Explore Orlando: What's Just Outside the Nona Area
Nona residents get the best of both worlds — a quiet community and all of Orlando at the doorstep. Sitting about 25 minutes from the theme parks and downtown, and under an hour from the coast, Lake Nona is well placed for day trips in every direction.
Below is a guide to what's worth the drive — theme parks, historic downtowns, beaches, arts venues, museums, and the ways to get there — with a quick note on what you'll find at each.
Theme Parks & Attractions
- Walt Disney World — Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, two water parks & Disney Springs
- Universal Orlando Resort — Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Epic Universe, Volcano Bay water park & CityWalk
- SeaWorld Orlando — marine-life exhibits & shows, thrill coasters, plus adjacent Aquatica water park & Discovery Cove
- International Drive — the I-Drive entertainment corridor: attractions, dining, outlets & the Convention Center
- ICON Park — The Wheel (400-ft observation wheel), Madame Tussauds, SEA LIFE Aquarium, Museum of Illusions, StarFlyer & Slingshot
- Pointe Orlando — WonderWorks, dining, shops & entertainment on I-Drive
- Disney Springs — shopping & dining, World of Disney, House of Blues, Cirque du Soleil's Drawn to Life & Splitsville bowling
Historic Downtowns & Day Trips
- Downtown Orlando — Lake Eola Park & swan boats, Church Street, Thornton Park dining & a lively nightlife scene
- Winter Park — Park Avenue shops & cafes, the Morse Museum (Tiffany glass), Rollins College & the Scenic Boat Tour
- Winter Garden — brick-lined Plant Street, Plant Street Market & Crooked Can Brewing, the West Orange Trail & the Garden Theatre
- Sanford — historic downtown on Lake Monroe: antique district, breweries, the RiverWalk, the Central Florida Zoo & St. Johns River eco-tours
- Mount Dora — lakeside antique shops, year-round festivals & boat tours on Lake Dora
Beaches & Space Coast
- Cocoa Beach & the Space Coast — Atlantic beaches, the Cocoa Beach Pier & the original Ron Jon Surf Shop · about an hour east
- Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex — the Space Shuttle Atlantis, the Rocket Garden, astronaut encounters & launch viewing on Merritt Island
- New Smyrna & Daytona Beach — wide drive-on Atlantic beaches a bit farther up the coast
Arts & Performance Venues
- Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts — Broadway, ballet & the Orlando Philharmonic across Steinmetz Hall, the Walt Disney Theater, the Pugh Theater & Judson's Live · downtown Orlando
- Kia Center — Orlando Magic (NBA) games and arena concerts · downtown Orlando
- Camping World Stadium — stadium concerts, college football & bowl games
- Bob Carr Theater — touring shows & concerts, Orlando's original performance hall
- Hard Rock Live — concerts & live music at Universal CityWalk
- House of Blues — concerts & a Sunday gospel brunch at Disney Springs
Museums
- Orlando Science Center — hands-on science exhibits, a giant-screen theater & observatory · Loch Haven Park
- Orlando Museum of Art — American, African & contemporary collections plus traveling exhibitions · Loch Haven Park
- Mennello Museum of American Art — American folk & fine art on the shore of Lake Formosa
- Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art — the world's most comprehensive collection of Tiffany glass · Winter Park
- Rollins Museum of Art — 6,000+ works from antiquity to today, free admission · Winter Park
- Orange County Regional History Center — Central Florida history inside a restored 1927 courthouse · downtown Orlando
Getting Around
- Orlando International Airport (MCO) — roughly 15 minutes away; one of the nation's busiest airports, with an on-site Brightline station
- Brightline — higher-speed rail from MCO to West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale & Miami
- SunRail — commuter rail through downtown Orlando, Winter Park, Sanford & Kissimmee
- Toll roads & expressways — SR-417 (Central Florida GreeneWay), SR-528 (Beachline, straight to the coast) & Florida's Turnpike
Plenty to do closer to home, too — see Fun Things to Do and the Events & Festivals calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Lake Nona from the Orlando theme parks?
About 25 minutes by car to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld — Disney is roughly 25 miles out.
What's the closest beach to Lake Nona?
Cocoa Beach and the Space Coast are the closest coastline, about 50 miles east via the Beachline (SR-528) — roughly an hour. Kennedy Space Center is right there too.
What are the best historic downtowns near Lake Nona for a day trip?
Winter Park for Park Avenue and the Morse Museum, Winter Garden for Plant Street and the West Orange Trail, Sanford for its lakefront antique district and breweries, and Mount Dora for lakeside shops and boat tours.
Where can I see a Broadway show or concert near Lake Nona?
The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts hosts Broadway, ballet, and the Orlando Philharmonic, and the Kia Center hosts Orlando Magic games and major concerts — both downtown, about 25 minutes away.
Thinking About a Move to Lake Nona?
Being central to all of it — parks, coast, downtown, and the airport — is a big part of Lake Nona's appeal. Let's talk about finding the right neighborhood as your home base.
*Please note: the inclusion of businesses, individuals, groups, associations, and links listed on this site does not imply endorsement by the site owner. We make no endorsement, express or implied, of any businesses, individuals, groups, associations, or links to or from this site. We are not responsible for the content or activities of any linked sites. Hours, offerings, and drive times are subject to change — confirm details before you go.
Address Search
David Myers 407-801-3286Your Guide to the Best Nonahoods!
Nona Region Interactive Map Search
Popular Nona Searches
Nona FYI
