specific cities and fares rather than as a default.
Pros
- Nonstops to dozens of small and midsize cities that MCO reaches only with a connection
- Low Allegiant base fares, which add up for families
- Garage parking $7 a day cheaper than MCO's terminal garages
- A smaller, single terminal that is simple to navigate
- Nonstops to Punta Cana, and from late 2026 to Bermuda and Belize City
Cons
- Roughly 33 miles from Lake Nona, against about 9 miles to MCO
- SR 417 tolls both ways, and no transit option from Lake Nona
- Economy parking only $1 a day cheaper than MCO's economy lots
- Nonstop only, with no connections and many routes that do not fly daily
- Bags and seat selection are extra on Allegiant
Our Take
For a Lake Nona household, MCO is the default and SFB is the exception you check for. Search both airports every time you book Allegiant, count the full trip cost including the drive and tolls, and use Sanford when it has the nonstop MCO does not. The one group that will see SFB regularly is visiting family from Allegiant cities, so learn the cell phone lot early.
What do Lake Nona neighbors know about Sanford airport?
Lake Nona residents treat SFB as a destination-specific airport, not a second home airport.
Living next to one of the country's busiest airports changes the math. People moving from cities where the secondary airport is the easy one often assume the same holds here, and it does not: Lake Nona sits on MCO's doorstep, and Sanford is at the far end of SR 417. That proximity to Orlando International is part of what buyers pay for in Lake Nona, alongside the Medical City employers and the road network that connects them.
So when a home search includes travel habits, the question worth asking is not which airport is closer; it is which cities you and your visitors actually fly to. If your family is in an Allegiant city, expect some trips to Sanford and plan for them. If not, you may never need to go. For more on how Lake Nona connects to the rest of the region, see our Roads & Transportation hub, the guide to commuting from Lake Nona, and our Explore Orlando section.
Where can I check current Sanford airport information?
Airlines, parking rates and schedules change, so confirm on the official sites before you travel.
- Orlando Sanford International Airport
- SFB parking rates and lots
- Allegiant Air route map and fares
- Orlando International Airport parking
- BermudAir
Weighing Lake Nona neighborhoods and how they fit the way your family travels? Call/Text David Myers at 407.801.3286 or use the contact form.
Frequently asked questions about Orlando Sanford airport
How far is Orlando Sanford airport from Lake Nona?
Orlando Sanford International Airport is roughly 33 miles by road from Lake Nona, almost all of it on SR 417, a toll road. Orlando International Airport is about 9 miles away.
Which airlines fly out of Orlando Sanford International Airport?
Allegiant Air runs nearly all of the flights, nonstop to about 70 mostly small and midsize U.S. cities. Arajet flies to Punta Cana, and BermudAir moves its Bermuda service to Sanford on October 31, 2026, adding Belize City on December 21, 2026.
Does Allegiant fly from Orlando International Airport too?
Yes, on a handful of routes. In September 2026 Allegiant's own route pages list MCO service to cities including Allentown, Appleton, Asheville, Knoxville, Cincinnati and Flint. Search both airport codes before assuming you have to drive to Sanford.
Is parking cheaper at Sanford airport than at MCO?
Slightly. Sanford charges $13 a day in its economy lot and $17 in its garage; MCO charges $14 in its economy lots and $24 in its terminal garages. From Lake Nona, the extra roughly 48 miles of round-trip driving and the SR 417 tolls usually cancel the economy-lot saving.
Can you connect to another flight at Sanford airport?
Not on Allegiant. Allegiant sells nonstop flights only, with no connecting itineraries, and many of its routes do not run every day. If a flight is cancelled, the next one on that route may be days away.
Is there a free place to wait when picking someone up at Sanford airport?
Yes. The airport's cell phone lot is free and sits less than a mile from the terminal. Overnight parking is not allowed there.
