A walkable, tree-lined town about 24 miles north of Lake Nona, and one of the easiest day trips in the Orlando area by car or by train.
Winter Park is a city just north of Orlando, about 24 driving miles from Lake Nona Town Center. Its downtown centers on Park Avenue, a shopping and dining street that faces the 11-acre Central Park. The Morse Museum on Park Avenue holds what it describes as the world's most comprehensive collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany. The Scenic Boat Tour runs hour-long cruises through three of Winter Park's lakes and two of its canals. SunRail's Winter Park station sits beside Central Park, so the town can be reached by train from Meadow Woods, about 7 miles from Lake Nona.
Lake Nona is a planned community built mostly in the last twenty years. Winter Park is the opposite: a town with a walkable downtown that dates to the 1880s, brick streets, a college campus on a lake and old oaks shading the sidewalks. That contrast is what makes it such a good day trip from here.
This guide is written for people weighing a move to Lake Nona. It covers how far Winter Park is, how to get there by car or SunRail, and how to spend a day there.
How far is Winter Park from Lake Nona?
Winter Park is about 24 driving miles north of Lake Nona Town Center.
The usual driving route takes SR 417 north, a toll road, and then local roads west into Winter Park. Parking near Park Avenue is a mix of free street parking with time limits and public lots, and it fills up on Saturday mornings and during festivals.
| Distance from Lake Nona Town Center | About 24 miles by car |
|---|---|
| By train | SunRail from Meadow Woods (about 7 miles from Lake Nona) to Winter Park Station |
| Main street | Park Avenue, facing Central Park |
| Best day to go | Saturday morning, for the farmers' market |
Can you take SunRail from Lake Nona to Winter Park?
Yes, with a short drive first: Lake Nona has no SunRail station, but Meadow Woods Station is about 7 miles away, and Winter Park Station sits beside Central Park, steps from Park Avenue.
For a day trip, the train saves you from Park Avenue parking and makes it easy to enjoy a long lunch. SunRail's schedule is built around commuters, so check the timetable before you go, especially for weekend and return trips. See our SunRail guide for more.
What is there to do on Park Avenue?
Park Avenue is Winter Park's main street, lined with shops, restaurants and cafes along one side and Central Park along the other.
- Central Park: 11 acres of lawns, oaks, fountains and a rose garden, and the setting for Winter Park's art festivals and holiday events.
- The Morse Museum: known for its collection of Louis Comfort Tiffany's work, including the chapel interior Tiffany designed for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago.
- Hannibal Square: a historic neighborhood a few blocks west of Park Avenue with more restaurants and shops.
- Rollins College: a campus of Spanish-Mediterranean buildings at the south end of Park Avenue, on the shore of Lake Virginia.
What is the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour?
The Scenic Boat Tour is an hour-long pontoon cruise through three of Winter Park's lakes and two of its narrow, man-made canals, with a guide pointing out the lakefront homes and history.
It leaves from a dock at the east end of Morse Boulevard, a short walk from Park Avenue. The canals are the highlight: shaded, narrow and lined with old Florida plants. It is one of the few things to do in the Orlando area that has changed little in decades, which is much of its charm. Check the tour's website for current departure times.
When is the best time to visit Winter Park?
Saturday morning is the classic time, when the Winter Park Farmers' Market sets up near the SunRail station, and the cooler months are the most comfortable for walking.
The farmers' market runs on Saturday mornings. Winter Park's art festivals in Central Park draw large crowds, and Kraft Azalea Garden on Lake Maitland is at its best when the azaleas bloom, typically from January through March. For a quieter visit, a weekday lunch on Park Avenue is easy to fit in.
How does Winter Park fit alongside Lake Nona's other nearby day trips?
Winter Park is one of the closest of the historic small-town day trips from Lake Nona, just north of Downtown Orlando.
Downtown Orlando is on the way, and Sanford is farther north along the same SunRail line. See the Explore Orlando hub for the full list.
Pros, Cons and Our Take
Pros
- A walkable, historic downtown that is very different from Lake Nona's planned streets.
- Reachable by SunRail from Meadow Woods, with the station beside Park Avenue.
- A full day of options: the boat tour, museums, the college campus, shopping and dining.
- A Saturday farmers' market that makes an easy morning trip.
Cons
- About 24 miles each way, with tolls on SR 417 if you drive.
- Park Avenue parking fills up on Saturdays and festival weekends.
- SunRail's schedule is commuter-focused, so check weekend and return times.
- Park Avenue shops and restaurants lean upscale.
Our Take
Winter Park is one of the best first day trips for people new to Lake Nona, because it shows a side of the Orlando area a planned community can't: century-old streets, lakes you can tour by boat and a real small-town main street. It is also an easy one to repeat, because the farmers' market, the museums and the seasonal festivals give you a reason to go back.
What the Neighbors Know
Lake Nona residents who love Winter Park tend to make it a regular Saturday: the train or a drive up in the morning, the market, lunch on Park Avenue and home by afternoon. Lake Nona Town Center covers everyday dining and shopping, so Winter Park stays a treat rather than a routine. If quick access to SR 417 matters to you, compare Lake Nona neighborhoods with that in mind.
Official Sources
- Winter Park Chamber of Commerce: things to see and do
- City of Winter Park
- Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art
- Scenic Boat Tour
- SunRail schedules and stations
Buying or selling in Lake Nona? Call/Text David Myers at 407.801.3286 or use the contact form.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Winter Park from Lake Nona?
About 24 driving miles from Lake Nona Town Center. The usual route takes SR 417 north, a toll road, and then local roads west into Winter Park.
Can you take SunRail from Lake Nona to Winter Park?
Yes, with a short drive first. The closest SunRail station to Lake Nona is Meadow Woods, about 7 miles away, and Winter Park Station is next to Central Park and Park Avenue.
When is the Winter Park Farmers' Market?
The Winter Park Farmers' Market is held on Saturday mornings in downtown Winter Park, near the SunRail station. Check the City of Winter Park's website for current hours.
What is the Morse Museum known for?
The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art on Park Avenue is known for its collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany, including the chapel interior he designed for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition.
